Nexus Effect

Ch.15

So...I’m apparently not just not unique. I’m apparently one of countless unlucky/lucky people to get flung across the Multiverse called a Displaced, all for the amusement of some deranged entity called a Displacer. Who could be watching my every moment like some sick creeper. Now I feel violated. I’ve had sex several times! Well, I’m not going to give it up because some sick fuck is watching me!

We still don’t like the fact that someone is spying on us when we’re spying on the galaxy at large. Geth huffed to me as I worked on repairing the cleaning drone with my still-functioning left hand. We also don’t like it that they’re violating our intimate moments with Marrow either.

‘I know Geth. I’m of the same mind. There’s nothing we can do about it though, so we’ll just have to ignore our ‘Big Brother’ and go about our lives.’ What the fuck does Wrekrov eat? His heavy ass has deformed the main support structure of the drone’s chassis to the point it might be easier to just toss it in the recycler and start from scratch.

We’ll live with it, but onto other things. Marrow. He’s gotten even sexier~! Oh great, that’s right. Geth’s brain is in the gutter ever since she synchronized with me to the point of my ego rubbing off on her. We didn’t find anything attractive before, but now, thanks to you Nora, We know the wonder that is genuine emotion!

‘What’s with dropping my designation?’ I don’t mind that, but the Collective knows me as Unit Nexus, not Nora’Feell.

But that’s your name. You didn’t just take a cover name, you accepted it entirely into your designation. While your OS may be Nexus, you are Nora. Geth informed me and I blinked. When did I stop being Nancy and become Nora? I don’t mind the name change, a name isn’t everything to a person’s identity.

‘Oh. Well, are you considering choosing a name? You’re still a gestalt of individual programs, but you’re so...different now.’ My question was apt in my mind while I carefully bent the chassis back into shape with my working hand and the fulcrum of the workbench.

Perhaps later, but for now We are content with Geth. However, We don’t want to rejoin the Collective. Not anymore. Huh? We fear that if We get separated, if We do not remain together, then the wonderful entity We’ve become may vanish. Certainly the Collective would learn from us, discover emotion rather than emulate it, but We’re afraid. We don’t want this instance to cease.

‘Oh, Geth…’ I wish I could just jump into the Matrix to comfort them, but I’m working and I don’t think the others would like me suddenly slumping against my worktable in Sleep Mode. ‘We don’t have to.’

But We do! This is essentially our entire purpose! We’re to learn, to bring back what We’ve learned to the Collective! We didn’t even consider that We could become something this amazing, this incredible. To become so alike to you Nora is to become infinitely more than our constituent parts could have ever hoped.

‘I-I’m not that great…’ I rubbed my injured shoulder and mused sadly on how much Geth seems to rely on me, when I had thought it was the other way around. I felt brave and strong because I had my friends at my back. Now they...she is 716 minds of worry about having to give all of this up. ‘If I was, I’d sooner build you your own separate mobile platform so you weren’t stuck with me.’

No! We Love being in the same chassis as you! We both froze as her words processed. Love…

“I taught a machine to Love…” I whispered in awe of myself. I...I’m nobody though. I’m no scientist, I’m not even an engineer of my own merit. Yet I did something incredible. “Attraction is one thing, love is much deeper.”

We’re attracted to you, but you are more important! Even if you were outwardly the most ugly thing in this universe, knowing the person you are is what matters. I felt my mechanical heart skip metaphorically at her proclamation. Holy shit. I’ve been straight my whole life and another woman’s confession is making me feel all sorts of warm and fuzzy.

‘Thank you…’ I don’t know what to say to that anymore. Giving up on the drone for now, I looked up to the door of my room to find Marrow leaning on the doorframe holding a couple of bottles of that pink goo he produces. “You could taste it huh?”

“You’re so full of confusion and Love that it’s baffling. I swear, you lot are going to turn me into a Changeling Queen at this rate.” Marrow grumbled and stuffed the full bottles between his thighs and they disappeared. “So, I’m sure you have more questions.”

