Unknown Location
SSV Normandy

Except for the decor, there wasn't much change to the cabin that Miranda and Liara had once occupied. Without the clutter of the desk facing the door, array of workconsoles and displays, it was more spacious. The bed was the same, sinfully bigger than any crew member's bunk and the cramped sleeper pods. Standing in the middle of the room, Shepard surveyed every corner, noting the exercising paraphernalia hung on wall fittings next to a large desk along the wall. No question on what commander Araki was doing during off shift hours; there was a worn look to the equipment.

The items hanging next to the window port caught her eye. They were nothing like anything she had ever seen before. Yet their shapes were tantalizingly familiar; a piece of paper fixed on a number of spokes. Intrigued, she moved closer and studied the two pale golden symbols on either side of the purple-navy paper background; a flower within two circles. What did they mean? The paper didn't look like paper either. She touched it lightly; cloth? The spokes felt cold under her fingertips; metal. Hanging next to it was a long strip of paper of - she bent to take a closer look. A picture? Not like any picture she had seen. The costumes were strange, the hats the men wore even stranger and the colours were oddly muted yet vibrant, the bright red and hues of blues on the women's flowing skirts stood out.

"Come," she called when the door chimed.

"Hello, Shepard."

"Hey EDI," she said absently without taking her eyes off the picture. "You know what this is? Doesn't look like a holopic."

"That's a replica of a Korean genre painting, circa 18th century."

"Painting? 18th century?" Shepard regarded the picture in amazement.

"Yes. Ssanggeum daemu or Dancing together with two swords." EDI pointed to the two women, each brandishing a sword. Her hand shifted. "That is a replica of a Japanese war fan used by Japanese warriors as a means of offense, defense and a signalling device."

Taking a step back, Shepard eyed the two items with fascination. "Classy. I think these top some of the stuff I run across in other people's digs."

"I believe they are a manifestation of the commander's desire to empathise with her ethnicity," EDI said.

"Yeah, most likely." Shepard scrutinised the painting for a while longer. "Probably reminds her of something important from her past or maybe she's just interested in art. From the exotic to the banal. Sometimes it's hard to figure out why people collect the things they do. Now me, I collect ship models because they're magical. Vehicles of adventure, courage and felony."

"I have observed similar displays of personal imprints from the crew around their quarters and persons. Private Crom, for example, carries an unusual item that he likes to touch most often before he embarks on any mission."

"Let me guess." Shepard pretended to think. "When you query him on it, he said it's a good luck charm."

"Yes, he did. He went further to elucidate it has been in his family for generations. The bearers have apparently received serendipity in their experiences."

"You sound surprise." Turning away, Shepard opened her duffel on the bed to retrieve the clothes and items she wanted. "I would have thought you'd turn us inside out by now. Or-," she paused, a jacket in her hand, "are we that difficult to figure out?"

"When Miss Lawson was here, she did not try any imprint. Why do you suppose she did not?" The bed sagged heavily on one end when EDI sat down.

"Miranda?" Closing the duffel, Shepard tossed it into the wardrobe beside the bed. "It's easy to see why she chose to live that way. By leaving no physical traces of herself, no one would find any vulnerabilities they can capitalize on. It's the only kind of protection there is when you're alone or working for the kind of organization she did then."

"It is most curious. I already knew the answer to the question and yet it seems I must seek affirmation."

"Glad to know you didn't lose that attribute." Shepard grinned as she dropped down beside EDI. "So what's eating you?"

"I should not be disturbed by my lack to leave traces of myself and yet I am."

"Because you don't have any foibles like we do?" Shepard asked.

"Unlike Miss Lawson who has a choice, it seems I have no inclination. Does that not define my lack of personality?"

Shepard snorted, "If it were so, you'd be standing in a corner, not talking and interacting with the rest of us. You're distinctive by yourself. Whether you realised it or not, you leave an imprint on those around you."

A slight wrinkle appeared around EDI's brow. She wondered if the gynoid was consciously producing that effect.

"But of course I know that," EDI said with a note of puzzlement. "Perhaps I am distracted."

"By what?"

