[Mass Effect: New Genesis] Part 5: Prothean Base Thanatos

The Battle of Gorgon, the prelude.

The multicolored stellar gas parts like water for the Eris as it emerged from the Mass Relay system. The interstellar gas covered the vessel, immediately covering it up from view. There were many stars hidden within the gas, giving it an almost ethereal glow. Meridian West sat at the controls of the Eris, navigating it through the gas to reach a safe point to activate the FTL drive. She's grown far more comfortable with the ship over the recent weeks of being at the control. The lights were all green and nothing appeared out of the ordinary on the horizon. If Jarvis detected any problems, he didn't tell her about it. That was good thing for now. That was a good thing, right?

Meridian. I've waited for you.

Never in her life had Eri heard something like that. It was like a voice, but it wasn't. That voice, or whatever it was, it was almost beyond comprehension. It was quiet and loud. Soft and harsh. Harsh yet caring. It felt like the universe itself was talking to her. Her biotics flared to life around her as she inspected her surroundings. Probably on instinct, she called out for Aashe, in case it was some sort of joke. Only silence greeted her call.

I am the hole in things. The forerunner of your extinction.

Eri jumped as Jarvis spoke to Eri over the intercom system. She almost destroyed the half the bridge in one blast, but barely contained herself. "How may I help you, Ms. West?"

(still have to ask...is this the ending or are we to continue after this?)

(It depends... do you want to continue after the ship?)

(there are 11 parts currently planned. It ends a day before the Reaper invasion)

(Oooh goody!)

(if there's a demand, we can go well into the Mass Effect 3 story.)

(Well with the team makeup I'm sure we can teach them reapers a thing or two about fighting.)

"How may I help you, Ms. West?"

Eri jumped noticably in her seat as Jarvis' cheery voice addressed her over the comm, and she very nearly fired off her entire biotic charge right then and there.

"God DAMMIT, Jarvis!!" She yelled at the VI, her heart pounding away in her chest. She spun the pilot's chair around to better chastize the... what? The comm speaker? She didn't care. "Would it kill you to maybe... GAAAHH!!"

She jumped again, suddenly finding herself almost face to face with Myn, who she swore hadn't been there a moment ago. She threw her hands up before her, nearly shockwaving the poor man in one biotic charge right then and there before her rational mind took control once more and tried to calm her back down. She shook her hands, clenching and un-clenching her fists to force her biotics back under control. The blue glow died down, helping her shake off the sudden surge of adrenaline.

Her shoulders slumped as she let out a noisy breath, flopping back into the chair, willing her heart rate back under control. "Where'd you come from?" She asked a bit shakily, rubbing at her eyes with her hands.

To Myn's credit, he at least looked like he felt bad for scaring her out of her wits. She wasn't so sure about Jarvis...

"Did you... happen to hear anything strange just now?" She asked, feeling like a fool, but... the mysterious voice had certainly been loud enough, speaking with utter clarity. "Jarvis, that's goes for you as well... picking up anything strange on sensors?"

She spun the chair half way back toward the console and eyed the panels once more, but all the systems indicated there was nothing out of the ordinary.

Othic was bored. It was good to be back on the ship once more but he was feeling slightly stifled in his room. He knew West was up on the bridge so decided to stop in with her. He crept up the steps and was rewarded with the sight of Eri with her back to him, completley oblivious as she stared into the void. Feeling more than a little mischevious he tip-toed toward her, hoping to give her a scare. Juvenile maybe but funny, for him at least.

He got to within two feet of the red head when she spoke. "Aashe?" Othic froze, momentarily thinking he'd been rumbled.

"How may I help you, Ms. West?" The V.I replied. In an instant Eri almost jumped out of her seat in surprise.

"God DAMMIT, Jarvis!!" She yelled angrily, chastising the poor VI for some reason. She spun the pilot's chair around as she contnued to scold Jarvis. "Would it kill you to maybe... GAAAHH!!" Another scream as she turned to see Othic, hovering about a foot behind her and suddenly feeling very sheepish.

"Where'd you come from?" She asked, her tone returning to normal but sounding quite shaken. ""Did you... happen to hear anything strange just now?" She asked, before he could reply and explain his presence. "Jarvis, that's goes for you as well... picking up anything strange on sensors?"

"Hear anything?" Just you screaming and shouting at poor Jarvis. Are you ok?" He asked concerned. Eri had been clearly spooked by something. He reached out to grab a chair and wheeled it next to hers, although he didn't sit yet, wanting to make sure Eri was ok.

(OOOOK! i don't mean to be the bad guy here...but i'm still catching up on 4.5... can we, i don't know NOT rush into 5 just yet?)

