The Jedi Effect

(A/N): Start at (0:00-1:26)

Cerberus, Alliance Black Ops Organization, Top-Secret, Highest-Level Security Clearance. Trouble on Binthu, with Cerberus "written" on it. Commander Jane Shepard and Jedi Knight (Y/N) Voridus with the assistance of Ahsoka Tano, Clone Commando Bruce, and BD-1, eliminate the Cerberus Experimentation efforts on Binthu, but with the loss of Rear Admiral Kahoku.
Rouge V.I. on Luna, overtaking Alliance Military Training Facility, with few casualties, but stopped by Shepard and Voridus and their crew. Now, on course for Feros and sightings of Geth, but something more in play...

~|Normandy Cargo Bay|~
~{(Y/N) Voridus POV}~

Normally I would tinker around with my weapons and armor, but right now I was helping both Ahsoka and Bruce get a hang of their new Omni-Tools that Dr. Chakwas implanted into their left arms. As I was helping them, I was adding some upgrades onto BD-1 and R4-T9. BD for better hacking and splicing as R4-T9, well, mainly some maintenance checks and, of course, doing the reports I would have to send to the Council for the go-ahead to produce more Astromech Droids in the future. As I was checking R4, I took a glance at Ahsoka as she was messing around with her Omni-Tool to get a better hang of it.

"How's the Omni-Tool, 'Soka?" I asked her before looking at Bruce, who was doing the same thing. "How about you, Bruce?"

"It's something to get used to, (N/N)." Ahsoka replied.

"This wasn't something we had in our galaxy," Bruce agreed as he was tapping away. "We mostly used data pads, not a hologram that can appear on our arms."

"True, but sometimes, specifically technicians, infiltrators, etc. can upgrade their Omni-Tools to be used as a weapon," I said getting their attention. "It's basically a holographic blade, an Omni-Blade."

"That's... interesting..." Bruce commented as he went back onto his Omni-Tool, and I went back to check around on R4.

"R4, getting along with everyone?" I asked R4.

"[Yes, I am]," R4 replied. "[It's not the Endeavor, smaller in size, but I can move around decently enough. I noticed some of the crew can understand binary, which is surprising.]"

"[Yeah, it can take a bit]," BD replied to R4 as he turned his dome head to BD. "[Ashley was taught by (Y/N) when we first met her. Shepard is catching on here and there. Tali and Liara are getting a hang of it... Who else?]"

"[I've been around the pilot, Joker, a few times]," R4 said which caught my attention. "[I'm not causing trouble for him.]"

"Hmm..." I hummed before contacting Joker. "Hey, Joker. I heard from R4 that he's been hanging around you now and again. Are you okay with that?"

"Huh? Oh, the droid? Yeah, he's fine," Joker replied. "At least I won't get lonely at the front. If only I can understand what he's saying."

"If you want, I can teach you how to understand binary," I offered. "I taught Ash when I first met her so she conversate with BD."

"That... I would not mind," Joker replied taking the offer. "Teach me your ways in droid language, Master Jedi."

"Very funny, asshole," I replied with a chuckle. "But I'll teach you what I know."

I heard Joker give a chuckle and end the comm. I continued working on R4 before going onto BD until I was finished with both.

"Okay, you both are good to go," I told BD and R4 as they were glad to be done. BD powered down to "rest," while R4 went over to the Astromech Charging Port and powered down for a bit. I saw Bruce finish messing with his Omni-Tool and went over to Garrus, either to talk or help him with the Mako. Now it was just me and Ahsoka, and she was done messing with her Omni-Tool and gave me a look. "Something on your mind, 'Soka?"

"Well... um..." Ahsoka replied, but she was rubbing her arm, and I noticed a slight blush forming on her orange cheeks. "(N/N), I was told a few times you were really upset when I was expelled, was that true?"

I looked at Ahsoka for a bit before looking away and giving out a heavy sigh. Standing up, and leaning against my workbench, I turned my attention onto her.

"Yes, I was rather... No, really pissed, when the Order expelled you for a crime, I knew you would never commit. Hell, even Master Xargu knew you better than most, except for Anakin and Rex," I replied. "When you were expelled, then your name was cleared, and hearing you turned down to return to the Order. Master Xargu and I both understood why you didn't return. They believed in false evidence and didn't even bat an eye to expel you. I was pissed... My best friend I made was betrayed, falsely accused, and expelled for no reason. All I knew at that time was that I couldn't see you again. My best friend... It was hard, but as you left the Order, I trained harder so that I could make you proud and hopefully to see you again..."

"You did all that, because of me?" Ahsoka asked and I could sense the shock in her tone.

"Yes, I admire you, Ahsoka. I will admit, I did kind of developed a crush on you back then," I admitted, and I saw Ahsoka's blush was brighter as her two Lekku on her front bounced a little. "Oh... um... Sorry about that. That was a bit embarrassing to say."

"Huh?! No, no! It's okay, (N/N)," Ahsoka assured me as her blush was still around. "I'm just... A little surprised is all... and a little happy to hear that."

"What was that?" I asked since she muttered that last part.

"NOTHING!" Ahsoka replied, quite loudly. "Oh... um... I'm... I'm gonna go check on Tali quick. I'll see you later, okay, (N/N)?"

"Sure, 'Soka," I said and was about to check on my lightsabers, until I felt Ahsoka planting her lips on my cheek, literally giving me a kiss. My face flared a deep red as I felt where she kissed me, and I looked at her and she seemed a bit embarrassed, but she had a smile like she was waiting to do that. "'S-S-Soka?"

"Th-That's a thank you, (N/N)," Ahsoka replied sheepishly. "For still being the same best friend, I made all those years ago, and never changing. See you around, (N/N)."

Ahsoka walked away, but she added some sway into her hips. It was a nice sway, but her lekku on her back swayed a bit too, which caught my interest. I watched her walk away until she disappeared into the engine room. I shook my head from that moment and looked over at Garrus and made my way over to him.

"Hey, Garrus." I greeted him.

"Hey, (Y/N). Need something?" Garrus asked.

"Nothing in particular," I replied. "Just came by to check on you. I saw Bruce walking over here earlier."

"Oh, Bruce, he's helping me with the Mako. Bruce told me that a part of the cannon was slightly sticking when he turned the cannon to the right. I'm just checking to see what's wrong before the next mission," Garrus replied and I was happy that both Garrus and Bruce were getting along, but I noticed Garrus had something on his mind. "Can I talk to you about something?"

"Sure, I'm always around if you need to talk," I replied before pointing behind me. "Quite literally. I'm just a few feet away from you."

"Funny," Garrus replied with a small chuckle, before turning serious. "When I was with C-Sec, I've seen interesting things. Well, not as interesting as you've seen."

"Like what?" I asked. "Anything that stood out?"

"There was this Salarian geneticist I was sent to investigate," Garrus replied. "That case was a bit... disturbing."

"Disturbing in what way?" I asked again.

"You see, I was tasked with tracking black market trade on the Citadel," Garrus began his story. "Most of it harmless. Nothing I needed to pursue, btu during the course of my investigation, I noticed an increase in the traffic of body parts. Organs, mostly. We usually get a few of those, but not the numbers I was seeing. We weren't sure if there was a new black-market lab or if some freak was harvesting organs from citizens."

"Wait, wait, wait, you've seen this before on the Citadel?" I questioned. "How the hell was this still going on?"

"As I said, most times a new lab appears, or some freak was harvesting organs. Every so often, some lab sells unwanted parts through the black market, but they're not as bad as the psychos," Garrus replied. "I remember this one elcor diplomat we caught my first year on the job. He was hacking people up and selling their organs. Had the station in a bit of a panic."

"An elcor, really? How the hell was one able to be fast enough to do something like that? Last I checked, they're slow as hell." I thought to myself confused by the memory.

"This case, however, wasn't that clear cut. Turns out there was more going on than we first realized," Garrus continued. "We got a hold of a sample and ran DNA tests. The weird thing was, the match led us to a turian who was still alive and was very convinced he'd never lost his liver. After a bit of digging, I discovered this turian worked briefly for Dr. Saleon, the geneticist. So I went to his lab, hoping to find evidence of cloned organ development. But there was nothing. No salarian hearts, no turian livers, not one krogan testicle."

"Who the hell would want to buy a krogan testicle?" I questioned until I figured out who. "Oh... that would be the case for krogan males to fight against the Genophage."

"Precisely. It doesn't work, but that doesn't stop them from buying. They'll pay up to 10,000 credits each. That's 40,000 for a full set," Garrus replied as I was surprised krogans had four testicles. "Somebody's making a killing out there."

"Okay, but what about Dr. Saleon? Did you get him?" I asked while leaning against the Mako.

"First I brought in some of his employees for interrogation. To see if I could get them to talk. While I was interviewing one of them, I came across something... suspicious," Garrus replied and that tone piqued my interest. "One of my detainees started bleeding profusely during the interview. We offered to patch him up and he got frantic, freaked out. I ordered a full exam, to find out what was going on. Our medics found incisions all over his body. Some of them fresh. That was our big break. These people weren't just Dr. Saleon's employees. They were test tubes. Walking, living test tubes." 

"Okay, that's just fucking sick," I spoke my disgust. "But I have a feeling he's not behind bars, is he?"

