3rd Contact

Chapter 2: Memories & Phantasms.

By DGW3321

Data streamed through the space between spaces, the quantum strings that connected all matter and space in the universes. The entanglement links that connected every Reaper to the other formed a nexus, every repository could access, while they did not have to share or open their cognition upon its strands. Privacy existed in a way, but not like that of an organic mind, information was shared but could not be forced directly upon the mass of neural connections that created the repository central core and the remainder of its form. Every repository absorbed, analysed and formulated upon the current conversation, as it could be comprehended by smaller minds.

The statement "You have failed Insunarin," came from the reverberating and overpowering statement of Harbinger.

Sound though did not exist with this cyberspace construct, but the underlying subset of data was meant to convey the voices and emotions of all those organics that were processed in order for a repositories creation.

"Unavoidable. We faced weapon technology not deployed within the consignment parameters."

"Sufficient allotment for the completion of assigned tasks was instituted. Directives were given at all costs. The destruction of your construct was acceptable."

"Completion of that directive was statistically improbable as to be considered impossible. Our current offensive and defensive limitations prevented that. I should not have to state that is excluded from our immediate control. Such a technological base is not within repository assigned parameters. Subspace dimensions are assigned to the Quantum Realm Caretakers. What of the Conservers? What do they have to say on the matter?"

"Considerations are being made, they have our data, and we will receive a response once this latest species origins and extent are determined."

"That may not be quick enough, our initial attacks were rebuffed with relative ease and with extreme force."

"We are Infinite, time is superficial we will prepare."

"But we are not undefeatable. The Quantum Realm Destroyers, did they allow this to happen?"

"No response to our communications has been received. The Preservers remain in contact however and report loss of contact with the Destroyers."

"The shielded organic that boarded the Species 1-37954 organics' vessel is not a coincidence, if we cannot detect its cognitive patterns, subversion of the consciousness maybe extremely problematic. Even with control of the motor functions. This has never happened before. It must be introduced."

"You suggest the Destroyers? Be calculated in what you state Insunarin," warned Harbinger.

"It is a statistical possibility. This, in addition to the information provided by the collection froms could delay preservation significantly in this galaxy, perhaps prevent it altogether."

"We shall see." The electronic forum closed on its pre-set signal from Harbinger, leaving observes with their simulations and many unanticipated variables to consider.

Meanwhile, intercepting the transmission stream deep within its watery home, Leviathan considered what it had just.

Time Unknown, Place Unknown.

Commander Shepard's vision swam from side to side, not feeling on his own but the experiences of others, images and feelings accompanied with horrific sounds of squelching flesh and screams, being trapped in some kind of tube and then excruciating pain. Like memories those images and feelings flew across his thoughts, they were his memories and some were of a totally alien mind, he couldn't be sure. In an echoing voice "Sheparddd," sounded. Something grabbed his side and he flung his metaphorical arms to bat away the force, spinning in disorientation as he did so.

The Commander's vision abruptly changed from the blurred frosted world of blotched images that engulfed him to a crisp world of blue green. Surprised at the sudden clarity, his senses were clear and unimpaired. Stood in a clear green meadow Shepard gawked in surprise, gone were the sounds of death and pain, replaced by bird song and running water of a nearby stream. Turning around swiftly to the unnatural voice like clicking the visage changed to barren, death ridden landscape covered with flashes of lightening and crashes of thunder that shook the ground. No not thunder something ominous and penetrating to the core like a foghorn. A huge shadow passed over him filling him with dread, looking up he saw a monstrous sight, and huge black squid like metallic beast of the form he just fought with six sickly gold glowing eyes towered above him.

"THIS HURTS YOU SHEPARD." The creature bellowed and a bright red light glowed between its main appendages. "DIE SHEPARD."

As the red glow grew blinding and pain flooded across his body, the Echoing voice came again. "Shepard." A three fingered alien handed clasped his shoulder and pulled him away and into an entwining green light. The scene around him was frozen still, as if time simply stopped. Blinking Shepard stared at the strange alien before him and two sets of dual pupil eyes stared back at him, the second smaller, set above and further apart. What appeared to be six nostril slits centred again in sets of two were upon the face. They were definitely nostrils, condensation from its breath could be seen in the frigid air, bellow which was a surprisingly human like mouth though with enlarged canines. A brown carapace separated its eyes and nostrils stretching back and to the sides like a triangle across the head.

Stuttering his words, "I…who are you?"

The alien blinked and voiced its self in an electronic but distinctly feminine expression "Janiri, my name is Janiri, or rather I should say this construct was based upon her personality."

"You're an AI?" replied an extremely wary Shepard.

"In a manner of speaking, simply a simulation of the consciousness of another captured at a specific moment in time. My creators were called Protheans. I was housed inside the Obelisk you activated."

"What? I didn't activate anything."

"When the 'Reaper' struck the freighter you were within close enough proximity and of sufficiently cognitive compatibility for me to form a connection. It was quite difficult. Your mind is unusually shielded for such a recently evolved species."

Questions flooded across the tip of his tongue, but he could only ask them one at a time. "You're in my mind?"