"Did you... happen to hear anything strange just now?" Eri questioned, not even realizing she'd cut him off before he could explain his presence. "Jarvis, that's goes for you as well... picking up anything strange on sensors?"

"Hear anything?" Myn regarded her with concern. "Just you screaming and shouting at poor Jarvis. Are you ok?" He reached out to grab a chair and wheeled it next to hers, although he stayed standing.

"I... sorry about that." Eri looked sheepish, shaking her head and she rubbed at her eyes again. "I just... I don't know." She turned her head, looking out at the colorful clouds.

"I'm not detecting anything unusual," Jarvis spoke back up. "However, I'm uncertain what I should be looking for. Shall I alert Ms. DeWinter that something may be amiss...?"

"No, no!" Eri waved a hand as if the VI could see it. "It's nothing. Don't bother her." Frankly, she wasn't sure where Aashe had gone. She had been absent a bit long for a quick trip to the head, as she'd indicated when she'd left.

Eri sighed, looking up at Myn again. "I don't know... I thought I heard a voice or something. It's hard to explain." She said, flopping her hands on her thighs. Hard to explain was an understatement... What was she supposed to say? That she heard the universe speaking to her?

"I don't know... I thought I heard a voice or something. It's hard to explain." He sat beside her, listenting carefully as her voice trailed off, uncertain.

"Voices? You getting enough sleep Eri?" He pulled the seat closer to her.

He paused waiting for a reply. He tried to lighten the mood, she still seemed a bit shaky. "I don't blame you for freaking out at Jarvis. Earlier he tried to give me a.... uh....blow by blow, let's say, account of Krieger and Astila's first tryst. Don't worry, "he said holding up his hands, noticing Eri's slightly horrified expression, "I stopped him before he got to the 'graphic' details. I mean, I don't want to hear about that, who would? Between you and me, I'm suspecting our VI is actually an AI but keep that to yourself."

He looked back at her, smiling and hoping he had cheered her up. "I'm sure you don't want me worrying about you West." He said as he reached out and placed his hand over hers.

Myn sat beside her, listening with concern. "Voices? You getting enough sleep, Eri?" He pulled the seat closer to her.

She chuckled. "Probably not... but, this was different. It was so clear." She paused, remembering. "It sounds stupid, but... it called me by my name... said it had been waiting for me? I dunno." She shrugged, trying to dismiss it, knowing how it made her sound. "I didn't mean to yell... Jarvis just startled me, and then... yeah." She looked at him a bit sheepishly.

Myn smiled warmly. "I don't blame you for freaking out at Jarvis. Earlier he tried to give me a... uh... blow by blow, let's say, account of Krieger and Astila's first tryst."

Eri blinked at Myn in surprise, not quite sure if he was joking or not...

"Don't worry," he said, holding up his hands. "I stopped him before he got to the 'graphic' details. I mean, I don't want to hear about that, who would? Between you and me, I'm suspecting our VI is actually an AI but keep that to yourself."

Eri's incredulous expression gave way to a chuckle and she shook her head. "I think I'm good not knowing the finer details of Quarian anatomy. You made the right choice there, Othic," she teased back.

Jarvis took that moment to interject. "It was actually quite facinating. Are you sure you don't want me to replay a few key moments for you? The difference between their..."

"No!" Eri cut him off, holding up her hands as if to stop him. "No... we're good. Thanks."

"As you wish," Jarvis added, sounding awfully amused at himself.

Eri looked back at Myn. "Definitely not a VI," she stated matter-of-factly before giving him a warm smile. "So yeah. At least they're having a good time, I suppose. Could be worse... they could be hearing voices."

He grinned. "I'm sure you don't want me worrying about you, West." He said as he reached out and placed his hand over hers.

Eri was surprised by the guesture and felt her cheeks flush lightly in spite of herself. Still, his kindness was better than having him laugh or straight up deny what she was saying was true. She made no move to take her hand away, giving his fingers a light squeeze to at least show she appreciated his attempt to make her feel better.

"I don't really have much control over that, do I?" she asked softly, looking back up at him. "I at least promise to wear proper armor while entering firefights next time," she joked, trying to shake off the unnerving feeling that still clung to her.

He tried to hide his smile when Eri didn't move her hand away from his. She seemed to appreciate the gesture and the fact she hadn't recoiled could only be a good sign.

"I don't really have much control over that, do I?" she asked looking up at him. "I at least promise to wear proper armor while entering firefights next time," she joked.

"Don't worry, I'll be there for any angry Krogans next time too. Just tell me where you want to be carried to." He smiled at her again but could see she was still uneasy. He knew that Eri had a cool head on her and wouldn't get worked up unnessesarily but something had shaken her.

"For what it's worth, I don't believe you're imagining things. About the voices I mean." He had no basis for that but he wanted to reassure her. He couldn't explain it but he doubted Eri was simply hearing voices in her head.

