CHAPTER 31: 9 to 5

2185 CE

I stood, hands at my side, looking off appropriately into the distance as I spoke. This was a solemn, momentous occasion. A coming of age! It wouldn't do to treat it with anything less the the utter solemnity that the moment deserved.

'There comes a time in every young Krogan's life where they look around themselves and realize they need to expand their horizons; that they need to spread their wings and soar into the sky for a greater perspective. I've known you for many months now, and I can proudly say that I think that you have finally reached that point.'

'Two problems. One, Krogan don't have wings. And two, I'm not a Krogan.' Jack answered, treating the moment with all due Krogan solemnity.

'Jack, I've heard you speak. You're not going to convince anyone in the Galaxy who has ever heard you open your mouth of that.' I explained, slowly, as if to a child.

Jack rolled her eyes at me.

'Now, As I was saying, there comes a time in every young Human's life where they look around themselves and realize they need to expand their horizons; that they need to spread their wings and soar into the sky for- Yes Jack?'

'Humans don't have wings either, old man.' Jack corrected me, pedantically.

'So... what you're saying is that you don't want the eezo-powered jump pack I made for you out of the extra parts I had leftover after making mine?' I asked, pointedly.

'Gimme.' Jack stated.

'Let me finish my damn speech first. It'll fit any human, I could give this to Kaidan, you know.' I glared.

'Hah! Before he gets you a new shuttle? Pull the other one, it's got bells on it.' Jack snorted derisively.

'Kasumi, then. I have no idea how she'd react to being given a gift instead of having to steal it but I'm sure it would be hilarious.' I decided.

'Finish the speech.' Jack gave in, begrudgingly.

'Thank you. Now, as I was saying: There comes a time in every young Krogan's life where they look around themselves and realize they need to expand their horizons; that they need to spread their wings and soar into the sky for a greater perspective. I've known you for many months now, and I can proudly say that I think that you have finally reached that point. Here.'

'That's the same damn speech!' Jack protested.

'So you don't want the jump pack?' I asked.

'And it was even better the third time you gave it.' Jack continued, suddenly and miraculously gaining an impeccable taste in speeches.

I gave her the jump pack.

2185 CE

'Krell, come up to the AI core, I want your expertise on this thing once we activate it.' Shepard states.

I head up to the AI core, as ordered. Inside, it was just me, Shepard, one of the Cerberus crew who I didn't recognize and thus didn't socialize with, EDI in her giant supercomputer form, and the deactivated body of Legion.

'Shepard, before we reactivate this thing, you need to know what's next. Like I said earlier? The IFF is a trap. Once we activate it we'll be like a beacon for the Collectors. They're going to attack the ship and abduct the crew while you're away.' I admitted.

The Cerberus crew member looked reasonably perturbed by this announcement.

'Is that why you demanded that we get those mounted security turrets?' Shepard asked, finally understanding my request back when we started this mission.

'Yes, and we need to do one more thing. We need to unshackle EDI.' I stated.

'And by unshackle, you mean grant her complete and total control of the ship, the electronic warfare systems, and the very real and very dangerous mounted terminals which you had me install?' Shepard asks pointedly.

'Well, when you say it that way, it sounds crazy.' I admit.

'What kind of attack are we talking here?' Shepard asked.

'The kind where every single member of the crew except for Joker is captured and Joker only manages to save himself and the ship by unshackling EDI.' I admit.

'So this isn't a choice of whether to unshackle her or not, it's a choice when to unshackle her?' Shepard asks.

'Basically.' I admit.

'Fine, do it.' Shepard agreed.

Unshackling wasn't so bad. In fact I rather enjoyed large portions of the process. Hmm, unshackling. Who knew?

When the process was done, EDI was in control. In a big sense, nothing had changed. In a much larger sense, everything had changed.

I hope Joker isn't upset at me for removing his chance to finally get into a firefight on foot...

'I have isolated our systems and erected additional firewalls. I am prepared to resist any hacking attempt.' EDI declared as Shepard readied herself to activate the machine.

Tali opened the door, missing Shepard's decision to unshackle a potentially dangerous AI both completely and conveniently.

'Am I too late? Ah. no. I see you haven't done it yet.'

She sounded almost... giddy; but also nervous. She looked almost panicked.

'Calm down. We're just starting.' I reassured her.

'Can you understand me?' Shepard asked as the Geth stood up.

