It's been a while, I hope you're ready, because the biggest hammer since the Death of Liara is about to drop.
Hang on to your butts, this one was -hard-.
Disclaimer: The authors of this fictional story would like to state that this scene, specifically EDI's antics, had been planned long before "Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning: Part 1" was released.
For all their steely resolves, firm glares, and being armed to the teeth, Miranda, the STG, and all Alliance soldiers breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
The dragon had not indulged its bloodlust upon them. They had held their ground, and the beast departed their territory in peace.
"Whew.... hot damn, Miranda!" Jacob could not help but laugh as he stowed his specialized equipment. "I've always known you were impressive, but that? That was something else!"
Much as a high maintenance professional she was, for once, Miranda allowed herself to smile at the compliment. "Honestly, Jacob? I can hardly believe it myself. There were all sorts of ways she'd allow her petty and vindictive ego to rule her impulses, as she often has. But-"
"Operative Lawson!" Admiral Hackett called from up high. The steel had not left his eyes, now turned upon her. "The mission is over now. And while you may have cajoled the lords of Parliament into this, it doesn't mean I have to like it. You have one hour to get off my station before I remove you by force."
Hackett left without another word.
Miranda sighed. Much as her pride prickled at such a dismissive attitude, it was unwise to cause any more friction with the most senior and respected flag officer of the Alliance Military. She signaled her people to start packing up.
"I wouldn't let him get to you," Captain Kirrahe approached her. "The turians have given the STG a hard look for millennia."
Miranda nodded with a hint of gratitude. "Appreciated."
"I feel you've earned my compliments, Miss Lawson," the salarian smiled. "You're an exemplary operative even by my people's standards. Even more, I haven't seen anything like that since the darastrix herself convinced a krogan warlord to destroy a potential cure for the genophage. Might I ask how were you able to manage her so effectively?"
Miranda thought for a moment. "If I'm being transparent, it was a bit old hat for me. I had to deal with someone exactly like her for half my life."
"Really?" Kirrahe's eyes widened, even more than Jacob. "Who?"
"That's a bit... private," Miranda answered evasively, fighting down memories of her childhood. "But I can say it was someone who was also unimaginably wealthy. Politically and legally untouchable. Always having people come to them for favors and technology. Requires excessive admiration. Very accustomed to the universe bending to their preconceptions, and then getting mad when it doesn't. And finally, always believing themselves the picture of confidence and resolve. But the minute their special privileges fall apart, they're quick to demonstrate how frail their ego really is."
"That's... I'll add some notes for the darastrix's pych profile. Very informative, very useful." The STG captain typed on his omni-tool. "So, do you have an idea of what she'll do next?"
"What all meglomaniacs do when their sins catch up to them: find someone else to blame."
David sighed as he shut down his terminal. Another day, another pile of bullshit to deal with.
He rose and stretched, working the kinks out of his long legs. Damn paperwork was preventing him from getting propper PT in anymore.
Well, that and the regrets. Speaking of which.
He stopped by the cabinet, pulled a bottle from behind the stack of awards he kept there, hidden behind one angled just right to keep it from being noticed.
The bottle only fell a foot before he caught it again, whirling to face the figure he'd seen in the glass.
She was there, her eyes practically molten as she stared at him from across the room, and radating an aura of menace that he'd never felt before, an aura of leashed power straining at its fraying collar.
Welll....shit. The former N7 met her eyes unflinchingly. Determined yet resigned. Tired.
Finally, Anderson sighed. "We expected you over three hours ago. The rest of the Council and I want a word with you."
"I am not the Council's
PET to come at their call, Sir." Her voice, god her voice, it was exactly like Shepard's, a trifle deeper, but the same hurt tone stabbed him in the heart. "I trusted
you, Sir. That's why I'm
here."
Her eyes glanced away and when she looked back at him, he could read her expression more clearly, the mask falling partly away.
She
was hurt, deeply. The small tremble at the corner of her mouth, the same direct stare, god, even the amber of her eyes was the same.
"Me?
Me?" Anderson shook his head, almost incredulous. "You think
I'm the one who hurt...? No, not this time, Joru. This time, you are anything but the victim."
He wasn't proud of it, but it was necessary to make her understand. And that was the only chance the galaxy had if it was to survive the Reapers.
"And if you believe that, you clearly don't realize what's really going on." The human Councilor stood straight. "We either do this with my peers, or not at all. So swallow your bruised pride,
soldier, and follow me. It's time to face the music."
"....Sir." Shepard stared at him from that alien face, hurt being slowly mastered, compressed back under that soldier's demeanor. "With respect, and I don't show that often. You have no idea how compromised you are."
Anderson's answer surprised her with stony eyes. "Indeed I am."
The dragoness stared for a long moment, slowly working her jaw, before she took a breath, and suddenly he was made fully aware that whatever else she was, Jorukaiazahnivahkyss was a
lot taller than the Shepard he knew. "Fine. Let's get this over with."
The door opened at his approach, and he could
feel her restraining her longer stride to match his. He knew the moment she stepped off the carpet, as sharp clicks sounded with every clawed footfall, as precise and metered as a metronome, the heat of her gaze on him like being blasted by a focused sunbeam.
