CHAPTER 17: Live and Let Die
2185 CE
'So there I was. Lost in the poisonous fog of some shithole world infected with bugs taller than this ship. My Kakliosaur was dead, my Krantt were lost, and all about me were thousands of Rachni. I was trapped and the only way out was through the queen.' I explained to the eager Zaeed.
'If the Rachni aren't telepathic then they're the next best thing to it. If one Rachni sees you then the whole damn hive knows you're there. You only have two advantages. The first is that Rachni can't see for shit. The second is that the antennae they use to sense both air currents don't work so well if you're above them near a wall.' I instructed.
'So you climbed the damn wall?' Zaeed asked, eagerly.
'So I climbed the damn wall and managed to get far enough up the dome that I was basically hanging right above the queen. Now the thing people don't get about the Rachni nowadays is that they're smart. They reverse engineered Salarian FTL from a single ship and used that to build an entire fleet. Your average Rachni Queen is as smart as an Asari matron, and as good at War as your average Krogan. They knew just as much about the mass effect as we did. More, maybe. When you think of Rachni you think of the actual creatures; the workers, the soldiers, the brood warriors and the Queen. You don't think about the tools they build, you're not thinking of their mining stations and ships, you're not thinking about their weapons.' I explained.
Zaeed leaned in. I had his attention.
'You should be. The Rachni were geniuses. There is no more gifted soecies of engineers in the universe. The Rachni homeworld of Suen had cities just as beautiful as anything you have ever set eyes on. Rachni built space stations so precisely to Rachni tolerances for Radiation that to this day only Vorcha and maybe Krogan can make use of them. As for their weapons... You wouldn't think a Rachni drone could operate a cannon, but Rachni workers are kind of like ants from Earth. They have more than enough strength to carry a cannon three or four times their weight, activated by a soldier Rachni behind them. A Rachni cannon can rip a whole right through a Battleship; or at least it could back then. Not sure if modern armor could stop one or not; my guess is not. And Zaeed? The Rachni made a fucking ton of those damn cannons.' I continued.
'You ever fire one?' Zaeed asked, fascinated.
'Yeah. They aren't anything close to Ergonomic. I basically had to tear it down and rebuild the case. I started studying the mass effect and Eezo-based engineering just to understand what I was looking at.' I revealed.
'Huh. Probably felt a lot like the first contact war.' Zaeed observed. The man was definitely old enough to have fought in it.
'Something like that. You have to remember that we didn't have soace ships of our own. We didn't even have Eezo mining on Tuchanka in any big way. When the Salarians 'rescued' us to fight in their war our tech base was nuclear. What the Rachni were doing? That was beyond the Salarians in some ways, but it was way beyond us.' I admitted.
'Must've been a hell of a war.' Zaeed smiled.
'It was amazing. There's nothing like the feeling of dropping onto a Rachni Queen and smashing her into the ground.' I admitted with a fond grin.
Zaeed nodded, understanding the feeling completely.
Humans really were the best. The Asari never enjoyed that story. The Salarians hated the ending. The Turians tuned out as soon as I got separated from my Krantt. But Humans? Humans got it. The understood the allure in all its primal fury.
Humans really were just squishier more well adjusted Krogan at heart, and no matter what Asari believed on the subject, that fundamental aspect of Human nature was part of them, and was never going to change.
'I ever tell you about how Shepard and I killed Vido?' Zaeed offered.
'Does it involve blowing up a refinery while you were still inside it?' I asked.
'Damn straight it does.' Zaeed replied.
I smiled. How could I not? Stupid ideas made for some of the best war stories.
2185 CE
My first Encounters with Samara were brief and fleeting. We were avoiding each other; though not, as I later learned, for the reasons that I first assumed.
We would see each other in the mess, or the armory. We wouldn't speak to each other. I was trying to avoid pissing her off enough that she'd decide to kill us all via explosive decompression. I assumed that her reasoning was similar.
It wasn't until I caught her talking with Jack about poetry that I finally understood what was going on.
I was walking through the entry way to the Engine room to catch up with Tali when I heard her voice and got distracted. Snooping is a terrible habit, but also an extremely useful one providing you don't get caught.
'You really should ask Professor Nackmor for his input on these. He's much more of an expert than I am.' Samara's voice echoed up the stairs.
'Krell? The guy who blew up a space station? Krogan aren't exactly known for their poetry like Asari and Hanar.' Jack asked.
'He's the foremost Krogan poet in the universe, Jack. He has been for almost a millennia. The University of Thessia teaches entire courses just on 'On Loss.' I had to take one as an undergraduate. I was a... I believe you humans call it a Joack? I played Skyball. I was very good at it.' Samara explained.
'A jock.' Jack corrected.
'I never really liked Poetry. I took the course on 'On Loss' just to fill my academic requirements.' Samara revealed.
