DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN MASS EFFECT THEY BELONG TO BIOWARE AND EA GAMES.
A/N: Ok I had my fair share of bad reviews over the years and, yes I had some really nasty ones. But the one that sent those guest reviews to me….it was laughable. I mean I know you are trying to make a point by telling me to stop focusing on people but buddy...that is the whole point of the story and the Mass Effect series in General! It is about the people and the characters. That is what makes a story so sound. And for your other point made before I erased your review the bad comments you made about me and my late friend. I had to laugh at you for you don't know me and you don't know the point. So I call you out Guest and give me a signed review so we can talk. If not then well...it is your call.
Ok enough dark ramblings I want to thank each and everyone of you out there who had faved and reviewed my story. (Yes that includes the Flamer) you guys are the best. And to my Awesome Beta who also got a good laugh out of the bad review. You are No Ka Oi (The Best).
Anyhow enough ramblings and on with the story!
Mass Effect the Immortal Series Part 1: Flight of the Normandy
Chapter 21: The Prothean Tragedy
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND, PLANET EARTH
The main meeting area of the University of Auckland, New Zealand, was filled with the best and the brightest in various fields of science. At the auditorium used for such meetings, the amount of people filling in, made the person sitting at the fore front not feel the least bit comfortable at all. In fact, if one were Jean Bethune, they would be wanting to return home and watch the latest game on the television rather than sit here. But, today was not a good day, and right now Bethune was about to feel the worst headache to come on her.
Her dark eyes took note of all the people gathered in the room. Many of them were chatting with colleagues or rivals, which Bethune would rather not care about. She sighed as she waited for the last of them to enter. It did not take long before the doors were shut and the guards that were posted at the entrances took up positions. The only door that was available was the one leading to the restrooms. There was also a refreshment stand where they could get something to eat or drink if they felt up to it.
However, the room was filled with the noise of people chatting away and it was near deafening.
The room was a typical university classroom that was often times used as a meeting room for faculty and staff. It also served as a room for delegates and, in this case, scientists, because it was one of the rooms where translators can be used. As the last door was shut, the room became quiet. Bethune breathed in before she began.
"I apologize to call you all on such short notice, but seventy two hours had gone by since I called you to ask you to come here. Your demand of what has happened, whether you watched it on the news or on the internet, has the world in shock and here, we need answers," she said.
"What sort of call, Bethune? The late call to let us know that Dr. Alenkov has raised the most important discovery since the Egyptian tombs?" said one scientists.
"I assure you that I had no idea of what she was doing until she did it," Bethune replied.
"And what about the fact that the ship, after it had risen, had gone to Vietnam and attacked the pirates on the Ocean Odyssey?" asked another scientist.
"Doctors, please! Let me explain before you drown me with your questions," Bethune replied.
"And what is this that we hear of civilians being used as test subjects for the study of alien tech?" asked a third.
"PLEASE!" Bethune cried out, getting silence from the raised voices of the audience.
"Thank you. As you can all understand, we are investigating into the illegal taking of human personnel onboard the craft. From what we understood, the so-called volunteers were not what we thought they were. Due to lack of proper security into our systems, the people coming onboard the alien vessel were not truly volunteers. They weren't voluntarily brought onboard. They were taken from their homes by force and made to serve the purpose of study onboard the ship," Bethune said.
"By whose authority!" shouted someone on the audience.
"It was by the United Nations Council," Bethune replied. "To find volunteers who have tested positive for signs of Element Zero in their bloodstream. To see if they are willing to undergo the deep sea voyage, and help us discover what was on the ship and how it was made. But instead, these people were taken, as I mentioned earlier, by force and made to work as slaves onboard the vessel. Forced to sign papers that condemn them for life. When it was over with, they were supposed to be sent home for psych-eval, but instead, they had disappeared from their homes. Most were presumed dead from suicide, though these bodies had not been found. It was during the crisis in the Challenger Deep that evidence was found that they were being sent back to the ship to be incinerated by the Element Zero Core," she replied.
The brought an uproar from the audience as many shouted for her removal from office.
"Did any of the subjects that you say 'volunteered,' show any signs of biotic abilities. If I recall, according to recent testing with the various wildlife out in the deep ocean, exposure to Element Zero has some interesting consequences. Do these people exhibit the same 'tendencies'?" another scientist asked, this one was a fail old man who looked no older than mid to late sixties. The audience was quiet waiting for Bethune to answer.
"Some did and it was enhanced by their exposure to the ship," she said. This brought another round of loud exchanges until she raised her hand.
"So you risked a humanitarian crisis to prove that aliens had in fact existed. What is the price of this kidnapping Dr. Bethune," asked an Indian scientist. This one was female and wore the classical Indian wear.
"The price was not mine to pay, for I had no idea that the people who were involved were doing such an act. It was not until the crisis that it was revealed to me, and by then, it was counted that hundreds of burned bodies were there to die. Those left alive had been driven insane and had mutated into something else," Bethune replied.
