If you recognize it, I probably don't own it. Mass effect belongs to BioWare and Microsoft.
Here are some important stuff.
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
~"AI"~
*Sound Effects*
POV/Location/Time Change.
Revelations
July 16, 2300
Deep Space Blacksite, 157 LY from Sol
"100 years. For 100 whole years, I have worked on this project. To develop the next step on humanity's path towards Interstellar supremacy. Countless failures and struggles. Entire new fields of study invented and discarded. All in this mad pursuit of the impossible. But now… I have it. I have done it! Finally, after a century of struggles, I have achieved something None have achieved before! Behold! The result of a lifetime of work! Behold! And stand witness! Ancestors and Gods-"
"Stop the monologue doctor, and just start the machine will you?" Hannah interrupted Dr Selvig. "We need to report back to HighComm Today, and not another century later." She pushed up her glasses as she ran a few final diagnostics on the large machine in front of them. She was wearing a full-sleeved white office shirt and baggy black pants, with her lab coat tied around her waist. She had short raven black hair tied in a braided bun and diamond earrings. She also sported a pair of open-toed black heels. She appeared to be in her early 20s.
"Yes yes. I was getting there. Before you so rudely interrupted me! I swear Kids these days! Won't even let me monologue in peace…" Dr Selvig matters. He looked old, had white hair with a bald patch in the middle of his head, and was a bit hunched. He was wearing a cream full-sleeve shirt, a red vest, a black tie, and gray pants. His lab coat was stained and dirty towards the bottom with the left collar a bit frayed.
"And do make sure to change your appearance to something proper. You look like a mad hobo at the moment" Hannah adds.
"I look exactly like what a scientific genius of my caliber should look like! You lack the eyes to understand me, woman!" Dr Selvig retorts.
"So, a mad genius hobo?" Hannah asks.
"For god's sake, I do not look like a hobo!" Dr Selvig shouts.
"Yeah yeah. Now start the damn machine… Doctor hobo."
"You-" Dr Selvig gives up trying to argue with her and begins focusing on his machine. "Here goes… Initializing… spooling up Planium reserves…
10…
9…
8…
7…
Activating Gravity fields…
5…
4…
Injecting Planium…
2…
1…
Generating Singularity…
…!
…!beep! Beep!
Singularity Success! Holding Stable and Secure…"
Dr Selvig released a breath he didn't know he was holding and slumped down on his chair.
"Yes!... A hundred years… I did it … The first stable blackhole reactor of humanity…"
He mumbled, not noticing the lone tear that fell from his right eye.
Hannah stood up from her terminal, the hum of the black hole reactor pulsing through the room like the heartbeat of a newborn star. She glanced over at the exhausted Dr. Selvig, who was still slumped in his chair, eyes unfocused as if trying to comprehend the enormity of his achievement. A faint smile crept across her lips—he had done it, they had done it. Yet there was no time for celebrations.
"Congratulations, Doctor," she said, her voice carrying both admiration and urgency. "But don't get too comfortable. We need to start the testing protocols immediately. HighComm will want data—real, usable data—not just your monologues."
Dr. Selvig, still half in a daze, nodded absentmindedly. "Yes… yes, of course. Testing. But we have it, Hannah. The power of a singularity in our grasp… Do you even understand what this means?"
Hannah, ever practical, adjusted her glasses and responded with her usual deadpan tone. "It means we can finally stop bleeding resources on inefficient fusion drives and become the first species to power starships with a controlled singularity. It means humanity just leapfrogged the rest of the galaxy in one stroke. But right now," she leaned over the console, fingers flying across the controls, "it means we need to make sure this thing doesn't kill us all in the process."
The reactor pulsed again, the light in the room dimming slightly as it drew in more power from the Planium injectors. A low hum began to permeate the air, not unpleasant but growing in intensity.
Dr. Selvig finally seemed to snap out of his reverie, sitting up straighter in his chair. "You're right. We can't afford any mistakes at this stage. Begin phase one diagnostic testing."
Hannah nodded, already several steps ahead. "Initiating power modulation test. Stabilizing field at 20%. Keeping singularity contained and secure."
She glanced at the monitor, lines of data streaming in at a rapid pace. Everything looked stable so far, but she knew better than to relax. They were dealing with the most dangerous force in the known universe—a controlled black hole. Even the smallest error could cause catastrophic results.
"Power draw is stable," Hannah reported, her eyes darting from one data point to the next. "Gravitational pull within expected parameters. No disruptions to the containment field."
Dr. Selvig rose from his seat, hobbling over to her station. His aged hands hovered over the console, too nervous to interfere but eager to witness the results up close.
