11 Ch.11 - The Thorian revealed

_______________________________________

if you guys want to support me and are even awesome enough to pass 1$ over, can you please check out either my Patreón or Ko-fi:

Ko-fi.com/alexander_the_grey

&

https://www.patreòn.com/Alexander_the_grey

Thanks a lot to all those who've already

_______________________________________

"I've tried to get things ready as best I can, but there is only so much I could do on such short notice and with so few supplies." Dr. Chakwas said with a frown on her brow as she handed me a half dozen samples of anti-Thorian gas.

"This is still better than nothing Doctor. Used at the right moment, we can heavily impact the number of controlled colonists." I replied graciously, carefully handling the samples.

"Yes alright. No need to try and make me feel better." The good Doctor said with a wry smile and dismissive wave of her hand. "Let's just hope the Commander finds more of these and that you all can handle things without having to act drastically."

"We all hope for this." I seriously replied.

"Just don't be too hard on yourself Neo. Even you can't save everyone, so focus on saving everyone you can." Dr. Chakwas advised with care.

"I know more than most regarding not being able to save others, but today I will save as many as I can." I said in understanding.

I do not see myself as infallible nor omnipotent, simply optimized.

Taking my leave, I headed towards Garrus, Ashley and Lt. Alenko in order to change our gas grenades using the Anti-Thorian gas and decide on their positioning.

Our plan for this situation of ours relied on blocking various smaller entrances/exits using some demolition charges and then funneling the colonists towards two targets: the Normandy or the Prothean Skyway.

For the Normandy path, the crew of the ship will handle things using standard nonlethal tactics, stun rounds and the likes, retreating into the ship itself if they were about to get overrun and locking it down until things calmed down or lethal force was deemed necessary.

On the Skyway path, the Commander's grounds squad, meaning myself, Lt. Alenko. Ashley, Dr. T'Soni and Garrus, will be using the narrow corridors and obstacles to take down colonist as the most obvious and closest target.

We only have so many weapons and ammunitions which would allow for nonlethal takedowns, hence why the focus on the two.

"Here are the samples." I said to the group as we had gathered in the Normandy.

"I'll get them in the grenades." Ashley swiftly said as she took them to her workbench.

"In the meantime, let's run through our checklist." The Lieutenant said as looked at everyone. "Garrus?"

"Neo and I managed to prepare a few things to make sure as many colonists get trapped in their homes and workspaces as possible. We don't want to risk the more vulnerable ones getting in the way." Garrus reported dutifully.

"I have also managed to confiscate the merchant's stock of weapons and explosives, and sabotage the armory using my stealth systems. I could not do anything about those currently armed however." I informed the group, earning me nods of appreciation.

"That's good. That means we will mainly have to do focus on those outside. Thankfully we already secured our operation zone and prepared everything else, now we just need to get into position and wait for the commander's signal." Lt. Alenko acknowledged. "Will you be ready Dr. T'Soni?"

"I worry more for you Lieutenant." The Asari replied with both actual concern and some lightheartedness.

His issues due to old implants and the crude training he underwent in his youth have left marks on him, his migraines being some of the least difficult parts to deal with.

"That's why I have my programs too." The Lieutenant shot back with a smirk as he turned on his Omni-tool for show. "Speaking of, Garrus, Neo, you got your programmes ready?"

"Yup. Crowd control set up." The ex-C-Sex officer answered with ease.

"Various [Cryo] and [Neural] programs have been installed." I confirmed.

"Alright, then once Ash is done we can have Neo set them up at agreed points and position ourselves." Lt. Alenko said with a heavy nod as we all weren't especially excited to be taking down civilians like this.

"I'll be done in 10 minutes!" Ashley shouted from her work bench.

Garrus, Lt. Alenko and even I could help speed up the process, but Ashley is the one most familiar with explosives and Normandy ressources when handling them, so we decided to not risk our very limited samples and have her do it all.

"Ok. Get ready everyone. This won't be pleasant, but at least we get to help these people." The Lieutenant replied as we all geared up.

I was preparing some extra programs and grenades which dealt in the more…incendiary fields for when we confront the Thorian. If it will not yield, it will burn.

I shall not let it enthrall others against their will or by the design of monsters.

So with these thoughts, we soon began to head out of the Normandy to prepare for the Commander's inevitable success and welcome.

We all had complete faith in her, which was an interesting thing to learn about myself when I noticed.

Her natural charisma and abilities made people believe in her, then her actions would make one want to follow her.

No other human has demonstrated these characteristics so strongly so far. No other species either as well.