"Something else? And for what purpose? For what cause would they be driven insane?" the Indian scientist asked.
"As you know Element Zero is highly radioactive. If anyone were to know why it was out and about in the human body then we would not exist. As of right now, studies show that people acquired it through ingestion or through genetics. Those that were born with Element Zero tend to develop abilities at an early age. The youngest was recorded at thirteen when they started puberty." Bethune stated.
"If the element is highly radioactive, then should that have started some other side effects, such as cancer?" a person asked, this one with a slight British accent to them.
"It does, if the parent was exposed to the element while the baby is in utero. This happens if the mother ingests fish caught at great depths near an element zero line. However, those are found near certain areas in the world today. The Philippines, New Zealand, Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan, parts of Southern China and the East Pacific Islands. All the areas around or in the path of the Marianas Trench. All deep sea life that is around that area showed signs of element zero. Even deep diving marine mammals such as Sperm Whales exhibit some form of Element Zero. However, the traces in them are too small for them to develop cancers. But, as I later found out, such finds were unprecedented as these species developed evolutionary traits that help them deal with the amount of element zero in the ocean." Bethune replied.
"And the people?" asked the person.
"In the case of some indigenous cultures, the people who developed such powers were revered as shamans and sorcerers. They were highly respected or greatly feared. Either way, they were biotic in nature. Some historical figures in those countries could be possible biotics. We just have to read between the lines," said Bethune.
"What about the case we heard about the girl who was brought back with alien technology? What about her? Was she biotic before then?" asked another person.
"I do not know this girl, for I have never met her. However, what I do know of her, came from her files." Bethune replied.
"So, you can't confirm nor deny that the girl was saved using alien technology?" the man said.
"No, I can't. However, we have other issues that also needed to discuss." Bethune said as she steered the group back onto subject.
"Before we were interrupted, I was just going to inform you about what took place nearly forty eight hours before. As you all know, the Odyssey had been taken by pirates just a few months back. They had held the ship using the technology gained from the alien vessel now known as the Normandy. The combined fleets of several countries had tried to hold them off at great cost to their own. However, the pirates must have had a backer, for they were armed with several submarines. Each of them were built from plans stolen from the U.S. and Russia. That tells us, the scientific community, that someone with ill intentions has stolen these military plans from governments in order to create a fleet of their own. They wanted to use the technology on the Ocean Odyssey to create weapons of destruction upon the populace." Bethune replied.
"What about the alien vessel? You gave it the name Normandy, why?" asked someone from the back.
"It would seem from the reports that I had been given by the Odyssey crew members, that the ship named itself. How I don't know, but I have people here who can answer your questions regarding the ship after we review what has happened." Bethune said.
"You showed us the alien vessel fighting off the pirates. Such weaponry should not exist! Yet this defies the laws of physics, Bethune. How could you allow Alenkov to keep such weaponry is beyond me!" another said.
"I had not allowed Dr. Alenkov to keep such weaponry. When she returns, she will answer to the United Nations about such actions. But until then, we have to speculate as to why she took the ship out into space." Bethune answered.
"Where are these guests Dr. Bethune that you speak of? Are they here in the building?" asked a female reporter. Bethune knew she was a reporter from the badge that she wore on her shirt. She was not one of the scientists but she was one of the news groups who were allowed to watch the proceedings.
"They are in the back and when I call them they will come out. Until then Ms.?"
"Mia Tembo, South African News," she said.
"Right, Ms. Tembo, as I stated, I will be letting them in here to speak for themselves. If you would allow me," she said. Dr. Bethune then indicated with her hand, and three people walked in, two males and one female. The female looked really nervous, while the two males looked calm and collected. The shorter of the two wore glasses, while the taller one looked like he'd rather be somewhere else.
"Ah, Dr. Jenkins, Dr. Caradine, welcome, and you too, Miss Jessica," said Dr. Bethune as she welcomed the guests into the room. All three walked into the room and every person watching noticed that they seemed a lot thinner than what was considered normal.
"Dr. Jenkins, Dr. Caradine and Miss Jessica, as she would prefer to be called, are all former crew members of the Normandy. They have come here today to bear witness and to answer questions to you all about their experiences on the ship and what they learned about alien technology." Dr. Bethune said to them.
"They are former members of the crew?" asked one.
"They have seen what is onboard?" asked another.
"Are you sure you are not lying Bethune?" asked a third.
"Now, Now let them speak!" said Bethune as she turned towards both Dr. Jenkins and Dr. Caradine.
Taking a deep breath, both of them approached the circle where Dr. Bethune was standing. When they got there, the spotlight shone on them, and Jessica had to shield her eyes a bit before it was moved.
"Now can you explain to us just what Normandy is and what its purpose here on Earth is?" asked Bethune.
"We don't know for sure what Normandy's purpose was on Earth, but what we do know is that it is not what we thought it was." said Dr. Caradine.