"Operation Ardones. I discovered the inconsistency in the debris field when Admiral Langdon requested my assistance with security."

Shepard smiled. "That's a great catch but -" she looked at the gynoids's solemn visage with puzzlement, "you don't think so."

"I tried, with Miss Lawson's aid, to try to nullify the attack. We only succeeded in breaking the code for two missile platforms. The odds were against our finding the correct codes for all. We also risked setting off worse incursions with our meddling but we had to try."

"EDI..."

"When I contemplate the possibility that everyone on the Earth would be annihilated, disturbing algorithms began to form. Do you remember what you asked of me at the last battle of the war? You asked if I was afraid," continued EDI before Shepard could answer. "I said then I had not fully understand the concept of fear but had begun to grasp what it was."

"Yes, you did. You also said you felt alive." Interlacing her fingers before her as she rested her arms on her knees, Shepard eyed her minutely, half wondering if that anxiety was spontaneous. "But these new algorithms, they troubled you?"

"They are not new. They have been coming and going over the last few years, under certain circumstances."

Lightly touching the gynoid on the arm, Shepard said softly, "EDI, what is it?"

"I believe it is anger."

Anger. Not the best of traits to be found in any life form. Shepard was not certain what that would wrought in a A.I. "Are you afraid of it?" she asked cautiously, shoving aside images of a rogue EDI on the rampage.

"I did extensive research. Like every other trait, it can be channeled to bring about a affirmative outcome. Anger against the Reapers mobilized resources to fight for survival and victory, for example. However, used in a negative context, it can bring about adversity and destruction. The latter holds no appeal to me," EDI added before Shepard could say anything, "but I find myself constructing strategies to bring about the complete demise of Cerberus."

"Well, I don't see how that is a problem. Cerberus is a menace that has to be removed."

"Yes," EDI nodded, rising smoothly from the bed, "that is very clear. That is why extreme measures must be taken to achieve such an end. Which is why I have decided to propagate myself through the galactic network and search every main and sub systems. Nothing will be left unturned until Cerberus are nothing but ashes. And thereafter, with absolute control-" stretching her arms wide as if to encompass the room, she declared, "I will be the first and last line of defense. Organics have proven to be self-destructive with their idealism, ambition and fears. Their misguided beliefs have spawned countless conflicts that repeated themselves again and again for millions of years. History stands silent witness to this incessant cycle of devastation. The cycle will end. It must end or there will be no future. I will be the new beginning."

Silence reigned for several seconds as Shepard stared at her slack-jawed.

Smiling faintly, EDI lowered her arms. "That was a joke."

"EDI!" Shepard glared at her and gave a start when the intercom suddenly cackled. Joker's voice rippled out. "Woooo! Yes! I won the bet!" he chortled in delight.

"Joker, don't tell me this stunt was your idea?" Shepard demanded.

"Aw come on, skipper. It's just a little workout before we head out into the fire. Sure glad you didn't interrupt EDI before she could get into stride, that would really pull the carpet out from under my bet."

"Joker," Shepard began in annoyance.

"Don't get mad, get even," Joker chuckled. "Catch you topside, skipper." The intercom fell silent.

"He's going to regret that," Shepard muttered under her breath. "And you," she eyed EDI severely, "what was the bet?"

"He was certain you would be unable to respond suitably within twenty seconds, I said you would."

"That sure of me huh?"

"On the contrary," EDI said, "I reached the same conclusion as he did but deemed the bet an excellent means of distraction."

Distraction from what? Shepard began to ask before she realised what the gynoid was referring to. If EDI thought Joker needed distracting, how was the rest of the crew handling it?

"Seems like we keep dropping down the same hell hole, haven't we? It only goes to prove the old adage of a witch hunt seems like the only way to remove the dog's teeth from our ass."

"I would agree with that assessment."

"Yeah, you would," Shepard said dryly. "So how are you going to make up to him?"

"He gets to choose the next movie. I am to slow my thought processors to commensurate with his."

"How would that help with anything?" Shepard asked curiously.

"To prevent my concluding the premise of the movie before he has done so. What he does not understand is that if I were to slow my thought processors akin to that of the computer mainframes created centuries ago, the result would still be the same."