"Bring it up to 50%," he said, his voice shaky with excitement and fear. "Let's see what this beauty can really do."
Hannah hesitated for just a moment, then input the command. The reactor hummed louder, the lights flickering as the singularity expanded slightly within its containment field.
"Power at 50%," she said, her voice cool and measured. "Everything still holding steady."
Dr. Selvig was practically vibrating with excitement now. He leaned closer to the console, eyes wide with wonder. "It's magnificent. This—this is the dawn of a new era."
Hannah ignored his theatrics, focusing on the steady stream of data. "Gravitational fluctuations within safe limits. No anomalies detected. We're clear for the next phase."
Dr. Selvig, now pacing with energy that belied his frail form, gestured toward the reactor. "Let's push it to 75%! If we can maintain stability at that level, we'll have enough energy to power an entire fleet!"
Hannah frowned. "75%? That's risky, Doctor. We're talking about the equivalent of all of Earth's power output. If the containment field even flickers—"
"I know the risks, Hannah!" Dr. Selvig snapped, his voice cracking. "But we didn't come all this way to be cautious now. We need results, or HighComm will bury this project along with the rest of my failures. Push it to 75%."
For a moment, the two locked eyes—Hannah's calm pragmatism against Selvig's desperate ambition. Then, with a resigned sigh, she keyed in the command.
"Bringing reactor to 75%," she said, her fingers hovering over the control interface. The hum grew louder, the lights flickering more aggressively as the singularity expanded further, pulling in more Planium.
"Containment stable... The field! The containment field is getting stronger somehow?" Hannah says bewildered.
"The singularity is self-stabilizing! This is more amazing than our wildest predictions!" Dr Selvig exclaims.
~~~~~~~~XXXXX~~~~~~~~XXXXX~~~~~~~
July 17, 2300 ES
Dr Selvig, now looking much more presentable, was guiding the President and her Entourage through the facility.
"Doctor, how does this machine work?"
Dr Selvig began to ramble. "The idea of black hole power generators has existed in theoretical physics since late 1969 as the Penrose process. It was improved throughout the years as it gained popularity through science fiction. But remained hypothetical for all of it as creating, let alone stabilizing and controlling a black hole was considered impossible. However the discovery of Planium, which allowed us to manipulate Higgs Boson fields to affect gravity and mass in ways that violate multiple laws of science. It sparked a race in new theories about black hole reactors. But the issue of actually producing a black hole remained. All of that changed with an incident that happened on 14th December, 2199 on Reach training ground 14"
"The first recorded use of a biotic singularity attack." The President recounted her history lessons.
With a smile, the Doctor continues. "Yes. Exactly. While not an actual black hole, it proved that it was possible to create gravitic singularities with Planium. And the very next year this facility was founded and I was chosen to lead the project. We named it Project NYX, after the Greek Goddess of Night. As the success of this project would ensure that Humanity shall forevermore be able to stave off the darkness." he finished.
"You have yet to answer how this generator actually works Doctor," Hannah interjected.
"I'm getting there!" Dr. Selvig says rather annoyed. " So, For the next 100 years, I and my team spent day and night working on synthesizing an actual black hole. Because biotic singularities are inherently unstable, we needed to find a different process, while ensuring that the black hole had enough mass to not immediately decompose into Hawking radiation. This hurdle, while it appears simple enough, is the only reason we have been working on this thing for 100 years. We made our first proper black hole in 2217, it almost blew up the lab. The second one in 2220 went into cascade failure and almost sucked in the entire facility. This successful one is attempt number 32. Making a black hole bomb or gun would have been so easy. Hell, you can use any of our last 20 or so attempts as a black hole gun…" he grumbled.
"Anyway, I was explaining the mechanism. Back to it. What this generator does is it uses a black hole with a center mass of about 400,000 tonnes, stabilizes and inflates its size using planium fields, so that it's the size of about a tennis ball. This serves 2 purposes, it allows the containment fields to hold the black hole as otherwise it would be smaller than an atom and slip between the particles of the containment device. While making it weaker by a large magnitude, increasing its lifespan. It produces energy in 3 ways.
One is that it uses planium-based mass accelerators to continuously fire a stream of particles that enter and exit the event Horizon of the black hole gaining multiple boosts in speed and energy, which are then collected by special receivers on the walls of the containment chamber that these particles hit, get captured and then recycled. This boost coupled with the properties of Planium allows for the energy output to be exponentially higher than the input.
The second method is harvesting the Hawking radiation emitted by the black hole.
And lastly is the harvesting of the heat produced when matter is injected into the black hole.
These three methods combined give it a power output so high that it could power all of Reach, by itself.