But that is for later. For now I must become the immovable wall protecting my comrades and the trained warrior I was made to be towards those I must subdue.

-Zhu's Hope, an hour later.

"Team, this is Shepard." We all heard from our comms.

"This is Kaiden." The Lieutenant responded for everyone as to not overwhelm the channel.

"The Geth have been taken care of and we've got plenty of proof regarding ExoGeni's activities. We'll be heading back now, but we will be making a quick stop at a camp of survivors from the Headquarters to make sure no controlled colonist made it there." The Commander informed us.

"Roger that." Was the reply as we all readied ourselves.

"Shepard out."

"Alright, you heard the lady. Stay alert." Lt. Alenko quickly said, but he noticed that this was unnecessary.

"We've got this L.T. Plus their peashooter won't be getting through our big guy so easily anyway." Ashley cockily replied.

"Just be careful. We still don't know everything that could happen." He the warned as he made sure to try and stop any foolish actions.

Meanwhile, I was focusing.

My mind was open as I kept track of the connections.

It took about ten minutes before I felt it.

'It moves.' I thought as my eyes snapped open and I immediately activated my Omni-tool and its ready command to deal the colony.

"They come." I warned the squad, causing them to stiffen minutely before focusing.

We were currently in a very simply defensive formation.

During the defense of the colony, before our arrival, the colonists created barricades in front of the path to and from the Skyway, forming cover to help them repel the Geth. Now we were using the closest ones to the building in order to use the others as funnels and obstacles, all while leaving us a controlled choke point behind us should retreat become needed.

Ashley with Lt. Alenko on one side, Garrus and Dr. T'Soni on the other, and me in the opening. Balanced teams.

Simple but effective.

And if things turn very dire, we make our way to the Skyway, deal the doors and wait for the Commander to return before making the ultimate decision regarding morality and survival.

But for now, we must deal with the coming horde of colonists.

There were 214 confirmed colonists in Zhu's Hope. Only two dozen were in any way combat capable. Over 100 of those colonists were within the now locked down buildings. This left us a decent crowd of another 100 or so colonists to incapacitate, unevenly split between us and the Normandy.

But there is something which could not be accounted for in our initial approach.

"What the heck are those?!" Ashley shouted in a disgusted dismay.

Her reactions was fitting.

From within the shambling crowd approaching us we could see something rather… unappealing.

Green humanoid beings resembling walking corpses with no hair, eyes or lips, and each with a set of claws instead of hands.

"I sense no type of intelligence or emotions in them. They are puppets. Likely tools of the Thorian." I quickly informed everyone over our comms, including our Normandy counterparts and the Commander's team.

"Yeah, but we can't just change ammo every time we see them!" Ashley replied, sounding rather stressed at the beings.

"Then ready your side arms! We might be shielded but we don't know what those things can really do!" Lt. Alenko ordered.

For my part, the Omni-Blade program was readied. I did not trust my ranged weapons to not harm colonists behind the creeping beings likely created by the Thorian if they weren't repurposed corpses.

As the first colonists approached, I stepped forward with absolutely no doubt. No fear. Knowing myself and my abilities.

I felt it in the depths of my being.

'Fight. Overcome. Triumph.'

So with one motion, smooth, fluide, efficient, sharp and skilled beyond what any being can naturally show, my left palm struck the side of the first colonist before and rendered him unconscious then and there.

This began a dance of martial skill which tested my control and helped me hone my edge in close combat.

It wasn't truly difficult in terms of skill level per say, i never felt any kind of true risk, but it tested many different aspects of myself as I stood as a pillar before my foes.

Punch to the chin. Kick to the head. [Cryo Blast] to the Thorian puppet, it freezes well. Strike the back of the head. Activate Omni-Blade, slice Thorian puppet.

'Acid-like liquid contained within. Ignores shielding, corrosive. Can damage lesser armors. No threat to me.' I immediately analyzed after killing a few of these beings.

Activate [Neural Shockwave]. Five more down. Thorian being passing by, activate [Incinerate]. Possible danger to colonists, refrain repetition.

During the melee, I also received a few shots from controlled colonists, but they barely even registered before one of my teammates incapacitated them.

Speaking of teammates.

Garrus was doing a very good job at picking off gun wielding colonists. Even with some picking the guns from a few who had been incapacitated.

Ashley was making quick work of any colonist who made it past me.

Dr. T'Soni and Lt. Alenko were doing a wonderful job as controlling the crowd and stopping them from simply swarming over us, even moving some of the unconscious ones from around me.