"Normandy is a civilian class stealth ship, designed with weaponry that would make any modern warship look like a child's toy. Its design alone makes it so that it is undetectable to any modern radar and if stationary, can even make itself completely invisible." Dr. Jenkins replied.
"The ship can hide in plain sight?" asked one of the scientists from the audience.
"Yes, it can hide from anyone if you place it in the right place. The ship itself is about 170 meters in length, 75 meters in width and 30 meters in height. The power source of the ship is a combination of a fusion reactor, which is the main source, and helium. The ship can process these fuel sources itself, allowing it to have nearly unlimited supply of fuel. However, due to the crash, the ship has leaked vital fuel for millions of years affecting wildlife and the environment around it." Dr. Jenkins replied.
"So the Normandy is able to process its own fuel? Does it require outside sources?" asked another scientist.
"To replenish its supply, yes. That is where Dr. Alenkov has taken the ship. To find an alternative supply of fuel to replenish the ship's reserves," replied Dr. Caradine.
"Why didn't you accompany them?" asked a third scientist.
"I didn't leave because, unlike some of them up there, my family and my research is here," replied Dr. Caradine, "I am a microbiologist, not an astronomer."
"I wanted to leave because there is much to do here on Earth. Space is not my forte," replied Dr. Jenkins.
"I just wanted to go home," replied Jessica.
"Young lady, what is your place on the Normandy? You obviously are not a scientist, so what was your role to play in all this?" asked the Indian Scientist.
"I was one the so-called 'volunteers," Jessica replied. That got a reaction, as a mumbling was heard throughout the auditorium.
"Were you forcibly taken like many others?" asked the same scientist.
"Yes, Alexandria Wilcox came to my school. I was attending UCLA at the time, studying to be a lawyer when she came. When my family refused to acknowledge her, she presented the evidence of my exposure to element zero and I was sent to the Challenger Deep," Jessica said.
"How were you exposed to element zero?" asked another scientist.
"I don't know," Jessica replied.
"Did you eat any fish brought in from overseas?" asked another scientist.
"I hate fish," Jessica replied.
"Any foreign food that you might have consumed that might have contained contaminated fish or marine life?" asked a reporter this time.
"Look, I don't know, all I know is that I was tested positive for element zero in my blood. She said that there is just enough of it in me to warrant my scholarship away. She had people hounding my parents till I came cooperatively. I was then stuffed onto a private jet with that bitch and sent directly to the trench. If it wasn't for Martha, then I would have died. That crazy shit managed to figure out something incredible. And I am glad for it, since I can go home after this," Jessica said with anger tinged in her voice.
"We apologize if it sounds bad to you, Miss Jessica, but we need answers as to what happened. So what was your role on the Normandy? Someone said that you were onboard?" the reporter stated.
"I was the Normandy's Communication's Officer," Jessica repeated again.
"You stated that before, now what about you two gentlemen, what were your roles?" asked the reporter.
"I was the Normandy's lead navigator and Dr. Caradine here was the Normandy's lead micro-analyst. Since he studies microbiology, he was put in the laboratory the ship provided. And when we docked with the Odyssey, he and I, along with Miss Jessica and a few others, decided to depart for home," Dr. Jenkins replied.
"You studied microbiology? What did you study in particular?" asked another scientist.
"I studied the means to which life was able to survive that much radiation from the element zero leakage. And what I found was astonishing, but not too similar to how life began in our universe," Dr. Caradine replied.
"So despite all that you became an officer to the alien vessel?" the same scientist asked.
"Yes, I was also there when Martha died and the ship brought her back to life," Dr. Caradine said.
There was a muttering that went on around the room as many heads were turned. They started speaking to themselves as if curious to what was going on. Then, as if one, they turned to the three as if accusing them of murder.
"You said this, 'Martha' died?" One person asked.
"Yes, I am sure Dr. Bethune can tell you that there was an incident in the Element Zero Core. The woman was trapped while rescuing both Dr. Kimber and Dr. Jackson from hordes of monsters," Dr. Jenkins replied.
"Yes, we heard her, but we would like to hear it from you. Martha was killed by these creatures, or was she killed by the core itself? As I understand it, radiation burns are dangerous and deadly. Even if she survived, she should have some form of cancer in her and should not have survived more then a few days," another scientist pointed out.
"Martha survived because she discovered a device that we all wear," Dr. Caradine said as he showed his left arm. A device glowed from it, startling the entire auditorium.
"This device is called an omni-tool. Though ours is of the basic scientific levels, Martha's was different. When she died, it released a sort of blue gel that was filled with nanites into her body. Those nanites had samples of her DNA and used it to repair her tissues. When she was healed, she looked like she had just been reborn. It was amazing what they could do. However, there was a drawback," said Dr. Caradine.
"What was the drawback?" asked a reporter.
"The nanites did not have a full human genome within their programming. The artificial intelligence on the ship, EDI, informed us that due to that glitch Martha will never again be fully human. We can tell, because when she shows signs of extreme stress, she exhibits powers that go beyond that of any normal biotic. Not only that, but parts of her body seemed to transform just slightly." Dr. Caradine explained.