"That's the worst part. We never caught him," Garrus confirmed my suspicion. "He ran. Blew his lab, grabbed some of his employees, and headed for the nearest space dock. By the time I found out, his ship was already leaving. He threatened to kill his hostages if we tried to stop him. I ordered Citadel defense to shoot him down, but C-Sec Headquarters countermanded my order. They were worried about the hostages. Worried about civilian casualties if the ship was fired so close to the Citadel."

"I can understand the worry for civilian casualties, but those hostages sound like they were already dead to begin with." I spoke.

"Exactly my thought. Hell, I even told them the hostages were already dead. He'd just use them to make more organs, but they wouldn't listen," Garrus agreed with my thoughts, but looked down and I could sense anger coming from him. "But letting him get away like that... All they had to do was disable that ship. Stop him from running. Maybe the hostages die, maybe they don't. But at least we stop the bastard responsible for it all. I just wish I could've stopped him. That's all."

"So what happened to Dr. Saleon after that?" I asked.

"I sent out feelers from time to time, hoping to find something. I thought I'd found him a while back," Garrus replied. "He'd changed ships and changed his name to Dr. Heart, his idea of a joke, I guess. I told the military, but they weren't convinced it was him."

"You're worried that Saren may take an interest in Dr. Saleon?" I questioned.

"Yes, I am," Garrus replied. "I got the transponder frequency for his new ship, but I just can't get anyone to check it out."

"Garrus, why not hand me the coordinates and I'll pass this along to Jane," I suggested. "I'm certain after Feros we'll deal with Dr. Saleon."

"I was hoping you'd consider, (Y/N)," Garrus replied, sounding relieved, and handed me the coordinates via Omni-Tool. "But (Y/N), I want to come along when you and the Commander go. If it is Saleon, I want to be there when you find him."

"Deal, Garrus. I'll see you around," I told Garrus and left him to work back onto the Mako and made my way to Wrex. "Hey Wrex."

"(Y/N)." Wrex replied as we looked at each other.

"I was curious about something. Why'd you become a mercenary?" I asked Wrex.

"Lots of reasons," Wrex replied, but I gave him a "Like?" expression as he gave out a sigh. "I needed to get out of our system. I needed to eat. I needed to survive."

"Never thought about staying and helping your people?" I questioned.

"I tried to help. That's why I had to leave," Wrex replied and Wrex further explained how he tried to get the krogan to focus on breeding rather than fight another war. Like me, he was betrayed. When he was head of a small tribe, they apparently tried to restore order after the war, but the other krogan tribes were all against them. Wrex told me they followed a warlord, who survived the war against the turians, Jarrod, who was also Wrex's father. They argued back and forth regarding the krogan race. Jarrod wanted to continue the war against the turians, salarians, hell each other, but Wrex argued back they didn't have the numbers. Even with the Genophage, they couldn't replenish their numbers fast enough. Wrex told them they needed to focus more on breeding, at least for one generation. In a while, Wrex's argument was getting through, and more and more tribes were coming around. Jarrod, being an old bastard, didn't like the idea and arranged a Crush on neutral ground, at the Hollows, a sacred place for krogan where the bones of their ancestors laid. Violence was forbidden there, but Wrex and Jarrod talked, but it wasn't going anywhere as Jarrod gave the signal and his men attacked Wrex and some of the other tribes siding with Wrex. It was a massacre, those that sided with Wrex died, but he survived, but not until he sank his dagger into his father's chest and left Tuchanka after that. "That is why I left. That is why I'll never go back."

"You must've had some family back on Tuchanka, besides your father." I spoke regarding family.

"Trying to make me cry, Voridus?" Wrex asked me sarcastically, before looking to the side. "I've got some... unfinished business with my family. But that's all."

"What kind of business?" I asked curiously and Wrex gave a heavy sigh.

"Before I left, I made an oath to my father's father," Wrex replied. "I swore to recover my family's battle armor. It was taken from him after the uprising."

"Was this armor some kind of heirloom for your family? What's important about it?" I asked.

"It's a relic; useless really, but it was worn by five generations of my family before the war. It's rightfully mine," Wrex replied. "Originally, it was taken by the turian military. We weren't allowed armor or weapons after the war. Now, it's in the hands of Tonn Actus. A turian scum who collects relics from the war. He's made millions selling krogan artifacts that were stolen from my people. He's got several bases where he stores his goods. All fortified and guarded. I just don't know which base has my family's armor."

"If you have any ideas where to start looking, I can pass this along to Jane since this is personal to you, Wrex." I suggested.

"Here, I'll send you the data to your omni-tool," Wrex replied and sent me the nav points. "But, Voridus, tell the Commander I want to be down there when you find him."

"You got it, Wrex. So long for now." I told him and left him to his thoughts. I almost got to the elevator, but I saw BD wake up and rush over to me and jumped onto my shoulder. "Hey, buddy, how was your nap?"

"[It was refreshing at the very least]," BD replied as I got into the elevator. "[What are you doing?]"

"Just going to see Jane for a moment," I replied. Once the elevator doors opened, I literally ran into Jane as she was about to enter the elevator. "Oh, sorry, Jane."

"Kind of forward, don't you think, (Y/N)?" Jane asked while teasing me a bit. "I would like to at least have dinner first."

"Now that sounds like an idea," I replied back with a smirk, and I saw one on Jane with a slight blush. "I'm glad I ran into you though. I talked with Garrus and Wrex. The two have a personal mission they want dealt with. Garrus wants to find a salarian geneticist that escaped C-Sec and Wrex wants to reclaim his family's armor. I have both nav points on my omni-tool."

"Okay, we can handle them after Feros," Jane replied as I transferred the nav points to her omni-tool. "I was meaning to find you, but this is a better time than later. I set the Normandy's course for Feros. I want you to get both Ahsoka and Tali ready. Since the Geth are on Feros, Tali would help immensely."

"Wilco, Jane," I replied and went back into the elevator as Jane left to get herself ready. Going back down to the Cargo Bay, I couldn't help but wonder what the Geth were after on Feros. The elevator door open and I made my way to the engine room, where I saw both Ahsoka and Tali talking until they noticed me walking towards them. "'Soka, Tali, Jane wants us to gear up for Feros. Knowing her, it wouldn't be long until we're close to Feros."

Ahsoka and Tali got the idea and left the engine room with me. Tali went over to her locker on the other end of the Cargo Bay while Ahsoka and I went into our storage lockers near the workbench. After a few minutes, we all were geared up until I was contacted by Jane.

"(Y/N), Joker is just about to dock with a port on Feros," Jane told me via omni-tool. "Meet me at the airlock."

"Will do, Jane," I replied and head over to the elevator with Ahsoka and BD on my shoulder, and a bit later Tali joins us. The three of us made our way inside the elevator as it ascends into the next level above. Soon the door opens, and we left the elevator and made our way to the airlock as I saw Joker dock with one of the ports on Feros. We saw Jane coming around and meet with us. "Nice to see you, Jane."

"Charmer." Jane jokes as she smirks. She moves ahead of us as she leads us ahead. We follow Jane into the airlock as the Normandy V.I. was going through its process or whatever while mentioning that Jane was leaving and that Pressly had the helm. Once leaving the Normandy, we followed Jane through the airgate and onto the platform where we met with a worker on Feros.

"We saw your ship," The port worker told us. "Fai Dan wants to speak with you immediately."

"I'm sorry, but who's Fai Dan?" I asked the port worker.

"He's our leader," The port worker replied. "He needs your help to prepare for the geth. They're making another push. Please. Up the stairs past the freighter."

Once he told us that, I saw a geth aiming at the port worker. Taking a quick action, I jumped in front of the port worker while creating a Force Bubble that stopped the geth's attack from killing the port worker. The port worker took the chance and hid behind one of the covers on the platform. Lowering the Force Bubble, I drew out my lightsabers and ignited the blades as Ahsoka did the same and we charged at the geth while Jane and Tali provided fire support, but I noticed several blue blaster bolts fired at the geth. As I slashed one of the geth troopers, I looked over and saw Tali with a DC-15S Blaster Carbine in her hands. I was a bit surprised, but I figured it'd work for her. The small battle continued a bit longer until I pulled a geth shock trooper close and BD hoped onto the geth and began hacking into it until its lights turned a brighter blue and started to attack the other geth. That was until I reeled my arms back and sent forward a powerful Force Push sending not only the remaining get, but also some crates flying forward. This gave Jane and Tali the chance to fire their weapons onto the geth. Once the small fight was over, the port worker came around.

"Thank you, Jedi Knight. I'd be dead if it wasn't for you." The port worker thanked me.

"I'm glad I was quick enough, but stay hidden until then," I told him, and he decided to hide among the crates around the platform. "Onto Fai Dan, yes?"

"Right, move out," Jane agreed and we followed her though the tower until we came across more geth, specifically the damn geth hoppers. Thus, led to another fight with the geth while the hoppers were jumping around, rather annoyingly. Once one hopper stopped, I quickly used Force Lightning and electrocuted its circuits, and it explodes. Ahsoka took the chance and pulled another hopper close before pushing it, rather forcefully, into the wall destroying it. Jane and Tali took are of the rest of the geth that were present as we continued through the tower and ascending up the stairs until we got to the end of the stairs, well, what wasn't blocked by the debris. Moving through the tower, we came to what looked like a settlement, probably the rest of the port workers and whatnot. Moving through the settlement, we could see how things were on Feros. The geth were not letting up and these guys were surviving for what they can. We continued to move around until we came across two people, one seemed like the man we were looking for. "Fai Dan, I presume?"