"They're in the hot zone! Activating the grenades!" The Lieutenant shouted after I had taken down my seventeenth colonist and eight Thorian puppet.

And just like that, green gas erupted all around us while the Doctor and Lieutenant formed a field to concentrate it all on the remaining colonists.

This was one more very good reason to wear properly sealed armor in battle.

Observing the effects, the connection to the colonists was immediately cut, causing the colonists to collapse like puppets without strings.

From what I could feel, they were still alive but likely reeling from the effects of having something take over all their motor functions, and possibly their thoughts, then losing that controller.

It would take some time for their brains to readapt to the sudden regaining of controls, essentially causing the colonists to 'reboot'.

But the most interesting effect was on those Thorian puppets.

The gas didn't just cut their strings, it caused their entire bodies to become completely unstable and collapse into a viscous material.

"Well that was… unappetizing." Garrus noted with some discomfort.

"I am uncertain I will be able to look at the mess hall's vegetable options for some time." Dr. T'Soni admitted showing clear signs of nausea.

"We should go and help clear possible colonists and these puppets of the Thorian from the Normandy and make sure no colonists have escaped the locked down buildings Lieutenant." I suggested as I kept my mind on the current task at end.

"Neo's right." He quickly agreed as he shook what we had witnessed out of his mind for now. "Garrus, Dr. T'Soni, I want you two to make sure the Commander's arrival remains smooth and check on these colonists. Ash, Neo and I will check the buildings and the Normandy."

Quickly moving out, we found a few lone puppets simply waiting in a crouched position around the colony. They were shot without hesitation.

We saw Fai Dan seemingly struggling with a pistol in hand. His surprising resistance against the Thorian was good, it allowed us to subdue the man with a quick [Neural Shock].

Along the way we could hear colonists trying to beak out of the buildings, but the lock down protocols made that futile unless they had access to weaponry I have already disabled or stolen. We did worry about their well being in there however.

Soon enough we reached the docking area for the Normandy, finding a dozen or so Colonists but mainly puppet corpses.

The Lieutenant checked in those who defended the ship and found no injuries and no civilian casualties which was praise worthy for these average crew mates.

A report from Garrus and Dr. T'Soni stated the subjugation of the same man from the tunnels and extermination of a decent group of puppets waiting in the upper areas of the building near the Skyway exit. It was fortunate they apparently couldn't operate the elevator or systems, but it did still make me question where they had come from.

Something to think about later.

Not too long after we finished securing the colony, the Commander returned.

"How was your visit Commander?" Lt. Alenko asked with something i believe to be morbid humor.

"Oh you know, shooting my way through a legion of Geths, finding the leftovers of the people responsible for the colonists' dilemma, saving people, haggling for the future of hundreds of people and then coming back through another detachment of Geth. It's all the usual really." She answered with sarcasm and some form of self-mockery at her propensity to find herself in dangerous situations with widespread impacts.

"So many things to shoot." Wrex commented from the side looking rather happy.

"At least we have plenty of Anti-Thorian gas. Those ExoGeni boshtets were ready to just blast it all at the colony when they would have to abandon their 'experiment'." Tali reported as she brought out a bag from the Mako.

"This is good. We can use a few to pacify the remaining colonists we trapped in the buildings and against the Thorian itself." I said as I approached my friend and discreetly inspected her.

No visible injuries. Gait normal. Suit readings are green. Shielding system requires some minor repairs and recharging. Dirty. Geth fluids. Some signs of fatigue, likely physical and mental, but underlying satisfaction, pride and excitement.

'She likely managed to obtain something Geth related to tinker with later.' I concluded as I finished inspecting her.

"I am…glad for your safe return." I also said as I reached in her bag and pulled out 8 samples already implemented into grenades.

"Happy to see you're ok too Neo." She softly answered with relief flooding her body as tense was released.

"There are colonists in the buildings?" Shepard questioned as she looked at Lt. Alenko and Garrus.

"Neo and Garrus locked them in to limit the risks to more vulnerable civilians and reduce numbers." The Lieutenant swiftly explained.

"Then let's do what Neo suggested. I don't want to risk them hurting themselves by trying to get out." The Commander quickly said but her underlaying order was clear.

Said orders were implemented with haste. None of us truly knew what was occurring within as a result of the metal covering the windows and doors, but we certainly did not wish for the colonists to harm themselves by attempting to free themselves because of the Thorian's control. So we found the ventilation systems, set some grenades within, and then activated both.

Simple and efficient.