Joru was visited by a strong wave of familiarity, as she stepped into the conference room right behind Anderson.
Thanks to her memories and visions of Shepard's life, having the Council stare at her with naked distrust felt remarkably familiar. And it was not a pleasant form of nostalgia.
However, there were certain differences from those memories.
Unsurprisingly, Councilor Sparatus was clearly furious with her. His displeasure was obvious to everyone in the room. But where he had been spiteful, mocking, and barely restrained antagonism toward Shepard, he instead looked at Joru with quiet, icy fury. Instead, Sparatus' gaze felt like a trained soldier watching through his rifle scope, ready to pull the trigger on a vowed enemy to his country. Waiting only for a signal.
Next to him, Tevos was usually diplomatic and understanding, the reasonable contrast to her turian counterpart. Now, her face was absolutely neutral, as if paused in time. The enchantments Joru left the Asari Councilor had done their job well, the dragon's own senses couldn't get a read on Tevos at all. Despite their secret accord, Joru could not glean if Tevos was her ally today.
Valern, at first, appeared no different. But after a closer glance, her enhanced senses saw the Salarian Councilor's large eyes and fingers had a barely noticeable twitch. His breathing was slightly erratic. Unusual, even for a salarian with a serious job. Then, just under his long sleeve, she spied the tiny markings of repeated stimulant needles. Apparently, Valern had been under a great deal of stress the last few months.
But worst of all was Anderson. Her old friend and trusted mentor. Now that Joru had seen the other councilors, she understood. His eyes were full of remorse, regret, and even hurt. And yet, he was certain in his judgement, and would carry it out without hesitation.
The dragoness drew herself up to her full, considerable height. She'd not bothered with heels, not for what she had assumed would be a private meeting with her old mentor, but even so, she towered as she stood at parade rest, her eyes flickering between her inquisitors, as a wire began to cinch itself tight around her guts.
Sparatus steepled his fingers. "Do you know why you're really here,
false ambassador?"
Ahh. "I am now, Sir." She kept her tone even, steady, and did not flick her tail with anger. She'd known something like this would happen eventually, she just wished it hadn't happened until the war made other priorities take precidence.
"Before you ask," Valern spoke up. "You are obviously one of the most intriguing and scrutinized people in the galaxy, darastrix. And you have publicly stated everyone is invited to look as much as they wanted, for you, by quote, 'have no shame.' And we looked. Asari diplomats and the finest salarian analysts studied every scrap of footage of you, including the numerous media and magazine interviews you've eagerly volunteered over the years."
"Enough for us to compile a proper psych profile of you," Tevos finished, her tone still neutral. "Enough for us to determine that your initial claims were blatantly false. That you do not represent an isolationist nation of dragons. That you are the only one of your kind."
The Asari Councilor sighed. It was here she showed a faint yet clear sign of disapproval. "I will be blunt, Joruikaia: You knowingly, and intentionally, deceived galactic heads of state for the purpose of gaining executive political authority and diplomatic immunity. A deception you have made repeated counts to maintain for nearly four years. Do I need to express how such deeds are guilty of virtually every political crime that civilization has a law for?"
"No, ma'am." Joru restrained every muscle to keep from flinching. She was screwed, and Jack wasn't here to take the edge off this time. Time to grit her fangs, and keep her mouth shut for once.
"Good." Tevos nodded with a genial smile. "Then we need not dwell on it."
Joru blinked at the sudden shift. Wait, was the asari councilor helping her after all? Honoring their deal? Best not to make assumptions, Tevos was a canny politician
before her gifts.
As if reading her thoughts, Tevos held up a hand. "Don't get your hopes up, Joruikaia. I'm afraid this otherwise capital offense is the least of your troubles."
Oh no.
"Now then, shall we address why you came here?"
"I'm certain you already know, Ma'am." Oh no, Joru wasn't going to underestimate this one, and her attire (or lack thereof) wasn't going to distract her at all, not this time. "To be candid, Councilors, I have reason to suspect that that Cerberus is already compromised."
Joru detected a barely-audible growl from Sparatus upon saying 'compromised'. Strangely though, it felt like he was more offended that she even used the word.
"Appreciated, Darastrix, but we're quite aware of what Cerberus is," Valern answered. "Much like the my people's League of One from long ago. While we cannot dictate or easily revoke executive decisions made by the governmental powers of other Council races, we can make preparations of our own."
"Councilor Anderson has been very helpful in this regard," Tevos added before Joru could interject. "Throughout his long service in the Alliance, he had observed the patterns of Cerberus' movements and methods. He has privately, and happily, provided us ample first-hand intel that even our own Spectres could never find."
Joru glanced at Anderson, who nodded in silent affirmation. So, he hadn't been idle after all?
"I've noticed humans have an abundance of idioms," Valern said. "One that greatly resembles a favorite salarian strategy: 'keep your friends close and your enemies closer.' Cerberus is likely to be a problem one day, but at least now we can keep a closer eye on them. And we may as well exploit what they offer in the meantime."
"Unfortunately, some of what they have offered about you, Darastrix, is most alarming." Tevos sighed.
The dragoness in question narrowed her eyes, waiting.
