Ch.25 - Fly me to the Moon

"This is fascinating." Liara couldn't help but gush as her scientific mind had been…tickled I believe the expression was. "Not only can each member sense where the others are, but each has shown to be able to seamlessly work as a team and somehow learn from each other."

"Scans indicate that a sharing of information is actually happening from the one performing an action, to Neo and back to the others." Dr. Chakwas had joined in on our medical study of the effects of individual sentients who had undergone Indoctrination and to document effects of beings effectively joining a semi-hive mind. "The only tell would be of the minute delay between each brain receiving the information in a subconscious manner, although Neo seems to be able to consciously interact with it."

So far, none of the Commandos had shown much in the display of individualism. An unfortunate side effect due to their lack of importance resulting in more direct control by the Reaper through Saren. They were improving as I unearthed more character traits, preferences and dislikes, guiding them to act on such to stimulate further cognitive links to recover, but Benezia felt enormous guilt and sadness seeing the women who trusted her in such states. Acting more like drones than true sentients, but they were improving as I understood them more.

Speaking of Benezia, the only factors which had kept her mental health from spiraling out of control had been myself as a firm pillar and shelter, and Liara. My Asari friend making it a point to attempt to reconnect with her mother after nearly losing her, doing her…admittedly awkward best at comforting the Matriarch.

Variations on how Protheans themselves fell to what she had were mentioned.

"Some of this behavior resembles what Shiala has informed me about regarding the formally enthralled Thorian victims. An instinctual awareness of each member of the…system and their needs. One which does not require any sort of input on my part, although the possibility of some forms of direction coming from my subconscious desires cannot be dismissed." I reported, recording my own findings from the perspective of 'leader' of this Patriarchy as Benezia was insistent on naming it. "This sharing of experience is fascinating.

During the bonding, I Melded with each of them, understanding them at the deepest spiritual levels, also touching their minds. I know them better than they know themselves at the moment. My brain having adapted to information surpluses, internalized their memories, experiences and knowledge. Even now I am receiving new information as they either learn or re-learn certain things."

"Wait…does that mean you have my mother's entire life within your mind? A near millennia of experience? Knowledge of Asari culture? Biotics?" Liara's eyes widened at the revelation, some conflicting feelings clashed in rapid succession within her.

Possibly because, by Asari standards, I might have been considered to have had an orgy including her mother. An odd possibility, but Melding is an extremely intimate act.

"Yes." I confirmed, flashing my biotics to lift myself in a completely controlled manner. "Although our biotics are different, Benezia's vast experience using and teaching the ability have been incomparably useful."

"It my honor to have been able to repay you even slightly with such, my Patriarch." Benezia smiled warmly. Devotion. Gratitude. Clashing of reverence and love.

Will need to ease her through such…heavy feelings towards myself to better aid in her recovery.

"I still cannot help my discomfort hearing you speak like a maiden." Her daughter blushed slightly, embrassement mixing with said discomfort.

"Oh but my Little Wing, you should at least experience the feeling of being…filled by our Patriarch. His…presence within you as he nurtures and guides you is almost religious." The matriarch was being rather…seductive in her choice of words and touches, in a way I was not certain was entirely natural to her, but she seemed to enjoy doing so to her daughter. "Far more than anything I've felt during worship of The Goddess or practicing Siari."

I sensed some seriousness in her attempt to have Liara join in this Hive Mind I had formed, but the playfulness was overpowering it. Enjoyment of her daughter's explosif blush blooming.

"Mother!" The scandalized maiden looked between myself and her mother, panicking somewhat as Benezia's eyes twinkled with mirth unseen by her socially awkward child.

"I jest daughter." She decided to relieve her child with a small giggle. "Our Patriarch does not desire to add others, especially the unwilling or those not requiring it to heal. He respects your choice to remain unaffected by his fulfilling presence."

It had to be said that experiencing such long lives from multiple different perspectives of the Asari has expanded my understanding of sentient behavior and the Universe itself. Benezia's knowledge was much more than biotics thanks to her leadership role within her people. It came with an understanding of politics, management, culture, philosophy and reli…gion.