It did reinforce the advantages of deepening my own technological skills. The thought of sparring lives by controlling defenses was appealing. I was also convinced to reinforce my own defenses against such attacks, even if my own systems were already very advanced.

"Now that that's taken care of, here's the plan." The Commander said as she addressed us. "Wrex, Garrus, Neo, Liara and I are going to go and face whatever the Thorian is. Kaiden, I want you, Ash and Tali to keep control of the colony and make sure none of them wake up to chase after us, get in harms way or somehow get used as hostages. Bring in the crew to make sure everything's alright."

"You got it Commander." Lt. Alenko dutifully answered.

"Damn. Really wanted to put a few rounds in that fucking plant." Ashley almost spat out.

"Well, I need someone who can look after everyone." Shepard replied with a confident smile.

"*Sigh* Fine, but put a few in it for me." The Gunnery Chief said with some reluctance.

"Hehe. No worries there kid. I've got more than a few rounds for it." Wrex said to her as he hoisted his large shotgun with a savage smile, earning one in return.

"Not like it'll matter with your aim." Garrus japed at Wrex's expense.

"Is that so Vakarian? And I'm guessing your peashooter will do us more good than a proper gun?" The krogan returned with mirth.

"Who knows, but at least I'll hit the Thorian." Was the Turian's answer and thus an unspoken challenge was once again issued between the two.

"Ignoring those two, let's get that ship off the entrance and see exactly what all this fuss ended up being for." The Commander said.

It took naught but mere minutes to use Zhu's Hope's crane to move the Borealis and revealing our path forward.

"Down the rabbit hole we go." Shepard jokingly said as she readied her assault rifle and the team went forward.

Down the stone steps we found much of the same ruins as elsewhere on Feros, reaching the elevator downward with no interference.

We all stayed alert in case the Thorian had any further defenses. Fortunately we were not attacked in the elevator down.

Once we reached our presumed destination, we found a straightforward hallway. It was short, leading to a vast underground chamber which resembled a hollowed out building with unseen depths, visible levels with no inner walls all covered in moss and creeping green veins, all linking to…

"By the Goddess." Dr. T'Soni gasped in a mixture of horror, fascination and unease.

"This… could complicate things." Shepard commented grimly.

"I don't think I'll have to worry about my aim Vakarian." Wrex jokingly said as he readied his favorite gun.

"Yeah, I think I'll agree with you on that." Garrus admitted as he could not find himself able to tear his eyes away from the green monstrosity before us.

The Thorian was an unknown, but even then we could not have imagined this.

The closest similarity I could afford it was that it resembled a heart. A massive plant heart with green veins connected from above and below, likely leading to its sensory network or roots spreading across the planet surface. It seemed to also have a type of face, if one could call it that, with vines or tentacles at the bottom of it.

The most important part for me however, was the three massive 'branches' supporting the Thorian over the chasm it rested above.

This particular situation was something leaving it rather vulnerable. I could hypothesize that the Thorian was obviously never this large in its infancy and likely grew from here before expanding in all directions, eating through the walls, ceiling and floors so its roots could expand ever outward, and as a result, the Thorian was now locked in this state.

"I am pleased regarding my choice to bring many explosives with me." I said aloud.

"How many?" The commander asked.

"A dozen incendiary and high-explosive grenades." I answered, looking forward to using them against this being.

I felt its dangers. Even now it reached out to what it could, attempting to connect to us. I could feel it much more clearly now that it was before us.

We approached with caution and as we neared, the Thorian's tentacled 'mouth' began leaking a green liquid.

I could feel it drawing from something nearby as it did… something, but not like it did with its puppets.

And then, it spewed out an Asari. Only this one was green.

The…being, for I could not call it Asari even with its appearance, was clothed in a brown version of Asari Commando armor and equipped with a shotgun and pistol somehow.

I could feel biotics, its presence, but not its own mind. This being as a true puppet, unlike the corpse-like ones or the colonists, this things was channeling the 'mind' of the Thorian in its entirety. Without any of its own.

But I believe I could recognize the face and unique markings upon it.

Thanks to the Commander's mission and the known association of Matriarch Benezia, we also received information regarding those who followed her down this path, including one of her most dangerous assets: Her personal Asari Commando units.

The one before us almost perfectly resembled one Shiala, a leading Commando who has been following the Matriarch for over two centuries now.

But as I felt her mind, I did not receive anything from her, only the being using her and a faint signal nearby.

"Invaders! Your every step is a transgression. A thousand feelers appraise you as meat, good only to dig or decompose.