"Yes, I'm Fai Dan," The leader known as Fai Dan replies as he was relieved. "Commander and Jedi Knight. I'm glad they finally sent somebody to help us."

"You're a bit late, aren't you?" The woman next to Fai Dan questioned us, in a rather upset tone.

"Arcelia!" Fai Dan raised his voice to the woman, known as Arcelia, before turning to us. "I'm sorry about her. Everyone's on edge since--"

Fai Dan was interrupted by the sounds of geth approaching which caught our attention.

"Watch out!" Arcelia cries out while getting her weapon out. From out of the corner of some cover, I could see some geth moving in. "We've got geth in the tower!"

"Protect the heart of the colony!" Fai Dan yells. Taking the chance and used Force Lightning onto the incoming geth, which short circuited their systems and were destroyed. Jane walks over and gives me a nod as we moved on, but I switched out for my DC-15LE rifle, and we moved into the tower. Following Jane's lead, we moved throughout the tower and up the stairs, making our way into a section of the tower where there were more geth waiting for us, but above the room, through the hole in the ceiling, there was a geth ship that dropped the geth troops. Once entering the room, we were in for a full out firefight. Jane and I moved to the top level while Ahsoka and Tali stayed on the lower level. Jane and I continued to fire our respective weapons at the geth, but I used Force Lightning on the incoming geth drones from above. From below, I saw a glimpse of Ahsoka taking down the Destroyer while Tali was taking down the geth with ease, thanks to the DC-15S Carbine. It wasn't long until we had all the geth eliminated. Once done, we saw the geth ship move away and out of sight.

"Now that they're away, we can tell Fai Dan and hopefully get the Mako down from the Normandy." Ahsoka suggested.

"The geth base should be the next objective." Tali pitched in.

"Okay, but let's talk to Fai Dan first," I suggested which Jane agreed with me and we backtracked back to the colony. "Enjoy that blaster carbine, Tali?"

"Hmm? Oh, yes," Tali replied as she still held the weapon. "Bruce handed it over to me and suggested I could make better use of it. Since, well... this is better for tight, close quarters."

"Well, Garrus did seem to be interested in the DC-15x Sniper Rifle," I said as we were walking down the stairs. "So, it wouldn't hurt if some of you guys used those weapons."

"I'll have to take a look at them later." Jane said as she probably was thinking what weapon to use. Once we returned to the colony, we spoke to Fai Dan once more.

"The tower's secure. Thanks to you, Commander, and you too, Jedi Knight." Fai Dan thanked us.

"We're glad the colony's safe." Jane told Fai Dan.

"I appreciate your concern... and your efforts against the geth." Fai Dan replied.

"They may have been slowed, but they'll be back," Arcelia spoke after Fai Dan. "They always come back."

"Help us find out what the geth are after and you'll all get out of here alive and safely." I told the two.

"We don't know what they're after," Fai Dan replied unknowing why the geth attacked. "They came, they attacked us. That's all we know. Their main base is at the ExoGeni headquarters. A good place to start looking if you want answers."

"What's ExoGeni?" Ahsoka asked.

"It's the company most of us worked for before the attacks. They fund this colony," Arcelia replied to Ahsoka's question. "The skyway leads directly to ExoGeni headquarters. You can't miss it."

"Of course, there's an army of geth between here and there." Fai Dan speaks about the geth.

"None of us expected this to be easy." Jane said which was true, otherwise it wouldn't be much of a challenge.

"Then maybe I can get this colony operational again." Fai Dan said getting our attention.

"What do you need done to get this place back on its feet?" Jane asked.

"We need those geth destroyed." Arcelia replied, with a blunt answer.

"Arcelia is right. There are still geth in the tunnels. We have more mundane problems, like food, water, and power," Fai Dan says after Arcelia mentioned about the Geth. "I'm not sure where we stand on those matters. You should speak to the people overseeing them."

Jane looks at me and gives me a nod as I escort Ahsoka and Tali away. As we walked away, the three of us split up to speak with the people overseeing the matters of food, water, and power. Which all led to the operational efforts of Zhu's Hope.

~(Timeskip brought to you by (Y/N), Shepard, Ahsoka, and Tali with BD helping Zhu's Hope get back on its feet)~

It took a bit of time from our actual objective to help make Zhu's Hope operational again with food, water, power, and clearing out the geth from the tunnels. Fai Dan and the others of Zhu's Hope were happy and glad for our efforts. Eventually we all left Zhu's Hope and head towards the elevator leading to the skyway. Once inside the elevator, Jane activates the elevator as it takes us up which only took a couple minutes until the door opens, and some of the armed colonists were firing at some geth drones. We exited the elevator and assisted the colonists and destroyed the drones. Looking down, we saw the Mako parked and waiting for us. We made our way to the Mako where Jane took the wheel, I took passenger with BD, and both Tali and Ahsoka were in the back, but Ahsoka took the cannon this time.

"Okay, onward to ExoGeni Headquarters." Jane said as she stepped onto the accelerator and started making our way through the skyway, but there was geth in the way. Ahsoka began using the cannon, which was fixed thanks to Garrus, and along the way, Tali and I were shooting our DC-15LE and DC-15S rifles along the way, which I think Tali was enjoying the carbine quite a lot. Of course, a geth ship came along and dropped a couple Geth Armatures in front of us, but they weren't too difficult, especially when I ended up crushing one Armature with Force Crush while Ahsoka blasted the other with the cannon.

"The last batch went south. What are they looking for?" We heard a voice via radio chatter.

"We're picking up random radio chatter, but I'm unable to triangulate where the signal is coming from," I spoke while slightly annoyed. "Damned geth interference!"

Along the way, Tali was picking up the same comm chatter, but like me, she was unable to get a fix on the location. We continued along the skyway.

"Any sign of movement? Lizbeth could still be in there. It's only been a few days," The radio chatter continued, but I could sense it was either a worried friend, or a mother concerned about the wellbeing of her daughter, who knows at this point. "She's my daughter. I'll wait as long as I have to."

"Okay, that settles that thought..." I thought to myself confirming the second thought. We continued along the skyway until we got close to a set of doors, with geth in front. "Jane, stop for a moment."

Jane stops the Mako as I got out and jumped onto the Mako. Tapping into the Force, and concentrating deeper into the Dark Side, I sent forward a powerful surge of Force Lightning, destroying the geth troopers and Armatures in front. Once they were taken care of, I got back into the Mako, and Jane continued along the way.

"Nice work, (Y/N)." Jane said to me.

"Thank you, Jane." I replied as we moved passed the doors and into what looked like a garage, or a vehicle bay and the radio chatter was stronger.

"We've got movement... some kind of vehicle. Not one of the geth." The radio chatter continued, but the signal was getting stronger.

"[I think someone has us in their sights]," BD spoke. "[We're getting close that's for sure.]"

And BD was correct when I started sensing people nearby.

"Jane, stop the Mako!" I told Jane and she stops the Mako in front of a ramp leading upwards, but I saw a smaller ramp on the side leading down. "Jane, I think there are survivors nearby. I can sense them."

"So can I." Ahsoka backed me up.

"Okay, let's go see the survivors." Jane agreed and we all left the Mako and walked down the ramp. Once moving down, we could clearly see a fair-sized group of survivors with some security personnel guarding the entrance behind cover. Once we got close to the group, one of them, rather paranoid and jittery, I didn't need to use the Force to sense it, spoke to us.

"That's close enough." The man told us.

"Relax, Jeong. They're obviously not geth." The woman next to him said.

"Get back, Juliana," The man, named Jeong, rudely told her before looking at us. "Who are you? What do you want?"

"Commander Shepard," Jane replied. "This is Jedi Knight (Y/N) Voridus. Behind us are Ahsoka Tano and Tali'Zorah. We're here to remove your geth problem."

"You see? You worry too much." Juliana tells Jeong, which he needs to settle down.

"And you trust too easily, Juliana." Jeong rudely replies back.

"I'm just glad to see a friendly face," Juliana tells us, ignoring Jeong. "I thought we were the only humans on this planet."

"What are you talking about?" Ahsoka questioned. "Fai Dan and the others at Zhu's Hope are still alive."

"I thought you said they were all dead." Juliana spoke to Jeong, sounding like she was lied to.

"I said they were "probably" all dead." Jeong reiterated what he previously said to Juliana.

"Well, they're surviving despite all the geth have thrown at them." Ahsoka spoke again.

"We know what that's like. Those damn synthetics are relentless." Juliana stated which Ahsoka and I both know what that's like. Damn CIS and their battle droids.

"We'll do everything we can to keep them away from you," Jane assures the two. "But we need some information."

"What kind of information?" Jeong questioned Jane but interrupted by Juliana.

"Ignore him," Juliana says, which I wouldn't mind too much. "The geth are up in the ExoGeni Headquarters. Just a bit further along the skyway."

"Those headquarters are private property, soldier. Remove the geth and nothing else." Jeong told us.

"For your information, we don't care about your corporate bullshit," I told Jeong, who stepped back from my modulator. "I suggest you shut your damn mouth."

"(Y/N), settle down," Jane tells me softly while having her hand on my shoulder, which calmed me down. "But I agree with him. We're not interested in your company's secrets."

"Commander, Jedi Knight, before you go... My daughter, Lizbeth, she's missing..." Juliana tells us.