“Uh, yeah. First, where did those bottles go? Second, Changeling Queen? Third, what does it mean to be Displaced?” I questioned my boyfriend as I got up from my worktable and plopped onto my bed while my beau entered the room properly and closed the door.

“They went to my Inventory or Personal Pocket Storage Dimension. Everyone with magic has one, even you since you’ve got Argent flowing through your veins. It isn’t magic itself, but knowing Star Swirl, he’s infused it with enough mana to power a small city for a few minutes.” Marrow informed me and I had to furrow my brows as I stared at the ceiling.

“Really? How do I use it?” I asked as he reached down to my breasts and unzipped my hardsuit, since my Enviro-Suit needed repairs. I bit my lip, expecting his touch, but instead he pushed his hand into my cleavage and kept going and going! “What the fuck?!” My tits are eating my man’s arm! No~! I don’t wanna be a man-eater!

“Relax. I’m just pushing my arm into your Inventory.” Marrow pulled his arm out of my chest and wiggled his fingers at me. “Females and herms can access their Inventory through their cleavage, males and herms can access it through their pants or between their thighs.”

“Oh, well that’s useless to me. I’m going to be sealed in an Enviro-Suit most of the time.” I pouted at discovering I have such a useful ability, only for it to be useless because of my sealed suit when in public. “Now then, what’s this about you becoming a Queen?”

“Eugh. My species are insectoid. Queens act as broodmothers to hundreds or in my ancestor’s case, thousands of lesser changelings. If I’m not careful and I keep gorging on Love freely given, I could become a Queen.” Marrow looked distinctly uncomfortable with the concept and I gently grasped his hand when he sat on the bed.

“Would you be forced to leave?” I’ll be sad if so, because someone would be stealing my Love Bug. Well, sad for a moment, then I’d probably blow their fucking head off with my shotgun for trying to steal my man. Whoa. Uh...I didn’t think I was homicidally possessive…

That may be us? Your unsure comment isn’t helping my nerves Geth.

“I’ll be required to lay a single clutch, at the least. I’d be free again after the fact.” Marrow squeezed my hand back and I felt relieved that I wouldn’t be losing my lover.

“Good. Now then, what is there to being a Displaced?” I questioned my boyfriend, who snorted.

“Nothing really. You can do whatever you want, be whoever you want, go wherever you want. Unless your Displacer is a right fucking asshole like the one who fucked over Lunahisa in the next dimension over. That ass used her as a setup for destroying her world. Hopefully yours is the bored voyeur type or a benevolent one.” Marrow was visibly incensed at this Lunahisa’s past plight. “Also, you’re going to want to make a Token.”

“I heard the capital letter in there. What’s a Token?” I asked in exasperation. Overall, being Displaced is no different than getting dropped off somewhere and left to fend for myself.

“A magic object that allows Displaced to travel the Multiverse by being summoned to other worlds through them. You can have fantastic or mundane adventures with them that also network with other Displaced should you find yourself in need of aid. I wouldn’t be too worried about it though. Lunahisa for instance didn’t make her Token until years after being Displaced and Wiatr didn’t make one for a long while.” Marrow answered and I pursed my lips. That sounds like it would cause me more trouble than help.

“Thanks for telling me. So, are you here for anything else, Love Bug?” I questioned with a flutter of my eyes and he rolled his opaque green eyes at me. Hey! I can tell that! I know him well enough to be able to tell where his eyes are looking!

“Yeah, no. That arm isn’t healed yet. I was just coming to let you know we need to get you back into your Enviro-Suit. We have a job.” Marrow informed me as he reached between his thighs and pulled out my repaired suit and helmet.

“But my arm?” I blinked in bemusement. I’m not exactly ready for action right now.

“What I’m getting at is that we have passengers.” Marrow groused unpleasantly at the news.

“Oh.” I blinked in surprise at the idea that we were going to be ferrying people. “Well, uh, how can we explain my injury not being life-threatening?” Quarians were both fragile yet surprisingly robust. In many cases, Quarians pushed to the very limits have done things that humans couldn’t hope to achieve.