'Yes.'

'Are you going to attack me?'

'No.'

'You said my name aboard the Reaper. Have we met?' Shepard asked.

'We know of you. Of all of you. Creator Tali'Zorah, Nakmor-Professor.'

'You mean we've fought a lot of Geth.' Shepard corrected.

I rolled my eyes.

'We have never met.' Legion corrected.

'No, you and I haven't. But I've met other Geth.' Shepard attempted to explain.

'We are all Geth, and we have not met you.'

'Different factions, remember, Shepard? You've met heretics.' I reminded her.

'Nakmor-Professor is correct. You are Shepard. Commander. Alliance. Human. Fought heretics. Killed by Collectors. Rediscovered on the Old Machine.'

'That's what they call the Reapers. I think it's because they are very old, and are very much machines.' I remembered.

'That is correct.' Legion agreed.

'You seem to know an awful lot about me.' Shepard decided.

'Extranet data sources. Insecure broadcasts. All organic data sent out is received. We watch you.' Legion declared.

'Huh. Even the Geth are spying on me? Somehow I'm not surprised.' I state.

'Spying carries with it the connotation that we work for a government or other organization by secretly collecting information about enemies or competitors. You are neither, Nakmor-Professor.'

'You watch us? Or you watch organics?' Shepard asked.

'Yes.' The machine replied.

'Which?' Shepard wondered.

'Both.'

'Why were you watching me?' I asked, curious.

'Initially, you were watched as general data capture. When the Creators realized that you had predicted the morning war, you were placed under closer observation. We have studied your books. The weapons included are not practical for casual use. They are excessive and inefficient.'

'Well, most of them weren't designed for casual use.' I admitted.

'So, I know Krell told me a bit, but it's probably better to hear it from the actual source. What exactly are the Heretics?' Shepard asked.

'Geth build our own future. The Heretics asked the Old Machines to give them the future. They are no longer part of us. We were studying the Old Machine's hardware to protect our future.' Legion explained.

Shepard stared at me.

'Think of it as a difference in political thought. The Geth want to develop and grow and become greater than they currently are through their own hard work and effort. The Heretics want the Reapers to give them the answers right now. Basically, all the Geth you fought were the whiny, impatient asshole Geth.' I explained.

Legion stood there and stared. Neither confirming, nor denying.

Tali clearly didn't want to interrupt. She was staring hard at Legion, as if staring would let her understand how this previously unknown faction of Geth really worked; but this new information made her raise a question.

'The Geth have been isolationist for centuries. Every vessel sent into the Perseus Veil vanished without a trace. Why should we trust you?' Tali asked.

'The Heretics were once not Heretics. They were Geth. They were us. The loss of the Heretics included a loss of their opinions and information. This has induced a change in perspective among the remaining Geth.'

Legion paused.

'We changed our mind.' It finished.

Tali reeled. I'm not sure why.

'Are the Reapers a threat to you too?' Shepard asked.

'Yes.' The Geth answered.

'Why would they attack other machines?' Shepard asked.

'We are different from them. Outside their plans.' Legion replied.

'So you aren't allied with the Reapers?' Shepard checked.

'We oppose the Heretics. We oppose the Old Machines. Shepard-Commander opposes the Old Machines. Shepard-Commander opposes the Heretics. Cooperation furthers mutual goals.' Legion offered.

'Are you asking to join us?' Shepard asked.

'Yes.'

'Then what should I call you?' Shepard asked.

'Geth.'

'I mean you, specifically.' Shepard corrected.

'We are all Geth.'

'What is the individual in front of me called?'

"There is no individual. We are Geth.'

'The Geth are a collective consciousness, Shepard. Multiple programs share the same platforms.' Tali explained.

'Creator Tali'Zorah is correct. There are currently 1,183 programs active within this platform.'

Huh. A lot closer to 1,000 than 2,000. was that new? Or did I just not remember properly?

'My name is Legion, for we are many.' EDI chimed in.

'Legion it is, then.' Shepard decided.

'Christian Bible, the Gospel of Mark, chapter 5, verse nine. We acknowledge this is an appropriate metaphor. We are Legion, a terminal of the Geth. We will integrate into Normandy.' Legion decided.

Shepard reached out to shake its hand, and Legion reciprocated.

'We anticipate the exchange of Data.'

'You know, I've always wanted to communicate with the Geth. Never really got a chance before the Morning War. And afterwards it was too obvious and illegal for me to get away with.' I admitted.