I speak for the Old Growth, as I did for Saren. Your are before and within the Thorian. It commands that you be in awe!" The green being harshly ordered.

The commander stepped up with no fear.

"You gave something to Saren. Something I need." Shepard said.

"Saren sought knowledge of those who are gone. The Old Growth listened to flesh for the first time in a Long Cycle. Trades were made. Then the 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!" The 'speaker' answered passionately.

'Those who are gone… the Protheans. This plant was truly here when the Protheans lived. It knows what happened. It also knew something Saren needed to accomplish his goals, something which he didn't want the Commander, or anyone, to have. Maybe something related to the Beacon they both used, some Prothean technology, or possibly what the Reapers truly are.

But it looks like it will not be willing to impart this knowledge to us regardless of our desire to stop Saren.' I thought as I prepared for the now inevitable hostilities.

"I can't let you keep your thralls." Shepard told the plant with grim determination. "Release them and give us what you gave Saren and we will leave with the colonists in peace. Don't and we fight."

"No! No more will the Thorian listen to those that scurry. Your lives are short, but have gone on too long. Your blood will feed the ground and the new growth!" The 'Speaker' cried out as it went for its gun.

*Blam!*

Too bad that my shotgun blasted her head off before the puppet could activate its biotic abilities or even raise its weapon, sending its remains down the hole the Thorian was over.

"Permission to engage?" I calmly asked the commander, even if technically late.

"Granted!" She replied with a surprising amount of approval and excitement.

The Thorian shuddered as I felt anger and outrage as it reached out all over.

"More puppets." I surprisingly growled as I felt the new connections of the Thorian while I began throwing the High-Explosives at the Thorian's supportive limbs.

All around us, the puppets came out from vegetative bulbs on the wall and made their way to attack.

"I got it!" Wrex shouted as he used his shotgun with seasoned ease, blasting three in one shot even. "Match that Vakarian!"

"We're you saying something?" Garrus asked with a smirk on his mandibles, aiming his rifle in close range mode before shooting a bullet through four heads. "I couldn't hear you over my skills."

"Oh ho ho. You're on Vakarian!" The Krogan shouted as the duo began a deadly back and forth with sniper and shotgun mowing down the creeping puppets.

"You aren't leaving me out of this!" Shepard roared as she fearlessly [charged] through a few puppets, fired a round through another's head and then began expertly cutting through their numbers alongside the duo.

Dr. T'Soni was focusing more on making sure the puppets stayed in front of the three while using her smg to keep herself safe.

I quickly detonated the explosives once they were on target, but found a limited effect beyond inflicting pain on the Thorian.

It was then that I noticed that each of the three main supports of the Thorian seemed vulnerable at the points they connected to the walls of its dwelling.

"Commander! We need to cut those supports!" I shouted at her as I drew my Mattock and joined in the extermination of the puppets.

"Got it!" She responded between shots. "Wrex! Open a path with me! Garrus and Liara, make sure Neo can plant those explosives!"

Before I could follow, I felt the Thorian repeat the process which gave the green Speaker from earlier.

Not caring for its efforts and wanting to avoid the issues the being could brings, I approached it with purpose and offered it a heel kick to its diaphragm, sending it back into the Thorian with a crunch before falling to its presumed death.

After that we moved swiftly.

The puppets were barely an inconvenience in front the sheer might demonstrated when nearly all of our squad's best fighters were together.

We did not even need to speak as we all knew who was taking down what and covered each other flawlessly.

The first connection was reached, explosives set and broken off in easy manner, causing great distress and pain in the Thorian.

In response, it began repeating the same process of creating its speaker.

My answer was to quickly switch to my Widow, aim and blow it head off again before it could even land properly.

The Thorian's rage was clearly felt, but I found satisfaction in angering a being who saw sentient life as naught but tools or food. This anger did tell me the process of creating its Speaker certainly wasn't an instantaneous one and required effort, which also helped.

We proceeded to mow down the puppets up a set of stairs, ignoring a dead end path and moving on until we could reach the second support connection.

On our way I did find some secondary supports which required far less care, resulting in me simply throwing incendiary grenades and having Wrex and I blast them with our shotguns as we passed.

But after reaching a main support, i simply repeated my minor demolition performance, and then the Thorian roared in pain anew, attempting to spawn another Speaker, only for it to meet a fiery ending after I threw two incendiary grenades at the spawning point, coincidentally finding that the tentacles near that area were sensitive enough to cause the plant to almost shriek.