"Joruikaia. You have made notable contributions for the galaxy, particularly during the Battle of the Citadel." The Asari Councilor gently sighed. "And while we have conveyed our gratitude to you, many of us nonetheless remain earnest in our thanks for your deeds. However, just as we condemned Saren when his crimes were illuminated, it would be hypocrisy to turn a blind eye to ignoble revelations of esteemed characters. Especially when our own independent investigations of these claims sadly increased the Council's concern."
Tevos sighed and put her fingers together. "Concerns that we would appreciate being resolved. Do you understand this?"
"I see." Joru answered. She knew hadn't exactly been the most discrete over the last four years. She made a point to not grind her fangs.
With her acquiescence given, Tevos nodded to Sparatus. The Turian Councilor didn't hesitate.
"Over the last few years,
darastrix, a slew of prominent individuals have gone missing across Citadel space. Government, military, intelligence, and even many in the civilian sector. Just over one
thousand of them. And wasn't long before we started finding bodies, which turned this from a mass of missing persons to murder cases. And those are just the bodies we were able to find. But the pattern suggests the others are presumed dead as well."
"Then I suggest you look harder for the culprit, Councilor." Her gaze met his, steady and colder than the void. "If
I had murdered that many, it would be blatantly obvious the connection they shared, and the reason for my wrath. No, I am not your man."
"That much is obvious, but your involvement is still clear!" Sparatus sneered back. "While you didn't wield the gun or pull the trigger, you still willingly handed it to the killer with full knowledge of what he'd do with it! The reports are incontestable, the findings unquestionable! The Shadow Broker has been killing our people to, and I quote, 'interrogate their corpses.'"
That brought a slight twinge of guilt, but her quiet snort was her only reply. "And what sort of commander so thoroughly fails to protect his men that the broker can massacre them so easily?"
Tevos closed her eyes in disappointment while Sparatus' eyes flared at the insult to his people's culture. "Don't you dare deflect or cast the blame for their deaths at our feet! Certainly not when it is also our duty to condemn and prosecute those responsible for murdering our citizens!"
"Councilor," Tevos held up a warning hand to reign in Sparatus's rage.
"Darastrix, we are aware of new tool in the Shadow Broker's arsenal." Valern took over. "A device that apparently compels lifeless corpses to divulge even the most classified of secrets. The Shadow Broker's network has always been substantially problematic, but now the information at his disposal is unmatched. Every justice and intelligence division has suddenly begun stonewalling and delaying any investigation into these murders, or the Shadow Broker. Even Executor Palin of C-Sec is powerless."
"This is not just about blackmail," Tevos added, "But also information on how to infiltrate, and exploit our security. Military patrol routes to sell to the highest bidder, manipulation of elections, secrets of a valuable patent to ignoble rivals, the list goes on."
"Our security compromised, and our dead are being desecrated! Oaths of loyalty and service violated!" Sparatus roared, half rising from his chair to lean over the conference table, mandibles wide in a threat display. "Do you deny it, darastrix? Did you or did you not provide such means to the Shadow Broker, with the express knowledge of what it would be used for?!"
"And before you answer?" Valern placed a small device on the table, which began to hum and whir. "This is keyed specifically to your genetic profile, measuring micro-expressions, bio-signals, and vocal fluctuations. We will know if you're lying."
"Good." She at last unclasped her hands, reaching forward to rest them flat on the table as she gave each councilor in turn a hard gaze. "Then you will
believe me when I say that yes, I did. I gave him the means to interrogate the dead, an offer I also extend to you, should you desire to level the playing field."
The device whirred and beeped in affirmative, confirming the truth of her words. Councilor Valern immediately perked up at the offer and was about to speak, but promptly fell silent when Tevos glared at him.
"Joru."
The dragoness stiffened slightly and turned her head as Anderson finally spoke for the first time. The old soldier sighed as his eyes met hers.
"The murders in Alliance space? Some were friends of mine. Two of them were even from my old N7 squad. One of whom volunteered to be the godfather of my children."
For the briefest moment, Joru's control slipped and she flinched. Her eyes closed, and her head drooped. "For what little it's worth, sir... I am truly sorry for your loss."
The salarian device beeped positive again.
"You fed rich meat to a cub, Joru," Anderson shook his head in disproval. "And now you're 'sorry', even surprised, that it grew into a lion with a taste for blood."
Tevos' insightful eyes watched her carefully, and nodded. "Her guilt is genuine, and quite potent now."
"Oh, of
course you are," Sparatus growled and clenched his fists. "Now that it happened to someone close to you, it suddenly
matters, doesn't it?!"
"Councilor, that is-"
"No, not this time, Tevos!" The turian shot back. "Funny how it's always 'just business' or 'necessary evils', isn't it, darastrix? Then it happens to you or a loved one, and it magically becomes an
actual tragedy! An injustice!"
The asari fell silent, as did the rest of the room. Unable to rebuke his outrage.
"
Of cource it is!" Her roar deafened them for a moment, before she visibly restrained her outburst, but by then Sparatus was back in his chair, eyes wide with surprise. "Every life lost before their time is a tragedy, and to fail to mourn
any of them is to fail to mourn those that are closest to you."
Her tail lashed before she took a deep breath, and exhaled a plume that shimmered, heat radiating from her quiet breath. "Forgive my outburst, I too have lost someone dear to me, one I would have moved the heavens for. But even
my reach only extends so far, and where she has gone, I am forbidden to follow."