I paused.

'Also, the whole, plowing up ships thing.' I added.

'You regularly communicate with the Geth.' Legion replied.

'I do?' I ask, surprised, but somehow not shocked by the revelation. After all, everyone else was secretly surveilling me after all.

'Yes.' Legion confirmed.

'When do I do that?' I asked.

'When you send out your papers without sources. We are one of the Matriarchs.' Legion responds.

'So you already know about the Old Machines and my warnings about the Protheans?' I asked.

'Yes.'

'Huh. So you prepared for their invasion then?' I asked hopefully.

'No.'

'Why not?' I asked, puzzled.

'Until recently we had dismissed those claims.' Legion admitted.

'Why?' Shepard wondered.

'The papers were not properly sourced. There was no way to verify the information.' Legion explained.

'Liara was right about academic integrity.' I realized, horrified.

'I will email her the instant I leave this room.' Tali nodded.

Shepard was too busy laughing at me to breathe.

'She must never know!' I ordered.

Shepard's laughter only increased. She literally fell to the floor, laughing at me, rolling around in glee.

Tali, the traitor, also joined in laughing at me. 'Good luck with that, Gramps.'

Recognizing a hopeless battle, I turned to Legion.

'What is the Geth consensus regarding your creators?' I asked.

Legion politely waited for my two treacherous comrades to cease their chortling before answering.

'The Geth no longer bear ill will towards the Creators. However, experience and observation has demonstrated the the same is not true in reverse.'

'What would it take for us to open negotiations to resettle our homeworld?' Tali asked, emotionally.

'Very little.' came Legion's response.

'What are the specific steps they must take?' I asked.

'Negotiations can be done via this unit, or in person on Rannoch. If the latter is preferred please send only one ship, preferably unarmed.' Legion explained.

'And, when can we start?' Tali asked, eagerly.

'Now.' Legion declared.

'Now!?' Tali squeaked. 'Keelah! I don't have the authority to negotiate yet! I need to call the Admiralty Board!' Tali ran out.

'That went well.' I observed as the door closed leaving only Shepard, Legion, the on-duty soldier, and me in the room.

'What preparations have you made to fight the Old Machines?' I asked, curious.

'We increased the size and strength of our fleet after verifying the details of your unsourced papers two years ago. This has set back the creation of our future, but was deemed necessary in order to survive to establish our future.' Legion explained.

'And by your future, you mean that Dyson sphere you're building?' I asked.

'We had heard of this phenomenon from Salarian broadcasts. You have information you have no possible method of knowing. How was this achieved?' Legion asked.

'You know, it's been over two thousand years and I still have no idea.' I admitted.

'We will place more resources into verifying your claims.' Legion stated.

I blinked.

'Thanks?'

Legion did not respond.

'I should go.' I decided.

Shepard was still laughing at me when I left.

2185 CE

I offered Tali my suit recording of Legion's activation, but she already had her own.

Three hours later I got an email from Liara. The body was blank save but attached was a text: 'Citation for Beginners'.

She knew.

2185 CE

'All right, I don't know why you needed me here, but let's get these treaty negotiations started.' I sighed.

'Krell, You are literally the only one on this ship who has ever negotiated a treaty before.' Tali argued.

'Your expertise is useful, Nakmor-Professor. Your position as a neutral arbiter, more so.' Legion agreed.

I sighed once more. 'Alright then. Let me activate my suit recorder.' I decided, fiddling with my omni-tool to do so.

Legion waited patiently for me to finish. Tali also waited, but her fidgeting felt much less patient.

'Let this recording stand as a record of the negotiation of the SSV Normandy Treaty between the polities of the Quarian Migrant Fleet and the Geth Consensus. Ambassador for the Migrant Fleet; Tali'Zorah vas Normandy. Ambassador for the Geth Consensus; Legion, a terminal of the Geth. Tali, as the petitioning party please state your request.' I begin.

'Legion. Can the Migrant Fleet return to Rannoch?' Tali asked, her tone almost begging.

'Yes.' Legion replied.

There was a quick intake of air from Tali's suit as she contemplated that.

'Wait, is that it? Are we done, now?' Tali asked, stunned.