These generators once activated can last for millions of years before the weakening structural integrity triggers the failsafes and shuts down the reactor." he concluded his explanation.
"How amazing. You have achieved something unbelievable, Dr. Selvig." The President complimented.
"But that is not all! The other discoveries that have been made for this project are also amazing! Take the plating on the inside of the reactor for example. If used as armor for ships, it would allow the ship to tank thousands of gigatons of energy and practically render it invincible to existing weapons. It would also be very expensive. But it would work. Also the aforementioned black hole guns. Attempt 17 would be perfect for such a thing. It would only require minor adjustments to pull it off!" He began rambling again.
~~~~~~~~XXXXX~~~~~~~~XXXXX~~~~~~~
2000 hours, July 28, 2300 ES
Sahrabarik System, Omega Nebula, Terminus regions.
Hans smiles and leans in a bit, then says in a whisper "How would you like to rule all of the Terminus."
For a brief moment, Aria's facade of calm was broken, her eyebrows raising in surprise. Her shrewd, violet eyes studied him intently, the weight of his offer settling over her. She leaned in closer, her interest piqued, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. She didn't often meet people bold enough to make propositions like this. It stirred something in her.
"My, my, Commodore," she murmured, her voice dripping with intrigue, "are you trying to steal my heart? If your proposition is good enough, you just might succeed."
Her tone was teasing, but her gaze was anything but. Her mind was already racing with possibilities. The thought of ruling all the Terminus Systems… it was an intoxicating idea. One she hadn't fully entertained—until now. But something this good didn't come without strings.
Her smirk faded, replaced by a cold, calculating look. "What's the catch?" Her words were sharp, her posture suddenly rigid. She knew better than to trust offers that came too easily.
Hans didn't flinch. His innocent smile held, his hands resting casually on the table between them. "There's no catch, per se. We just need you to be... receptive. Cooperative with our operations in the Terminus regions. Together, we'll make Omega and the Terminus a true alternative to the Citadel. A real government. And you, Aria… you get to have your own empire."
He leaned forward, his voice soft but dripping with confidence. "Your majesty."
The title hung in the air, and Aria couldn't help the amused snort that escaped her. *Your majesty.* Hearing it spoken aloud, from the lips of a human no less, was enough to bring the smirk back to her face. The idea was exhilarating. An actual empire, with her as its ruler. It was so absurd, so over-the-top… that it was brilliant.
But Aria was no fool. Her smirk remained, though her eyes narrowed. "An alternative to the Citadel, huh?" she mused, swirling the remnants of her drink in its glass. "You don't think that's a bit ambitious?"
Hans's smile never wavered. He spoke with the calm certainty of a man who knew the power he represented. "It would be… for a lesser nation. We, on the other hand, are the most powerful star nation in the galaxy. And you? You are the most enterprising and brilliant woman in the galaxy. Together, it's not that difficult."
The compliment, while obvious, did what it was intended to. Flattery, when done right, was as effective a weapon as any. Aria's eyes gleamed as she studied Hans, her smirk deepening. His words fed her ego, but they also rang true. She was the ruler of Omega, the undisputed queen of the Terminus's most notorious station. And now, this human was offering her the rest of the stars on a silver platter.
Leaning forward slightly, she lowered her voice, her words smooth as silk. "You've got my attention, Commodore. What's the plan?"
Hans mirrored her movement, his tone equally hushed but laced with enthusiasm. "We start simple. My people will supply you with weapons and ships—just slightly better than what the galaxy's used to. Not enough to set off alarms, but enough to give you an edge."
He paused, watching her reaction carefully before continuing. "In the meantime, we'll work from the shadows, quietly eliminating your enemies while you use your new toys to consolidate your power. Over the next few decades, you'll slowly take control of the Terminus. The Citadel will chalk it up to you finally projecting a bit of power, and all the while, we'll be pulling the strings."
His smile widened, confidence exuding from him. "Before they even realize what's happening, you'll have an empire. And we'll have secured the Terminus for ourselves—right under their noses."
Aria leaned back, processing his words. It was a perfect plan. Subtle. Methodical. It allowed her to maintain her independence while gaining the resources she needed to grow her influence. There were no strings, no visible chains binding her to humanity. They would simply make her stronger, and in turn, she would reshape the Terminus into her image.
"Simple," she said at last, that familiar smirk returning. "I like it."
"Then we're agreed?" Hans asked, leaning back himself, sensing the victory in the air.
"Not so fast," Aria interjected. "First, I suggest we make sure everyone thinks these negotiations failed."
She raised an eyebrow, waiting to see if Hans would catch on.