Both Jessica and Dr. Jenkins looked at him horrified at that reveal.
"Explain," said another.
"Martha, when under duress, either has her skin changed to scales or her eyes changed to a red slitted color, like that of a reptile. I even saw her teeth change form when angry once," Said Dr. Caradine.
"So you are saying that the pilot of the Normandy could very well have the DNA of the aliens that created it is that correct?" another scientist asked.
"Possibly, we don't know," replied Dr. Caradine.
"That is all for now," said Dr. Bethune and thanked all three of them before dismissing them from the room. The three of them carefully walked away to the back area where the office was to wait for Bethune.
"Alright, any more questions before I move on?" Bethune replied.
"I have one?" asked a reporter from the crowds.
"Alright, what is it?" asked Bethune.
"From what I understand, the ship has an artificial intelligence, but what is its purpose on the ship?" asked the reporter.
"I don't know, so when Dr. Jenkins and Dr. Caradine are rested, I will bring them out again for further questioning. Now, on to another topic that has been of some concern to me. Security..."
MEANWHILE
"We can't tell them anything!" said Dr. Jenkins as he looked at Dr. Caradine and Jessica with scrutiny.
"I know, and I am not going to tell them anything," said Dr. Caradine. He may have had a disagreement with Dr. Alenkov, but he had to admit that Normandy saved his life and he would not betray that trust.
"I am not going to either, Normandy and Martha are my friends and I am not going to go back on my word," said Jessica.
"So what do we tell them? That we are currently flying the most advanced warship out there?" Dr. Jenkins asked.
"No, we stick with the plan. Alenkov gave us a mission and we are going to do it. Remember, we remained behind to represent the Normandy as well as to go home. We owe her that much," said Jessica.
The three nodded as they waited. The office they were in belonged to whichever professor used it during class time. It was just off to the side of the auditorium and it allowed whoever needed to the time to process their thoughts. It was filled with books, that much they could tell, of random things, but mostly of things that had to do with philosophy and science. The desk itself was a modern desk with its transparent clean look. The computer that sat on top was an old desktop that probably has seen better days.
Being careful as they were, they each swept the room for bugs using their omni-tools as guides. They had not found much in the way of bugs, only something random like a security camera to keep an eye on the professor. Jessica also used that time to release some pent up static that she had gathered. Being a biotic is a pain at times, and to have to release some pent up energy is another. Luckily for her, the metal beams that hold the building up provide the perfect way to let loose. But it also allowed her to use her omni-tool to tap into the speakers and microphones from outside.
Another thing about the room, it was unusually quiet. The walls were soundproofed, which is unusual for an office. But then again, it also allows the speaker to have time to themselves and to keep discussions with students from being overheard. This made them all nervous.
Luckily, thanks to their tech, they were able to listen to the arguments going on outside. The current topic is what they are going to do about the security of the Ocean Odyssey and how they are going to prevent another issue like this from happening again. It is a topic that needs to be discussed and such discussions were heavily debated. They listened for the arguments and the increase in volume showed how heated it was.
Just as they were getting bored, with Jessica looking at the latest fashion news on her tablet, a knock came from the door. Then it opened softly and a staff member came with refreshments. When the wagon was dropped off, the trio looked at the food and then at each other.
"Let me do the honors," said Dr. Caradine as he checked for any sort of drugs and listening devices. He found two listening devices, a camera, and one of the trays had some sort of drug in them. It was not like they didn't trust Dr. Bethune. They didn't trust some of her associates. Plus, they were warned that something like this would happen. If the pirates taught them one thing, it was that everyone is out to get whatever they could on the Normandy and that had to be protected at all costs. Including the truth of what Normandy truly is.
Taking the safe foods, they ate in silence, enjoying the simple dishes of soups and fruits for them. Their digestive systems had not fully recovered yet from nearly starving to death. But it was something for them. The nutrient drinks that accompanied them also helped in easing their stomachs.
It was not long before the door opened again and another person entered. This one was Dr. Bethune herself. She looked ragged and worn out. Her dark skin looked pale and pasty.
"Are you alright doctor?" asked Dr. Jenkins as he helped her to her seat. The woman thanked him as she sat behind the desk.
"I am fine, thank you Dr. Jenkins. I just need time to rest from all that debates," she said.
"What are they discussing now?" asked Dr. Caradine.
"They are discussing something with the budget and how we are going to increase security with the Ocean Odyssey and when the Normandy returns to Earth." replied Bethune.
"So why the absence?" asked Dr. Jenkins.
"I needed to step out to not only use the bathroom, but to talk to you about the next line of questioning. I am going to warn you now that what they asked you before is minor, the next stage is going to be major and you need to be at your best. They will be questioning more about the Normandy's systems now that they have a general ideal of what is going on. To be frank, I would be on my guard if I were you, especially around the reporters," Bethune warned. The group nodded before she walked off to use the facilities.
