The tension in the conference room was thick with an air of uncertainty. John Miranda Jane and Tali stood in the room around the table. John looked around the room gazing at anyone who would make eye contact. He sharply turned and locked eyes with Miranda "The lazarus project. Did it have any reaper tech involved?" "No!" She replied as if personally attacked "I insured that myself. Everything used was made for medical use only." Jane turned to face John "Reaper tech?...What are you talking about?" John turned to face his sister dreading the explanation when the door flung open. Mordin rushed in with a determined look on his face. "Tech laced with reaper cybernetics. augmented mental was at risk and was your doing." He pointed his finger at Miranda accusing her.
John stepped between him and Miranda "If she says that they were inspected for reaper tech and were cleared than they were clear." Miranda felt the stern vocals of his voice and was reassured that his anger was more concern for his brother and not accusation.
Mordin raised his omni tool pressing a few buttons showing a hologram of Geoff's neural paths within his body. The paths were marked in red as a black line began to fill throughout the body.
"The reaper tech must have come from someplace. No foreign matter was implemented after his resurrection. Maybe during the procedure."
Miranda placed a hand on John's shoulder calming him down slightly "Impossible I was the only agent aside from my team who worked on the project."
Mordin took a step forward as he watched her for any indication.
"Maybe Illusive man had them implanted?" he paused as he waited for an answer.
Miranda moved to be more in view "why would he do that? What would that accomplish?
Mordin clicked a few buttons on his omni tool and the image changed. "I have devised a way to catch him but fear it wont work so devised a backup." John and Jane both caught on with the train of thought as they both shouted "We are not killing our brother" "
Mordin looked up from his omni tool "emotional response accurate for dilemma, but not recommended." Tali walked over to Mordin "We can refine the plan in the lab" Mordin looked towards Tali and thought quietly "Of course the optimal option would be to capture."
John slammed his hand on the table. "Please lets find a way to find Geoff until then we have to finish the mission. We have to acquire the reaper IFF Joker is already en route. According to the briefing we need this to get through the omega 4 relay."
The Normandy made its way towards the derelict reaper, hovering in space like a shell on the water. The eerie sight of the massive machine as they approached sent a cool spine down John's spine. Jane approached the cockpit, finding John and Joker attempting to find a landing zone. John turned to face his sister, she glared out the window at the sight of the monster before them. As if seeing it for the first time.
"I may have a landing zone up ahead" Joker called out.
"I'm going over, call Garrus up here." John conveyed to joker as he was about to mention a second voice "I'm going too." Jane barked as her brother shot a glance of concern. "Are you sure?" John asked quietly, "I'm not leaving you alone on that thing." John smiled and nodded ok.
Garrus grabbed his gear and began to head for the elevator. As he made his way to the door a voice echoed from behind him. "Garrus!" He turned around to find Tali and Mordin approaching from the direction of the med bay. " Was there something you needed?" he replied in his usual non threatening manner. Mordin stepped forward and handed Garrus a small magazine. "Rifle rounds laced with heavy inducing tranquillisers. Could bring down Geoff if turns up. Also has a stasis program incase tech becomes a problem." Modin placed the magazine in Garrus's hand. "Only four shots though not enough time to create more good luck." Mordin added and then rushed off back to the lab. Tali kept looking at Garrus "Please if at all possible do not kill him." she asked quietly. Garrus could sense the emotions she was desperately trying to keep buried as he reached out and gave Tali a small hug. "If he shows up I will not miss." he pulled away and entered the lift. The doors closed as tali let out a small sigh
"Oh Keelah."
The dock extended as the three crossed over to the reaper. The tech was old and damaged but was still humming with power. The ship was still emitting a mass effect field which kept the thing stable in a stable enough orbit. Joker detached and moved away to a safe distance. The three made their way down a long corridor watching for signs of life but only finding remains of some survey crew and dragon's teeth. "Not a Single person from the survey team. Almost like a ghost ship." Garrus murmured to himself as Jane examined a nearby terminal. John surveyed the area for any signs of life. Jane stood up from the terminal as the door opened and the three moved through the door. They came to a small ramp that led downwards to another platform. The room had an openeding on the far wall, a catwalk cut across the far side to an upper area. As the three entered the area in search of the IFF. a light moaning could be heard as they approached.