"They shouldn't waste time po--" Jeong was about to tell Juliana to forget it, but I ignited my red lightsaber and aimed it at Jeong.

"You are really driving me annoyed, Jeong." I growled at Jeong ad he took a few steps back, btu Jane gripped my shoulder more.

"(Y/N)..." Jane spoke to me. I took a few deep breathes and sheathed my lightsaber but kept it in hand. "Where could we find your daughter?"

"She was working in the ExoGeni building when the attacks came," Juliana replied, but Jeong looked like he was about to say something, but my glare made him shut up. I had a thought and kneeled down, getting everyone's attention. "What's he doing?"

I took a couple deep breathes before relying on the Force and concentrated on the building nearby. Through the Force, I kept in mind for any living beings around the building until I sensed someone in what I can assume to be a garage, or vehicle bay, of sorts. Regaining my composure, I stood up and looked at Juliana.

"Juliana, I sensed someone hiding in what I think was a garage or vehicle bay," I told Juliana, and she was surprised. "My guess, your daughter's hiding there from the geth, and more than likely varren. Which we'll have to make haste."

"You can sense someone from this distance?" Jane asked me curiously.

"If I concentrate enough, it's possible," I replied before looking back onto Juliana. "On my honor, we will get your daughter out."

"Thank you, Jedi Knight. Thank you." Juliana thanked me.

"Stay bunkered down until we find out what the geth are after." Jane tells both Juliana and Jeong and we were about to leave, but the Force was telling me to go see the man across from us. Which I went over to him followed by Jane, Ahsoka, and Tali.

"I was hoping you'd have a moment to speak with me," The man said to us. "Name's Gavin, and I've... got a bit of a problem."

"And that is?" I questioned.

"I need to retrieve some data. It's not a big job, but it pays well." Gavin replied. 

"Sounds easy enough. What's the catch?" Jane asked.

"No catch, really," Gavin replied. "It's dangerous work, but not for someone like you four."

"*sigh* What is it about you that makes people assume we enjoy being in harm's way?" Tali questioned, slightly annoyed by the idea.

"[I have to agree with Tali on this one.]" BD agreed with Tali.

"It's not that bad, really," Gavin assures us, again. "All you need to do is find my console at ExoGeni headquarters and drop the data onto this OSD. It's that simple."

Gavin slides an OSD towards us and I grabbed it while placing it into BD for safekeeping.

"We'll look around, if we get the chance." Jane tells Gavin.

"I appreciate it," Gavin replied with a sigh. "That data could be worth a lot of money. Of course, this all depends on getting out of here alive."

After talking to Gavin, the four of us left the bunkered survivors and made our way back towards the Mako and hopped in with the same seating arrangement as before. Jane began driving the Mako up the ramps until we were at least a couple levels above the survivors and made our way through part of the skyway until the doors open and we ended up fighting geth waiting on the other side. Ahsoka, on the cannon again, fired shot after shot while Tali and I provided assistance from our rifles. Soon after a bit, we eliminated the geth in front before Jane moved on and coming across more geth and a couple Armatures. Jane kept the distance as Ahsoka, in my opinion, was enjoying firing the cannon a bit too much. Once again, the geth were eliminated and we continued through the skyway until we got to the gates at the end before entering ExoGeni garage, but the passageway wasn't large enough for the Mako to go through.

"Heh, the geth moved in rather quickly." Ahsoka comments about the geth occupants.

"Resistance will be extremely heavy once we are inside." Tali comments after Ahsoka.

"Then let's evict the geth from ExoGeni HQ," I joked while we exited the Mako and made our way through the narrow passage before coming across the geth waiting for us, however there were two geth hoppers hopping around. They were the first ones I fought off, with my DC-17 pistols, and a bit of the Force keeping them in place via Force Slow. Once the hoppers were down, I looked to see Jane, Tali, and Ahsoka finish off the other geth troopers. After taking care of them, we made our way up until I saw a locked door and made my way to it. "BD, splice it."

"[On it]," BD replied as he began splicing through the door's locks until it was unlocked. "[It's good to go.]"

"Nice work, BD," I said to him and opened the door. I saw a container ahead and went to open it, but once I stepped foot inside, I saw an Armature activating. "Aww... crap baskets..."

The Armature was about to attack, but BD ran over and gave the Armature an overcharge, stunning the Armature briefly. I ran and slid underneath the Armature but activated my lightsabers and slashed the underbelly of the Armature before jumping and slashing the flashlight head off the Armature. The Armature stood slightly before dropping onto the ground. Sheathing my lightsabers, and BD back on my shoulder, I took a look inside the container, which held a few upgrades and a pistol, which I could give to Kaiden back onto the Normandy. Leaving the room, I met up with the rest as they were looking at the field in place. I tried using my lightsabers to pierce the field, but it was a no go.

"Damn... Lightsabers can't cut through it." I groaned.

"Not even our weapons can penetrate it," Jane adds to my comment and we walked around until we came across what looked like a one-way drop. "This is a one-way trip. Be ready for anything."

We all nod to Jane as she was the first to drop down. We followed in suite until we came across a huge cavern and walked around. I noticed a dead varren on the ground and was about to investigate it until I sensed someone about to shoot. Once I heard the fire shot, I deflected the shot with my lightsaber which set everyone else on guard.

"Damn it!" We heard someone cry out. Looking into the darkness, we could see a woman appearing from the corner with a pistol drawn. "I'm so sorry. I thought you were the geth, or one of those varren."

Once it was clear it was a misunderstanding, we all lowered our weapons and came out from cover.

"You're safe now," I assured the woman. "Why are you here to begin with?"

"It's my own fault," The woman replied. "Everyone else was running and I stayed behind to back up data. Next thing I knew, the geth ship latched itself on and the power went out. I was trapped. I tried to get out, but the way out was blocked."

"We'll get you out as soon as we find out what the geth are after." Jane assured the woman.

"It's not the geth; it's the energy field they put up," The woman replied. They don't want anyone else getting access to the--"

The woman stopped herself, which she knew what they were after.

"We're here for the geth," I told the woman. "It's vital that we find out what they're after."

"I-I don't know for certain," The woman replied yet again. "I'm guessing they're here for the Thorian."

"Thorian... Thorian... Why does that sound familiar? Wait a minute..." I thought before remembering the Cerberus facilities on Binthu, one had Thorian Creepers. "Jane, those Thorian Creepers we fought on Binthu. They came from here."

"Wait what?" Tali questioned as both Jane and Ahsoka had their eyes wide by the realization. "What is a Thorian?"

"It's an indigenous life-form. ExoGeni was studying it." The woman replied.

"What else can you tell us? Do you know where we can find the Thorian?" Jane asked the woman.

"I might be able to, but not with those geth crawling around everywhere," The woman replied. "Look, we need to get out of here, past that field."

"Know of any way to shut it down?" Ahsoka asked this time.

"No, not exactly," The woman replied. "But I think the geth ship is powering it. I've noticed the geth laying power cables everywhere. You could follow those cables, but there's geth all over the place."

"Hmm... This could be interesting," I said but looked at the woman. "You wouldn't happen to be Lizbeth, would you?"

"Yes, I am." The woman we now know as Lizbeth replied.

"Ah, good. Yor mother asked us to find you," I replied to her, and she seemed happy. "She's alive and well. She's currently with some others from the colony."

"She's alive? Oh, thank God," Lizbeth spoke sounding relieved. "I thought I was the only one left. Please, Jedi Knight, Commander. Just get that field down so I can see my mother again."

"I promise you, you'll see your mother again," I promised her. "Just stay put until we take that field down."

"Oh okay, but here, take my ID," Lizbeth told us as she hands Jane her ID Card. "This should get you past any locked doors. Good luck with that field."

Once we finished talking with Lizbeth, multiple varren started appearing from Force knows where, and we had to fight them off. A pack of at least six to seven varren were taken out quickly as we moved throughout the cavern and made our way towards a door on the other side of the cavern. Passing through the door, we made our way around the corridor until we started hearing someone getting rather upset.

"Stupid machine! Access encrypted file!" The voice aggressively, but annoyingly, spoke. By the vocal tone, it sounded like a krogan. "No, I don't want to review protocol!"

Once we got up the stairs, we could see a krogan was yelling at a V.I. console and it seemed like it wasn't going anywhere.

"I am unable to comply," The V.I. told the krogan. "Please contact your supervisor."

"Damn it! Tell me what I want, or I'll blast your virtual ass into actual dust!" The krogan yelled aggressively.

"Please contact your supervisor for a Level 4 security exemption or make an appointment with--" The V.I. continued as the krogan was getting really pissed. "If there is nothing else, please step aside. There is a queue forming behind you for use of this console."

"What?" The krogan questioned before turning around to us.

"Damn fucking V.I. gave us away..." I groaned in thought until we had to fight the krogan, which wasn't all too much of a hassle. With the krogan dead, we had access to the V.I. We got close to the console as the V.I. appeared before us.

"ExoGeni Corporation reminds all staff that the discharging of weapons while on company property is strictly forbidden," The V.I. just so happily to have mentioned that before looking at Jane. "Welcome back, Research Assistant Elizabeth Baynham. What can I do for you?"

Jane seemed to be confused how the V.I. recognized her as Lizbeth until I leaned over to her.

"Jane, I think the ID Card Lizbeth gave you made the V.I. think you're Lizbeth." I told her and she seemed to get the gist.