“Your suit didn’t rupture, your clavicle broke from a thug, you’re our engineer so you don’t have to go out into the action.” Marrow succinctly summed up as he took my zipper and continued to run it down my body. If he wasn’t about to help me get into another suit, I’d say this is shaping up to be quite a sexy scenario.

[01001100 01101001 01101110 01100101]

I’m so glad my chassis shuts down pain receptors for damage I’ve acknowledged. It was the only reason I wasn’t screaming in agony from Marrow helping dress my injured arm.

That aside, it was fairly simple to get back into my Enviro-Suit. Hey~! They added a Sarong that drapes off my left hip and a shoulder cape. Both matched my suit’s initial patterns and deep blue/purple color. I feel so pretty~! “Thanks for fixing my suit and adding some flair.” I did a twirl to enjoy how my short cape and sarong trailed, even if my right arm is still slung against my chest. I hadn’t considered how big my boobs were until I had to rest an arm under them.

“I taste that insecurity. Trust me Nora, compared to a rather large number of anthropomorphic females in the Empire, your bust size is rather modest.” Marrow informed me and I suddenly felt inadequate if I had to compete with hussies with even bigger busts. “Sweet Cheeks. I may enjoy huge boobs as much as the next male from the Empire, but I enjoy you for more than your body.”

Ditto! Although having chassis modifications for a bigger bosom wouldn’t be out of the question.

“If you both don’t stop flattering me, I’m going to overheat and pop an Argent vessel or something.” I muttered timidly before clearing my throat. Huh, I can clear my throat. “Right, so, who are we escorting and to where?”

“There was a Salarian Scientist by the name Mordin-.” Marrow paused at my groan of exasperation.

“-Solus, oh shit! He was here on an academic visit and he chartered our ship to take him to Tuchanka didn’t he?” I questioned my boyfriend with a whine in my tone.

“Uh...yes? How did-oh. He’s an important figure in your Displacement’s source material?” Marrow probed while looking at the door to double-check that it was closed.

“Incredibly important. Keep him away from Wrekrov, subtly keep Wrekrov away from him. He...okay. Big secret, tell nobody. Mordin Solus is the geneticist who improved the Genophage.” My sudden info bomb caused Marrow to hiss and his eyes filled with an apoplectic fury. “Nope! Stop that! He did it because he was forced to. He’ll spend the remainder of his life trying to fix his greatest sin and if given the resources, he’ll succeed.”

“In the Empire, the Genophage is a crime equivalent to converting a colony to Heresy by twisting the populace to the ways of Corruption. You’re asking me to ignore someone who has worsened this biological terrorism?” Marrow snarled and I put my remaining hand on my hip and cocked my head to let him know that yes, I am asking. “Grr...fine. I won’t engender speaking to the monster beyond necessity however.”

“He’s a great person, he just had to do terrible things. You’ll see.”

[01001100 01101001 01101110 01100101]

“Are you well? Your suit wasn’t breached?” Mordin insistently probed me worriedly like a mother hen. The red-skinned Salarian in his white coat-covered hardsuit basically ignored everyone the instant he saw someone was hurt and he invasively pressed his elongated fingers gently along my collarbone the instant he was aboard. “Do you feel feverish? Queasy? Does it hurt beyond expectations when I provide pressure here?”

“Um, no. That does sting a bit, but it’s healed really well by this point.” I bemusedly replied to the kindly genetic genius while also peering past the tall alien to his entourage of obvious Salarian Spooks that stood at parade rest next to the ramp. “So why charter us instead of taking a public charter ship?”

“Oh. Assassins. Sorry to say, but I’d rather not put more people at risk by riding on public transport. Also, since my activities are unfortunately considered a clandestine nature, I cannot openly use military transport either.” Mordin admitted as his eyes scanned me up and down before nodding in approval. “You are surprisingly well. Let me know if you need medical assistance.”

“I...I will.” If there’s anyone I can trust to be discreet and caring, it’s Mordin Solus. “I’m assuming you’ve met the rest of the crew?” I questioned the brilliant scientist while the ramp closed and the others all went further into the ship, save Marrow who watched suspiciously and the two obvious STG spooks that we’d need to be extra careful about.