That made the three worry as the door opened an an assistant appeared, "They are ready for you," then she closed the door. All three had a worried look on their faces as Bethune emerged from the facilities.
"I heard everything. I guess break time is over," she said.
BACK IN THE AUDITORIUM
Bethune brought the group back out again, this time, the many scientists were silent as they walked into the light of the stage. When Bethune stood before them again, one of the voices spoke.
"Dr. Bethune, we would like to ask our guests a few final questions, if we may?" said one of the scientists in the audience. The speaker was unknown, but Bethune nodded anyways. "Alright, you may begin your questions if they are ready," she said turning to them.
All three of them stood ready when the questions started to come out.
"You mentioned an artificial intelligence on the ship, what was it called again?" asked one person.
"The Enhance Defense Intelligence, known as EDI. It is the intelligence that helps to monitor the ship's systems and in the case of the pilot's absence, takes temporary control of the ship. Her main function is to protect the ship from any form of cyber attacks on the ship. And to protect the crew from all sorts of simulations and dangers. She can adapt to many situations in the blink of an eye. Her main programming is to protect the crew from danger, even from themselves," said Dr. Jenkins.
"Why would a ship such as the Normandy pick its own name? Why name it after Normandy, France?" asked another.
"The ship picked its own name from our history. Normandy was a place that changed the events of the second world war. It named itself that to be easier for humans to speak its name. Its original name has been lost to time due to degradation and damage. So it did what its subliminal programming has done. It renamed and repurposed itself to serve human needs," Dr. Jenkins replied.
"Why would a ship, from what we've seen of the inside, resembling a luxury cruiser, have weaponry that would be equaled to that of a warship?" asked a third scientist.
"Normandy was designed to protect interplanetary dignitaries from pirates and other dangers. The weapons and armor the ship carries is so that it can safeguard its passengers when going from planet to planet," said Dr. Caradine.
"So it was designed to be a civilian ship?" asked a fourth scientist.
"Yes, it was designed to be a civilian ship. Able to carry important dignitaries, as I stated earlier," replied Dr. Jenkins.
"But why all that firepower when they could have just asked for an escort?" asked a fifth person.
"According to the ship's records, it was built was during a time of war. That means that extreme measures were in place to protect the ship's charge from becoming killed during a space battle. Due to the amount of damage the ship had taken before we initiated repairs, we would assume that they had an escort. Or if they had to do covert operations with the dignitaries, they used the stealth system." Dr. Jenkins replied.
"So the ship was designed to carry political dignitaries from one place to another in safety, is that correct?" asked the same person.
"Yes, that is correct," replied Dr. Jenkins.
"So the artificial intelligence acts as a sort of cyber security guard?" asked the fourth person.
"Yes, as its last act before the crash here on Earth, it erased all of its manifest so that no one knows who the crew members were, or the passengers that the ship was carrying." Dr. Caradine replied.
"If that is the case, and it was built during wartime, why does it have video surveillance of our planet. We had gotten reports from Dr. Alenkov that the ship has recorded Earth's primordial history. Dinosaurs and other animals had been recorded. That is something every paleontologist is willing to get their hands on," said the fifth person.
"Normandy's primary protocol is to the passengers and crew that she has. We noticed the escape pods are gone, meaning that the crew had abandoned ship prior to landing on Earth. From what we gathered, they had been attacked just before the crash. We saw that the enemy had somehow found Normandy in Earth's orbit and shot the ship down before it could make its escape. As a final ditch effort, the artificial intelligence initiated these protocols to ensure everyone's safety. When on Earth, it began a search and rescue effort in hopes of finding the escape pods. It was unsuccessful." said Dr. Jenkins.
"So if it was unsuccessful, why keep recording for the last 325 million years?" this time it was a sixth person who asked.
"I can answer that," said Jessica, speaking up for the first time. When she felt all eyes on her, she took a deep breath and tried to remember all her communications classes in college.
"Normandy sustained damage upon entry into Earth's atmosphere. When we explored the ship after activation, several areas were damaged and needed repairs. One of them was the fusion reactor and the fuel lines. That is why there is element zero along the ocean floor," replied Jessica.
There was silence for about fifteen seconds, and then it was picked up again by another person, this one a bit closer to the stage.
"You stated that it sustained damage to the fuel lines, yet you mentioned earlier that it takes both helium and element zero. Why both?"
"Well, helium is used to power the engines as well as provide fusion to power the ship. Element Zero is used to power the hyper drive, maintain artificial gravity and power the weapons systems. Mainly the ship's kinetic barriers or shields." replied Dr. Jenkins.
"So it is double fueled?" asked the person up front.
"Yes, that is why Dr. Alenkov went to space, to find the fuel that Normandy needs to power its systems," replied Dr. Jenkins.