"I don't really have much control over that, do I?" she asked looking up at him. "I at least promise to wear proper armor while entering firefights next time," she joked.

"Don't worry, I'll be there for any angry Krogans next time too. Just tell me where you want to be carried to," He smiled at her again.

Eri grinned. "Good to know you've got my back, Othic," she replied, suddenly finding herself curious if she'd been the only one he'd carried to the medbay. She tried to force down the feeling - why should she be special? There had been other crew members injured besides her - so what if he'd carried them as well? A small voice in the back of her mind reminded her that he hadn't fallen asleep on Aivar or Astila's shoulder...

Myn spoke back up, distracting her from her thoughts. "For what it's worth, I don't believe you're imagining things. About the voices I mean."

Eri's face took on a more serious expression. Myn had no reason to believe her, or even mention the voices again. She reached out with her other hand, placing it on top of his. "Thanks, Myn," she replied quietly. "That... I appreciate it." She looked up into his eyes when she said it, hoping he knew how sincere she was. The open concern she saw reflected back at her surprised her - concern she knew was for her.

Eri squeezed Myn's hand between her's reasuringly, her eyes moving across his face - from his blue eyes, to the scar on his cheek, to his mouth... A beeping alert rung out from the control panel behind her, causing her to jump a little. She blinked, suddenly realizing she'd been staring, and just how close they were sitting to each other.

Eri tore her eyes away from Myn's with some effort, giving his hand a pat, before turning back to the control panel behind her. "Er... sorry, I just.. um..." She stood up at the controls, suddenly feeling full of nervous energy. "Just need to plot in the next... uh... thing here..." Her hands moved across the ancient controls, cursing herself for apparently not being able for form a complete sentence.

"Thanks, Myn." Eri said quietly, meeting his eyes "That... I appreciate it."

Othic didn't say anything, instead he brushed a strand of her away from her brow as he had after he'd carried her to the Med Bay. He remembered her light body, held closely against his. He remembered their first conversation in the kitchen, their moment in the hospital waiting room, her courage and easy smile. He felt the squeeze of her hand against his as he moved in for the kiss.

*Beep* The sound from the console jolted them both. Eri jumped up in suprise. "Er... sorry, I just.. um..." She mumbled standing at the controls. "Just need to plot in the next... uh... thing here..."

He laughed as he stood up too, standing right next to her. He put his hand on her shoulder before gently grabbed her elbow. She let herself be guided around to face him. He cupped her chin to look up at him before moving in slowly, feeling his lips against hers.

"Er... sorry, I just.. um..." Eri stood up at the controls, suddenly feeling full of nervous energy. "Just need to plot in the next... uh... thing here..." Her hands moved across the ancient controls, cursing herself for apparently not being able for form a complete sentence.

She heard Myn's laugh as he stood, moving beside her as she tried to focus on the panel itself. She would be flat out amazed if he couldn't hear her heart pounding ridiculously in her chest.

Eri chewed on her lip awkwardly, trying unsuccessfully to ignore his close proximity as she punched coordinates into the console, but before she could finish, she felt him take her elbow, gently turning her around to face him.

Eri let him guide her, glancing up at him with uncertainty as he cupped her chin. Before she'd really registered what was happening, Myn had leaned forward, his lips pressing against hers, and time seemed to stop for a moment.

Eri's hands unconsciously moved to Myn's sides as she returned the kiss warmly. It was slow, gentle, and all too quickly over...

Eri looked up at Myn as they broke apart, feeling a bit stunned for a moment as she tried to remember how to breath properly. She felt her cheeks redden and looked down with an embarrassed chuckle, resting her head on his chest as she slid her arms around him in a hug.

"Well.. Alright then," she commented with a chuckle, at a loss for anything more eloquent to say. She glanced back up at him with a lopsided grin, her eyes twinkling a bit. The fact that her heart was still pounding didn't seem to matter in the slightest.

((reply Myn if needed?))

Before he could comment further, Eri leaned in, stealing another kiss.

The mystery voice could wait. For now.

Aashe had excused herself some time ago to run to the restroom, but while she was cleaning up, the shower had started calling her name. Aashe had been taking quick showers, the sort of rush job numbers that were just enough to keep her clean. She was lamenting the lack of long, luxurious showers as she started to head back to the cockpit, making promises to herself that she'd come back soon for a real date with the glorious hot water.... And then she realized that she really was okay with Eri flying the ship, and well.... she was right here, after all.

She carefully removed her clothing, placing her gun on the counter, and chucking her boots out into the hallway between her cabin and her bathroom. She folded the rest of her clothes neatly to put back on when she was done.