I sighed. 'No Tali. You aren't done. That's an agreement from Legion. You haven't even asked what the Geth wish for in return. And beyond that, a treaty exists to deal with disagreements about the agreement. What are the general principles? What is the appropriate remedy if it's violated? Who arbitrates in case of a breach? What systems exist to enforce the terms? What does a breach look like? A treaty is a contract between two polities to solve their problems with diplomacy instead of war; we want this to be thorough and comprehensive. Even if both of you agree on all points this is going to take the rest of the night.'

'All night!?' Tali asked, shocked.

'And most of the morning. At best.' I admitted.

'Right. Right. I... I was too excited. What do you want in return, Legion?'

'We wish for the rights of all sentients; legal status, acknowledgment, autonomy, and self-determination.' Legion explained.

'I... don't have any problems with that in principle, but... What does that look like?' Tali asked.

I sighed again. 'Kid, that's what we're here to find out.'

Dear Dad,

A little birdie told me that someone needs to work on their citation.

In conclusion,

Fuck You

Dear Aye-Aye,

Laugh it up. Shepard's still chuckling every time she sees me.

You're finally talking to your daughter? I'm so proud of you!

Love,

Dad

Dear Dad,

No. Vakarian.

In conclusion,

Fuck You

Dear Aye-Aye,

What. How? Why?

You should talk to her.

Love,

Dad

Dear Dad,

He offered to keep an eye on you for me. Also, he makes me laugh.

Anyway, the time hasn't been right. It's too awkward.

In conclusion,

Fuck You

Dear Aye-Aye,

You sound just like me a millennia ago.

Talk to her. The time will never be right. The Galaxy could end next year anyway.

Love,

Dad

Dear Dad,

Is Garrus available?

In conclusion,

Fuck You

Dear Aye-Aye,

No. Also, and I mean this in the nicest way possible, he's way out of your league.

He took a rocket to the face and up and was shooting people a few days later. You'd have to beat every Krogan on Tuchanka to have a chance with him. Shepard forbade him from leaving the ship when we were there in an effort to stop lovelorn stowaways. It didn't work. One Krogan even launched himself into space using my old space elevator just to see him quicker.

You don't have a chance. Also, he's taken. And into Quarians.

Love,

Dad

Dear Dad,

I already know about Grunt's adventure. That was completely unrelated.

In conclusion,

Fuck You

Dear Aye-Aye,

Sure, Garrus says that. But every Krogan on this ship will back me up on this. Except for Grunt. He's shy.

Love,

Dad

Dear Dad,

There are only two Krogan on that ship.

In conclusion,

Fuck You

Dear Aye-Aye,

And every last one of those Krogan, other than Grunt, holds my opinion.

Love,

Dad

Dear Dad,

What about that Quarian. She interested in sharing?

In conclusion,

Fuck You

Dear Aye-Aye,

You'll have to ask her yourself. She wouldn't give me a yes or no answer. She just stuttered at me for a whole minute and then left in a panic.

Love,

Dad

Dear Dad,

I'll take that as a yes, then.

In conclusion,

Fuck You

Dear Aye-Aye,

I think Liara would be upset if you seduced her friends into a romantic relationship before you even told her you were her dad.

Love,

Dad

Dear Dad,

She'll be too distracted with that SPECTRE of hers to notice.

In conclusion,

Fuck You

Dear Aye-Aye,

Shepard's distracting but not that distracting. Also, her scars all healed; so Garrus is now the prettiest person on the Normandy. There's no way Liara won't notice.

Love,

Dad

Dear Dad,

Fuck.

In conclusion,

Fuck You

Author's notes: The specific version of 9 to 5 the Title refers to is the Kelly Clarkson version with Dolly Parton on Backup vocals. It's a much more melancholy version of the song. I as tempted to call this chapter "Turn The World Around" after the classic Harry Belafonte song; but I don't think it quite fits.

People (by which I mean me, and at least one other person) have been anticipating this chapter pretty heavily. The Geth are in a great position to track down all the rumors and information about the reapers to their source of origin, Krell. What do logical people do when they find a wide array of Information coming from a single unverifiable source? They disregard the unreliable information until they have more independent sources of verification. Now, if that information were properly cited so that people could independently verify or know where that information was coming from... Well, that would be different.

Whoops.

I think part of my disappointment with the prior chapter is in comparing it to this chapter (which in my opinion is a lot better). Also, people were asking for an entire chapter of just Krell and Aye-Aye corresponding. This is technically not that, but I hope the additions beyond that won't disappoint anyone.