The meeting went on for another four hours, going over details of the Normandy's systems. It was well past midnight when everyone ran out of questions and desired to retire. Only the group remained with Bethune, who was there to escort them to their vehicle and then to the hotel. Once there, they were dismissed with their bodyguards and then, exhausted, they all headed towards their individual rooms. Once there, they unknowingly, or knowingly, depending on the individual, collapsed on their own beds to sleep. It was a long and exhausting day and for those not used to it or don't have the stamina yet, it was a huge thing. But in the end, they thought it was worth it, for Normandy has risen and the world needs to know about it. All it needs to do now is return to Earth.
MARS
Martha walked into the room just opposite the labs. It was rather large with a singular table in front of it. She remembered this was one of the storage units before and now it was just... empty.
"EDI, what is this? Is this the main meeting room for officers or something?" she asked the computer.
"No, this is the FTL communications room. This allows the Normandy to communicate over vast distances to other units across the galaxy at the same rate and speed as your cell phone." EDI said.
"Wow, really?" Martha said, amazed as she walked towards the table. She felt along the lines of the edge and then she felt along the inner part.
"So how does it work?" she asked.
"When activated, just step onto the platform when it lowers. Your image is then scanned and transferred to another unit at the receiving end. How it works is that two subatomic particles are quantum-entangled with each other, in opposite states. So a single unit has two different particles. If one particle were to change its state, the other must do the opposite on the other side. But the only downside to it is that it can only do one unit pair at a time. To do so to a hundred or a thousand it needs just as much pairs to be able to communicate and transfer data to," EDI replied.
"Ok, that went a bit over my head but I get the point," Martha stated to her.
She walked out of the room, towards where the security team has set up their headquarters on the ship. The ship's armory was full of weapons on display for them to use. Some were housed in a security field that only the people onboard can use and some in some state of repair. But only two security members were currently there as they were on duty. The others were either off doing their own thing or with the teams in the alien facility.
I wonder what they are doing right now? Martha thought as she walked out towards the C.I.C. again. As she did so, she was stopped by Hilary who looked a bit excited as she ran up to her.
"Hey Martha, wanna see the Martian base?" she said.
"What? I thought we aren't supposed to leave till they cleared it?" Martha asked.
"They just did, and we got the life support systems back online again. So, Dr. Alenkov just allowed us to explore. Not only that, but we got the fuel we need for permanent power on the ship!" Hilary said to her.
Surprised, Martha looked at her with excitement, "Really? We get to see an alien facility? What about disease and all that shit?" she asked.
"Well, that is the thing, we need to put on armor if we are to explore. But I am supposed to get fitted. You, I don't know about having one your size," Hilary replied and Martha looked down, disappointed.
"There is one for you in your room, Martha. It is about the same as your height and build. The Normandy custom made it to fit you," EDI replied. Shocked, Martha went for the elevator, followed by Hilary. As they went up, both girls started giggling at the silly things that they had done as kids.
Martha looked around her room and finally noticed a set of drawers at her bedside, just off to the wall. Walking towards it, she noticed that they were untouched. Since her clothes are in the other drawers along the same wall.
"Ok, let's see," Martha said to Hilary as she opened the drawers. From inside, she pulled up a single piece suit.
"What the fuck is this?" Martha asked.
"It is an envirosuit, this is what the security teams wear when they go outside into extreme environments. It is also what they had used to fight the pirates during the battle of the Odyssey. This part is just the undersuit. In the drawer above it has the armor itself. This will help protect you from any sort of damage that could come from the alien base itself," EDI replied.
Both girls looked on in wonder as Martha pulled it out. It looked a bit form fitting, but she was willing to try it on. Going towards the bathroom, she then started to strip out of her clothes into the envirosuit. When she emerged, she felt a bit exposed.
"Wow! That looks cool, like something out of a spy movie," said Hilary and Martha detected the humor in her voice.
"Ha ha, very funny, now help me with the rest of this stuff," Martha said and Hilary helped her with loading up her armor. When she was fully armored, she looked at herself in the mirror.
"I feel like I am going to play laser tag or paint ball with a few friends," she said.
"Don't worry about it, you are going to be fine," Hilary replied.
In next few minutes, they joined with others who would like to explore. Dr. Alenkov was one of them, dressed in a simular suit to Martha's, but her's was dark blue while Martha's was black.
"Ready?" she asked, and both Martha and Hilary nodded, before she walked through the hatch doors.
The first thing that Martha noticed was the air was vastly different to that on Earth, since she had to wear a helmet to protect herself from the stale air. Dr. Alenkov and the others did the same. As they walked down the dark corridors, they could see the many ships outside of the Normandy. When they came onto the platform, the lights lit up, allowing them to see where they are.
It was also then that Martha once again felt a presence. It was a pressure sort of feeling. She put her hand to her temple and relaxed her mind. Dr. Zenger suggested to let the messages play out by calming her mind and letting it in. She did so. The only thing she got was the feeling of something beckoning her to follow.
"What is it?" asked Hilary.
"Something is calling me," Martha replied.
"Where?" asked Dr. Alenkov.