The water felt like heaven. Hot and clean, it relaxed her muscles, got into her skin, washed away her tension. She couldn't remember the last time a shower had felt so good. So, she took her time. Eri would no doubt be wondering where she went off to, but if anything truly crazy happened, Jarvis could call her. She was mere steps from the cockpit itself.

45 minutes later, Aashe emerged, feeling like a new person. The cold air coming from her cabin felt good, as she started to dry off, and get herself back together. She only stopped when she caught a glance of herself in the mirror. She felt as though she were looking better, a little sleep had toned down the bags under her eyes, and she was no longer absurdly pale from loss of blood. Bones had done a good job of patching her up too. The wound on her back wasn't in any further danger of tearing, and Aashe had been assured that there were recent advances that could remove the scar if she wanted...

Aashe declined.

She turned her back to the mirror now, and lowered the towel, staring at the gash that ran from her shoulder blade on the right, to the middle of her back on the left. It wasn't an angry red anymore, having been sealed by the Good Doctor, and disinfected. Aashe shrugged her shoulders, then squared them, stood up, hunched over, the whole time watching the scar bend and twist. She pulled her shirt back on, letting it fall off her right shoulder, and was pleased to note that the scar was still barely visible when she did that.

Cheerfully, she donned the rest of her clothes, and arranged her gun back on over her thigh. Emerging back into the cabin, she wrapped her hair in her towel, and took a moment to pull on her boots. She stopped then to consider the painting she was working on at the moment. She was glad, in all the chaos, that it had suffered little damage. It had fallen during their flight from the Citadel, and the frame had been dinged slightly, but it was just character.

Just like the scar... character...

Aashe wanted to reach out for her paintbrushes, she was itching to get back into her art... but... she knew she shouldn't stall any longer. She draped the towel over the back of her vanity chair, and left her hair wet and her makeup off. She grabbed her comb on the way out so she could comb her hair when she got back to the cockpit (her favorite place to do so) and humming slightly to herself as she emerged from her cabin, she turned toward the cockpit...

... to see Myn and Eri kissing...

...Aashe stopped humming immediately, and broke into a huge grin. She hoped her boots hadn't made too much noise on the bulkhead, as she tried as best she could to turn right back around and head back into her cabin before either of the others noticed her.

Corwin preferred to keep the lights in his room dim when he was there. It was calming. Darkness blanketed the walls and carpeted floor. The delineated Turian-crafted bookshelves and custom oak desk appeared far more dignified in this dim glow, as if they were hiding some grand secret just out of sight.

Corwin Havens was not a relaxed man. Within the span of a few days, he was flung head-first into steel crates, shot at, faced down a Krogan with a 500 year old blunderbuss, had his mind torn apart by an Asari, lost over six or seven pints of blood in minutes, and was threatened by Kreiger in front of his team. All of that together would have stressed out the most balanced commander in the Alliance Fleet. But Corwin was always different. Very few things ever got to him. What Kreiger did. That got to him. He took advantage of a moment of weakness. Kreiger could have come to him at any time, but like a coward, he waiting till Corwin was at his weakest. Corwin tried everything he knew to calm down. He took a long, hot shower. He tried listening to music. Reading. But nothing worked. He was pacing in his room, trying to figure out what to do, when he decided enough was enough.

Corwin marched towards the exit, only to stop to look at himself in the mirror. He saw a handsome, slightly scarred, man staring back wearing a tight light gray t-shirt and navy blue pants. He ran his hands through his slightly spiked hair and exited with a purpose. He stopped and looked around, nodding briefly toward those milling about in the hallway before marching right towards Kreiger's room. He stretched his wrists, shoulders, and cracked his knuckles on the way. When he reached Kreiger's room, Corwin did not knock.

Corwin quickly entered and room and locked the door behind him.

[insert Kreiger's reaction]

Corwin glared at the Quarian and walked right up to Kreiger, standing face to face. Corwin's words dripped with anger. "What. The. Hell. Is. Your. Problem?"

Kreiger was inspecting the needle work of the doc on his chest before throwing his boots back on. the denim of his jeans still felt nice against his leg. he turned sharply as his door slid open and a determined Corwin entered, locking the door behind him.
"come to answer my question now have we?"
Corwin glared at the Quarian and walked right up to Kreiger, standing face to face. Corwin's words dripped with anger. "What. The. Hell. Is. Your. Problem?"
"MY problem? I'm not the one with the blood of THOUSANDS on my hands. its YOU with the problem." kreiger began to pace in front of corwin. he could see the hatred building, the annoyance of his very footsteps as he walked.
"I handed you everything YOU needed to know, if your too retarded to put two and two together...or maybe i'm giving you too much credit....What was your involvement with the Rugiar?"
he could tell he hit a nerve. he was right the whole time. Corwin KNEW about the incident, now he just needed to know where the bastard fit in.