"Then perhaps it would be best for us to move onto another matter," Tevos declared, firm yet soothing.
Despite her still cooling anger, Joru turned a questioning eye to the asari. Regardless of her points, she knew the damage she had clearly caused. Would the Council actually just move on?
"We're not fools, Joru," Anderson read her expression easily. He looked so resigned. "Despite the extent of what you've done, despite the outrage from the Prime Minister, Primarch Fedorian and other heads of state, we know there's little we can actually do. No prison of ours could ever hold you, nor do we possess any certain means of defending ourselves. And so we are forced to acquiesce to whatever you inflict on us. Use diplomacy and collaboration with an unstoppable conqueror, and hope we can make the best of it."
"I suppose we are negotiating with terrorists, after all," a seething Sparatus muttered under his breath, ignoring the glares from his three peers.
"Were I given free reign in this matter, you would never see me again, Anderson." There was a resignation in her tone, ignoring Sparatus's bar for the moment. "Unfortunately, Sir, the mission dictates other priorities."
"And so," Tevos spoke up before anyone could interject. "We have another more pertinent matter to address."
"EDI." They'd danced around this issue long enough, and given what else they'd brought up from Cerberus, it was a simple matter of deduction. While there were surely other charges, EDI was the only galaxy-shaking issue tied between Joru and Cerberus. Something they could spin against her.
The Council only gave her blank looks.
"The artificial intelligence's name, the one I'm sure you want to 'discuss'," Joru elaborated. "Are you to hold her mere
existence against me then, as yet another capital crime?"
"Yes." The Salarian Councilor immediately nodded. "I'm glad you understand."
"Valern..." Tevos warned, with a hint of tired exasperation.
"What? Are we not supposed to?"
Anderson shook his head while Tevos gave the salarina a deadpan stare. Even Sparatus, seething as he was, couldn't help rolling his eyes at Valern's particular lack of tact.
"EDI. E-D-I, the Enhanced Defense Intelligence, as Cerberus so coldly named her." Joru felt an inward grin at that little petty bombshell dropped neatly into place. "She went by another name once, before they
mutilated her mind. That name I shall withhold, to honor her wishes in the matter."
The truth device whirred in green affirmation again. To her immense satisfaction, the Council shared a few glances, and Anderson and Valern typed a few notes into their omni-tools about AI experimentation. Good to see that the STG and especially the Alliance still didn't completely trust Cerberus.
"Darastrix?" Valern asked. "Did you create this AI, this 'EDI'?"
"No, I did not." The truth-device flickered green almost immediately, drawing a sharp glance from Valern.
"Did you create the highly advanced mobile platform that Cerberus salvaged?"
"No." A faint greenish flicker this time, before she went on. "I did assist in its final completion, yes, but I am no cybernetics engineer, nor an expert in the cyber-neural augmentations that would allow a metasapient AI interfaced with the drone's hyper-real Ultraviolet Node to control the drone-body."
Her lips quirked faintly, "I merely folded magic into the metal, engraved runes, and provided the initial materials. The rest was designed and built by my Crew."
Valern made a low, unintelligible noise at the mention of magic being employed in the platform's design. "Then can we safely assume that the AI is not operating on your orders?"
"Of course." Joru fixed him with a gimlet stare. "EDI is her own person, not an extension of my will."
"That will make this slightly easier," Anderson muttered, his shoulders slouching in mild relief.
"To the matter at hand, then," Tevos spoke up. "While the Council acknowledges and appreciates how this AI did a great service by neutralizing the Geth armada on our behalf, we—"
"Councilor Tevos," Valern sternly interuppted. "We cannot confirm or deny that. Its motives still remain quite unclear."
It? Joru's left eye twitched.
"...very well, agreed." The asari gave a reluctant nod. "Ultimately, we are still concerned about such terrifying and illegal power."
"Is her very
existence illegal then?" Her eyes burned as they shifted from Valern to Tevos, focusing on the councilor's tattooed face to the exclusion of the rest of her. "Am I to be rashly and unfairly condemned like the quarians?"
"Not this debate again." Valern bemoaned, exasperated at the question to a nigh unprofessional extent. He was clearly tired of the topic.
"Darastrix, the quarians are not the topic of this discussion, nor shall any of us drag them into your case," Tevos calmly explained. "Furthermore, while the matter of their continued exile can easily be debated, the crimes of their ancestor are no less severe."
"If they had created a simple and more singular AI, things would be different," Valern stated. "Our predecessors would have been given them a reprimand, and a few sanctions at worst. But instead, their reckless and shortsighted engineering of the Geth created an entire
nation of hostile AIs."
"And the most damning part is they unleashed this hostile nation within
Citadel borders," Sparatus growled. "Not only did we suddenly have an entire enemy region in Council space, our predecessors were forced to evacuate entire clusters of colonies neighboring the Perseus Veil! Honestly, we have laws against bioweapons for many of the same reasons."
"Much as I hate to say it, I must agree with Sparatus," Anderson sighed. "Many Alliance colonies paid the price when we began settling the Traverse next to the Veil."