"That way," Martha said, pointing towards a hallway on the right side. Dr. Alenkov recognized it as the hallway the team first went through when exploring the base. It was secure, so that allowed them to travel down the walkway unhindered. Still, there was a security detail that came back to get the group to come down, after Dr. Alenkov informed them of the latest incident surrounding their pilot. Extra steps were initiated to protect her from herself and others from outside interference. EDI had been working diligently to protect the crew from psychic attacks as best she could.
Martha, being the most sensitive, was given something to keep her brain from going into overload. She kept walking, feeling a bit sleepy, but it helped. The beckoning kept her going and the others just followed. She eventually stopped at the room that had the skeletons. Slowly, she reached out and felt along the lines of the bodies as if in a trance.
But she did not see the people who followed her, no… she saw something else.
Shouts could be heard down the hallways as guns fired. The hallway was filled with smoke as the sounds of running feet echoed across metal floors. A thunderous roar was heard from all around her. It was the sounds of battle.
"Martha, what do you see?" asked Dr. Alenkov, but her voice was far away. Luckily Martha heard her and answered back, "I see a battle, the sound of battle. A fight was happening here and many aliens are running," she walked further down the hallway.
She could feel the echoes as they gotten louder. The sounds of explosions could be heard and she described them to Dr. Alenkov.
"Is it wise to let her be here?" said a distant voice and Martha could hear the reply, "We need to know what happened, and it seems as if Martha can sense what happened here. Let her see, maybe she can shed some light, like how she did with the Normandy," Dr. Alenkov's voice replied.
Martha just kept on walking. The sounds of battle were getting louder as she neared another room. Shouts could be heard and suddenly, an explosion happened just off to the side. Martha nearly fell from the psychic rebound, but managed to steady herself. Describing it to Dr. Alenkov, she walked further in. She could see the aliens again with their cobra-like heads and insectoid bodies. They were firing on a group that looked similar yet grotesque. They started firing back at them, but Martha could see them shooting things from their hands, Biotics? She asked herself.
She was not sure, but she turned to go into another hallway. This time, the room opened up to a much larger room. This one was filled with bodies as many of them headed towards the hangars. One of them was pointing to the skies. Martha looked through a nearby window, and what she saw shocked her.
It was the same thing she saw on the Normandy! The same creature, this time a single one, landed on the planet. It started to attack the alien structure, but as luck would have it, it was underground so it was somewhat safe. However, the city above it was not. The creature attacked with a ferocity that could not have been seen anywhere else. Grotesque creatures came from all directions and attacked the aliens. But as Martha looked around, the hallway looked different than the one she was walking in.
This time, she was walking in a city, much like the first vision she had while landing on this planet. It was a small city, but the surroundings were wrong. Instead of dry dirt there was trees and a clear blue sky. But as the creature walked, the skies turned black and the city lights went out. The people ran in fear as the red beam hit them turning them to ash and smoke.
Martha watched in fear as this creature rampaged through the city, destroying everything in sight. She was angered that this creature would do such a thing, but then again, when the alien passed through her, she could do nothing. She was just a guest in this vision of the past. The vision reappeared again, back on Mars, with many of them fighting for their lives. But something seemed off. The Reaper, after it attacked, left the base unharmed.
Well, it was, until she was swept again into the hallways and the fighting that took place there. Then she knew, the Reaper, the creature that EDI told her about, was trying to destroy everything here. Its minions are just there killing everyone. She could not understand what was being said, but she knew the body language. Many of them, mostly those who didn't have guns, were running for the dark tunnels. Martha followed them, and when she got there, she saw them heading for several ships that would take them off world, out from the carnage they went, and into the darkness of space. Some didn't make it. Others did, and disappeared into space.
She then heard voices as she turned around and followed a few others down into the hallways towards a much larger room. When she entered, the largest thing around was standing there in a shaft of light. A beacon of sorts awaited, and in that moment, the last members of the alien race were killed off by those same creatures. Just as a large pulse of light came out from the hallways and then there was blackness.
END OF VISION
Martha found herself standing in the room as it is now surrounded by the others. She was clearly shaking. Fear came to her as she looked around and saw everyone staring at her. Quickly, Dr. Alenkov rushed to her side to hold her, along with Hilary and Dr. Kimber. All three females held her, telling her that everything was ok.
But Martha was not ok. She was shaking and she was crying. It was such a horrific ending and the vision was still fresh in her mind. The tremors didn't stop even when she seemed to calm down. It was only when Dr. Shenoy came and re-administered the sedative, that she started to calm.
"They were attacked," Martha muttered.
"We know, we can tell by the bodies," said Major Lawoski.
"No, the Reapers, they were here, they attacked this place. Mars was once full of life and then the Reapers destroyed it all," Martha replied, her voice shaking.
"It's ok Martha, the Reapers are gone, they are not here, you are safe," said Dr. Kimber. Martha wished it were so, but she willed herself to calm. She tried to calm and when the sedative really took effect, she started to return to normal.
"Guys, look at this!" said Major Reynolds as he pointed to the large column in front of them. The object was glowing a faint green as everyone noticed something happening in front of them. The computers in front of them started to come online one by one.