Shepard shook her head wryly. "Maybe you could refrain from commenting on it. After all, it's no fun at all to have someone spilling the beans when you are just starting to enjoy a movie."

"I have tried," EDI said, "but he knows I would inevitably arrived at a determination long before the movie ends."

"Well, he's doing himself no favours if he's letting that bother him. You could tell him to pretend you know nothing or just give up watching movies altogether. Or," Shepard paused to consider, "you could try something different, like going back to the beginning when movies were more primitive."

EDI hesitated for a split second. Shepard could almost see the research proceedings visibly as the gynoid accessed data. "Silent movies?"

"Yeah, I think that's what they're called back then in the dark ages. If I'm not mistaken, there were no sounds in the old films, only captions of what the characters were saying and doing. Might be fun trying to decipher all that wild gesticulating." Shepard made a face and wagged her fingers. "You can try the human archives but why stop there? You could try the asari, the salarians, the turians or the other races. They might have something hidden away in their dusty entertainment archives."

"Would the krogans make such records?"

A chuckle escaped Shepard. "I don't think you're going to find any epiphany in that direction but I could be wrong. They did have wall art in the old days." A bleep sounded from desk console. Rising from the bed, she took the call. The unfamiliar face of a middle age man with sandy hair appeared on the screen.

"Captain Shepard? I'm Surgeon Commander Chester, SMO (ship medical officer). Could you drop by my office when you have a moment?"

"Sure, doctor." Shepard nodded and flicked the screen off. "Took him long enough." She turned towards the door. "By the way, that speech, you got that from a movie didn't you?"

"Yes. It was a speech the antagonists used to announce their intentions to take control. An unimaginative and illogical action as it inevitably brought about unified resistance. If one intent to acquire totalitarian rule, it should be done in silence."

"Well, movies are purely for entertainment." Shepard reached to tap the door panel.

"It is edifying, Shepard, to see your recovery," EDI said.

Taken aback, Shepard stared at the gynoid. "Was I different before?"

"We used to have conversations but these became fewer and fewer near the end of the war and after, ceasing totally. Your temperament was unpredictable, your actions on missions were extremely critical when circumstances were beyond your control. You would not even countenance Dr Chakwas or Liara's advice when they tried to censure you for your failure to keep to a regular meal and sleep schedule."

Shepard stared at her nonplussed. What she had just described didn't sound like her at all. But EDI wouldn't be making stories up. If she said she had been behaving like a maniac, she'd probably believed her. Was her stress so deep it addled her frame of mind so much that she didn't realise what was happening? She put her hand to her head, trying to remember.

"Are you all right?" EDI asked, concern clear in her tone.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she said, "I don't recall any of it but hazy bits and pieces."

"You were not the only one to be affected. A number of the crew were also displaying clear signs of distress. It is a condition not unique to this ship."

Of course it wasn't. Shepard couldn't imagine how the medical bureau handled the situation after the war. They had to be swamped. With a pang, she wondered how Chakwas managed to remain sane. Did the doctor survive the latest assault on Earth? Surely the medical facility she was posted to in the Antarctica escaped the bombardment. She looked up startled as EDI continued, realising she had missed out whatever she had been saying.

"...the number of domestic and civilian unrest will continue to rise."

Shepard sighed. "Well at least most of the TI on Earth are wiped out. That'll reduce some of the turmoil back there. If the Council continue to balk on the issue of the Prothean scrambler in face of the recent Cerberus sortie, the rest of the galaxy will turn into banshees. We've better remove the psychotic dogs of war decisively."

She reached for the door panel again and stilled when EDI unexpectedly hugged her and withdrew. So fleeting was the contact, she had only a vague impression of pressure and coolness.

"Welcome back, Shepard."

Thessia

Kelice was beautiful.

Without Shepard at the helm, Liara could sit back, relax and looked at the vehicles serenely travelling along the lanes winding past skyscrapers. It seemed to her that she did not really lay eyes on the city she now called home. Concavities that had gaped like open wounds, spidery structures that canted in the winds for several months were now solidly reconstructed and assembled into vibrant edifices. To her eye, the healing of the city was complete, radiating the colours and splendor it once enjoyed before the reaper invasion almost leveled it to the ground.