Athame. Not divine, but from beyond the stars. Prothean influence. Asari early advancements were at least guided by Protheans, indicating clear interference and likelihood of direct deposits and technology being present on Thessia. Advanced technology, mixed with lack of knowledge regarding the alien life and time, likely with assistance of Religious Asari figures, have concealed this once Protheans were better understood and new races began joining the Asari amongst the stars.

Undisclosed Prothean Deposits.

Unknown contents, but high likelihood of deep contents possibly outdoing Mars Prothean Archive. Asari advancements too fast for a Race with such long lifespans, indicating to significant assistance. Long term points of view make Asari slow to act and hesitant to do so without all possible knowledge, meaning technological advancements capable of still outdoing obvious more intelligent Salarians are not wholly Asari.

Dangerous secret.

Asari admittedly not always slow to act. Committed to the status quo. Anything which threatens it must be managed.

Prothean Technology laws hamstrung human progress with Mars Archives. Council inaction and excuses as Batarians assault and enslave humans from budding colony worlds, stoking divisions within humanity as they limit military size out of 'fairness' with condescension over humanity's 'youth', all to hamper rapid growth.

Not simply Asari action on this front, but certainly orchestrated by them. STG and Spectre forces almost certainly performed much sabotage in both literal and economical senses.

Other examples: Krogan punishment much too harsh, with less horrific versions of the Genophage being possible. Quarians not being able to establish viable colonies for centuries to rebuild as a people, crippling the largest uncontrolled fleet whilst minimizing a Race with very threatening capabilities. Volus firmly kept under Turian, limiting mercantile abilities. Drell slowly dying on Hanar Homeworld, no matter how satisfied with situation and grateful to Hanar they were.

Turians manipulated through cultural ideals of Duty and Honor. Used as brute force instrument to ensure overall superiority of the Council, other races must be limited to maintain such. Salarian lives too short and direct power too brittle, but dangerous in technological advancements and Intelligence Operations, unknown what manipulations could occur.

"Neo?" Liara's touch snapping me out of my thousands of new links to events and the shaping of the Galaxy. "Are you ok? Your brain activity just went off the charts and you stilled completely."

"Apologies. I was experiencing a series of epiphanies regarding the past and present of the Galaxy." I simply stated, not wanting to mention my conclusions regardless of the loyalty of Benezia and her subordinates, or the Normandy's crew. "You were asking me something?"

"Hm y-yes. We were wondering why Shiala had not been included in your Hive Mind considering what happened on Feros." The young Asari blinked at the change of subject but answered regardless. "The Commander can be excused considering she is not Asari and was not directly targeted, but this is not the case for Shiala."

"From my own understanding, this is because I did not 'Give' when Melded, but 'Took', as such she would likely have developed a bond or affinity towards me, but not a full connection." Was my own hypothesis on the subject. After all, Rachni Queens needed to nurture their hatchlings to create the proper bond necessary for the Hive Mind to form. "Due to her time within the Thorian, she held too much, even with her having lost parts of herself to Indoctrination, as such I was not needed to fill any gaps nor was I attempting to subjugate her mind, negating her joining into a Hive Mind."

"More testing will be needed to determine that, but for now I can only say that this is truly beneficial for them." Dr. Chakwas stated, closing her Omni-tool and ending the scans. "This Hive Mind of yours is constantly stimulating their brains, slowly guiding them into the normal range of activity one should find in Maiden and Matron stage Asari. I cannot, in good conscious, recommend separating the group as we just don't have any alternative treatments for this sort of condition.

Although I cannot speak for the Asari."

"Perhaps with time and numerous studies, but that would leave us at the mercy of the Reapers. Useless and helpless at best, an enemy to intelligent life at worst. This is the best way forward in this time of emergency." Benezia firmly confirmed the obvious lack of treatment for a never before recorded medical condition such as Indoctrination.

We did not even know the true procedure for it to occur, simply the results and that it required proximity to a Reaper. No other criteria had been identified and no possibilities of recording the process possible.

"This will stretch the Normandy's carrying capacity and supplies though." The good Doctor frowned as she brought up the valid topic of logistics.

"Worry not Doctor. Regardless of their current…states, they are Commandos and are used to less than ideal conditions. I am also more than willing to use my ressources and compensate the Alliance for our presence aboard this vessel as we recover." The Matriarch smoothly moved to resolve the issues before we were interrupted by the intercom.

