Cortez stopped the shuttle as it touched the deck of Normandy. The squad left the shuttle in following order – Shepard, Legion, Daniel, Cortez. When Cortez closed the door, he stopped Daniel by putting hand on his shoulder.
"I know this feeling, Dan. My husband was killed too so I understand the pain you must feel now." Cortez smiled sadly at Daniel who nodded him. Cortez tapped Daniel on his shoulder before he left. Shepard, Legion and Daniel entered the elevator, everything silent. The silence was broken by Legion asking a question.
"We wish to understand what is happening. Is this physical expression of liquid escaping eyes result of sadness?"
"Yes, Legion. That usually happens when something like death occurs." Shepard answered briefly.
"We've learned in this short period of time on board of Normandy that love is indirect connection. Logically we assume that death of one of the loved ones can cause pain to others without direct connection. Is that how it works, Shepard-commander?"
"Exactly."
"Can we offer our help in this situation?"
"Legion, I think that in cases like these, Daniel needs time to be alone for a while."
"Understood, Shepard-commander." Legion finished. However, Legion was already understanding full concept of humanity. His emotions he considered before to be virus or error caused by some internal platform damage became something he wasn't able to ignore or deny. After many unsuccessful attempts on convincing himself with Geth existence and rational thinking, personality was developing through the time he met Shepard and finished during the time Daniel was on board. Legion was ready to show his personality without worrying about anything because he felt it was part of him.
The elevator arrived at deck three, Daniel and Legion went out and Shepard continued to the first deck, to his cabin. Legion was thinking in the AI core, 'Is it the right time? Is it appropriate to talk to him now? What if I only make it worse? Wait… I… or we… We are Geth. No… I… I am Legion.' He thought walking around the AI core. In the meantime, Daniel was sitting in the Star observatory room at the bar, drinking each liquor he found. He drank already 4 liquors of different type, trying to drown his sorrow in alcohol, maybe poison himself for good.
"My whole existence… has been a mathematical error. God laughs at me. He gives me one fucking time to love. To love for real! And then he just takes it away from me! You, god, you are bastard… You brought me in this world so you could make fun of me. Well, now I'm here. I'm just gonna trash this shell for soul once I drink enough and then… then I'll come up to you and make a second hell of that place you lead. I will enjoy tearing feathers of your angels' wings while they scream and beg for mercy!" Daniel talked hoarsely with head laid on the bar table and with closed eyes.
His eyes opened slightly when the door to Star observatory room opened. Daniel's vision was slightly blurry, but he could recognize Geth with hole in his chest sitting next to him.
"Great… not that god laughs at me. Now he sends me question machine." Daniel snarled. Legion didn't answer, he slowly reached for Daniel's hand. Once Daniel felt the Geth was trying to touch his hand, he flinched back, "Ha! Touching! You'd like that, don't you?!"
"Daniel, I'm here to help you. Please, let me do it." Legion said and Daniel raised on his elbows.
"Help me, right! Everyone's been trying to help me since I appeared in this fucked century full of aliens, robots and battles! I have fucking enough! I want to quit! Just take a role of Geth and kill me already! Do it!" Daniel shouted, wanted to punch Legion but he missed because he was drunk. Legion used that opportunity, grabbed Daniel's both hands firmly so he could not flinch away, "Let go! Just let me drink myself to death!" Daniel shouted, fury built within him was making him to struggle, Legion was still calm.
The Geth was feeling an ease in the struggle, Daniel was calming down "Fucking robot! Why don't you just let go?!" Daniel growled and his anger transformed into sorrow. Sensitivity caused by drinking made Daniel to sob again, "Let go… why… why?!" Daniel stopped struggling and Legion let his hands go. The human was tired of shouting at Legion because the shouting was replaced with weeping. Legion just placed his synthetic muscular arms around Daniel's back, pulling him to his broken armor.
Not paying attention to how uncomfortable the metal was, Daniel found consolation in clasp from Legion. The human continued in crying, tears rolling down his face and Legion's armor.
"Why me, Legion? Why me? Why didn't you come before?"
"I needed time, Daniel. You catalyzed something in me, something I needed to understand. That is why I was asking Shepard-commander all questions about feelings. I had to know that this wasn't only virus in my main frame. Now I see that I can feel, and that I need you beside me. I am still new to emotions. I want to know if you'll help me to understand them all properly. Will you be there for me, Daniel?"
"I will try, Legion…"
Legion watched Daniel with his eye carefully and he finally got what he wanted. Soon Daniel rested with Legion lying on sofa. Legion lied behind Daniel, holding him within his tight embrace. The urge of need to touch was gone. Daniel was here, with Legion and the synthetic could feel happiness building within his body in form of warmth. Daniel was asleep, sensing this warmth. Their mutual coexistence was soon interrupted. The door to the Star observatory opened, Legion looked at them while Daniel was still sleeping. Garrus was standing in them, his casual face changed in a little surprise as his faceplates adjusted.
