Prologue IX
Saren sits listlessly in a chair in the heart of the vessel.
A beautiful, mature asari clothed in all black and wearing a peculiar black helm speaks to Saren.
"We identified the ship that touched down on Eden Prime. The Normandy. A human Alliance vessel. It was under the command of Captain Anderson. They managed to save the colony." Her voice rings with a slight melodious lilt to it.
"And the beacon?" Saren asks with a monotonous tone, disinterested tone.
"One of the humans may hove used it." The Matriarch says sending seven into a blind rage.
Throwing things around the room as a red light flashes before violently wrapping his hands around the Matriarch's face before ordering, "The human must be eliminated." As he releases her and returns to his seat.
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Sampson is laying in a medical bay of the Normandy in a fitful waking unconsciousness.
"Doctor? Doctor Chakwas? I think he's waking up!" Ashley exclaims as Sampson slowly sits himself up on the bed and grabs his pounding head before turning to the Doctor.
"You had us worried there, Commander. How are you feeling?" Chakwas asks pulling out a small flashlight and checking Sampson's pupillary reaction.
"Mmph, minor throbbing. Nothing serious. How long was I out?" Sampson asks blinking his eyes.
"About fifteen hours. Something happened down there with the beacon, I think." Chakwas explains.
"It's my fault. I must have triggered some kind of security field when I approached it. You had to push me out of the way." Ashley says, wracked with guilt.
"You had no way of knowing what would happen, Williams. Don't blame yourself." Sampson reassures her as a smile spreads across Ashley's face.
"Actually, we don't even know if that's what set it off. Unfortunately, we'll never get the chance to find out." Chakwas laments.
"The beacon exploded. A system overload, maybe? The blast knocked you out cold. The Lieutenant Colonel and I carried you back to the ship." Ashely says.
"I appreciate it, but where is my sister? And Jenkins? What happened to him?" Sampson asks in confused concern.
"Your sister is currently debriefing with the Captain… And Jenkins…" Chakwas says looking towards a body lying on a nearby med-bay bed, fast asleep. "I had to put him in a medically induced coma, his injuries were much more severe than initially suspected. He'll have to go to the Citadel to receive extensive physical therapy before he can get back to service."
"Damn, poor kid." Sampson says in regret.
"As for you, physically, you're fine. But I detected some unusual brain activity, abnormal beta wave. I also noticed an increase in your rapid eye movement, signs typically associated with intense dreaming." Chakwas explains while checking a data pad.
"I saw… I'm not sure what I saw. Death. Destruction. Nothing's really clear." Sampson says, rubbing his head.
"Hmmm. I better add this to my report. It may- Oh, Captain Anderson." Chakwas starts to say before Anderson walks in with Sapphire close behind him giving Sampson a look of relief seeing that he is up and about.
"How's our XO holding up, Doctor?" Anderson asks Chakwas in concern.
"All the readings look normal. I'd say the commander's going to be fine." Chakwas reports.
"Glad to hear it. Commander, I need to speak with you… In private." Anderson says, looking at those crowding the small med-bay.
"Aye, aye, Captain. I'll be in the mess if you need me." Ashley says.
"I think it's best if we join you." Chakwas says, leading a reluctant Sapphire out with her.
Anderson gives them a nod before speaking up when they leave the room, "Sounds like that beacon hit you pretty hard, Commander. You sure you're okay?" Anderson asks with concern.
"I feel bad about Jenkins, this was his first real op and now he's got months of physical therapy and he might never see action again." Sampson says, looking to the sleeping Jenkins.
"Jenkins wasn't your fault. You did a good job, Commander. And Jenkins is projected to make a full recovery. He may even learn from this experience and become a better soldier from it." Anderson says, reassuring Sampson.
"Hmmm, you're right. But, Chief Williams isn't part of the Normandy crew?" Sampson asks in confusion.
"I figured we could use a soldier like her. She's been reassigned to the Normandy to fill in for Jenkins who will be out on medical discharge." Anderson explains.
"Williams is a good soldier. She deserves it." Sampson agrees.
"Lieutenant Alenko and your sister agrees with you. That's why I added her to our crew." Anderson explains.
Sampson nods before asking, "You said you needed to see me in private, Captain?"
"I won't lie to you, Commander. Things look bad. Nihlus is dead. The beacon was destroyed and geth are invading. The Council's going to want answers." Anderson says, standing up straight while putting his hands behind his back.
"I didn't do anything wrong, Captain. Hopefully, the Council can see that." Sampson says, defending their actions.
"I'll stand behind you and your report, Commander. You're a damned hero in my books. That's not why I'm here. It's Saren, that other turian." Anderson says, beginning to pace back and forth.
"Saren's a Spectre, one of the best. A living legend. But if he's working with the geth, it means he's gone rogue." Anderson says, turning back to Sampson, "A rogue Spectre's trouble. Saren's dangerous. And he hates humans."
"Why does he hate humans?" Sampson asks.
"He thinks we're growing too fast, taking over the galaxy. A lot of aliens think that way. Most of them don't do anything about it. But Saren has allied himself with the geth. I don't know how. I don't know why. I only know it had something to do with that beacon." Anderson explains before asking.
"You were there just before the beacon self-destructed. Did you see anything? Any clue that might tell us what Saren was after?" Anderson asks with expectation.
"Just before I lost consciousness, I had some kind of… I don't know how to describe it? Maybe vision would be the best word." Sampson says in distress.