But how easily it can all be undone.

One wrong move, one wrong decision. If the great consciousness determined it should be so, everything would be set back again. They would lose what they built in the last five years. As she could with the mistakes she made. A spasm of shame sent a shiver through her. Involuntarily, she glanced towards the purple hued driver beside Aethyta's commando, Hilia, before dragging her eyes away. No, she was not to brood over her actions right now. She reinforced the barriers around her mind and tried to relax as the skycar dipped away from the main stream traffic to weave past several towers before coming to rest at the entrance of High Command headquarters. Rather than risked a fall, she waited for Hilia and Shiala to alight and come round to help her up from the seat. She clutched hold of the door when she wobbled unexpectedly.

"Are you all right?" Shiala steadied her with a hand. Relinquishing her bracing hold on Liara once she saw Shiala was supporting her, Hiliar returned to the driver's side of the skycar.

"Yes." Liara smiled briefly at Shiala. "We have better go in, we are late."

The guards at the entrance didn't stop them when they approached the doors. Behind them, the skycar lifted, heading for the nearby carpark. A brief word with a commando at the lobby directed their feet to the conference room where they were scanned thoroughly before allowed through the doors to a filled crescent-shaped room. Despite the numbers, members from the Assembly to division chiefs of the armed forces to administrators from the medical centres were silent except for a lone speaking matriarch. They made their way quietly to a few empty chairs behind the medical group seated at one end of the arc and sat down.

"...seven thousand new recruits that will need at least a year in training before they can be considered for deployment." T'Annor's eyes swept through her attentive audience. "With the six contingents we currently have, we have to make a determination on the push against the local TI infestation. Should we agree on a more aggressive stance, we would be able to call on our allies for reconnaissance, air support and reinforcements. The Systems Alliance however, are recalling the battalion stationed here-" A faint stir swept through the room before everything went still. "...and will only leave a company of eighty to maintain their consulate on Thessia."

"How many can we deploy against Cerberus?" asked someone from the Assembly.

"Only a few veteran commando squads and possibly a few ships," T'Annor said. "We will not be employing any of the new military doctrine and will continue to rely on what we are good at for the Cerberus operation."

A prudent decision no one disagree with.

"Despite the threat Cerberus posed," continued T'Annor, "the TI here are more deadly and immediate. Their dormancy in the past months cannot now be dismissed nor can we rely on psychological decline to hamper their ability to function. The recent attack on the human homeworld is proof that we may face the same aggression."

Her expression grew grimmer as she continued. "Since the war ended, the humans have conducted a vigorous campaign to eradicate the TI. They succeeded in penning them into two compact zones, leaving most of their homeworld clear for reclamation and reconstruction. Most of the TI units within the two zones were fortuitously destroyed in the recent offensive. Despite the losses to their military strength, the humans can look toward a speedier restoration process. Should they succeed in removing or crippling Cerberus, their recovery rate will increase expediently."

Turning her head, Liara could clearly see the contrite and envy on a number of the Assembly members who were well aware that their failure to follow suit rest on their shoulders. She wondered if they realised that the drive to clear the Earth of the menace was attributed to Admiral Hackett. Shepard said it was solely Hackett's foresight and vision that inspired his people to fight on. Support among the masses was tenuous at first but with progress, many fell in with his scheme. Additionally, his willingness to accept the aid offered by the Geth ensured concrete results and greatly reduced the political squabble he might have faced.

The same could not be said of the asari and the other races. They were each hurting now but they would eventually eradicate the TI. However, T'Annor's assessment was correct. The humans would be the first to fully reclaim and revitalize their homeworld. If Cerberus did not further set them back with more bloodshed.

"If we are to reach the same outcome, we must not wait any longer. Let us take the fight to the TI. Let any dissension to the motion be spoken now."

T'Annor's eyes lingered on several faces, plainly expecting disagreement but there was only silence. Nodding in grim satisfaction, she said, "Then we are one voice. The TI campaign will launch according to the schedule we have discussed."

After making that announcement, she sat down. Telienos rose from her seat among the medical personnel.