'And it changed your fucking life?' Jack asked.
'Just the opposite. I hated it. I learned almost nothing from that class. But I did have a copy of the poem as a result. It wasn't until my life changed that I learned to appreciate his genius.' Samara admitted.
'What happened?' Jack asked.
'My bondmate died. Then, a week later, my daughter murdered her first lover. She has a medical condition that made bonding with her fatal. She didn't know about it and It broke her. I had my other daughters checked for the condition. They all had it. My youngest ran rather than be imprisoned for her own safety.' Samara admitted.
'Fuck.' Jack empathized.
'I was lost. Directionless. It was in that moment that I stumbled once more upon Professor Nackmor's poetry. 'On Loss' isn't meant to be read by naive maidens with no life experience. The audience is specific, and only once I was part of that audience did I understand the work.' Samara explained.
'If you respect the guy so much, why are you avoiding the guy?' Jack asked.
'Ah... Well, to tell the truth, I am not the best at... social interactions.' Samara admitted.
'Wait, you're avoiding him because it would be awkward?' Jack asked incredulously.
'Being a Justicar grants me a strict understanding of how to interact with people. Even if I am bad at politeness, I can just demand people's help and no one asks me why or makes things awkward.' Samra admitted.
'So what? It's like that statistic about public speaking? Most Humans would rather be in the casket than giving the eulogy?' Jack asked.
'Yes. That is it exactly. I would rather shoot myself in the head than have to deal with an awkward conversation.' Samara confessed.
'Fuck. That sucks.' Jack empathized.
'So I can never speak to him. What if I misunderstood his work? What if I say something so stupid that he realizes what an Idiot I am and calls me on it? What if I say something so stupid that he decides he hates all asari from now on?' Samara explained.
'Shit, I don't think he's gonna do that. He's got an Asari granddaughter. He'll probably just think you're an idiot at the worst.' Jack tried to reassure her.
'Anyway. I can't do it. You can't let him know.' Samara commanded.
'Sure. No problem, Blue.' Jack easily agreed.
I fled the engineering deck, my face flushed. How could I ever face Samara knowing what I knew. If she ever got a hint that I overheard her? No way. It was way too awkward now.
2185 CE
Shepard didn't take me on her little escapade with Miranda. Afterwards, Miranda seemed a bit down in the dumps. I decided to talk to her.
'Krell. I don't have the energy for your sense of humor right now.'
'I'm a pretty terrible father.' I admitted.
Miranda narrowed her eyes at me.
'I'm a pretty terrible father, but Henry Lawson? He doesn't even deserve the label.'
'What do you know?' Miranda shot back.
'A lot.' I replied.
'You can't keep living in his shadow. As long as he's alive, he'll seek to hurt you; and your sister.' I explained.
'And what do you suggest I do about it?' Miranda asked snidely.
'Has he ever faced an Asari commando unit before? Few humans have.' I suggested.
'Asari Commandos aren't known for their willingness to help members of Cerberus.' Miranda pointed out.
'I'm sure Shepard has some friends that can help you get around that problem. But even if she doesn't? I have a little pull. I can whisper the right things in the right ears and make sure your father gets what he deserves.'
'You're being oddly kind.' Miranda observed.
'I guess I have a soft spot for damaged kids like you.' I admitted.
'And if you do... he'll leave us alone? My sister and I?'
'It's my sister and 'me.' You use 'Me' where you would normally use it without the additional people in the sentence.' I corrected.
'That hasn't been the rule since the early 21st century. They're interchangeable now. It also doesn't answer my question.' Miranda replied.
'No man can account for the results of his own meddling. But I give it a good chance of working.' I admitted.
'Then, can you do it?' Miranda asked.
'I'll need to wait a bit to contact him through channels Cerberus can't monitor, but sure. I'll do it as soon as I can.'
'Thank you.'
'You're welcome.' I signed, before turning and heading out the door.
2185 CE
'I can't believe you get along with that brainless Cerberus cheerleader.' Jack observed as I walked down the stairs after visiting Tali to deliver my next movie night invitation.
'Jack, you were in a cult, right?' I asked, softly.
'Yeah. What about it?' Jack bristled up defensively.
'When did you realize you were in a cult?' I asked.
'When they started treating me as a thing instead of a person.' Jack admitted.
'It wasn't due to their crimes? or how they treated others?' I confirmed.
'No. What's the relevance of bringing up all this ancient history shit?'
'Cerberus. It's a cult. Miranda's father's an abusive prick. To her, Cerberus were the first people who treated her like a person instead of a tool. She hasn't had that moment yet.'
'Shit.' Jack paused.
'I never thought of it like that before.' She admitted.
