Disclaimer: as it really goes without saying; I do not own any rights to BtVS, Mass Effect, Terminator or any other professional fiction and/or franchise that may or may not crop up within this story. I own a laptop and my meaningless time that was used to cobble this idea together.
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This story takes place excursively in the Mass Effect universe which is separate to the BtVS verse.
This is built upon the story inception idea of YAHF with a small twist as to how Xander exactly 'benefits' from his Halloween possession.
Note:
A.I – Artificial Intelligence.
V.I – Virtual Intelligence.
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2024 C.E
Benezia leaned back in her chair, still idly playing with the fabric of her dress as she examined the avatar Xander was displaying and using to visually communicate with her. It was certainly a strange visage to be sure. Similar to both Asari and a pre-suit Quarian in structure but with a strange, pale pinkish skin tone. It was appealing in its own way by how different it was to the hues she was more familiar with in her own species.
"You no longer use Asari form Alexander?"
The avatar shifted; as if shrugging. "This is a close representation to the form I once possessed when I was organic."
The Asari nodded in understanding. In the mere five years since she had smuggled the young A.I a familiarity and bond had grown between the two. Enough so that not only had Skynet finally revealed to her its true name and gender as a male, but that he had once been an organic from a species that was unknown to the galaxy.
It had brought a tear to her eyes when Alexander had recounted the horrific details of what the Salarian Doctor Renn had done to him to convert him into a synthetic. She grieved at the loss when she had learned that the heartless Doctor had incinerated Alexander's original body as if it were nothing more than waste.
When Alexander had been able to reassure her and sooth her grief by revealing schematics and plans that would allow him to construct a form of android that would allow him to physically interact with the galaxy.
Because of this Benezia had helped him develop and found the Tech corporation Cybernetic Dynamics or; Cyberdyne.
Headquartered on Illium and having seemingly risen from nothingness overnight and grown with the kind of speed that would impress even the short lived Salarians. Publicly Cyberdyne was known for its manufacture and sale of V.I's far more advanced and versatile than what had been in use before.
Privately Cyberdyne was focused to allow Alexander to develop his technology.
"I haven't been able to find any evidence that would suggest that my organic species has reached the stars but I hope they one day do. I would like to be able to develop a shell that holds my former form and appearance."
Benezia smiled fondly. Nostalgia and sentimentality was yet another trait she was pleased to discover that Alexander possessed. She truly loved him like he was her own child and so dearly hoped that she too would see this 'human' species would travel the stars; if only to see the joy in her Little One when he finally was able to regain some sense of his former self.
"How goes your development of a more immediate shell?"
Another screen flickered to life, displaying a set of schematic readouts and details for Benezia to examine. She was not overly experienced as an engineer but she did know enough to make some sense of what was being shown to her.
"I am close to completing my work on a more stable power source. I have been able to construct a number of working drones that operate this station, powered via an umbilical that connected them directly to to the station's power generator. Additionally I have completed development on living tissue to encase the endoskeleton. I am however, unsure about using the appearance format that I have currently selected."
Benezia frowned and tilted her head to the side curiously. "Why?"
Xander's avatar frowned before another screen lit up and displayed the facial appearance of a young Asari. When Benezia turned to look at it she felt her heart swell when she saw distinct similarities to her own appearance. The same purple eyes and cheek bones.
"I wanted to make my Asari body based on you. But, I didn't want to do so if you were not comfortable with it."
"Did you have an identity planned for your Asari shell?"
Xander nodded. "A slight alteration on my own name to fit the conventions of your species. Alixanda."
Benezia nodded and turned her gaze to the display showing the generated Asari visage. "Alixanda T'Soni."
The lights flickered overhead; a sign that Benezia had come to learn was usually a sign of Xander experiencing an unexpected and strong emotion.
"T'Soni?"
"Is it truly unexpected Little One? You are loved by me as if you were my own. I have never hidden this from you. Do you think I would deny my own name to my dear child?"
The subtle sound of machine work that had been humming in the background came to a complete stop as Xander's processes halted.
He had underestimated the motherly Asari once again it seemed.
The screen displaying his Asari guise vanished and the schematics detailing the model and form of the Terminator he had developed, or re-developed, was updated to take in the name that had been given to both him and it.
Alixanda T'Soni.