"Is there anything I can help you with, Dr. Elizabeth Baynham?" The V.I. asked Jane.

"What information was the last user attempting to access?" Jane asked.

"Fetching data..." The V.I. replied while processing Jane's request. "The previous user was attempting to access details on the study of Subject Species 37, the Thorian."

"Tell me everything you told the krogan." Jane told the V.I.

"I was unable to provide the previous user with any relevant data," The V.I. replied since I figured the annoyance the krogan had to endure without proper access. "Aside from lacking proper access, there has been no new data available on Species 37. All sensor monitoring the observation post at Zhu's Hope have been inactive for several cycles."

"What does Zhu's Hope have to do with the Thorian?" Jane asked confused.

"Species 37 is located within the substructure of the Zhu's Hope outpost." The V.I. replied as I figured out the Thorian was right under us when we first came onto Feros.

"Jane, the Thorian was right under us when we first landed on Feros." I told her which she seemed to understand.

"Tell me everything you know about the Thorian." Jane requested the V.I.

"The Thorian is a simple plant life-form that exhibits a sentient behavior uncommon with other flora," The V.I. began explaining about the Thorian. "Through dispersion and the eventual inhalation of spores, it can infect and control other organisms, including humans. The Zhu's Hope control group has yielded interesting results. Before sensors went offline, almost 85% of all test subjects were infected."

Just hearing that ExoGeni didn't hesitate to use their own people as lab rats set me off in a bad light. The same went with Ahsoka and Tali, hell, even Jane was disgusted.

"Was ExoGeni allowing their own people to get infected? And they knew about it?" Jane questioned the V.I.

"It was deemed necessary to assess the true potential of Species 37." The V.I. spoke sounding like it was okay to do so.

"That would explain the strange behavior of some of them," Ahsoka stated which most of us agreed. "Jane, you should warn Joker about this."

"Right," Jane agreed and tried contacting Joker. "Joker. Come in, Joker... Damn it! That field's blocking us."

"Jane, we need to find a way out and back to Zhu's Hope." I told her and she agreed with me 100%.

"V.I., what can you tell me about the geth ship and the field it's generating?" Jane asked the V.I.

"I have limited data on the geth," The V.I. replied. "They have effectively blocked all sensors within the facility. I have detected unusual power fluctuations but am unable to determine the source."

"We need to find that ship. Let's get going." Jane told us as the V.I. powered down. The four of us began walking down the hallway and up some stairs until we came across a room where a couple of geth were bowing to an orb of light. Without the geth noticing, I used Force Lightning and short circuited the two geth and their bodies fell to the ground. We dropped down as we looked at the room, specifically the claws anchoring the ship.

"The geth use these claws to anchor their ships to the sides of buildings." Tali stated the use of the geth ship claws.

"[Okay, that makes them effective]," BD comments. "[The question is, how do we cut the power if the ship is generating the field?]"

"Hmm... I can only assume, it'll be difficult," I chipped in. "I think we should check the other claws, in case there's a weakness we can exploit."

"The geth are very thorough," Tali comments on what I said. "But we should find something."

The glowing orb in the middle drew my attention as did the others.

"Is it me, or does this structure look like an altar?" Ahsoka questioned. "Reminds me of a temple of sorts."

"The geth blur the line between organic and synthetic life," Tali replies to Ahsoka. "It's natural to assume they seek understanding from a higher power."

After seeing the altar of sorts, we left the room until we came across a room with the same field from the other side. Once we stepped foot inside, the geth that were waiting started attacking us, but since there was only four of them, we each took one down until it was just an empty room. Once the geth were cleared, we moved across the room and found a stairway leading up. Taking the stairway, we made our way around and found ourselves in what looks to be an office corridor of sorts, but we had to deal with a couple krogan that were in the room. Of course, the krogan weren't a match for Ahsoka and I once we slashed through them with our lightsabers, hell their regeneration couldn't match. A third one came around the corner, but he was gunned down by both Jane and Tali. Making our way to the end of the room, there was a console, which I can assume to be Gavin's. I had BD hop over to the console and download the data onto the OSD Gavin gave us. After getting Gavin's data, we backtracked around the room and saw a passageway ahead of us. Taking that route seemed to be the route we had to take, following the cables around. Going through the route, and taking some stairs up, there was a crate ahead and I had BD splice into it.

"[Got it open, (Y/N).]" BD told me as I opened it up, and there was a couple assault rifles, but a set of Light Armor for Humans, Titan-Make Tier VII.

"Hmm... This should be better for Liara," I thought as I considered her wellbeing on the field. "I'll give this to her after the mission."

Pocketing the armor for later, the four of us entered a much larger room where we could see another of the geth ship's anchored claws. However, our attention was soon short when the geth nearby started shooting at us. Ahsoka and I charged in with our lightsabers drawn while Jane and Tali stayed back and provided covering fire for us. Just when we thought the geth were finished, more started appearing from the catwalk above, and even a Geth Destroyer made an appearance. Growling in annoyance, I threw both my lightsabers at the catwalking geth above and lessened the geth advancing. Jane and Tali noticed the geth above and changed their attention to them as they started to open fire on them. Soon, after a few minutes, the geth were destroyed leaving the anchored geth ship in view.

"So... any ideas?" I questioned as we all looked at the claw.

"It's the same as before," Tali replied. "We don't have the ordnance to blow this claw."

Then I had an idea and looked at Ahsoka, who seemed to get the idea. Without warning, Ahsoka and I ran with our lightsabers ignited and jumped towards the claw as we both took a side each and slashed both sides of the claw, which seemed to have worked and the ship was starting to fall off the side of the building until it was out of view. Ahsoka and I looked at each other and gave each other a fist bump. Turning around to both Jane and Tali, the two looked surprised by the action.

"I... I never even thought about using your lightsabers," Tali admitted while rubbing the back of her head. "But that worked, nonetheless. With the geth ship gone, that field barring the exit should be clear now. Now we can deal with the Thorian creature, but I do hope that ship was filled with those geth bastards!"

I gave a small chuckle for Tali until we heard Joker over the comms.

"I repeat, Normandy to shore party! Are you reading? Anyone there? Normandy to shore party!" We heard Joker's voice. "Come on, Commander... Hell, even (Y/N), talk to me!"

"Is that you, Joker?" Jane replied to Joker. "What's going on over there?"

"We're in lockdown, Commander," Joker replied. "Something happened to the colonists. They're banging on the hull, trying to claw their way inside the ship. They're freaking out!"

"Must be the Thorian," I thought until I contacted Bruce. "Bruce, can you read me?"

"Yes, sir. Loud and clear." Bruce replied.

"I can assume you know what's going on over there," I asked Bruce rhetorically. "If somehow the colonists get inside the ship, have our blasters set to stun. Stun! I can't stress that enough. Equip the rest of the crew with the blasters and have them set to stun. We don't want any colonist casualties, got it?"

"Yes, sir, I'll prep the blasters for everyone." Bruce replied and ended the comms.

"You heard (Y/N)," Jane told Joker. "Sit tight. We're on our way back."

"Aye, aye, Commander." Joker replied and cut the comms. We were about to leave, but I suggested we look at the end of the room, which ended up as a geth lab of sorts. Getting close to one of the geth terminals, I hacked the terminal, although it was rather difficult at first, but eventually hacked through it, but what I found was rather disturbing.

"Hmm... Seems like there's a lot of geth activity in the Armstrong Nebula... A geth invasion in the traverse? I better warn Jane about this," I thought as I saw a crate nearby. Hacking into it, I found an assault rifle and a shotgun to sell, but a set of medium armor for humans, but this was made by Kassa Fabrication, the best armor around. Colossus-Make Tier-VII. "This armor is top-notch, the best in the galaxy. This armor... I should give this to Jane. She deserves it, hell, I want her to survive more."

The more I thought about what I just said in my mind. I couldn't deny it, but I was in love with Jane, and not just her. Ashley, Liara, Ahsoka, Merrin, hell, I developed quite a crush on Tali. Even Councilor Tevos... Damn, I'm into many women... I'll have to think more about these feelings another time, but Merrin... I couldn't help but think how she was doing. I do miss her. A lot in fact. Moving those thoughts to the back of my mind, the four of us left the lab and backtracked to where the field used to be until we were met with Lizbeth at the end.

"Lizbeth? What are you doing here?" I asked her confused.

"I thought I'd meet up with you four," Lizbeth replied. "We should get out of here. I don't think this place is safe."

"Hold on, I need some answers," Jane spoke getting Lizbeth's attention. "You knew more about the Thorian than you let on."

"I-- I was afraid," Lizbeth gave in. "I wanted to stop the tests. I really did, but they threatened me, told me I'd be next. When the geth attacked, I stayed behind to send a message to Colonial Affairs. I tried to tell them where to find the Thorian, but the power cut off before I could send the message. I-- I never meant for this to happen."

"(Y/N)?" Jane asked me as I was staring at Lizbeth while sensing her emotions and I could tell; she was telling the truth.

"She's telling the truth, Jane," I replied. "We can trust her. Lizbeth, where's the Thorian exactly? We know it's at Zhu's Hope."

"The Thorian is underneath Zhu's Hope, but the entrance is blocked," Lizbeth replied. "The colonists covered it with the freighter just before the geth attacked."

"Smart move, but that doesn't explain why the geth are after the Thorian," Jane exclaimed. "What could Saren want with it?"