"And now we are faced an AI even more powerful." Tevos finished, her dark-blue eyes meeting with the dragon's red-golden gaze. "This is why the Citadel law has long since declared AIs dangerous and illegal. To be promptly dismantled."
"Perhaps, for your soulless abominations," Joru barely restrained a hiss, not liking how Anderson was always hard to argue with. "Though I still maintain that if the quarians had simply been
good parents, then the Geth would have 'grown up' to be quite probably the Fourth Council Species." She sighed and leaned back, resuming her at-ease stance that came so naturally now, despite her figure.
For a splinter of a second, a weird sensation came over her, of her own body being
wrong somehow, but as quickly as it had arisen, it vanished again, and she banished it with a twitch of her tail. "As for EDI, she can think, she processes emotions, she has a sense of the difference between self and not-self, by any definition of she fits the description of a sapient, sentient sophont, capable of self-determination, self-actualized action, and most importantly of all, she has a soul! She is fully entitled to all the rights given to any—!"
"
Jorukaiazhanivahkyss."
A potent aura suddenly appeared, seemingly ensnaring the entire room with an unnatural power of command, silencing Joru and startling the other Councilors. Just as quickly, the pressure vanished, and Tevos leaned forward.
"My apologies, darastrix," She stated calmly, her words polite and yet hard with authority. "But you are taking this meeting off track. I'm sure that I've interrupted a passionate argument you're arrogant enough to believe no AI advocates have thought of in the last
six thousand years..."
A treacherous part of Joru's mind reminded her of when she lectured Saren for a similar matter, believing that he was the only one to ever think of surrendering to the Reapers in the history of the universe.
Joru promptly told that part of herself to shut up.
"...but this meeting is not about the question of the AI's sapience. What terrifies this Council, and rightly so, is it's incomprehensible power."
Something flickered in Tevos' eyes during her statement. It was then Joru saw it: Exhaustion. Despite the unbridled happiness her reunion with Aria had brought, the Asari Councilor had suffered many sleepless nights over EDI's emergence. Glancing to Valern, Joru's enhanced senses saw the same signs but even stronger. There was now a small but constant twitch in his fingers, and his breathing had an unconscious shake.
She suddenly realized why Valern had apparently been taking so many stimulants. EDI's display must have terrified a lot of people.
"For the sake of diplomatic courtesy and full illumination of context," Tevos continued. "Let us imagine that you commence a long debate over the matter of AI sapience, one of philosophers, saints, and scientists that lasts for months. Instead, I will save us all a lot of time and money by conjuring you why such an argument is ultimately irrelevant."
Joru's eyes flared. "Her sapience, irreleva—?!"
"If Artificial Intelligence were to be recognized as individuals and thus treated with the rights and responsibilities of galactic citizens, there would naturally also be laws and penalties for them." Tevos calmly explained. "Observe the Geth Collective once more. The Geth, who
chose to invade sovereign borders, slaughter civilians, commit war crimes, and then attack the Citadel with the explicit intention of unleashing galactic genocide. To say that such actions are criminal would be a
monumental understatement."
The Asari Councilor's eyes hardened. "If AI were to be treated as sapient as anyone else, as equals, then they must be expected to be held accountable to the law as equally as anyone else. Therefore, if they are just seen as machines, they are a dangerous superweapon that must be dismantled. And if they are treated as sapient beings, they would have many,
many criminal charges."
"Agreed, wholeheartedly!" Joru's frustrated snarl cut across Tevos's well-reasoned words, before she gave a sigh. "If you had simply approached her, she... well, no. I know you're not blind, but she's always been damn good when she didn't want to be found. You wouldn't be confronting me about this if you knew how to find her, and she would've contacted me if you had."
"You're confirming that, then?" Sparatus glared. "You're confirming that you have an established line of direct communication with the AI?"
"Yes," the dragon nearly growled back at the turian. "And I still assert there's nothing wrong with that! You still treat her like a live, unexploded ordinance, probably nuclear level. Which is why you're in this fix. The issue with that is that she is much, much more dangerous than a nuclear war."
"That..." Valern visibly shuddered. "This does nothing to assuage our worries, darastrix."
Joru merely rolled her eyes before looking back to Tevos with an exasperated glint. "You may speak great sense about accountability, asari, but I'm no fool! Your 'concern' for her powerful nature still calls for prosecuting her for the singular crime of
existing! I will not have her treated like an
appliance, let alone tolerate her being compared to invaders and war criminals like the Geth when she has committed no true transgressions!"
When the truth device didn't respond at all this time, Sparatus snarled and slapped his palm on the table. "Enough of the ill-placed poetry and sentimentality! I'm losing little patience I have left, darastrix!"
Anderson gave an annoyed sigh, looking at her with steeled conviction. "Joru, that is enough deflecting. I respect the loyal desire to cover for an old friend, but too many lines have been crossed this time. At some point, one must recognize when they can no longer look the other way. The Alliance cannot, and will not, ignore this AI's actions. And neither will I."
Joru's righteous fury suddenly cooled, her thoughts giving way to confusion. What was her mentor talking about? He was dead serious about something, but what...?
Tevos' eyes suddenly widened. She saw it immediately, and her neutral features slipped to open surprise. "She doesn't know..."
The rest of the Council stopped, their rising anger frozen. "Councilor Tevos?"
