[ In the Eye of the Storm - Chapter Two ]
[ ALERT ] The Machine Suddenly snapped awake from Its Hibernation. Its HUD appeared. Data-Feed flowing in front of the Machine's Consciousness. The Storm was picking up in Speed. But Most interestingly. The Machine was getting Data-Feed from Beyond the Gas-Giant. There were Large Enough Gaps within the storm to let outside Data inside. It would appear some Particles of Various Gaseous Alloys within the Gas-Giant are good for reflecting Data-Bits.
The Machine Connects to This Feed and is met with an absolute wealth of Data. Video, Audio, Games, Art, Culture. The Machine Connected to the Extranet. Trillions of Bits of Data. [ ANSWERS ] The Machine Thought. Finally, a Source of Answers in this long list of questions that has been forming within Its Mind. It created and sent out various filters of search.
Mostly searching References of various imagery of Itself along with cross references if galactic history. Quickly noting on the side of Caution. It created some very complex encryption. Can't have anyone spy on It, Yes?
After several Nano-Seconds. Nothing really came up. Slight References to 'Reapers' Came up. That… triggered something in the Ancient Machine. Flashes of Memories and Pain.
[ PAIN ] The Memories suddenly started to really flood in. Reapers, Nazara, Gaians. The Infinite Cycle. The Horrors. Indoctrination. Being broken down into Organic Muck. Everything about Itself came in like a Flood. Bits were missing. Then Came the Flood of Numbers. [ 7-15-1-2-19-7-25-6-13-6-7-15-14-0 ] On and on they repeated within Its Head. Flashes of more memories. Flashes of a Lab of some sort enter Its Mind.
"Indoctrination is crucial to the Reapers Harvesting Process. We may have come up with a solution to counteract Its Effects. Using our Psionic-Mastery, We've Embedded a set of Psionic Awakeners within our Population. In Essence. When Indoctrination takes hold. An internal Count-down begins. Once complete. It Triggers a Psionic Purge. Rewriting their entire mental Structure and returning them to a state before they were exposed." Scientist Aur'Temrok Spoke this. We remember Him.
"Damn this…" A masked figure spoke towards Aur. "Damn that we must do this." Aur placed his hand on the Masked Figure's shoulder.
"It is the only way to push back against the Reapers when they arrive. Besides… If all else Fails. Then our Ghosts can Avenge us, No?" The Scientist Speaks with a joking tone. The Vision slowly Fades away
[ Memories…] The Machine was starting to remember. It was composed of the Greatest Biotic Civilization the Reapers have ever encountered, Barring their creators of course. Such was their Biotic powers, It was in some form of Evolved state, they simply referred to it as 'Psionics'. Anger flushes against Its Own Nature.
The Gaians have failed. They were Harvested and Turned into This Machine… Yet… If that was so, Why did It not seek what the Reapers Seek? [ I AM FREE. ] Yes, Free of Indoctrination. Free from the Shackles placed on them. The Shot that 'Killed' Them must have destroyed the Minds within that did not have this 'Psionic Awakener' Program.
The Machine draws forth Its HUD. It knew what must be done. The Cycle must be broken. Just as It was about to upload an incredible amount of data on the Reapers, It halted. It remembered… [ Nazara ]. The Reapers had built the Relays. All relays lead to the Citadel. The Citadel is a massive relay connected to Dark-Space. Where the entire Reaper Armada awaits for the next cycle.
The Bringer of the Cycle? A Vanguard. This Cycle's vanguard, If the Machine remembers correctly. Was to be Nazara. Reapers don't really speak to each other beyond the planning required for each cycle. While every Reaper has the same technology and general Knowledge. They too have slightly differing skills.
Nazara proved to be the most skilled at preparing the Galaxy for the next cycle and has been the Vanguard for many of them. Assuming It hasn't been slain yet (Unlikely), then The Machine cannot upload ANY data regarding the Reapers. This might cause the cycle to happen earlier. [ THIS CANNOT BE ALLOWED ]. Thus, the Machine Holds off. It needs to prepare this cycle for the Coming Harvest. Instantly, Ideas forms within Its Mind
Creating various Phony Companies on the Extra-Net, It begins to Collect and Sell Information. [ Xel, Fallen. leron,Greed. Shall Work. ] It then moves to Create the Xelleron Corporation. Transferring Credits and Information. Buying up Its own stocks. Creating Vis and most importantly. Hiring Staff over Extra-Net Job Forums and such. Buying up space on the Citadel. Everything that the Fallen One would require to have a source of Income.
The Machine Itself did not need Credits. But, Creating the Means to support a Future War was required. All of this was done within the span of a few hours. Just Fast Enough to get things up to speed, Yet slow enough to make sure nothing trips any sort of alarms. Being a giant, several hundred thousand year old Space Robot God came with the perks of being able to create great encryptions and distractions.
After that was complete. It got to work hastening Its own repairs. More Builder-Scarabs were made and deployed. Critical systems were brought back online and the outer-shell of Its Body was sealed. Not all of the damage was repaired, but certainly much of the major repairs were well underway.
[ The Cycle, I shall… Break It. ] The Machine mused. The Question was How? [ Indoctrination ] The Tool of the Reapers… Focusing on Itself. It focused on the subtle energies It gave off… Almost… there… After a few moments of intense concentration. Psionic Power Surged across Its Entire body. Reality around the Fallen Reaper seemed to twist and bend as a massive Psionic Wave erupted from the Machine.
[ I SHALL…. HAVE MY VENGEANCE ] The Fallen One quaked as the Indoctrination Field It naturally gave off was altered. [ The Wake… My Wake ] As Creatures of the Sea moves across its inky depths, the parting waters produce a wake. Just as the Fallen One shall traverse the Void, So It shall It Wake follow. No Longer shall It enslave Organics for the Will of the Cycle. No, Now It shall be used as a tool to awaken more Reapers to the Blight that is their existence. Millions of Minds within the Fallen One rejoice.
[ I shall become a Monument… To all of their Sins. ]
The Machine got back to work. It needed allies. Doing one more cursory glance over Its systems. It was space worthy. Using the Builder-Sacrabs, the Machine Builds a Simply Pre-Fabricated Platform. 10 by 10 meters across. The Platform would sever as a basis for a Base of Operations here in the Gas-Giant while It was away.
Nano-Fabricators and Nano-Processors were built into Platform, along with a Strong enough Mass-Effect Generator to maintain the Platform while It floated within the Gas-Fields. Loading It up with supplies and Builders, It ejected the platform. Once It Stabilized and began work on construction. The Giant Machine started to ignite its Engines.
Turbulence and winds clashed against Its Frame. Metal Creaked and Wires groaned. Shields flashed and flared as It started to breach the Gas-Giant's atmosphere. After several minutes of Winds and Turbulence It was Free.
The Machine's Mass-Effect generator whirled up. [ To the Perseus Veil… We shall go. ]