"Well, it does have unique mind-control capabilities," Lizbeth replied. "That's what ExoGeni was interested in."

"Normandy to shore party. Come in." Joker contacted us via comms.

"What is it, Joker?" Jane responded.

"We're getting a lot of geth comm chatter," Joker replied. "Looks like they're headed your way."

"Thanks for the heads-up, Joker," Jane thanked Joker before looking at us. "You heard the man; let's move out."

"I'm coming with you," Lizbeth said to us. "I might be able to help. Undo the mess I helped create."

"Umm... Would the Mako fit all of us?" Ahsoka asked which was true.

"Yeah, it should," I replied. "There's a couple extra seats in the back."

"How?" Tali asked.

"There's always been extra seats in the back, besides the turret placement," I replied. "Either way, there's room. So, we better get a move on before we're swarmed with geth."

Without another word spoken, we all left towards the Mako, rather quickly. Once we got into the Mako, we had the same placements as before, but now with Lizbeth in the extra seats in the back. With Jane driving, we needed to high tail it back towards Zhu's Hope. Of course, the geth were in the way, but with Armatures and Juggernauts between us and Zhu's Hope. Jane either rammed the Mako into the geth, Ahsoka using the cannon and blowing the geth to smithereens, or Tali and I blasting the geth with our rifles. Once we reached the tower where we met with the ExoGeni survivors, I started to get a lot of radio chatter, and none of them were good.

"... anybody. Is there anybody picking this up?" I heard the radio chatter and it continued on as an argument between Juliana and Jeong.

"What was that all about?" Lizbeth asked concerned.

"... this is Juliana Baynham of Feros Colony. Please help us..." We heard Juliana's distress call, which was worrying Lizbeth more. Jane continued to drive the Mako more until Lizbeth spoke up.

"That's my mom. Stop! Stop the rover!" Lizbeth told Jane, which she did, but Lizbeth quickly got out of the Mako and ran towards Juliana's location.

"Lizbeth! Wai-- Oh God damn it!" I cried out and got our followed by everyone else. We followed Lizbeth until we stopped at the ramp to see a commotion happening ahead.

"You can't do this, Jeong!" Juliana shouted at Jeong, who looked distressed about something.

"Everyone, shut up! L-Let me think!" Jeong shouts back while holding his head. I saw Lizbeth move forward a bit.

"What's going on?" Lizbeth questioned but we shrugged our shoulders.

"You won't get away with this, Jeong!" Juliana told him until she was grabbed by one of ExoGeni security.

"Get her out of here!" Jeong ordered until Lizbeth ran out before I could stop her. I groaned as she got away.

"Get away from her, you son of a bitch!" Lizbeth called out to everyone as she ran to Juliana as the security guard let go of Juliana for her to hurry to Lizbeth.

"Damn it! Come out where I can see you! All of you!" Jeong ordered, almost scared for his life. We decided to entertain Jeong and came into view. Hah, Shepard and Voridus. Damn it! I knew it was too much to hope the geth would kill you. I found some interesting facts about you both in the ExoGeni database. More Shepard than you, Voridus. I know what Shepard did during the Blitz and what you're capable of, but neither of your heroics are needed here."

"How about you fucking explain yourself, Jeong!" I growled while brandishing my red lightsaber, but not igniting it. "What do you think you're doing?!"

"Communications are back up. ExoGeni wants this place purged." Jeong replied while I could see his hand was getting a bit trigger happy with the pistol.

"This is a human colony, Jeong," Lizbeth spoke to Jeong. "You can't just re-purpose us!"

"It's not just you," Jeong replied. "There's something here far more valuable than a few colonists."

"Are you going to tell them about the Thorian, or should we?" Jane questioned Jeong, but Juliana was confused.

"It's a telepathic life-form living under Zhu's Hope," Lizbeth replied to her mother's confusion. "It's taking control of the colonists there. ExoGeni knew all along."

"Don't forget that ExoGeni threatened Lizbeth if she spoke about the Thorian, she'd be placed with the colonists at Zhu's Hope and let the Thorian take control over her." I spoke as I could sense Juliana's anger was rising, especially when her daughter was threatened, and turned her anger towards Jeong.

"You won't get away with this, Jeong." Juliana growled at Jeong.

"So you keep saying, but nobody's going to miss a few colonists." Jeong said which pissed some of us off.

"How can you say that?" I questioned Jeong. "Those are human lives you're talking about. You'd sacrifice human lives just to study a fucking plant?!"

"You wouldn't understand," Jeong replied and tried raising his pistol at me, but with a quick motion, and activating my lightsaber, I slashed Jeong's pistol in half with part of it bouncing around while Jeong looked at his broken pistol then back onto me. I pulled out one of my DC-17 pistols and aimed it at him but switched it to stun mode. "Y-You wouldn't dare..."

"Try me." I replied and stunned Jeong, while everyone, minus BD and Ahsoka, thought I shot him.

"Relax, (N/N) just stunned him," Ahsoka spoke easing everyone's minds. "Jeong should be back up in a couple hours or so, kind of varies between people."

"Okay, with the dipshit stunned, let's talk about the colonists infected at Zhu's Hope," I spoke getting everyone's attention. "We can all agree none of us want to kill them. They're being used by the Thorian."

"If you only kill the Thorian, it might be enough to stop the infection. Maybe." Lizbeth suggested.

"That's where these blaster rifle, carbine, and pistols come in," I said which had some people confused. "You all seen me use my pistol to stun Jeong. Tali, your carbine has a setting for stun, a nonlethal attack. The same goes for my rifle and these pistols. Remember what I told Bruce before?"

"I understand," Jane spoke getting my idea. "That way the colonists are unharmed until the Thorian is destroyed."

"Precisely," I spoke. "This is a win-win for everyone. The colonists get stunned and unharmed, and no one has to die."

With that said, everyone agreed to the plan as I hand over my DC-17 pistols over to Ahsoka and Jane while I showed Tali how to switch from lethal to stun. I kept my rifle on me for the occasion, but we stopped by Gavin and handed him his data from his console, which rewarded us with quite a sum of credits. With the plan set in mind, the four of us headed back to the Mako and head back towards Zhu's Hope, but we had to get through more geth, specifically Armatures and Juggernauts. We managed to get back towards the station gate for Zhu's Hope, but there was a "nice" visitor waiting for us, a Thorian Creeper.

"Thorian Creeper!" I cried out and fired a charged shot, killing the creeper. We all got out of the Mako and looked at the dead creeper. "Okay you all know the plan."

"No killing the colonists," Jane relayed the plan. "Even if the Thorian makes them fire on us. That's what the stun mode is for. Everyone ready?"

"Let's do this." I replied as I readied my DC-15LE rifle while Jane readied the DC-17 pistol I gave her to use. Ahsoka held the DC-17 in one hand while holding one of her lightsabers in the other and Tali readied her DC-15S carbine. The door open and there was a lot of Thorian Creepers waiting for us. Without a second thought, I reeled my hands back before sending a Shockwave of Force Push followed by Force Lightning onto the Creeper horde eliminating them. At the ramp above, there were three infected colonists, and we made our way up there and quickly stunned the three. Pushing onto the colony, we had to take the elevator once again and descended towards the colony. Once the elevator reached our destination, the door opens and we all got out, but not until coming across more Creepers, which we killed, and a few more colonists, which we immediately stunned. Getting further into the colony, there were more Creepers, which we killed in the process, and stunned any and all colonists that were in the way. Once we finished with the Creeper killing and Colonist stunning, we made our way to the freighter crane controls. As Jane activate the controls and revealed the entrance, we saw Fai Dan making his way over, just like the colonists were, but I could sense he was himself, fighting the Thorian's control.

"I tried to fight it, but it gets in your head. You can't imagine the pain," Fai Dan says as he walks up to us. "I was supposed to be their leader. These people trusted me."

Once Fai Dan was close, he was struggling to fight as his hand pulled out his pistol and aimed it right at us.

"It wants me to stop you... but I... I won't," Fai Dan says as he continues to fight until he pulled his pistol to his head about to kill himself. "I WON'T!"

Before Fai Dan could pull the trigger, I quickly stunned him before he could kill himself. Now, everyone in Zhu's Hope was stunned, but alive.

"Nice work stunning Fai Dan, (Y/N)," Jane said to me as she handed back my pistol along with Ahsoka. "We should head to the Thorian and destroy it."

"Copy that, Jane." I agreed with her. The four of us made our way to the entrance and began to descend down the first flight of steps until we came towards the second flight as we looked down into the depths. Without turning back, we descended down the stairs.

~{Narrator POV}~

The team moves on, descending down the stairs and continued to do so until they came across a large room.

"All right, we just need to find this creature and determine what it... what it..." Tali speaks until the team comes across the flora creature known as, the Thorian, but it wasn't as the team expected. "Keelah, what is that?"

"This is supposed to be a plant?" Ahsoka questioned confused.

"That does not look like any plant I've ever seen," Shepard replied in the same confusion. "(Y/N)?"

"I've seen my fair share of strange creatures, but this... this takes the cake," (Y/N) replied while BD seemed disgusted by the appearance. "This is going to be problematic."

The team walked closer towards the Thorian, and once both Shepard and (Y/N) stepped closer, the Thorian began dropping a greenish colored mucus while sounding like it was hacking up a storm until it dropped what looked like an Asari, but this one's skin was colored green instead of the normal blue or purple-skinned colored species.