For the last support, we needed to make our way across where we stood, but we found easy access with an upper walkway even if we had to deal with the puppets, which had become rather tedious at this point. Even Wrex and Garrus had grown bored of their competition due to the ease of the targets.

We encountered two more secondary support connections on our path, but easily severed them even if guarded by an annoying number of puppets. The Commander's remaining supply of Anti-Thorian Gas Grenades were rather useful in such an instance.

So finally we made it to the final main supporting connection, with the Thorian already being very unstable after having so many stabilizing pillars destroyed. The creature desperately spawned another Speaker, but it was too late.

"Commander?" I asked for the final confirmation.

The woman looked down at the dangling monstrosity and its avatar.

"Nooooooo!" The green Speaker roared out in desperation as it tried to fire at us.

"Do it." Was the command.

"Roger." I replied as I detonated the charges.

The deep screeching of refusal and reluctance emitted by the Thorian as it proceed to swing loose, having its final connections ripped out by its own weight before falling down the chasm below were satisfying.

The loud crashing sound which came afterward and subsequent ceasing of puppet activity and complete shutdown of the Speaker attested to our victory.

"Well… anyone else glad that's over?" The Commander asked, sounding very pleased.

"I am. Those things were crap." Wrex grunted.

"The amount of gunk I'll have to clean from my…everything is unsettling." Garrus commented as he tried to wipe away some slimy substance from his gun.

"What about what Saren came for?" Dr. T'Soni asked with a frown.

"*Sigh* Sometimes you can't win them all." Shepard answered with some reluctance.

"But there is someone we can ask." I said, making everyone look at me and asking me to quickly elaborate. "The Asari commando Shiala, she is down there."

That made them all look down to the level we entered from to see an Asari wearing the same equipment the Speaker had, stumbling while clutching her head.

"Let's go see if we can make a new friend or if we have to shoot someone again." The Commander said with a hard look.

"I'm hoping shooting." Wrex commented, but everyone ignored the old korgan.

The squad made its way down, unhampered this time, reaching the commando.

"Are…are you the ones who freed me?" She asked in confusion as she rubbed her head.

She seemed to be suffering after effects of whatever it was the Thorian had her go through to constantly clone her.

"We are." Shepard answered at the ready, but she could see no hostility in the Asari. "I am Commander Shepard of the Alliance and Council Spectre. This is most of my team: Garrus, Wrex, Liara and Neo."

"I-I suppose I should thank you for releasing me." Shiala said with some hesitation, but it was mainly from worry and minor fear.

"If you're grateful I'd appreciate if you could answer some questions, like how did you end up here and why did Saren come here?" The Commander directly responded with a piercing look.

"W-well, my name is Shiala, an Asari Commando serving under Matriarch Benezia. When she allied herself with Saren, hoping to guide him down a better path, so did I." Shiala began answering with some difficulty. "Things didn't go her way. Saren is… very compelling and soon enough, she lost her way and us along with her."

"How can this be? Although I am not exactly close with my mother, she would never allow for what Saren has done and is aiming to accomplish!" Dr. T'Soni firmly responded at what was said.

"Liara is right, Asari Matriarchs are among some of the most powerful and intelligent beings in the galaxy. How could Saren convince one to follow his quest?" Shepard asked in support.

"It wasn't just Saren." Shiala answered with a look of near dread. "He has this enormous warship, bigger than anything I've seen beside the Citadel, he calls it Sovereign.

It can…dominate the mind of his followers They become indoctrinated to Saren's will. The process is subtle. It can take days, weeks. But in the end, it is absolute. I was a willing slave when Saren brought me to this world. 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."

That particular revelation was jarring for us all.

The implications of such… power made Saren even more dangerous than before.

It also made me immediately reach out to Shiala's mind to hopefully find clues.

The problem was that her mind was currently overwhelmed as it was. I could hardly begin looking for possible differences between normal Asari and an 'Indoctrinated' one due to her fresh severance from the Thorian, but I kept at it.

"Saren's pretty quick to betray his people." Shepard spat out.

"He's never had the best reputation, but is there nothing he won't stoop to?" Garrus rhetorically asked.

"He was quick to betray the Thorian, too. After he had what he wanted, he ordered the geth to destroy all evidence of its existence. Saren knows you are searching for the Conduit. He knows you are following his steps. He attacked the Thorian so you could not gain the Cipher." Shiala revealed as new key information was brought forward.

"What's this Cipher?" The Commander immediately asked. "Why would Saren need it?"