"Tali, Garrus, Kaiden and Neo, I want you to get ready for a tech focused mission. We have a rogue VI that's taken over an Alliance Training Base on Luna to shut down." Jane announced succinctly commanded, ending our testing for now.

"This should be interesting. I admit myself curious as to the code of a Rogue Virtual Intelligence." I hummed thoughtfully at what I could obtain from this mission.

A Training Base would mean Training Programs and at least up-to-date technology and equipment. Everything depended on the level and type of training provided though. Data must be found on the facility to better for dangers within and possibilities to be found.

I would not be able to steal from the Alliance as I would from Cerberus or corrupt targets though. They have aided me, and Jane respects it too much for me to willfully harm it for such minimal profits. Data and salvage would have to do.

"We wish you strength and cunning on your mission, our Patriarch." Benezia bowed in synchronicity with the Commandos who followed her lead, to which I thanked before moving to armor myself.

Judging by Mako capacity and Jane's preferences, it is likely that myself and Garrus would be selected for the initial landing before sending for Tali and Lt. Alenko once a landing zone had been cleared.

"Neo!" My excitable Quarian friend called out as I finished equipment my field load out, shotgun on her lower back and protective upgrades fully implemented into her enviro-suit, making her body look more mature and muscled. "It's been a while since we've actually been on a proper mission together. And we get to look around Alliance tech while dealing with something that might give me clues on what happened with the Geth!"

"I look forward to seeing you in action, Tali. This will be a very suitable battlefield for you." I nodded encouragingly. Her determination great, wanting to prove something. "I shall ensure you are free to dismantle the Alliance's attempts at protective coding."

"Want to see who can hack the quickest and most targets?" A flare of playfulness and desire as she placed herself close to myself. "I have to make sure my first student can take care of himself after all."

Flashes of nervousness. Fear of abandonment. Of being left behind. Inadequacy.

"I still have much to learn from you, Tali. And I am quite thankful for it. You are a delight to be with." Earnest were my words, although interestingly more socially aware than before, an interesting response to the lives of multiple feminine/more social beings having been assimilated a likely cause.

Explosive uplifting songs. Happiness. Shyness. Pride. Confidence. Uncertainty. Ever shifting but only slightly shown.

"T-t-then I'm sure you wouldn't mind working on those upgrades once we come back." She stammered, doing her best to tamper her worries. "Or do you have to keep helping your new Asari…friends?"

"I do believe we have finished running the necessary tests for now and my evening can be devoted to our projects." I responded with a small smile, thinking about my non-tech related project which I believed would take a massive leap towards completion soon.

It would be very helpful for Tali, and a possible boon to the Quarian people as a whole should it succeed.

We soon began to then 'talk shop' about what kind of programs would be best suited for shutting down the Rogue VI we would face as a means of focusing for the mission. That is until Garrus approached us with his favored rifle on his shoulder.

"Looks like you two are ready to make a mess out of an Alliance facility." His mandibles shifting to the Turian equivalent of a smirk. "I wonder how quick we'll dismantle whatever's in there.

I give it 10 minutes, tops."

"We are rather more advanced than Alliance Trainees, although I am weary of any modifications the Rogue VI might have made to the resources in the base." I admitted that this might interesting only due to said target.

It could prove to be of significant annoyance should it control the entirety of the base's systems however.

"Meh. Any military keeps its real good stuff for the best of the best or the guys they can't tell anyone about." The Turian shrugged somewhat dismissively, his people knowing war very intimately considering every member had to serve for a few years at least and they were the main 'Peacekeeping' force in Council Space, but he understood my point regardless.

His was valid as well. Rarely will militaries give trainees too valuable of supplies simply to risk ruining them through ineptitude. Such things were disseminated through trusted and skilled personnel first, then down the chain as newer products were brought in for testing and then standardization.

It was all standard procedure for any organized group really.

"Good, everyone's ready then." The Commander stated as she exited the lift with Lt. Alenko alongside her. "Garrus you're on the turret, Neo on the Sensors.

Kaiden and Tali are coming in on the shuttle once we've taken out the outer turrets."

"You got it Commander." Garrus nodded, turning to get settled in the soon to be turbulent Mako.

"Better you than me." I could sense Tali's worried enjoyment and relief. "You don't have to worry about vomiting in your suit after all."