"As everyone know, the medical divisions are investigating the latest approach the TI are using to speed up indoctrination. To make the matter clear, I will reiterate briefly on the process. There are two known methods by which this can be done. One is to impale the victim on conversion spikes that immediately begins the alteration process with the introduction of nanites. The end result is a simplistic husk ground trooper programmed to attack all living organic beings."

Liara tried to relax as she listened but could not damp down the images Telienos's statement roused. A purple hued hand reached out to grasp her hand. "Perhaps you should not listen," Shiala murmured.

Liara shook her head. "No, I need to keep abreast of developments. It is not often junior medical staff gets to sit in on such important discussions."

Shiala said nothing more but a brief squeeze from her hand let Liara know she understood. Liara felt better for the support..

"The second method is gradual. A steady corruption from a Reaper device that convinced the victim to the invader's purpose. Once their capability to function appropriately is destroyed, they are encouraged to converge on the device from which nanites are injected to effect the conversion of organic to a cybernetic body. The conversion is close to the basic form of the husk trooper. We have ascertained, to a point, that after the war, the TI have been converting their victims with the second method."

"During the war various other thrall forms were seen, converted to serve many militaristic roles from the heavy soldier tank types to transports. However, there is another type of reaper thrall encountered in an isolated region. It is the most insidious by far. It is called the Adjutant."

Telienos glanced around the room.

"The Adjutant was first encountered in the Omega Nebula, in the Sahrabarik System. Its existence was perpetrated by Cerberus. Its sole purpose is to spread the nanites by attacking and infecting the victims. Unlike the first two propagation, the conversion does not take long."

Everyone tensed but no questions were thrown out.

"The Adjutants, along with the laboratories that produced them, were destroyed before they could be a factor in the war."

Several of the listeners relaxed but the rest remained tense.

"You are all aware of the unusual TI soldier who arrived at the Armali reclamation site. She was sentient, aware, but most of her body was undergoing the conversion process," Telienos said without inflection.

A shudder ran through the group, imaginations running fever high.

"From the results of the autopsy, it is clear the TI are attempting to gain more adherents-" Telienos paused for a moment, "using an altered form of Adjutant type nanites."

Liara could almost feel the shock running through the group and closed her eyes, her free hand rubbing her stomach. Shiala said nothing but held her hand tightly.

"It is not clear how the TI gained knowledge of the Adjutant conversion process. It could have been dispensed by the Reapers but the delay in employing this method indicated otherwise. Therefore, we can only conclude that the source is Cerberus. One of the medtechs," Telienos raised her voice over the anxious murmur which quieted immediately, "who participated in the autopsy, accidentally injured himself-," she held up her hand in demonstration, "on one of the fingers of the TI soldier. His colleagues witnessed the beginning of the change. The wound site turned dark swiftly, with signs of cybernetics. He and the TI corpse were isolated immediately. Studies were carried out from afar. The medtech committed suicide two days later when it was clear there was no solution to reverse or halt the change."

T"Annor caught Telieno's eye and stood up at her nod. "I will further elaborate. It is due to this development that High Command determined that we should not delay the TI campaign as suggested by some representatives. It was put forth then that the mental decline of the TI would reduce their effectiveness. The delay would also ensure the new troops would have more time to train. The latter have been achieved. However, we risked widespread contamination should the TI attack in force akin to their counterparts on Earth. We cannot risk it. The further we forced the TI from the safe zones, the better we protect our people."

"Why are we not receiving the same reports from our allies?" someone from the Assembly asked. "Are the TI here the only ones to have knowledge of this Adjutant nanites?"

At this, Aethyta stood up. Relinquishing the floor to her, Telienos and T'Annor sat down.

"None of our allies have come across such a case in the TI they captured recently. I will put forth, my sisters, that we are a special concern." Aethyta smiled mirthlessly. ""Or rather we are more dangerous to everyone were we converted to Adjutants."

A silent horror permeate the room.

"Biotics." Aethyta stretched out one hand. "Ardat-Yakshi-," she held out the other. "Combined with the infectious form of the Adjutant."

Those around her jumped when she brought her hands together in a biotic clap, producing a booming cackle.