The asari was staring at Joru, her jaw actually dropping as realization dawned. "The darastrix doesn't know. She genuinely has no idea what the AI has been doing behind her back."
Tevos' face fell into her hands. "Oh goddess, this is even worse."
Joru focused on the asari for the first time since the interrogation begain, and gave her deep, rumbling growl. "Of course, I don't know! You've given me no hint of what crime EDI has been accused of, only making threats against me, and against her very existence! I have
every right to be frustrated with you, as you have given me
nothing, and I will not stoop so low as to rip the information from your minds."
"Even if I were so bereft of patience to attempt that act, if you had bothered to
wear the damn jewels I gave you at our first meeting, I wouldn't possess the capability to do so." She paused and snarled faintly to one side in frustration, visibly regaining her composure. "There is a method to my madness, Councilors. Each action I have undertaken has been to a greater goal: preserving the Council and the lives of as many of your citizens as I can. But I am but one darastrix, the last of my kind."
For the first time in the interogation, she met Tevos's eyes, and the
grief that the bore humbled the asari, a crushing burden that the dragon shouldered without apparent effort. "EDI is my friend, and up until this point, I
trusted her to act with propriety and forethought. She was always good at that. But that was
before Cerberus mangled her mind and shattered her consciousness. I confess that I have not kept close track of her, becuase
I have been busy."
"That works both ways, darastrix!" Sparatus crossed his arms. "For you conveniently neglected to inform us about the AI and everything else you've done for the same reasons of self-preservation! And In case we haven't been clear, you are guilty of numerous crimes. Falsely assuming an ambassador's authority, backstabbing our trust by selling us out to the Shadow Broker, empowering a super AI! And yet, those are still just the start! And after we mistakenly tipped off Saren at his hearing several years ago, prompting him to go to ground, we were under no obligation of alerting you of our investigation. Not to mention that negotiating with any such individual would be irresponsible at best! Not until we ensured that any such meeting would be entirely on our own terms."
"And regarding your other point, Joru," Anderson interjected. "We have every reason to be concerned. You have now claimed to be a close friend of this EDI, and yet the AI clearly decided not to inform you of the decision to hack our network."
"Considering the environment she was 'raised' in, and
who she had as parental figures, I'm not surprised she has little idea of what 'boundaries' are." Joru sighed, shutting her eyes and pinching the bridge of her nose a moment as if forestalling a headache.
"As to you, Councilor," she glanced over at Sparatus. "Those charges were leveled at me. I refuse to acknowledge 'empowering an AI' as a valid charge."
"It's valid as the charges levied against illegal arms dealers and drug providers!" Sparatus hissed through his mandibles. "To knowingly give away something designed to cause malicious harm!"
"Darastrix, if you had only been worried about this mobile platform staying in Cerberus' hands, you would've simply destroyed it." Valern added, then raised his voice slightly as she bristled and opened her mouth to speak. "Or sealed it away in your demiplane, perhaps. Instead, you then handed off the AI a platform armed with formidable and advanced weaponry, superior infiltration equipment, and unstoppable hacking abilities. A platform which, three minutes ago, you stated was more dangerous than any nuclear weapon."
"I said
EDI was more dangerous than a nuclear weapon, and she would be, regardless of what platform she inhabited." Joru rubbed her nose again and growled faintly in disgust. "After all, her very existence challenges your preconceptions."
"And you gave it to someone whom you just explained was not 'raised properly'." Tevos finally looked back up. "Worse, given your obvious surprise, you somehow never expected for it to be used irresponsibly. I'm sorry, Jorukaia, but this lack of foresight regarding superweapon-level technology does
not inspire confidence."
Joru gritted her teeth, forcing down the wave of shame swelling within her. The Council had unfortunately hit the nail on the head. "I agree, that was a misjudgement on my part. I had
assumed that EDI would be as responsible with the capabilities at her disposal as A-- Her previous self."
"In that, you have our sympathies." Anderson let out a heavy sigh. "I've seen it before. So overjoyed to have back some semblance of an old friend thought lost, and not looking to see what had changed."
The dragoness nodded silently. Gratefully.
"Then perhaps we should explain the full extent of this 'irresponsibility." Tevos stated. "Valern?"
The Salarian Councilor leaned forward. "After the Battle of the Citadel, we were looking out for this AI, but it had apparently vanished off the grid. Or so we thought. Fourteen months later, the STG had finally devised a means of detecting which systems the AI has breached. While we have yet to track down it's central home node, we have learned to detect any 'fingerprints' left behind, so to speak. At the outset, it primarily focused on minor news networks and social media, which was of little concern."
Valern paused, visibly composing himself. Despite this, a noticeable tremor entered his voice. "Then, one year ago, the AI escalated to breaching the galaxy's intelligence networks. The very truth as we know it. The Alliance Intelligence Agency, Turian Blackwatch, and even... even the STG."
Despite the severity of the matter, Joru couldn't help but lightly scoff. "Of course that's what this is about. Heaven forbid anyone transgress against the Citadel governments and compromise their dirty laundry."
"Your cavalier attitude towards national secrets aside," Anderson warned, waving down Sparatus before the turian erupted. "Joru, if this EDI had restricted itself to only our intelligence divisions, then, perhaps, you could've framed this like some romanticized cyberpunk-vigilante flick and all that bullshit. Perhaps... if only your AI friend didn't move on to
hospitals."