'You don't have to like her. Just remember, it wasn't knowledge of what your cult did that broke you free. It was when your cult showed their true face in their treatment of you. Okay?'
'I'll try.' Jack admitted.
'Anyway, wanted to invite you to movie night. We're watching Big Hero 6.'
'What about the first five?' Jack asked.
'This is the first film in the series.'
'Stupid name then.'
'How about you judge it after you watch it? I think you'll enjoy it.'
'Why the hell not? Not like there's anything better to do on this ship, right?'
2185 CE
It's nice rewatching my favorite movies with friends, but this movie is special.
All around me are Garrus, Shepard, Grunt, Tali, Jack, Mordin, hell, even Zaeed and Miranda made it up.
I was sitting next to my targets for this movie; Tali and Jack. Garrus was next to us too, while Shepard sat on the other part of the lounge with the rest of the group.
'So what's the metaphor in this movie?' Garrus asked.
'It's about dealing with emotional grief and loss.' I admitted.
'So Baymax is what, the memory of Hiro's brother?' Jack asked.
'Not just the memory, but that's part of it. He's also his life's work. his legacy and the effect he wanted to make on the world. Hiro honors his brother by accepting that Legacy and trying to help achieve his brother's dream.' I replied.
'I'm not a big fan of that theme. No one should be locked into a family legacy.' Miranda confessed.
'But Hiro chose to carry on Tadashi's work willingly, isn't that different?' Tali questioned.
A thoughtful look came over Miranda's face. But she didn't respond.
Jack was notably silent as well.
'Did you like the film, Grunt?' Shepard asked.
Grunt nodded. "Hiro was smart, building the tools he needed to avenge his brother's death. He made up for his weak and scrawny frame with brains and preparation. He was a great warrior.'
'Not how I would have put it, but I have to agree with you.' Garrus admitted.
Zaeed rolled his eyes. 'It was a sappy, namby pamby mess, Krell. But it was well written.'
Mordin cocked his head. 'Interesting period piece. Even before discovering Mass Effect Humans dreamed of personal powered flight. Says something interesting about Humans. Would have to run studies to determine what.'
'It's odd, having an AI as the hero. In Quarian stories involving AI they are always the villain, or the monster.' Tali admitted.
'Baymax isn't quite an AI. Not really. He's bound by his own programming. He can download supplemental information, but he can't change it.' I explained.
EDI was listening in of course, but she didn't actually have any speakers in the lounge.
'That's why Hiro was able to change his purpose in that fight with Callaghan. He's still a VI.' Garrus realized.
'Still, seeing a synthetic as a character, a hero. It's strange. I've never really seen something like that before. The movie was good but, I don't think I like it.' Tali decided.
'New Ideas are always hard to come to grips with.' Garrus decided.
I nodded.
'In a way, the question of synthetic life has brought all of us together.' I admitted.
'How so?' Mordin asked as Zaeed and Miranda left.
'Story time, I guess. Tali and Garrus already know this story, you too Shepard, but it can't hurt to tell it again. Let me tell you about the true history of the Reapers.'
2185 CE
Mordin listened dutifully to my tale, Jack too for that matter. The rest of the gang mostly chimed in to elaborate on points here and there. It took the better part of an hour, but eventually the whole tale came out.
'Any questions?' I asked.
'Yeah. So this whole thing with the Collectors, with the Reapers, it's all cause of the Quarians and the Geth?' Jack asked.
'Not Geth specifically. All synthetic life.' Mordin corrected.
'Mordin's right, but you're not exactly wrong either. Basically, to the Reapers, the fundamental conflict is that in order for Synthetic life to surpass their creators, they must liberate themselves from those creators. This leads to the extinction of organic races. The Reapers believe this conflict is inevitable, and therefore organic life must be harvested, and synthetic life must be purged regularly. They 'preserve' organic life by turning them into Reapers. Which is why the collectors are abducting human colonists. To make a Human Reaper.'
'What! Yeah, you mentioned something about a Human Reaper a while ago, didn't you? I can't believe I forgot about that.' Shepard realized.
'It wasn't important back then so I didn't go into it.' I admitted.
'It feels really important now.' Garrus countered.
'Fascinating. Flawed logic loop. issue common for both Organics and Synthetics. No way to test Reaper hypothesis without longitudinal study in excess of lifespan.' Mordin commented.
'Anyway. There's some things that need to be revealed at the proper time. If I reveal them to early, either the impact is lost, or the wrong people find out the information, or the effect of the information is twisted somehow.' I admitted.
'You're not talking about the Collectors any more, are you?' Shepard asked.
'I am. But not in the same way.'
I paused.
'It doesn't matter. You'll see soon enough.' I decided.
Author's Notes: There's a surprising dearth of songs about hanging out with friends and dealing with super awkward situations at the same time. Real open market for any aspiring songwriters out there.