"The beacon on Eden Prime gave you visions. But the visions are unclear, confusing. They were meant for a Prothean mind. 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." Shiala softly explained.

That gave me some of the final answers for Saren's movements.

So this meant that to bring about the Reapers, Saren needed the Beacon to learn the location of a 'Conduit' which will allow him to usher their return.

But he couldn't comprehend the information due to many reasons, chief being Prothean technology was meant to be used by Protheans, not Turians or Humans.

He then looked for solutions, somehow learning of a being with the knowledge he would require to understand, one who knew the Protheans and was there when they thrived, the Thorian. He came, traded a tool for knowledge and then tried to erase the trail so we could not follow.

So now he has knowledge of the Conduit and needs only to reach it.

But the question remains, how did Saren learn of these things? How could he know of the Beacon's use and that it would have what he needed? That the Thorian would hold the answers he sought?

"So the Cipher helps me understand information that's basically encoded, but how do I get it to unlock the information?" Shepard questioned.

"The Cipher is the very essence of being a Prothean. It cannot be described or explained. It would be like describing color to a creature without eyes.

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."Shiala answered with some near reverence.

This did explain the current state of her being however. She was in the process of assimilating what she could, her brain technically being far over its limits in terms of information storage.

The fact that she is an Asari does explain how exactly Saren himself obtained the knowledge of the Cipher if it truly was the essence of being a Prothean. Shiala would become the medium for the transfer of knowledge between Saren and the Thorian using the Asari ability to 'share themselves' with others.

"If Saren could get it then there has to be a way for me too, unless it died with the Thorian." Shepard said with some tension at the later part.

"I can give you the Cipher. I touched the Thorian's mind, its experience and knowledge, especially the Cipher as I was its tool to give it to Saren. I could transfer it directly to your mind, should you be willing." Shiala offered.

"Such a thing could be dangerous, for the both of you. The Commander due to her fatigue and your possible points of concern such as your 'indoctrination' and subsequent thralldom under the Thorian, and the fact that it would strain your already taut mind due to your recent severance from another being and the influx of knowledge your were left with." I warned to err on the side of caution.

"He is right Commander. A knowledge bond can be traumatic." Dr. T'Soni supported with clear worry.

"We have to get the Cipher." The Commander replied strongly.

"I agree, but let me help. My natural abilities should be able to take much of the burden from both yours minds and I am certain I would be able to stop any remaining influence from either Saren or Thorian from affecting this process." I adamantly said to her.

I felt it. Deep within me that I could do this. It was almost…instinctual.

I felt it with the colonists. I could have severed their connection, but we couldn't display our hand in case the controller harmed others upon noticing the severed connection. And now we need not hold back.

"How could a human possibly assist in such a bond?" Shiala asked out of doubt and confusion.

"Neo's special." Shepard simply answered before turning to me. "Can you do what you just offered?"

"Yes Commander." I answered with no doubt.

"Good, then let's do this." She replied, seemingly satisfied.

"I am unsure how you intend to help, but I shall simply focus on the Commander." Shiala said, she had her doubts.

"That is all which needs to be done." I responded as I positioned myself beside both women and placed one hand on top of their heads.

The position was instinctual. As if I already knew what to do.

Both women proceeded.

"Try to relax, Commander. Slow, deep breaths. Let go of your physical shell. Reach out to grasp the threads that bind us, one to another." Shiala serenely said as she placed her hands on the sides of the commander's head. "Every action sends ripples across the galaxy. 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 yourself to the universe, Commander.

Embrace Eternity!"

With her last words i opened my own mind to both, feeling the very depths of their beings as they felt mine.

Shiala's 'bloated' self flowed with information but was also 'lost' from having her 'self' almost stolen by two beings.

She was vulnerable, a boat adrift a storming ocean, so I became her lighthouse.

I gave her the comfort she needed, calmed her mind to let go easier.

I did my best to 'ground' her self, to help her return to 'Shiala'.

And as I did so, the Cipher flowed through me.

Prothean.

It was truly impossible to put into words the meaning behind such a designation. Such an existence.

Hunters. Warriors. Conquerors. Survivors.

They were so much.

I could understand how they developed, the struggles, conflicts and triumphs which shaped them.

It was truly an incredible experience.

And I made sure to slowly guide it through the Commander.

Her being was strong, determined and bright. The only flaws were marks of times passed, but they added a dark beauty in the brightness, a shadow to make her… human, casting aside flawlessness to prove her strength. What truly disrupted her being was the mass of information she could not truly take in, which I was now blending with the Cipher to fix things.