"Drones must have repaired the reactor," said Dr. Kimber.
"Yes, the reactor is fully repaired and the element zero is fully extracted. I have also translated all the information from the station's computers. This station was a research outpost, studying the planet Earth. Mars had already lost all traces of water and life before the Reaper got here. I would assume the vision that Martha saw was not only that of Mars, but that of the alien's homeworld. It must have sensed Martha's psychic ability and transferred information to her brain." EDI said.
"If that is the case, then these creatures must speak psychically," said Dr. Zenger who had been with them the whole time.
All the scientists spoke way over Martha's head as she turned to look at the cylinder. Curious, she walked towards the keyboard. "EDI, do you know what the aliens are called?" she asked her.
"From my translations, they are called 'Protheans,' they were here around fifty thousand years ago, long before humans began their civilizations, and had been studying human evolution for just as long." EDI replied.
"Wow, so they must have seen neanderthals and such then, cool," Martha said, intrigued. She looked over at the device, the glow that was emitting from it was alluring.
"So what is this thing?" Martha asked.
"We don't know," replied Dr. Kimber.
"It is a repository of all the Prothean knowledge of the galaxy. According to the translated records, the Protheans came to Earth more than seventy five thousand years ago. They were studying the evolution of your planet. Your species fascinated them and they wanted further study. Unfortunately, the Reapers put a stop to the research into humans and their evolution. I fear that soon, it would be your turn," EDI replied.
"You said this was a repository of all Prothean knowledge, does that include spaceflight?" asked Dr. Alenkov.
"Yes, it is all here, how they used Element Zero to travel through space and even how to build faster than light engines. The Protheans wanted the human race to have all their knowledge, should something happen to them," replied EDI.
"Holy shit, with this much knowledge, the whole world would change. There will be a shit storm once this hits Earth," said Hilary.
"You are indeed correct. But we are dawdling here for now. EDI, do you have a copy of all the data from the Beacon?" Dr. Alenkov asked.
"Yes, it is all stored on my database," EDI replied.
"Good. We are through here. I think we got what we needed with Martha, so now, we can get out of here and go home once the storm ends." Dr. Alenkov ordered.
"So what are we going to do with the bodies?" asked Major Reynolds.
"We will give them a proper burial, hoping EDI can provide the Prothean funeral rites," Dr. Alenkov replied.
"Acknowledged," EDI said through their earpiece.
"Good, now finish your research, and then see to it the bodies are properly buried," she said to them, and the security team saluted.
When they returned to the Normandy, Martha sat down in her room, practicing the meditation techniques that Dr. Zenger had recommended to help with her newly found psychic powers. Or at least, that is what they were called. Martha suspected they were something more.
"Ok, breathe in," she inhaled, "Breath out," she exhaled, trying to focus her mind as soft music played on her radio.
As she practiced, she could feel the tensions from earlier start to leave her. Though it was hard to clear her mind due to her mental condition; the difficulties of it made it nearly impossible. That is why the music was there, to help her concentrate. In and out she breathed. But still she could hear the screams and the shots. She could see the bodies and the Reaper in the distance.
Try as she might, she could not clear them from her mind as the screams became louder and louder till finally.
Silence
Her eyes were wide open as she looked around her room. Her breathing was hard and she was covered in sweat. Looking down at her hands, they were still shaking. She looked to the bottle of sedatives on the shelf and quickly went to take one. When she was settled she looked down at her self. She was clearly shaken as the visions were getting more and more vivid.
"Are you alright, Martha?" EDI asked her.
"In a bit, those visions are still bothering me," Martha replied with a quiver to her voice.
"The one with the Protheans?" EDI asked.
"Yeah, them," Martha replied, figuring she can tell the A.I. better than she can tell the doctors. At least EDI is willing to listen and keep things private unless they proved to be a danger to the crew.
"Dr. Alenkov wishes me to tell you that as soon as the storm clears, we are free to leave. The Outpost is sheltered from most of the storm. But given the circumstances, it would be tragic that no one has discovered the alien weather device on this planet," EDI stated.
"What?" Martha looked towards the speakers in confusion.
"That was a joke," EDI replied.
"You have been watching way to many movies," Martha replied.
"Total Recall was a good movie. I enjoyed watching the scene where the main characters are blown apart... that too, is a joke," EDI replied.
"You really need to learn how to tell jokes better," Martha stated shaking her head. Getting up, she started to head towards the shower. Perhaps the running water would help in calming her mind down. She hoped she could get at least a few hours sleep before she had to fly the ship out of Mars again. Maybe they could land on the moon before they head home.
The sooner they could head back to Earth, the sooner she could clear her head of this tragic headache.
TBC
A/n: Ok this was hard to write given that it was written from scratch and it was hard to find time to write. That and the reviewer who stated that my character is a Mary Sue. Ok let me tell someone AGAIN that my character is NOT a Mary Sue. She is not perfect and those who stated otherwise are idiots.
Ok enough said till next time.