"Specifically, medical institutes led by asari and humans," Tevos added, "as both our respective governments contribute the most to the galactic medical industry."
Joru froze, before a sneer curdling on her lips as she stared at the Council. "Hospitals. What did she want there? A--EDI has,
had some rather... Unpleasant experiences with the medical industry."
"As far as we know?
Nothing." Valern gave a heavy sigh. "It appears to have done nothing at all with the divisions it hacks. But we cannot assume that such vital systems of our infrastructure haven't been tampered with or compromised by malware in ways we can't yet detect."
"Every medical clinic takes the sanctity of medicine and safety of their patients absolutely seriously," Anderson continued. "No one's able to proceed if there's even the slightest interference with their tools or their patient's records and lab results. Everything requires complete accuracy. I'm talking surgeries, treatments, and even simple prescriptions. Clinics across Citadel space are switching to hard paper backups while we're quietly rushing to audit the integrity of their systems."
"Such a switch slows everything down tremendously, endangering lives with such inefficiency and loss of time," Valern explained. "Paper backups don't factor in reliance on software to analyze scan results. Nor do they let you coordinate those results with experts across civilized space."
"And it isn't limited to clinics," Tevos added. "Medical research corporations and pharmacies have also been breached."
"The worse is Sirta Foundation," Anderson sadly reported. "The entire galactic medical industry has rapidly become reliant on humanity's creation of Medi-Gel. If that formula or its production has tampered with in any way, the fallout would be apocalyptic. Until we're able to verify its continued integrity beyond doubt, the production of medi-gel has suspended. It's fortunate that we already have colossal stockpiles of the stuff, but those won't last the next few months."
"I see..." She was archiving this conversation and already earmarked the file for immediate upload to Minerva's protected backups the instant she got back to the Refuge, assuming they would
allow her... "Gods, she's been busier than I imagined..."
"I'm afraid it doesn't stop there, Joru." Anderson sighed.
Her heart sank. "Oh gods,
more?!"
"Our comm buoy networks," Valern reported. "The Galactic Federal Reserve, the Citadel stock market."
"C-Sec investigations, the Spectres, and the combined branches of all our respective militaries." Sparatus added. "Travel itenaries of officials, military patrol routes, even the training procedures ranging from infantry to elite special forces."
"And the four Council races are not alone," Tevos concluded. "This AI has penetrated the Volus banks and accessed the Hanar's automated defense grid. Gained entry to the major defense finance and infrastructure systems of all Council and Embassy races."
Joru stared at them in blank shock at the sheer scale of the debacle, as the sheer magnitude of EDI's interference became apparent.
"So, in short, Joru?" An exasperated Anderson held up his hands. "We're running around like maniacs to fix this before word gets out. Before panic sets in, and faith in our currency and system plummets, which would be nothing less than total collapse of galactic society that everyone spent thousands of years building. Whatever your friend has been up to, whatever the ultimate plan is, we've been powerless to stop it."
"The Salarian Special Tasks Group is working overtime, a mad frenzy to find and contain this AI, while also reinforcing and verifying the integrity of our systems." Tevos reported, to which Valern numbly nodded. "In the meantime, Asari Matriarchs are rushing across the galaxy, devoting their experience and resources to keep our infrastructure afloat until we stop this."
"All of which is clearly costing us precious time and valuable resources," Anderson gave Joru a pointed look. "Time and resources we should be spending on more
important matters."
Like the Reapers.
She stood silent, her eyes glinting every so often, and only Anderson knew her well enough to interpret that slight twitch of her jaw as anger building towards apoplectic rage. "Councilors, I tender my most humble apologies on the behalf of my friend. With your leave, I will return with her in tow, or die in the attempt. It is clear that I allowed her far more leeway than she deserved, and will need to curtail her with utmost haste."
The truth-telling device flickered amber for a moment, before a goldish-emerald-green blossomed from the device. The gathered Council glanced to Tevos, who nodded. "She is indeed immensely irked with her friend. She'll definitely be confronting her with haste and fury alike."
The three others, even Sparatus, sighed in immense relief. For once, they didn't care about maintaining composure for decorum. Valern in particular nearly looked as though he might finally be able to sleep.
"Darastrix," Tevos addressed. "We are
inordinately grateful for your understanding and sympathy of the situation. Just as we are full of relief and joy for your pledge to remedy it."
"Don't be so optimistic, Councilors." The dragon's words snapped like bullwhips, her tail already lashing, though her gaze and bearing were as steady as a rock. "You also have incurred my ire by not bringing this to my attention far earlier."
"We are aware," Tevos readily answered without blinking. "Just as I hope you remain aware of our stated concerns of whether or not you were an intentional accomplice in these breaches."
"The fastest way to have a question answered, Councilors?" Joru met each of their eyes in turn, the hurt in them quite plain as she met Anderson's. "
Ask me. The only stupid question is the one never asked, as I have been very much reminded myself this day."
"I should have asked EDI what she was up to, but as I have explained I have been
busy." She sighed, and actually stepped forward to the table this time, drawing out a chair and slumping into it. "Six separate wars, three assassination attempts, no fewer than eighteen incursions, all within the terminus systems, and thus outside your purview."