"Should we design internal suit scrubbers for the next upgrades?" I inquired, genuinely, as it could prove useful to help combat bacteria and disease before they truly enter the bodies of Quarians.

"It would be a waste of time and ressources." Tali snorted in amusement at the thought. "It's been tried before, by Quarians who wanted to live amongst other species but couldn't have properly sanitized areas to clean themselves.

Never worked and m the last three attempts ended in one being so itchy he stripped in public and got a really bad stay in a sterilized medical chamber, the second's suit popped like a balloon, and the third's created a full body massage system which left her writhing on the floor in…pleasure.

On the up side, that Quarian did end up selling the results to some fancy massage makers for a lot of credits which bought the Fleet some much needed ressources."

I could understand her amusement.

Such results were…varied in outlandish ways.

"Understood. I shall see you soon." Seeing the Commander entering the Mako, I made my way over as well.

Already I could feel the Normandy's flight path shift for approach. The minds connected to my own also singing of desire to follow, but reassured quickly with confidence and logic to promote belief. Finally, I entered the Mako to find both Jane and Garrus in their usual positions.

"Glad you could get away from your flock." The Turian teased with a quick look back as he calibrated the turret and gun to his liking. "We were getting tense with envy in here."

A spike of amusement from him, but also outrage, jealousy and stubbornness from the Commander. Odd. Perhaps I should make more time to visit her in the evenings. Helping rehabilitate Benezia and her followers has taken much of my attention, not to mention the centuries of information and data I received from them and my training.

I wonder if this makes me a lesser friend for not spending enough time with her. Maybe she feels stressed over the releasing of the Queen and requires my point of view to reassure herself. Something to prioritize.

"I was not aware that you held any amorous intentions to those who were not capable of firing high artillery or rain destruction down on their enemies." I responded glibly, finding humor in the sudden pauses and looks from both my companions shot in my direction.

"Well would you look at that. Neo's loosening up!" Garrus chuckled, understanding my insinuation. "Now get secured. You know how Shepard can get and I've heard your moon has notoriously low gravity on top of it."

Yes. Being bounce around a chaotically maneuvering metal vehicle did not sound pleasant. Regardless of physical abnormalities and armor. As such the advice was immediately acted upon as we ignored the Commander's grumbling over her…driving expertise, a playful tradition to lighten the mood before a mission.

It did not take long for us to launch out of the loading area, leaving the artificial gravity of the Normandy to experience the lower standards of Luna. Not a truly novel experience considering we've all experienced zero and low gravity on missions and trips, but always an interesting sensation to feel, requiring firm harnesses to properly remain in place to perform our duties. Our landing better than average thanks to less inertia having been built up and requiring to be countered.

After that, we were on our way.

On a fairly calm commute, which wasn't all that surprising considering Luna was rather valued for military, research and sentimental/iconic nature in much of Earth's history. It had been heavily monitored and controlled by humanities cradle for decades now, making the possibility of Thresher Maws or pirates low at best.

None of these thoughts were to be voiced around the Commander, for Murphy's Law seems extraordinarily active around her.

Except when Wrex and I were with her.

Wrex actively tempts fate to bring him the greatest challenges on principal and I cannot say no to them as most enemies truly are weak. The Commander secretly enjoys 'keeping her edge sharp' with us.

"Rogue Base in range." I announced once the time was right. "Heavy Canons firing. Two per entrance as per data."

"Taking evasive maneuvers!" The Commander immediately went into action, dodging approaching missiles. "Light 'em up Garrus!"

"Already on It." The Turian responded, expertly lining up his shot even through the erratic driving to knock down a turret in one blow. "Am I good or what?"

"Please shoot at the 9 missiles on route." I calmly requested instead of confirming his need for validation.

"No one appreciates an artist." He groused with no true negative emotions before doing so.

It took less than 5 minutes to fully dismantle all outer defenses and call in our 'tech support' as the Commander called it.

"Alright team, Neo and I are first. We take and hand out the rounds while Tali and Kaiden provide support, focusing on bringing down whatever the VI's gained control of. Garrus, you're in the back as overwatch and in case we miss something that tries to bite our asses." Commander Shepard swiftly ordered, obtaining confirmation from all before we breached the facility.