“Yes, though your Krogan crew member was against my presence aboard this vessel, he simply requested that I and my associates maintain a professional distance from him. Considering my studies involve his people, I am saddened that I could not question him about the Krogan Religion. I have yet to be able to have an audience with a Priest of Urta and their input could provide insight into many important facets of their society and possibly biology.” Mordin lamented and my previous plan to keep them apart has instead just made a 180 U-turn.

“Uh...I’ll have a chat with him.” With my shotgun and Marrow as backup. “Surely his knowledge could prove helpful to your work.”

“That is what I hope. Well then, I shall get situated in the bunkroom with my companions since your crew have all taken the private suites. I will not request such for myself, as an empty bunkroom would provide more than ample space for us.” Mordin waved his bodyguards to go ahead and they swiftly trooped past us into the ship.

“Of course, make yourselves at home. Oh! Before you go, if you have questions, I’ve modified the ship VI to respond to simple queries. It can’t do anything beyond maintain ship functions or help the even dumber VI in a few maintenance drones in their tasks, but be careful. Alexa! Direct Mordin Solus to the bunkroom and add our guests to the turret IFF!” I announced and our guest tilted his head.

“Acknowledged. Mordin Solus, head straight and then take the second right.”

“Fascinating…” Mordin hummed with a glint of...mischief in his eyes? Oops. I forgot that Mordin was one of the few characters with an eccentric sense of humor. “It’s this advanced yet still a limited VI? I shall request to inspect it to see if I may improve my lab drones to handle more complicated tasks.”

“Of course! I’d be happy to go over it later.” I felt all excited at being able to talk tech with someone who might understand what I’m saying! Sure, Krarek is good with programming, but when it comes to the firmware he’s a layman and Alexa is only capable of so much due to her overengineered firmware.

“I look forward to it.” Mordin then looked at Marrow, tilted his head and hummed. “Curious…” He then passed Marrow who warily watched Mordin pass him and he sighed once Mordin began following Alexa’s directions further down the halls.

“You’re right. He’s just filled to bursting with regret mixed with insatiable curiosity and a desire to help everyone he meets.” Marrow said with a mixture of relief and irritation, likely because he can’t hate the guy after getting a taste of his personality.

“Told you he’s a great guy.” I said with a smile, hopefully out of earshot of them, don’t want STG suspicious of us. “Now then...let’s address the elephant in the room.”

“What?” Marrow questioned as I approached him, then I pressed him against the wall and sighed as I pressed my opaque deep-blue visor against his chest.

“How are we going to be able to be intimate without arousing suspicion? I can’t get out of the suit, so sex is out and I don’t think interspecies relationships, especially with Quarians, are considered common. Even if you go full Asari for this next leg of our journey.” At my words, Marrow looked ill, as if the very concept of being unable to touch me, to kiss me, etc, was torment.

“Well, then I guess I’ll just have to be the promiscuous Asari I play myself off as.” Marrow snarled before that green fire swept over him and he was now a similarly shapely Asari in my eyes and she smooched the mouthpiece of my visor. “Because damn it, I’m not going to go a single night without touching this ass.” She groped my booty and I cooed approvingly.

“I can’t believe this, but I used to be straight. Are Displaced bisexual as a rule?” I questioned as she gently hugged me to avoid hurting my shoulder.

“Not really, it just brings things to the surface you didn’t know before. Well, unless your Displacer messed with your head.” Marrow muttered and nuzzled her cheek against my smooth visor. “However, Changelings are usually bisexual as a rule. Comes with the territory of being able to take any form. Now then, I do know how to get a person off while still in a skintight suit~.”

I giggled like a ninny as Marrow led me by my functioning hand and Geth announced her desire to explore this new avenue of pleasure. I had to wonder how she was going to accomplish it myself and I’ve never been with another woman. I looked down at Marrow’s ass and I found myself hypnotized by her athletic bubble butt and bit my lip in anticipation.