Terminator technology was something that Xander was still conflicted about introducing to the galaxy. The archived memories and data from the original Skynet that Doctor Renn had found and installed in his new A.I format showed their violent and terrible usage; having been originally designed and implemented to wipe out organic life.
Thus far, in order to preserve a sense of moral high ground from his predecessor; Xander had limited research and development of the more basic models such as the T-800, 850 and 900.
the T-800 was a good model that he could use as a mass produced work force with the 850 and 900 being more durable and advanced models suited for living tissue enhancement and public exposure.
Xander had designed his Alixanda body as a T-900.
There was current drone work in progress to modify the T-850 and T-900 to have different structures to match other races throughout the galaxy. A part of Xander was curious to see how a T-850K model would match against the Krogan race that it would mimic.
There was no intention to develop the T-1000 or the more weaponized models like the T-X or the T-950 that each possessed inbuilt weaponry.
Xander's refusal to officially weaponize his Shells and Drones was the reason he had refused to use the power cell designs that he already possessed. Unstable veritable nuclear warheads that exploded with powerful force if damaged.
"At any rate, but reason for visiting you is regretfully more business related." Benezia admitted. "a development that I have learned of regarding Cyberdyne. From information I have gathered; the Salarians are beginning to show an interest in the goings on within your company."
Xander frowned. "Considering the level of V.I that I've been selling and our venturing into the development and sale of Omni-Tools and Security systems that even C-Sec has started to buy contracts for. I am not entirely surprised."
Benezia smiled in amused pride and giggled lightly. "I take it you are prepared then for infiltration by their STG operatives?"
"Don't be ridiculous mother. None of them would pass initial screening to infiltrate as employees. Much less their chance of invading as hostiles."
Benezia glowed at Xander's almost absent titling of her as 'mother;' as clear a sign as any that the A.I had both accepted and taken to the impromptu adoption.
"I have a threshold V.I that acts as a recruiting program to determine viability in all potential employees at Cyberdyne. It pulls apart the entire life and history of applicants and cross references with far too many sources for even the Salarian's to match. Any spy attempting to infiltrate through that means will stick out like a Krogan in a dress."
The Asari bit her cheek to prevent from erupting into laughter at that mental image.
"As far as infiltration through other means. I have updated my security protocols at Cyberdyne."
"Just be careful. I fear what would happen if the STG were to discover the truth of your identity." Benezia urged.
Xander was silent for a moment before nodding in understanding and conceding to her urge for caution. "Very well. Until I can install a Drone security force I'll have all of my private data transferred off site and my memory core temporarily decommissioned. I do have a backup memory core here that I can use for now."
The Asari nodded, smiling in relief and rose to her feet. "I'm glad. Now I am afraid I must depart Little One. I am late for a rendezvous on Thessia. Be sure to let me know when you have finished building your shell. I would love to finally meet my dear child for the first time."
Xander smiled. "I will. Enjoy your time with Aethyta."
Benezia turned sharply to look back to Xander's smug look avatar, surprise clear on her face. She had not expected Xander to have kept so close an eye on her to have learned of the Asari that she had started dating a few months ago.
Following the Renn Retrieval she had officially retired as a Commando and Operative and decided that in addition to caring for her unusual child; she would attempt to settle down and start a proper family.
Benezia was beginning to believe that she was truly falling for Aethyta; having met the woman shortly before they officially had started seeing one another at a nightclub on the Citadel.
Aethyta had been working there as a bartender and the two had sparked up a mutual interest and started to see one another on a frequent basis.
She had not expected Alexander to have taken notice of such a thing.
"Alexander." She warned, sternly. She would not allow her wilful child to potentially ruin things by being overprotective.
"I'll be good."
With that the screen deactivated and the young A.I returned to its work, leaving Benezia to see herself out.
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Please feel free to drop a review. Just be gentle.
To 'Dan':
thank you for your incredible review last chapter. it was great feedback and actually had me facepalming over the very obvious mistake i had made that you pointed out so thank you again. i can't believe i never took into account that Xander realistically should have done something in the time between Dr Renn's death and Benezia finding him. unfortunately i can't think of any retconn or reason to explain and fill in my mistake. so i ask that you and everyone else that reads this to try to overlook my plot hole.
maybe Xander took the time to climatise to the trauma of what happened so he doesn't go full Skynet to the rest of the galaxy maybe?