The underground facility was like the vast majority of others due to standard practices being standard for valid reasons. Although I feel a personal preference to steel walls over tempered glass showing rocky walls. Reaching a prep area with a few lockers and storage containers with leftover weapons, armors and explosives, which Shepard happily marked to take aboard on our way back.

The next was slated to hold some Advanced Combat Drones, shielded and hover capable drones with attachment options for turrets, rocket launcher or sniper fire, but limited in capabilities due to their sizes not permitting complex programming. Something which could have been overcome by the Rogue VI or still be dangerous depending on the battlefield.

Omni-tools lit and ready to devastate, we entered the large room with haphazardly placed cover and containers to possibly simulate combat in outposts, storage facilities, ships or space stations. The first two drones barely had the opportunity to fire a few missing rounds before their shields were [Overload]ed and shot down. Myself favoring my M-96 Mattock for this mission, the recoils being easy to control, allowing for multitasking with my own Omni-tool.

Tali softly calling out "Score one for the Quarian" was amusing.

Alliance Drones were built to resist damage with their shields, not their plating, allowing for a swift combo to destroy the incoming pair as they fired at us. [Sabotage] programmes being very useful when paired with Kaiden's [Overload]ing of their shields, opening them to swift rounds to finish them, ending with me raising two fingers.

"Don't get cocky." She playfully sniff.

Surprisingly, or possibly unsurprisingly, the Commander and Garrus decided to join in the small competition by each taking down the next set whilst Tali disrupted their shields and Kaiden and I formed a [Barrier] to block incoming rockets. Not that my Quarian friend would lose when she pulled a masterful chain reaction by causing the final two's shields to clash against one another into an explosion through conflicting frequencies.

Thus so far it at become Tali: 3, myself and Shepard: 2, Garrus: 1 and Kaiden: 0.

Lieutenant Alenko claimed to be too disciplined to partake, but mild emotional spikes indicated otherwise.

Tali was rather smug in her lead.

According to provided schematics, these would be the only drones in this location as the VI Conduit rooms were beyond the 'Training Area'. Even a crazed VI wouldn't risk itself by introducing explosive or armed drones in its own 'brain'. Other defense mechanisms were anticipated however.

"Alright, I want to know what caused this and if things are salvageable, so Tali and Neo are up unless you two think you can help." Commander Shepard stated at the junction between both Conduit Rooms.

"Rogue VI are a bit beyond Alliance training." Lt. Alenko shook his head.

"Yeah, we had a whole department geared towards that kind of stuff back in C-Sec." Garrus joined in with his refusal, leaving Tali and I to investigate matters.

AI and VI were a major part of our research considering the Geth and our own projects. Not many could say the same and standard military or policing training/experience would rarely venture into such fields. Even if they do, as Garrus stated, most would have dedicated experts to handle such events.

Entering, we swiftly connected with our Omni-tools, only to meet a chaotic mess of code as the VI 'instinctively' attempted to remove us, but it's own code was fluctuating so much that I could not maintain defensive action for more than a few moments at a time. An annoyance at best.

"This is so weird." Tali commented aloud.

"What is?" Shepard was prompted to ask.

"This is not natural." I answered, not finding any logical development in the code. No rhythm for development which would normally be how a VI could elevate itself into sentience. "It is too chaotic to be the work of a naturally evolving VI."

"True." Tali agreed. "It's alike someone tried to forcefully evolve this VI into a full AI in one go by introducing a mutating algorithm, banking on Alliance Hardware being solid enough to take the jump in power."

"That would mean someone in the Alliance did this." Lt. Alenko stated in realization. "No one else would have had access."

"Could be Cerberus. We know they're buried deep into the Alliance." Garrus spoke his own, likely, hypothesis.

"Maybe, but our main concern for now is to shut it down before it finds an opportunity to escape this closed system." Shepard noted the development as we continued our work.

"I believe we have taken everything we could from this location, but the VI is currently spread out through the other two facilities, limiting what we can see with its focus divided as it is." I reported, finishing on my end.

"Agreed." Tali nodded, her tone serious and emotions steely. "We'll need to get it all in one place to really understand what happened to it. Although we might need to compare what it was to what it became to really tell."

"Ok. So now what?" Shepard asked.

"We blow the conduits up." Came the simple answer which caused some amusement from all around.

