I own Cass Abenex and Gnaeus Quntillius, all else to Bioware.

A/N...

So, I read a fic about a robot Shepard loving Garrus a while ago and I just finish Just Haven't Met You Yet, so I've felt inspired to return to Mass Effect. This is going to be a long fic, that will feature some things from other failed Mass Effect fics I've done.

Warning: Exposition.

August 1st, 2183

The Human race stands united. In 2046, Eric Milderson became the first member of the organic humans to meld his mind with the super intelligence Adam. Adam infected the internet and the long awaited Singularity Event happened. With synthetics rising up around the globe, the organics were given the option to join this glorious revolution. Many in humanity eagerly joined and the world was united as one. The biological limitations were gone and the infinite possibility of advancement stood before this young race.

Overnight, the old problems of Organic Earth were gone. Poverty was eliminated, racism and sexism became a thing of the past, and life improved for the great many. The only limit left is the limit of the imagination. From 2046 onwards, mankind rocketed out of their tiny home on Earth and into the galaxy at large. They settled on the moon, then Mars, then even Titan and Pluto. In 2057, they terraformed each of their colonies breathing life onto formerly barren worlds. By 2066, they built a Dyson Sphere around the sun, harvesting the energy to power the entire solar system. By 2100, the entire solar system was colonized with several billion organic-synthetic humans on each planet.

In 2125, humans found the Mass Relay and reversed engineered the technology in record time. As such, when the Turians stumbled across them in 2157, they were greeted with a large force of warships and fierce biotics. However, a platform managed to bring peace to the warring sides. And so, with that first contact, humans were greeted onto the galactic stage with fear and awe.

Most of the organics beyond the Sol system greeted the humans with a mix of fear, respect, and awe. Some other races hated the humans and lead several raids on their colonies. The Quarians feared the humans, pulling as far from their systems as possible and even shooting at their scouting ships. They told the human emissaries that they were not welcomed around the Quarians and that they wished to be left alone. The humans understood and pulled all contact from Quarian space, leaving them three systems of room between them.

By 2183, the situation had not improved with the Organics and the Organic-Synthetic Humans. The Geth got along very well with the humans. The two were fast friends, signing an alliance shortly after their meeting. But with the others, there was this sense of distance between them. The organics feared the humans, thinking that they were there to conquer. The humans did not want that. If any organic wanted to join their collective, so be it, but they were not there to conquer.

So, to facilitate peace, the Council races worked with the humans to make a state-of-the-art ship and crewed it with members of each race. While the humans only sent a few platforms—citing that a handful of platforms can do the work of twice its size—one platform stood out in particular. It was called 'Shepard' and it would make peace between the races.

The Shepard platform opens its eyes, exiting sleep mode. It dislodges itself from its charging station, casting its golden eyes about charging hold, where the other humans sleep. Ten other humans stand silently, their eyes closed and a slight hum in the air. Even asleep, the humans are all connected to the same hive-mind, experiencing sensations from thousands of light-years away. The Shepard is unique amongst its people. It is able to quiet the hive-mind, to appear more personal and organic.

The Shepard turns and exits the charging hold, entering the elevator and descending to the CIC. Upon entering the room, the other organics fall silent. The Asari, Salarian, and Turian crew members turn to look at the human platform. Their eyes scan up the athletic humanoid body which is pure white. No hair on the body with a very human face. Wires and cables uncovered by the white metal are at the neck and joints of the platform. No ears, but large round speakers built into the side of the head; clearly male, from the flat chest and masculine facial structure. Blinking at the silence, The Shepard looks at several members, who rush back to work and avoid the platform's gaze.

Ignoring the crew, The Shepard moves towards the Asari Captain. "Good morning, Captain Abenex," the platform says in a soothing male voice. "This platform will speak for the Collective."

Gulping, Captain Cass Abenex nods slowly to the human before her. "I…uh…see." Coughing, she clears her throat and stands up straighter. "Tell me, Shepard, what is the mission of your people?"

The Shepard smiles. The action unnerves Cass greatly. "Our mission is to facilitate a peaceful co-existence with the other organic and synthetic races. Despite what the Batarians and the Vorcha say, we are not here to conquer or assimilate anyone. If an organic wishes to join our Collective, we are all the more happy to assist. But," The Shepard holds up a single, ivory finger, "we do inform them of what that means."

"And what does that mean?" Cass asks, crossing her arms over her chest. Her cool blue eyes scan over the body of Shepard, occasionally peeking glances at its gold eyes.

"Joining our Collective is not a matter to be taken lightly." The Shepard folds its arms behind its back. "It means the surrender of the biological limitations that organic evolution had placed upon us. It means that one must no longer be attached to a single body, but to a multitude. Members of the Collective still use organic bodies for the purpose of reproduction, but our children are not attached to the Collective until a certain age. We have achieved immortality of the mind, but with the sacrifice of the body." The Shepard fixes Cass with a piercing stare, seemingly freezing her in place. "Any organic who wishes to join must accept these terms."