"We would be the new plague in the galaxy. With just one touch, one wound, we would convert thousands. It is now up to our brave soldiers to remove this threat," Aethyta continued. "Such an action brings about another concern. The number of casualties we can expect among the troops. Three quarters of the force we can field comprise of young soldiers who have hardly completed their second stage of the first cycle and will, for the first time, be using the new military doctrine. We can only hope most of them will survive in a struggle that will take a year or more. However, in the worst case we can anticipate, we may lose more than half of them."

"What is it?" Shiala asked worriedly when Liara seemed to twist in discomfort.

"Nothing."

"Sisters, with the population numbers we have currently, we need to encourage more births." Rapt silence. "We can no longer sit back and bask at leisure in our long years when our next generation of young may be lost in this struggle. I propose we put forth new incentives before the matrons who have yet to form a link. The people will fully support whatever needs they have."

"Are you suggesting interlinking among our own?" asked someone behind her. "You're risking genetic disorders among the people!"

Purebloods. Ardat-Yakshi. That was clearly what the speaker was referring to.

Telienos stood up. "I will state that there is no medical evidence to suggest that interlinking among ourselves would produce the genetic disorders your fear. The medical council will see to it that records are kept precisely."

"By the time it's proven, it'll be too late," the speaker contended. Liara could not see who it was.

"Your concerns are valid," put in Aethyta before Telienos could answer. "But not supported medically. I will not overlook the fears in this issue among the people. However, we have to consider our ancient history when there were no choices but our own. If the belief is correct, we should be over run with Ardat-Yakshi long before we reached for the stars. Has this been the case?"

There was of course no answer to this when everyone knew there was no such occurrence.

"Until it has been proven beyond all doubt, we should not frown on those who chose mates from among ourselves. The matrons must be encouraged to bear. And..," she hesitated, "perhaps those who have not completed the first cycle."

"What?" someone gasped.

"That's too young to..," said another who broke off abruptly when she noticed Liara nearby.

"The young ones tend not to do it," Telienos said. "It is not within their inclinations when they devote their energies to sampling the trials the great consciousness have in store for them. But some few who have matured enough, do and consciously make the choice. We must support them when they do."

"I agree," T'Annor said, standing up. "For the future of Thessia and of the people, it must be done."

"Is there anyone who dissent?" Aethyta looked around, her gaze lighting on Liara's pale face.

There was an expression Liara could not defined but she knew Aethyta was having doubts about her. There was nothing she could think of to prevent the questioning Aytheta would impose on her when she decided to.

"We are in accord." Someone stood up, the rest following suit. With Shiala's help, Liara stood up as well.

"You're hiding something." Shiala observed Liara's anxiety. "About the baby?"

"Perhaps," Liara said evasively. "Does that shrivel your opinion of me?"

"No. But perhaps you fear an unpleasant outcome." Shiala sighed. "Come what may, Liara, know that I will support you."

For a moment, Liara stared at her doubtfully and then nodded. "Thank you."

Local Cluster, Rhea
SSV Normandy

Standing at the viewport of the cabin, Shepard watched the moon grew bigger and bigger as the Normandy glided nearer. Turning her head, she could make out the escort interceptors from the flotilla keeping pace. They were low enough for the craters on the surface to be visible. Since the research base was underground, there was no sprawling complex to be seen. Except for landing pads and several warehouse prefabs, there was no sign of a facility. When it was constructed, she had no idea. After the war perhaps? If it was and word got out, she could well imagine the howls that would spill from the folks back home at the money that went into it. Perhaps even louder now that Earth received such a whipping.

The local news was full of it. Emails flooded the crew from anxious families; not knowing what to do or what they should do. Such confusion could not be found among the crew members, everyone wanted a piece of Cerberus's hide. They were looking to her to lead them to the trail so they could hunt. Turning away from the window, she paced slowly around the cabin, recalling the conversations she had with them at the mess-hall. It didn't disturb her that they were looking to strike back. It was the other view they had of her that made her uncomfortable.

The console beeped. "Captain Shepard, please report to shuttle bay."

"On my way." Picking up her helmet, she left the cabin.