Our group was fond of explosions.

The VI did attempt to release a gas agent which would have been rather debilitating in a number of species if we hadn't been wearing properly sealed armors and helmets due to being on Luna and having learnt from our time on Feros.

What came next was a somewhat repetitive time. With the only differences being additional defensive measures taken as we progressed,

The next bunker contained 7 drones, of which Garrus managed to pick off 3 by 'kill stealing', with the Commander's 2, leaving only one for myself and Tali, and non for the Lieutenant. 9 were in the final one, which permitted for three on my end, 2 on Tali's, 2 for Shepard and one each for Garrus and the Lieutenant's first. Resulting in a two way tie between myself and Tali, with the Commander in second and Garrus in third.

"So, what's the final verdict?" Shepard inquired as we worked hard against the…desperate Virtual Being.

It was akin to a wild animal desperately clawing and bitting to survive. Seeking means to escape. Means to not go down alone even.

"100% an inside job. Intentional too. Someone was trying to make an actual AI out of Hannibal." Tali reported with a few head nods.

"Hannibal?" Our commanding officier probed.

"The VI's designation." I answered, changing my parameters after reaching a decision about this being. "It was likely chosen precisely due to it being on a closed and secured network which could be destroyed completely should it go rogue, as it did, in this attempt to create a true AI.

Whether this was sanctioned by the Alliance, the actions of an individual, Cerberus or another group's work, we cannot say from here. But it is on the cusp of sentience based on the evolving code"

"Neo's right." Tali finished on her end as I subtly completed my aim on mine. "We need to destroy it now before it becomes a much greater threat."

"You heard her." Shepard nodded in understanding, the squad lifting their weapons to destroy the final conduits.

As we did so, a slew of light and frequencies slammed into our armor and displays, interpreted as 01001000 01100101 01101100 01110000 until one final bit came through as everything came to a close.

01010100 01101000 01100001 01101110 01101011 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101

"Looks like we're done here." The Commander spoke with the audible de-powering of most of the facility. "Let's inform the Admiral that he has his base back."

With her words, we returned from whence we came, none the wiser that I had copied the very core of this mutating Hannibal. Something which most would not approve of, but a burgeoning AI core program was far too valuable in times of threatened extinction.

Advantages have to be seized.

We needed to be able to somewhat meet the Geth and Reapers on the digital field. And my mind was racing with the thousands of possibilities rushing through it, forming plans and designs at break neck pace.

Blue Box. Near AI-level mutated core code. Hive Mind. Bio-Chips. Geth Network.

Need more information.

AI expert required.

Impossible to obtain whilst aboard Normandy.

Request for Benezia? Shiala? Possibly.

Must continue preparations. Or face destruction.

____________________________________

AUTHOR NOTES:

Developments on multiple fronts for Neo in this chapter.

So, with the reveal that his final bit of DNA was that of a Rachni and not a Prothean, we start seeing what he really could be to Asari and why Liara felt pressured as she was when near him. It becomes 'natural' for them to want to be with and under him, filling a primordial part of themselves they don't even know they're missing or desired. Especially effective on those indoctrinated, with brain damage or heavily impaired.

Feels a bit sexist, but oh well.

I think my reason for Shiala not being part of his Hive Mind also isn't complete Bs.

Results for Neo are huge though, with Asari Commando training now being incorporated into his extensive Cerberus training, making the deadliest combatant alive right now, if he wasn't before. His biotics did get better due to his connection, but knowledge on how to use them was his real gain on the Benezia front.

I liked using this opportunity to have Neo piece together one of the Asari's greatest secrets, but not entirely considering I doubt Benezia was one of the ones in the know about their secret Prothean beacon/vi or Saren would have likely made some form of play for it himself or through her. She was a major figure in politics and religion though, so her having information she couldn't bring together due to lacking outside context Neo does have certainly wouldn't be out there.

And finally, EDI's daddy isn't going completely down thanks to Neo because I think this is something someone as pragmatic as him would really do. Why waste time when a perfectly usable AI embryo was presented to him? He doesn't have any biases against them and actually empathizes with AI in general, not having adopted Tali's hatred of them because he sees the Geth objectively and attempts to understand both sides.

So yeah, I'm building up some things.

Hope you enjoy. Probably gonna be a bit before I update this one again.