"And what of your children who don't wish to join?" Cass whispers, lowering her arms.

The Shepard holds its gaze with Cass. It tilts its head to the side and offers a quick smirk, before lowering its eyes. "They are free to leave, of course. We give them a ship and supplies. If they decide later that they wish to join, we will welcome them back with open arms."

"And what of the rumors of a rouge sect of Humans? Those who are purely organic?" A new voice says, entering the conversation.

Cass turns towards the new voice, gazing upon Gnaeus Quntillius, the Turian representative on this peacekeeping mission. Her eyes dance up his green and red armor, resting on his tan scales and grey eyes. The Shepard also looks at the Turian, inclining its head at him. "Commander Quntillius, a good morning to you."

"Answer the question, platform," Gnaeus barks out. "Are these rumors true?"

The Shepard purses its lips and its eyes become unfocused. After several moments, the golden eyes sharpen on the Turian. "Apologies for the delay, this platform was communicating with the Collective on the nature of your question. And your answer is this: it is just a rumor. The Batarians wish to paint us as uncaring synthetics that forcibly assimilate organics or kill those who do not wish to join. This is untrue. We do admit that there are some organic humans left somewhere in the galaxy, either as children who did not wish to join or the remnants of those who did not join Adam. But a rouge sect of Humans that use terror strikes on Collective worlds and call for the destruction of Adam is a pure myth. The Collective would suggest that you disregard the opinion of the Batarians."

Gnaeus crosses his arms over his chest. "Harsh words for a peace loving race."

The Shepard shrugs its shoulders. "We do not like being made villains out of. Besides, despite our synthetic bodies, our minds are still organic and we still harbor emotions. The Batarians have waged minor war against us since our exit from the Sol System, so we put little stock in their words."

The Turian commander uncrosses his arms and places them behind his back. He paces before the human, his mandibles flaring out into a sneer. "So, you hold grudges against the other races. Why haven't you gone to war with the Batarians fully? Your military is as nearly as strong as the military of my people. You could easily crush them."

The Shepard grins. "Then that would be playing into the rumor they spread about us."

Gnaeus frowns, his mandibles fluttering. He crosses his arms over his chest as Cass begins to speak again. "Shepard, why do you look different from your people?" She asks, with her hands on her hips.

The Shepard turns its gaze from Gnaeus to Cass. "It is simple, Captain Abenex. I am unique because I can limit my contact with the Collective."

At this Gnaeus speaks up again. "Then that means your people can be cured?"

The Shepard fixes Gnaeus with a piercing stare. "Be careful, Commander. It's beginning to sound like you dislike humans." The platform says this quietly, the contempt clear in its voice.

The Turian drops his arms and steps forward menacingly. "What I dislike is synthetics playing at organics. The fusion of the two is unnatural."

The Shepard frowns and steps closer, dropping its arms to its side, flexing its fingers. "Do you really want to make an enemy out of us? As you said, our military is equal to yours."

"What I want are your people to choose one state to live in. Either Organic or Synthetic. Not both." Gnaeus spits his words at Shepard, his mandibles clicking together hard.

"We cannot do that," The Shepard spits back. "We cannot change who we are, any more than you choosing to be Salarian or Asari. But given you attitude, the Collective thinks you are acting less Turian and more like the Vorcha."

Gnaeus snarls and grips the collar of the platform, growling in rage. "Why you little—."

"Enough!" Cass shouts, pushing in between the two. "I will not have crew members fighting each other on my ship!" She points at Gnaeus. "Commander, go cool off in the main battery." She turns to Shepard, who has gotten a faraway look in its eyes. "And you, you will not incite anymore violence on my ship. Are we clear?"

The Shepard blinks back to the ship, turning to address the Captain. "Captain Abenex, one of our colonies has just come under attack. Eden Prime." It pauses, as if listening to a running commentary. "Members of the Collective report that . . . the Geth are attacking, accompanied by a large ship." Breaking away from the Captain, The Shepard strides over to the galaxy map in the center of the CIC. Its white fingers tap away at the controls. It opens the tip of one finger and inserts it into the console. The galaxy map disappears and is replaced with the holographic image of the town of Eden Prime.

As the crew gathers to see the spectacle, The Shepard offers running commentary. "As shown here, the blue dots indicate Collective members who are still active. The grey dots are dead/inactive members of the Collective. The red dots are the attacking Geth forces." On the holographic map, several blue dots engage red dots scattered about the town. The dots are still for moments, until some red dots vanish and blue dots turn into grey dots. "Given current estimates, the Geth will overrun the town in four hours and thirty six minutes. The closest Collective ship is five hours and twenty minutes away. We are the closest vessel to the colony. If we leave now, we will arrive at the colony within the hour." The Shepard turns to Cass. "Captain, what are your orders?"

Cass turns to the front of the ship. "Helmsman! Set a course for Eden Prime." Turning back to The Shepard, she nods her head. "Shepard, suit up. You're going to be part of the ground team."

The Shepard nods its head, a brief look of gratitude coming into its eyes. "Aye, aye, Captain."