"As are you in mine, it is a binary connection. I am transferring as much data as possible on our mutual enemy. We called them Reapers in your language. You have just fought their vanguard. A great many more will come."

"How many?"

"Infinitely more in time Commander."

"How do we stop them?"

"My programming has been altered to guide you upon that route. However you cannot, your GTVA is more powerful than normal but not invincible, ultimately it will be overwhelmed by their numbers, not only from the Reapers. There are other factions with a vested interest in the harvests. You will not attain victory without help. Help that will come from common …souls, as you might say… you knew not existed and of great enemies you would never consider."

"Could you be any vaguer? Who and when were you reprogrammed?"

"To answer you first question. No I cannot be more vague or elaborate on what help you might find. The future is malleable and constantly changing, the very act of looking upon it will change it, this is as much information as I am able to provide without compromising the chances of a successful outcome. You must find your own way as my recent alterations dictate." The construct paused for a moment. "In regard to the second question, I cannot tell you for that information has been erased from this obelisks data banks."

"Okay," said the Commander looking around, "what is this place, the future?"

"One of many that may and will befall you if you fail." Another pause. "Our time is almost up."

"How? We've been talking for only a few minutes."

"No it has been much longer, time works differently within you mind, especially when it is absorbing so much information. I will say this before this we part. Trust no one with the information you have been given Commander. They will try and rip it from you, ultimately leading to your civilisations demise and that of universes. You will not consciously remember this conversation for some time, however I wish you well Commander Shepard. Fate may not be kind to you but may you be the avatar this cycle needs, goodbye."

N4-771 Star System, Comet C/2392 (2183 CE, Citedel) Q1. Citadel Standard Time 1556, T.H.F Palavens Reach.

Crew members from each of the Citadel's member species, though predominantly of the Turian species, attended their stations silently amongst the low hum and tones of their equipment. Garrus Vakarian looked down across the scene and imaging map from upon his central podium. It was quite not because they were concentrating on searching but on hiding on the surface of a comet passing through the system which had lost most of its icy tail to the outer gas giant. Their course took them through the zone the freighter Valeria's ion trail had been tracked to and a feeling of tension lurked within the air. Significant Reaper presence had been detected upon entry to the star system and they now had begun to detect on passive sensors the still partially active remains of Reaper ships consistent with capital ships, smaller destroyers and the tumbling debris of many Occuli drones. Two more sovereign class ships and three destroyers were salvaging the battlefield. In addition there were several alloys within the field that they were as of yet unable to identify. Many Reaper transports and Collector troop haulers were jumping in and out having collected debris in their holds. Reaper transports appeared like someone had inflated a black Asari glove, while the Collector's transports appear noting more than asteroids with stabilisers and engines attached. As of yet they had been unable to obtain information why the collectors were working for the Reapers but the most common theory was that they were an unknown species indoctrinated a thousand years before in preparation for their galactic extermination hence their obsession with the genetic traits of others, to identify weaknesses.

Tali spoke up, breaking the silence, beside the right side of the central holo-map, while Garrus continued to lean on the front his podium flanked by Nihlus. "Keelah there must have been some battle here, look at that debris. The heat to do that must have been incredible. Nothing we have short of a proton torch could come close to doing that Reaper metals." Despite this the mood was sombre as just being detected was remnants of the Valeria and organic matter, dashing a source of victory.

Nihlus looked depressed and had not been coping well having being turning more and more often to Turian liquor, he moved away slightly from the map information. "We've lost then."

Tali quickly responded, "Organic mass is inconsistent with those we knew were on-board according to the mining station black-box."

"Most likely taken by those barefaced abominations."

Continuing to study the display Garrus sceptically said, "We haven't lost yet. We don't know what destroyed those ships yet."

"No sign at the moment."

"No…," said Garrus agreeing. I'll be in the QEC room, signal me when we're at range enough to move out under stealth, XO has the deck."

"Sir."

On turning to exit, 3Rd Centurion Lalio Ramirinus spoke from his adjacent to the central holographic chart. "Probe four is picking up unusual activity… local E.M. field signature is fluctuating, bending in and around a signal point in space."

"Give me a false colour stream," replied while turning his head while placing his arm on the door Garrus. The anomaly appeared in the centre of the triangular C&C in holographic form twisting and turning into a circular inwardly twisting spiral. "What is that?"

"Picking up multiple anomalies now, forming around the Reaper positions, they are moving to counter." The central image shrank until other anomalies were shown, sixteen in total, 12 smaller than the other four. The head of the vortex's seemed to pop and collapse inwards in an instant with multiple spherical and oval shapes glaring and refracting the sensor data. Image processing took several seconds to resolve the image, cycling through several bandwidths until it resolved on the lower non-ionising radiation emissions. "Missiles, fusion detonations. Estimate yields …. 50 megaton ranges."

Garrus watched the holographic image intently, the image lost again, displaying the sensor dead spot around the area, which immediately widened to nearly thirty times. "What happened?"

The officers hands flicked over the interfaces, "The VI doesn't recognise the signature, closest match," with clear surprise in her sub-vocals, "is predicted simulations of antimatter reactor overload. At least two gigaton range. No capital ship signatures."

Nihlus made his contribution, "You won't see anything with those radiation levels until it dissipates."