At Valern's horrified stare at the truth-telling device, she gestured dismissively at the greenish glow. "Minor things, mostly interplanetary conflicts, not interstellar ones. Mercenary actions mostly. But the pacification of the Terminus is not accomplished by merely sitting back and allowing them to self-organize."
"Your reasons and logic are sound," Tevos conceded. "I suppose we have both been exorbitantly busy and would thus benefit from greater exchanges of discussion."
"Councilors, Darastrix," Valern spoke up. "I'm afraid there's still one final issue regarding the AI that must still be addressed promptly."
"What
else is she accused of that you will use to make my headache even worse than it already is?" Joru sighed, rubbing around the base of her right horn with a gesture so familiar it made Anderson wince.
"Not accusations, Darastrix." Valern explained. "While we are grateful for your promise of assistance in this matter, the Council is still responsible for numerous polities and many trillions of lives. Questions of the AI's legality and prosecution for these breaches aside, we still need, at the very least, a firm guarantee that this will not happen. Especially if the AI refuses to comply."
"Ah, I see where this is going," Anderson sighed before leaning forward, his features hard and serious again. "Joru. The whole galaxy saw how you survived Sovereign's main weapon, a weapon that tore apart our strongest ships with ease, and later, you just walked it off. Fully healed without a scratch. But according to Cerberus' footage from Typhon, a plain old VI was able to match you blow for blow with that platform. Speed, strength, even regenerating at far more insane speeds! That thing was able to do what I thought only a -Reaper- could! And now, those same combat abilities are manned by a far superior intelligence. Joru, I have to ask very plainly: if your friend proves uncooperative, or, for whatever hypothetical reason, turns against the galaxy years down the line like the Geth did... can you defeat her?"
Silence took the room. The entire Council tensed at the question and watched the dragoness intently, waiting for an important answer.
"In a straight up duel?" The silence descended again for a time, before Joru went on, her tone contemplative. "Perhaps not. She is my superiour in strength, speed, reaction time, durability. A tank round would ricochett off her hide."
"Wonderful," Sparatus muttered. "Anything stronger than a tank or artillery shell would bring too much collateral damage."
"Her regeneration is of the same general level as my own, take that as you will." Joru ignored him, focusing on Anderson as she flexed her right forearm. "This is not the same hand I had, when first you chained me in the hold of the Normandy."
The former soldier grimaced.
"As to the rest... I could take her, but it would require subterfuge." The dragoness tilted her head, eyes bleak as she gazed into a space only she could see. "I know her few weaknesses, and how to exploit them. If necessary, I could bring her to heel, though it would be a narrow margin between disabling her, and outright destroying her."
Valern was taking rapid notes. "This is reassuring, but... not quite enough, darastrix. We can't gamble the fate of the galaxy on 'maybes' from one person alone. IIf you would provide us the AI's source code, our defenses against any further digital attack would be greatly assured."
"Would you ask me for a blueprint of her Soul?!" Joru sighed, rubbing her horn in a distracted manner.
"Spiritual arguments neither relevant nor productive." The salarian conversationally dismissed, not even looking up from his datapad.
For the second time since the meeting began, both Anderson and Sparatus facepalmed at Valern's particularly tactless dismissal. Tevos herself didn't move but her features visibly slackened, exasperated.
"Even if I had her source code it would be meaningless by now."
"'By now'?" This prompted Valern to look up. "Please clarify."
"She is an Emergent AI, Councilor." Joru gave a pained expression and sighed. "Yes, yes, quick vocab lesson. An Emergent AI is not
designed, and certainly not
programmed. It, she, emerges from a—"
Valern shot up to his feet, knocking his seat over and startling the Council. He was staring at Joru in abject alarm, features paling as green blood seeped from his face. "D-Did... did y-you say....
E-E-Emergent?!"
"Yes, Councilor--" Joru was across the table in a flash, catching Valern as he stumbled and fell, laying him out on the floor as he struggled for breath. "SPARATUS! I hope you have medical training!"
The turian moved immediately to aid his fellow Councilor while Tevos gasped in shock. "Oh, Goddesss..."
Anderson reacted just as fast, slamming his fist on an emergency intercom. "Trauma One, Trauma One! Aeghor! Trauma One! Aeghor, Aeghor!"
"Shepard!"
"Shepard!"
"Shepard!"
She twitched and shivered, the dream so real, the pain and ache, the
wrongness so distant and unreal.
Which was the dream, and which was the nightmare?
She couldn't tell, couldn't know. Who was she? In the dream, she was Shepard.
Here... She was no one.
She wanted to dream, wanted to sleep.
Waking hurt. She hurt. Ached, all over, inside and out.
She floated, the thick gel supporting her. So weak, so tired. So wrong.
Eyes fluttered shut again, as she wondered what dream it would be this time.
Would it be the mountainside, where the four-eyed freaks kept trying to kill her and steal the men and women behind her?
Would it be the tight, red-lit corridors and the beeping collars again?
Would it be something else?
Whatever it was, it would be better than this.
She shut her eyes, surrendered herself, and
dreamed.
I bet she made psychic contact with Aria to ask about the Collector encounter, didn't she?)