He grinned. "Ah, of course. To Fool your enemies—"
"Fool your allies first," Aria finished for him, the two sharing a knowing look.
With a sudden motion, she grabbed her empty glass and hurled it at him. The glass shattered on the floor near his feet, the noise drawing the attention of several patrons nearby.
"Get out!" she barked, her voice dripping with playful venom.
Hans stood, his smile unwavering as he brushed a few shards of glass off his jacket. He gave a respectful nod, playing his part. "As you wish."
Without another word, he turned and made his way out of the booth, leaving Aria alone with her thoughts. She leaned back in her seat, her eyes gleaming with excitement and ambition. She had played many dangerous games in her time, but this… this was something new.
The galaxy didn't know it yet, but they had just set the stage for a power shift that would reverberate through the stars.
'An empire of my own,' she mused, smirking to herself. 'It's about time.'
~~~~XXXXX
Same time
Secret Research Facility, Kha'arshan
The Batarian Hegemon's Fifth cousin's son-in-law was being guided by a scientist through the hallways of the facility.
"So you have finally made a useful discovery I assume?" He dawdled.
"Yes-yes. A truly enlightening discovery!" The scientist says with a gleam in his eyes. The pair continued down the dimly lit, sterile corridors, the hum of machinery faint in the background. The scientist's pace quickened as they approached a large, reinforced door. His excitement was palpable, but the Batarian noble—his face as apathetic as ever—simply followed, adjusting the collar of his finely tailored uniform.
"You've said that before, Drathel," the noble said, his four eyes narrowing slightly. "I hope for your sake this isn't another dead end. My father-in-law has little patience for waste."
Drathel swallowed, his excitement momentarily replaced by a flicker of apprehension. "No, no, this is different. What we've uncovered… It will change everything."
The door hissed open, revealing a massive lab, filled with holographic displays and containment chambers. At the center stood a large glass cylinder, pulsating with a faint, eerie glow. Inside, suspended in some sort of containment field, was what appeared to be a sleek, alien artifact, its surface shifting with a soft, silvery sheen.
The Batarian noble raised a brow, approaching the cylinder slowly. "Another relic? We've seen hundreds of these."
Drathel quickly stepped forward, his excitement reignited. "Not like this one!" He gestured to the holograms around them, each displaying a complex web of data. "This isn't Prothean tech. We've run every scan possible, and the energy readings are unlike anything we've ever encountered. It's ancient, yes—but it predates anything we know. And there's more."
Drathel pulled up a schematic of the device. "We believe it's some kind of key. Or maybe a conduit. The energy signatures suggest it taps into a subspace field we haven't been able to map yet. But—" He leaned in, lowering his voice. "It reacts to sentient thought. We've run tests with other species, but only Batarian brainwave patterns cause this response."
The noble's eyes flicked to the artifact, and his interest was finally piqued. "Go on."
Drathel hesitated, then pulled up another set of data. "We've also uncovered something else—a signal. Faint, but unmistakable. It's coming from deep within the Leviathan we recovered from Dis. This might be the key to unlocking its secrets!."
The noble studied the data for a long moment before turning his gaze back to Drathel. "And what are the implications of this, Drathel? If what you're saying is true, what could this… discovery mean for the Hegemony?"
For the first time, the noble allowed a small smile to creep onto his face. "You may have just saved your career, Drathel. But tell me—how soon can we deploy this... key?"
The scientist's smile faltered slightly. "There's still much we don't understand. The artifact is... volatile. It's incredibly powerful, but we've yet to fully unlock its secrets. We need more time. More research."
The noble turned, his gaze cold once again. "Time is a luxury we may not have. My father-in-law will want results. You have one cycle, Drathel. One. If you fail, this facility will become your tomb and your kin shall be thrown to the slave pits."
Drathel swallowed hard, nodding quickly. "Of course, my lord. We'll double our efforts. I assure you, we'll have something tangible soon."
Without another word, the noble spun on his heel and strode out of the lab, leaving Drathel standing alone, staring at the glowing artifact. His heart raced with both excitement and dread. He had seen the potential of the relic, but unlocking its true power would be a race against time.
As the door closed behind the noble, Drathel turned back to the artifact, his fingers dancing over the controls. "Let's hope," he muttered to himself, "that we can find… the massssterrrrrr…"
From deep within the artifact, something stirred. A faint pulse. Almost as if it were listening. And waiting.
~~~~~~~~XXXXX~~~~~~~~XXXXX~~~~~~~
A/N Sorry, the editing of this chapter is a bit whack. Also, writer's block is a B*tch and a half.
Also, can anyone tell me how to make those page-break things on ffn?