"I've heard about transspecies love, but I think that Daniel just discovered love between organics and synthetics."
"Do you need something?" Legion asked.
"Shepard sent me to inform you that Daniel should be at the galaxy map." Garrus said and looked at the bar, seeing empty liquor bottles, "Do I want to know more?" he asked.
"No… I will make sure Daniel comes there." Legion said and started shaking with Daniel gently.
"Alright…" Garrus was about to leave but noticed something, "Did you just say 'I' instead of 'We'?!" he pointed out. Shepard was waiting at the galaxy map and soon there was Daniel with Legion and Garrus standing there.
"Is everything ok, Daniel?"
"Yeah, I just drowned my sorrow in some liquor and everything was fine except for the massive headache."
"Maybe there was something more that helped you out of misery though…" Garrus said and referred to Legion. The turian jumped up a little as he got electric shock from the Geth, "I hate you!" Garrus whispered to Legion.
"I know it's hard for you, Daniel. We were all thinking that completing mission with getting the blueprints would end up all problems. However, there is another problem – Cerberus is on the Citadel. I don't want to put your life into risk so we should find a strategy how to take over the Citadel the way Cerberus will never return." Shepard said.
"I wonder… if Cerberus was after my project, why didn't they just come to Earth and take it?" Daniel asked.
"Your project was mystery to many of us. Reports say that Soma was terminated but there was no mention about those blueprints. The Illusive man was thinking this way and so when you appeared, he found all information about you and he wanted detailed information about Soma itself." Shepard answered.
"Good… Shepard, maybe it would be better to do this peacefully and I would surrender to them…"
"What…?" Garrus wondered and with Legion looked at each other.
"Surrender? Daniel, what's the matter? Did a death of Renok hit you that much you want to give yourself to the enemy voluntarily? That's exactly what the Illusive man wants!"
"I'm sorry Shepard… I am just… tired. I can't keep on fighting. It was too much stuff to deal with since I woke up in this century."
"Tired? Daniel… what can I say? I've been up for almost 24 hours and I am still standing. We all are…"
"I don't mean physical fatigue… it's the mental one. The one that cannot be fixed with sleep. For the past few days I've been on the missions, seen things, been to crowds, listened to gun shots, lost somebody dear to me. I'm tired…"
"I see your point, Daniel… alright I guess I forgot what you're dealing with. I just want you to hold on in this battle, Daniel."
"I'd like to, but we're dealing with a strong enemy and Shepard, you've got Reapers to worry about. My mission is only the side quest." Daniel turned around, walking towards the elevator.
"Daniel! Only I can say what our priorities are! Come back!" he said but Daniel took the elevator down to the crew deck, "Damn… why doesn't he listen?"
"Maybe you should listen to him, Shepard. Perhaps he's got a plan." Garrus said.
"Yeah, you might be right. Somehow I think he's just trying to make us forget about him…" Shepard finished his speech and soon Legion went back to Daniel, this time in the life support.
"Daniel? Did you mean that seriously?" Legion asked.
"Yes, Legion. I meant it seriously."
"But Daniel, you promised me to stay with me in case I don't understand my emotions right!"
"And I will keep my promise."
"How do you want to accomplish this when you'll be in Cerberus detention?"
"Sit down, Legion and let's talk." Daniel said and explained Legion his plan. The Geth adjusted his faceplates the way it looked like a sign happiness.
"Acknowledged!" Legion said and rest of the journey to the Citadel was peaceful on Normandy. It took three hours before Normandy made jump through a mass relay. Normandy was arriving at the Citadel which was surrounded with Cerberus warships. It docked to the docking bay D24. Daniel said good bye to all crew members, his escort was made of Garrus, Legion and Shepard. Cerberus troops were guarding each corner of the Citadel and watched as the group of soldiers was making their way through.
Garrus, Legion and Shepard led Daniel towards the elevator which took them to another docking bay. Cerberus soldiers were waiting near the airlock as the squad entered a docking bay. One of the troops went closer to the squad.
"Daniel Husk?"
"That's me…" Daniel said and went towards the soldier.
"The ship is ready. We can leave whenever you're ready." Daniel looked behind him for the last time. Legion gave him assuring nod. Daniel looked back at the soldier and walked pass him towards the air lock, "Thank you for cooperation. The Illusive man will be pleased."
"He better not leave a scratch on him or else…" Garrus threatened but the soldier turned away from them and left as well as the ship carrying Daniel. Shepard caught transmission from EDI.
"Shepard, Cerberus reinforcements are leaving with their ships from the Citadel." The only positive news was said by EDI.