"We may have some trouble boys!" Jane shouted as she looked for the source of the sound.
Three bodies climb up from the rails and begin to attack "We got Husks." John shouted as the team grabbed their weapons. A shot could be heard in the distance as it found its target wheezing past the right side of John's helmet and meeting a husk in between the eyes. The husk hit the floor stone dead. Two more shots could be heard as the following two husks hit the floor. John turned to find the shooter as an object stood up on the balcony overhead. It was holding a sniper rifle and glared at John with its big blue eye. "Shepard Commander" as it moved off to the next area.
Garrus froze in awe "Geth Can Talk?" he said with some uncertainty in his voice. John stood silent wondering why it did not kill him, but instead saved him. "Boys, we are not safe here. Let's get the IFF and worry about that later." Jane added as more Husks began their approach. The three rushed down the hall moving towards each room only to be met with Wave after wave of Husks. They finally reached a terminal that seemed to be working. The screen flickered as John and Garrus held off the Husk hoard. Jane began to decrypt the computer. "I just need a few minutes!" she shouted as the noise from Husks screaming drowned out most of what was left. "We may only have one" Garrus added as he and John mowed down the enemy. John turned a quick eye to Garrus. "I should have brought Grunt. He would have loved this." Garrus let out a small chuckle "Maybe too much if you ask me" Jane rolled her eyes as she could hear the two joking around. The computer flashed green as a small card released from the console. Jane quickly snatched the card "I have the IFF!" She shouted as the door behind her opened revealing a large blue reactor. John turned and Said "that must be the mass effect field keeping it in orbit." The three quickly moved in to find the Geth unconscious and on the floor surrounded by husks. Jane quickly charged a biotic field and sent the husks flying off a nearby rail. John stared down at the Geth. Let's take it back to the ship. Tali said no one has ever taken one in alive." Garrus moved to the reactor prepping a charge "You know the risk. That's all I am going to say." a green light flashed "lets go". Garrus shouted as he rushed to John and picked up the geth. The three moved to the far end of a nearby catwalk "Joker we need an immediate extraction"
The Normandy flew and picked up the trio and their new cargo. John looked down at the reaper and pressed the detonator setting off the charges left behind.
After some time on board John and Jane moved to the AI core where the geth was being kept. "So I guess we are gonna go Talk to a geth." John spoke somewhat unsure of the situation. Jane stepped to one side of the room and leaned against the wall. "Ill be ready if this goes south" John looked towards his sister briefly for assurance that he was doing the right thing. She responded with a slight nod. With a few quick clicks on his omni tool the systems of the geth began to run, the big blue eye began to glow. The geth stood up and scanned the room. "Commander's John and Jane shepard." John took a step back "You know us?" The geth paused and replied "we know of you." The Commander opposes new machines and fought the heretics we wish to facilitate cohesion." John took a step forward "are you asking to join us?" The geth paused and replied" Yes" John turned to look at Jane only to find that she was as stunned as he was." John pressed two buttons on his omni tool dropping the field keeping the geth in the cell. "What should we call you?" The geth could not comprehend the question and replied "Geth" John gestured "no the individual standing before me." A brief light flickered as EDI appeared in the room "MY name is Legion for we are many." John turned to face EDI "That seems appropriate." "In a literal sense" Jane added.
Legion took a moment to ponder that idea. " Christian Bible, the gospel of Mark, chapter five, verse nine, we acknowledge this to be an appropriate metaphor." John turned to face Legion "Welcome aboard" John turned to face Jane. "Not it." Jane whispered John stared at his sister, quite confused. "For what?" he replied "On telling Tali" she added a wave of dread rushed over him "Aww Crap." John walked out the door with his head hung low and his sister following him out, beaming with victory.