I do not know how long this took.

The dissemination of a people's essence was not simple, but in the end the information ceased and Shiala ended the bond.

Moments later, so did I.

We found ourselves being looked at by the trio from the Squad once we 'returned'.

"That was… a lot." Shepard said in a far away voice.

"It was a unique experience for me as well." Shiala said before looking towards me. "How was what you just did possible? You joined a joining as a third party and even… helped us."

"My own existence is unique. I would not have revealed myself to you if the risks to the Commander were not significant. But regardless of the possible dangers this decision might create for me, I must thank you for allowing me to experience such a things." I honestly responded with a slight bow. "This knowledge will be truly invaluable."

And it would be.

Although Feros had been cut off from the larger Prothean Empire once the Reapers came, the information I could discern from their final struggles was important.

The first target was Citadel. Seat of the Prothean Empire. Current seat of the galactic council. Center of both civilizations and cycles. Not a coincidence.

Too many important individuals in one place. Too much important information.

And if they began there before, what is stopping them from simply doing it again?

Is that why they require the Conduit? To serve as the gateway to the Reapers? A gateway leading to the Citadel and then beyond.

"How come I don't understand the Beacon yet?" Shepard asked us both.

"Even though your companion has lessened the burden on us considerably, it will still take time for your brain to fully adjust to the knowledge." Shiala informed the commander and I was inclined to agree.

The only reason I was able to actively appreciate the bounties of the Cipher was due to my advantages. Impeccable memory, insurmountable learning and retention rate, combined with my ability to adapt and overcome, it allowed my mind to actively evolve to hold and compute the sudden influx of information. And even then, there are gaps.

"She is right Commander. In fact, I am surprise the three of you are so active at the moment, regardless of what Neo as done." Dr. T'Soni said as she carefully checked Shepard.

"All I took away from this is that the kid just somehow had a spirit threesome before he's ever mated." Joked Wrex with a grin promising much future teasing.

"Well at least he should be the first to ever do it." A shrugging Garrus then said. "Wonder if it's possible to make a baby with three people involved."

"I believe we have some more important matters to worry about." An embarrassed Dr. T'Soni interrupted tersely.

"*Chuckle* Sure." Wrex replied in amusement over her shame.

"Well, we have what we apparently came for, so let's get going. We need to make sure the colonists are ok before leaving too and we all could use a shower and some sleep." The Commander said to us all before turning to the commando. "What are you going to do now that you're free?"

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

"They could use a helping hand from someone with more experience after everything that happened. I'm sure they'd welcome it." Shepard replied with a nod of understanding towards the Asari.

"Thank you, Commander. May fortune smile upon you." The grateful Asari said with a relieved smile before we all exited this ancient lair and now resting place.

_______________________________________

EXTRA AUTHOR NOTES:

This turned out longer than I thought and I could probably have divided the chapter into two, but oh well.

First thing I want to address is that the colonists were not truly a dangerous force in general and that using a combination of biotics, gas and controlled crowding would essentially knock out 40-70 controlled colonists with ease.

I decided to make it a bit of a mix between games and realism by having the 200 or so people who are supposed to be in Zhu's Hope and the methods used to put them down in the games being knock outs or instant sleep via Anti-Thorian gas.

Those left behind by Shepard should have had plenty of time to get ready considering Shepard had to go to ExoGeni and back while handling everything between and in this place.

The idea of locking people into the buildings made sense to me. Many planets can have dangerous weather, possible predator attacks, pirates or slavers may come buy, so the buildings having defenses should be an obvious thing. Then you put gas in the vents and tadaa.

The Thorian Creepers or, as I had Neo call them, puppets, are really not a hassle and more annoying than anything due to numbers.

Their lack of shielding, armor, tactics beyond swarming and regeneration would let the Squad I made for the Thorian ripe them apart and then some.

I kind of decided to have fun by having Neo just instantly stomp the Asari Clone whenever she was made due to him being warned in advance when she's about to pop out and it logically not being able to do anything before the Thorian takes full control and activate its biotics for defense.

The boss fight itself just isn't really interesting and kinda tedious though, hence why it's not the greatest here either.

I was more interested in having Neo get the Cypher too.

To actually experience that and understand the Prothean would be a tremendous help to his development and future path.

It also gives him clues and will help him in other ways in the future. Like that he already realizes that the Citadel is a trap and that he will piece things together when he has more time to think.

I know the dialogue at the end was a bit to much like the canon stuff so I tried to mix it up but still get the info needed while making it more natural.

Hope you enjoyed.