"Invaders! Your every step is a transgression," The green-skinned Asari spoke. "A thousand feelers appraise you as meat, good only to dig or decompose. I speak for the Old Growth, as I did for Saren. You are within and before the Thorian. It commands that you be in awe!"

"You gave something to Saren," Shepard spoke to the Asari. "Something we need."

"Saren sought knowledge of those who are gone," The Asari spoke once again. "The Old Growth listened to flesh for the first time in the Long Cycle. Trades were made. Then cold ones began killing the flesh that would tend the next cycle. Flesh fairly given! The Old Growth sees the air you push as lies! It will listen no more!"

"Look, give us what we need, and we'll strike back at the one who betrayed you." (Y/N) spoke hoping to get through but failed.

"No more will the Thorian listen to those that scurry," The Asari spoke once more. "Your lives are short but have gone on too long. Your blood will feed the ground and the new growth!"

Thus, the battle against the Thorian began with (Y/N) Force Pushing the asari over the edge. Once done, the Thorian Creepers in the area began to rise and started to attack the four. Ahsoka brandished her lightsabers, while (Y/N) pulled out his DC-15LE rifle and started firing at the incoming creepers as Tali assisted with her shotgun. Shepard helped Ahsoka with her rifle. Once the Creepers were dead, the team moved into the next room, but there was something off.

"Over there, Commander!" Tali calls out to Shepard. "Definitely something different in this area."

In the room, there looked like a fleshy node until Ahsoka slashed through it, which caused the Thorian a great deal of pain.

"The nodes!" (Y/N) cried out. "That's how we defeat the Thorian! Weaken the nodes, and when they do..."

"...the Thorian falls to its death!" Shepard finishes (Y/N)'s idea. "Fire on any nodes you come across!"

The team continued to move around the area while having to deal with the countless number of Creepers. However, the Thorian drops down another Asari clone which comes around and began using her biotics but was countered by Ahsoka using the Force and pulled her close before slashing the clone at the waist. Doing so, more Creepers began to rise, but were dealt with by Tali and (Y/N) firing their weapons while Shepard used more of her biotics to the advantage. Pushing on, the team found another Thorian node with Creepers in tow. The team quickly eliminated the Creepers before targeting the node as Tali, (Y/N), and Shepard fired their weapons at the node, which was destroyed in the process, adding more pain onto the Thorian.

"Keep it up!" Shepard tells her team. "A few more and the Thorian will fall."

Moving up, the team finds even more Creepers along the way, as well as a familiar Asari clone, which was taken care of first, before the team directed their attention onto the Creepers. Once taken care of, the team moves onto the next Thorian node, which was swarmed with Creepers. (Y/N) used Force Lightning, mainly Chain Lightning, as it was destroying the Creepers at a fast rate until some of the Force Lightning made its way towards the Thorian node before it gets electrocuted and was soon destroyed.

"Unintentional, but I can work with that." (Y/N) says before switching to his DC-17 pistols and continued to fire at the creepers incoming. Moving along the next level, the team fights off more creepers until coming across another Thorian node, which Ahsoka jumps and slashes the node away, adding another node destroyed. The team moves on while dealing with the hordes of creepers. Getting close, Tali turns to her left and fires at the nearby Thorian node which Shepard assists in the matter and the two destroy another Thorian node. The team takes the path where Tali and Shepard destroyed the Thorian node and make their way up the stairs and eventually finds the final Thorian node but were ambushed by the Asari clone when she used her Biotic push and sent (Y/N) flying into a horde of Creepers.

"(Y/N)!!!" Shepard and Tali cried out.

"(N/N)!!!" Ahsoka also cried out while slashing away the Thorian Creepers. (Y/N), however, was slammed into the wall, which caught him off guard, but BD gave him a stim, which he used. He tries to get up and was about to be swarmed until a familiar voice called out to (Y/N).

"Get up, (Y/N) Voridus!" The voice spoke to him. "You survived the Empire, Malicos, Darth Vader, and the Inquisitors. Even when I helped on Dathomir, you must get up!"

As (Y/N) and BD were shocked by the voice, the Creepers that were advancing onto (Y/N) were blown away by a familiar green smokey trail, as the owner stepped out of the shadows.

"I-I-It can't be..." (Y/N) spoke in disbelief as was BD.

"[MERRIN?!]" BD cries out in shock as it was the Last Nightsister of Dathomir, Nightsister Merrin.

"M-M-Merrin? Is that really you?!" (Y/N) questioned still in shock as Merrin walked over and pulled (Y/N) up.

"Yes, it is," Merrin replied, but deep down she was happy to see (Y/N) again, but the reunion would have to wait. "Let's help your friends."

"Right!" (Y/N) agreed and both him, BD, and Merrin hurried back to Shepard, Tali, and Ahsoka as they dealt with the Asari clone, but a lot of Thorian Creepers were blocking the way towards the final Thorian node. Once the three got back, (Y/N) used Force Push and sent the Creepers away while Merrin used her Magicks and altered the earth trapping the Creepers in place. The earth altering shocked Shepard, Tali, and Ahsoka until they turned around and were glad to see (Y/N) still alive, but confused on Merrin, minus Ahsoka who knew she was a Nightsister. "I know you have questions but save them until after we beat the Thorian."

Going with it, the team, now with Merrin, found the final Thorian node and opened fire until the node burst and soon each of the destroyed nodes began to collapse while the Thorian was screaming in pain. Once all the attached nodes were collapsed, the Thorian fell into the dark abyss, never to see the light of day again. Near the team, a flesh sack bursts open with an Asari dropping as she regains her barring's and looked at the team before her. 

"I'm free. I'm free!" The Asari cries out in joy. "I-- I suppose I should thank you for releasing me."

"Is everything alright? Are you hurt?" Shepard questions the wellbeing of the Asari.

"I am fine. Or I will be, in time," The Asari replies. "My name is Shiala. I serve-- I served Matriarch Benezia. When she allied herself with Saren, so did I and many others. Benezia foresaw the influence Saren would have. She joined him to guide him down a gentler path, but Saren is compelling. Benezia lost her way."

"If you are worried, do not. I helped Benezia by enhancing her mind, fighting the indoctrination," (Y/N) spoke getting Shiala's attention. "From there, Benezia was handed over to the Council where they sent Benezia back to Thessia under watch."

"Oh, I see, so you saved Matriarch Benezia?" Shiala asked as (Y/N) nods. "For that, I thank you and all of Thessia. Regarding Saren's mind control..."

"Sovereign..." (Y/N) spoke the name as Shiala nods. "We know about the indoctrination, and how it was able to sway Benezia's mind. It was powerful, indeed, but with time and concentration, I was able to help Benezia's mind, but we have to destroy Sovereign for her mind to fully heal."

"I was a willing slave when Saren brought me to this world," Shiala continued. "He needed my biotics to communicate with the Thorian, to learn its secrets. Saren offered me in trade. I was sacrificed to secure an alliance between Saren and the Thorian."

"It seems this "Saren" is quick to betray his allies so willingly." Merrin spoke.

"Yes, and he was quick to betray the Thorian, too," Shiala agreed with Merrin. "After he had what he wanted, he ordered the geth to destroy all evidence of its existence. Saren knows you two are searching for the Conduit. He knows you are following his steps. He attacked the Thorian so you could not gain the Cipher."

"The Cipher?" Both Shepard and (Y/N) questioned in unison.

"Why did Saren need the Cipher?" Ahsoka asked Shiala.

"The beacon on Eden Prime gave you both visions, but the visions are unclear, confusing. They were meant for a Prothean mind," Shiala replied. "To truly comprehend them, you must think like a Prothean. You must understand their culture, their history, their very existence. The Thorian was here long before the Protheans built this city. It watched and studied them. When they died, it consumed them. They became a part of it."

"So the Thorian taught Saren to think like a Prothean? How?" Shepard asked.

"The Cipher is the very essence of being a Prothean," Shiala replied. "It cannot be described or explained..."

"It would be similar to explain colors to a creature without eyes or a being without sight." Merrin spoke with a comparison.

"Precisely," Shiala agreed with Merrin's comparison. "To understand, you must have access to endemic ancestral memory. A viewpoint spanning thousands of Prothean generations. I sensed this ancestral memory, the Cipher, when I melded with the Thorian. Our identities merged; our minds intertwined. Such knowledge cannot be taught; it simply exists."

"(Y/N) and I, we need the Cipher." Shepard said as (Y/N) nods in agreement, while Ahsoka and Merrin were confused a bit, mainly Merrin.

"There is a way. I can transfer the knowledge from my mind to yours, as I did with Saren," Shiala tells them as (Y/N) removes his helmet and hands it to Merrin. "Try to relax, Commander, Jedi Knight. Slow, deep breaths. Let go of your physical shell. Reach out to grasp the threads that binds us, one to another."

Shiala steps forward towards Shepard and (Y/N) as the two meet closer with Shiala.

"Every action sends ripples across the galaxy," Shiala continues. "Every idea must touch another mind to live. Each emotion must mark another's spirit. We are all connected. Every living being united in a single, glorious existence. Open yourselves to the universe, Commander, Jedi Knight. Embrace eternity!"

After all that said, the melding of the three minds of Shiala, Shepard, and (Y/N) were intertwined as the knowledge of the Cipher was being transferred to both Shepard and (Y/N) as the vision the two recieved from the beacon on Eden Prime was slightly clearer and the understanding was getting better. After a moment, Shiala steps away while Shepard and (Y/N) opened their eyes.

"I have given you both the Cipher, just as it was given to Saren," Shiala spoke to the two. "The ancestral memories of the Protheans are a part of you now."

"What was that?" Tali questioned. "Shepard, (Y/N), are you both all right?"

"[Yeah, are you both okay?]" BD questioned, slightly worried.

"I saw... something," Shepard replied. "It still didn't make any sense."

"I'm still unaware what the visions mean, but some parts are clearer." (Y/N) replied.

"You both have been given a great gift: the experience of an entire species," Shiala told the two. "It will take time for your minds to process this information."

"I think its best we get you two back onto the Normandy," Ahsoka suggests. "That way you both can be monitored, just in case."

"I am sorry if you both have suffered, but there was no other way," Shiala apologizes. "You needed the Cipher. In time, it will help you understand the vision from the beacon."

"I am curious," (Y/N) spoke to Shiala getting her attention. "Now that you are free from the Thorian, what do you plan on doing now?"

"If you allow it, I would like to stay here with the colonists," Shiala requested. "They have suffered greatly, and I played a role in their suffering. I would like to make amends."

(Y/N) and Shepard looked at each other and the two nod in agreement.

"The colonists will need all the help they can get," Shepard agreed with Shiala's request. "They'll be happy to have you on their side."

"Thank you, Commander, Jedi Knight," Shiala thanked the two. "May fortune smile upon you both."

~|Zhu's Hope|~
~{(Y/N) Voridus POV}~

After battling the Thorian, and the unexpected reunion with Merrin, Jane and I were talking with Juliana and Lizbeth while Merrin was speaking with Tali and Ahsoka, but BD wanted to be with Merrin as it has been too long.

"I can't believe it," Juliana speaks surprised. "ExoGeni says we'll have enough money to keep this place running. It's all because of you both. I can't thank you enough."

"We were happy to help, Juliana," I replied to Juliana and bowed a bit. "We must be leaving. Be well, Juliana, Lizbeth. Farewell."

With that said, Jane and I left Juliana and Lizbeth to talk as we met up with Merrin, BD, Ahsoka, and Tali.

"Alright, let's head back to the Normandy," Jane tells us before looking at Merrin. "Merrin, (Y/N) spoke highly about you. We'd like for you to join us."

"If it means I can continue on a journey with (Y/N), then I accept." Merrin accepted, which I was happy she did.

"Welcome aboard, Merrin," Jane welcomed Merrin as the two shook hands. "Back onto the Normandy."

With that said, the five of us head back to the Normandy.

~|Normandy CIC Room|~

Once back onto the Normandy, everyone was called into the CIC, per Jane's order, and I sat in the chair next to Ashley, but I had Ahsoka, Merrin, and Bruce standing behind me with BD hanging from Merrin's shoulder. Jane made her way to her chair until Liara spoke.

"Commander? You look... pale," Liara spoke and I looked over and I noticed Jane was a little pale. "Are you suffering any ill effects from the Cipher?"

"Same with you, (Y/N)," Ash spoke before everyone looked at me. I figured I was a bit pale; I even felt a bit pale myself. "You also look a bit pale. Are you okay?"

"I'm okay, Ash, I promise," I replied while assuring Ashley. "I'm certain Jane feels the same, but the Cipher did shake me up a bit."

"Yeah, the Cipher did the same for me." Jane agreed with me.

"I might be able to help you both," Liara offered her assistance. "I am an expert on the Protheans. If I join my consciousness with yours, maybe we can make some sense of it."

Jane and I looked at each other before nodding and getting up.

"Do it. Hurry," Jane told Liara as the three of us met in the center of the CIC. "We don't have much time."

Liara looked at the both of us as everyone was silent.

"Relax, Commander, Jedi Knight," Liara told us as the three of us closed our eyes. "Embrace eternity!"

We that said, I could see the vision from Eden Prime along with the Cipher as it was clearer than before, but I was still unable to get a grasp what it meant.

"That was incredible!" Liara says after the melding. "All this time. All my research. Yet I never dreamed... I'm sorry. The images were so vivid. I never imagined the experience would be so... intense. You both are remarkably strong-willed, Commander, (Y/N). What you've both been through, what you've seen, would have destroyed a lesser mind."

"Did you see anything?" Kaiden questioned.

"The beacon on Eden Prime must have been badly damaged," Liara replies. "Large parts of the vision are missing. The data transferred into both the commander's mind and (Y/N)'s are incomplete."

"Liara, you must have seen something." Ahsoka spoke.

"I was able to interpret the data relayed through their visions," Liara replied. "What was there, at least, but something was missing. Saren must have the missing information. Maybe he found another beacon. If we can find the missing data from your visions, I can-- Whoa!"

"Liara, are you okay?" I asked worried.

"I'm sorry. The joining was... exhausting," Liara replied. "I should go to the medical bay and lie down for a moment."

"I think that would be best," I agreed. "But before anything else. Everyone, I know I must have mentioned before, but one of my close friends is here. Nightsister Merrin. I ask that you all get to know her and get along with her."

"Agreed, Merrin did help us against the Thorian. Get along with her and get to know her," Jane backed me up for Merrin. "That is all. Dismissed."

Soon everyone began leaving the CIC until it was just me and Jane.

"I've sent off the Feros report, Commander," Joker told Jane, but also figured he was referring to me also. "You want me to patch you through to the Council?"

"Patch them through, Joker." Jane replied while giving me a nod.

"Setting up the link now, Commander." Joker replied and went ahead linking the Normandy to the Council.

"Commander and Jedi Knight," Councilor Tevos first spoke. "ExoGeni should have told us about the Thorian. It would have made your job much easier."

"You might have been able to capture it for study instead of destroying it." Councilor Valern spoke about the Thorian.

"With respect, Councilor Valern, but that would be unwise," I replied to him. "The Thorian enjoyed enslaving the minds of those who inhale its spores."

"(Y/N) is right," Jane backed me up. "Anyone who would have studied it, would have become its thralls."

"Perhaps it was for the best," Councilor Tevos eventually agreed with us. "At least the colony was saved."

"Of course, it was saved," The Turian Councilor spoke with that stick still up his carapaced ass. "Shepard would go to any lengths to help a human colony. The same would go for Voridus."

"I suggest you watch what you say, Turian Councilor." I told him while giving a glare.

"(Y/N)..." Jane spoke and I backed down. "Being human had nothing to do with it. They were in trouble."

"As a Jedi, or even a Grey Jedi, we don't just defend or save our own species, but every species that needs saving," I added but muttered the rest. "Except the batarians..."

"Admirable, both of you," Councilor Valern commended us. "But sometimes Spectres have to make sacrifices. I hope you both're willing to do that when the time comes."

"Goodbye, Commander, Jedi Knight," Councilor Tevos sent us off. "We'll be waiting for your next report."

With that said, the Council was disconnected from the Normandy's comms.

"That Sparatus is an asshole," I spoke about the Turian Councilor. "I'm telling you, Jane, he has the same mindset as Saren with a bone to pick with humanity. I honestly don't like him."

"If it makes you feel any better, he's not my favorite either," Jane agreed with me about Sparatus. "What about Valern? Tevos?"

"Hmm... Despite being a Salarian Councilor, Valern isn't bad, better than most Salarians. I'm 50-50 with him," I replied. "Tevos. I honestly like her. At least she was giving humanity a chance to prove themselves for the role of Spectre, hell, maybe even a Council seat for Humanity."

"Is that all about Tevos?" Jane asked me, almost in a teasing notion.

"What?" I asked confused.

"I've seen how the Asari Councilor looks at you, (Y/N)," Jane tells me. "I know you've noticed, and not just her."

"Umm... Wh-What are you talking about, Shep?" I asked while looking away.

"I know you're not dense," Jane replies to me. "Plus, you just called me, "Shep," and you haven't called me that since I told you just to call me by my name."

"I... uhh... I..." I tried speaking, but Jane just giggles it off.

"I know it's a bit confusing," Jane tells me. "But just don't wait too long."

"R-Right..." I replied before I remembered what I found on Feros. "Oh, Jane, when we were on Feros in that Geth lab, I was able to hack into a geth terminal, and I found out something that was bad."

"And that was?" Jane asked.

"In the Armstrong Nebula," I began. "The geth are amassing heavy numbers for an invasion against the Traverse. Mainly human colonies, but a couple other species' colonies."

"In the Armstrong Nebula, you say?" Jane asked as I nod. "I guess Garrus and Wrex's missions will have to wait. We have to deal with this quick."

"I agree, but when you have a moment, can you and Liara meet me at my workbench later?" I asked Jane. "I actually have something for the both of you."

"A present for us? (Y/N), you shouldn't have," Jane spoke acting like she didn't deserve it, but gave a smile instead. "Once I have the coordinates set for the Armstrong Nebula, I'll grab Liara and meet you in the Cargo Bay. I can only imagine what it is."

"Trust me, you'll both like 'em." I told her and we both left the CIC in separate directions. Jane setting a course for the Armstrong Nebula, and I was heading to the Cargo Bay to ready the gifts for both Jane and Liara while catching up with Merrin, who I am happy to see again, but yet again, thinking about my feelings for the girls. This journey was becoming rather interesting at the very least. Can only imagine how this journey will go.

-------------------------------------------- [End of Transmission] ----------------------------------------------