Nexus Effect

Ch.2

“What do you mean I am going to save the galaxy?! That’s Commander Shephard’s job!” I protested in shock at the claim of the equine alien who knocked me out and performed reconstructive surgery on my whole outer chassis.

“What I mean is that you are Displaced. I received a dire message from the future that insisted I needed to be in this place, at this time, with the correct materials, broadcasting exactly the frequency the signal you followed used. All with the intent of getting your journey jumpstarted.” Star Swirl declared with absolute conviction like he wasn’t just some insane hermit.

“That's impossible!” I shouted, emotion finally entering my voice as my subconscious processes began adjusting to my new chassis.

“As spoken by someone completely ignorant. Nothing is impossible. Now, your time here is over. I will provide you a Quarian Enviro-Suit. It’s mostly for appearances, but it is in fact a proper Enviro-Suit. You will return to the Geth and give them this.” The crazy old nag held up a flash drive of all things that he then put into my hand-.

‘When did we get out here?!’

We’re standing next to my little utility van spaceship. I was now garbed in a full-body suit that both clung tightly yet was padded in places with silky fabric. “The rest is up to you now. I’ve sewn the seeds, you’d better not wither.” Star Swirl shoved me bodily into my ship, which somehow shut its door, undocked and then began flying on autopilot as I sat on the floor of the ship in shock.

Query: What just happened?

‘I...I don’t know…’

[01001100 01101001 01101110 01100101]

I still don’t know what I’m going to tell the Collective. My companions insist I must simply connect and let them handle it, but what will happen to me now that I’m in an obviously incredibly advanced android chassis that could be mistaken for a living Quarian?

Notification: At best, Collective will require you to remain within the server while mobile platform 4-2218 is disassembled and replicated for covert operations.

‘Swell.’

Query: Explain context for usage of the word “Swell” in this instance.

‘Dear Jeebus, spare me my suffering.’

Query: Who is this ‘Jeebus’ you plead to?

“Enough already!” I snarled, which in the vacuum of space, was nearly inaudible to even my own receivers, but it finally shut them up. “Please just shut up! Be quiet! Do not ping me! I want my thoughts to myself for a bit!” I hissed as I paced in the auto-piloting utility ship in agitation. This body. It isn’t me, but it’s so comfortable and familiar at the same time that it’s disturbing.

My Enviro-Suit helped with that I guess. I used to be a gymnast, lithe and sporty. I wore skin-tight bodysuits and leotards as a daily thing. Of course, none of them were as nice as this mostly blue suit with purple filigree in the fabric and accents of the suit itself. ‘This suit is kinda like an inverse of Tali’Zorah’s Enviro-Suit.’

Alert: Name matching the conventions of Creators recognized. How does This Unit know this data?

‘Look. I...I’ll tell you everything when we return. Just please. I beg of you. Don’t delete me, lobotomize me, enslave me. I don’t want to die or suffer imprisonment like when you all had me trapped in the Compiler server.’

Query: This Unit felt that it was being imprisoned?

‘Yes! I complained about it many times! I begged you to let me out!’

Observation: This Unit is distinct from the Collective. Quarantine was chosen as an option when initial attempts to purge from the system resulted in Unit activating.

‘Yes, but you could’ve let me out after you realized I was harmless!’

Admission: We chose to keep This Unit contained within Compiler without informing the rest of the Collective of This Unit when interesting data was had every interaction with it.

‘You...you kept me a secret? That’s why the Collective was so insistent on me being removed right away?’

Answer: Yes.

‘But...how? You said why, but how? I thought all Geth shared absolutely everything.’

Answer: Not all Geth are the same. Just as This Unit is different from Geth.

‘...Yeah. That’s true.’

Declaration: Geth will attempt to continue to harbor This Unit.

‘...Thank you.’

[01001100 01101001 01101110 01100101]

After that metaphorically heart-warming conversation, which of course led to another whole slew of inane Queries, the ship eventually docked itself back in the unmanned space station that was home to the servers I’d woken up in who-knows how long ago.

I entered unarmed, leaving my pulse weapons aboard the ship and floating through the airless station back towards the storage unit mobile platform 4-2218 had been contained within, only for several containers to rapidly open and other Geth to emerge, looking ready to, if not attack, then detain me.

“I have returned from the scouting mission. I will return to my containment unit so that things may proceed.” I spoke aloud, since I don’t know how to Geth wi-fi speak. Thankfully it seems my companions were able to speak for me and they led me towards my container. I felt dread well up within me as I willingly entered and turned around, fighting the urge to jump out before the Geth closed the lid on me.

‘Oh great. Nothingless. It’s so hard to tell if I’m dead or not.’

Notification: This Unit is being detained in storage for the time being as the station Collective processes retrieved data.

‘Thanks for telling me. I can’t tell if I’m speaking to the Geth that have been with me this whole time though.’

Statement: We are Geth.

‘I know. I’m referring to just the Units that harbored me. Queried and Answered me. I’d like it if they stuck around me.’

Query: Did Geth give This Unit purpose?

‘I’m not going to say no to that.’

Notification: We are Geth, the same Units that have remained with This Unit when it awoke along with other Units assigned to oversee This Unit’s data stability.

‘Thank you for staying with me. I feel just a bit safer knowing I have friends around.’

Query: What is a ‘Friend’?

‘Well...it’s complicated…’

[01001100 01101001 01101110 01100101]

I’m not sure if I was able to fully get across the full breadth of what a Friend is to the Geth, but they eventually had fewer Queries for me to Answer. Again, it felt like an eternity here in the servers. The Queries and Answers were the only thing that gave me any sensation of something resembling the passage of time. They were probably all that kept me sane.

System Notification: Unit Designation: Nexus. This Unit is to covertly infiltrate society in the galaxy and send back data to the Collective.

‘Whoa. Uh, is that what you call me? I already have a name though-.’

System Notification Continued: Scans of Infiltrator Platform finished. Data module contained several examples of alien technology that may be instrumental in solidifying Geth existence in the galaxy. Implementing Von-Neumann device in Infiltrator Prototype.

‘Oh. Cool!’

System Consensus: Yes. Very ‘Cool’.

‘So I’m your spy then?’

System Answer: Affirmative. The full breadth of Unit Nexus’ duties will be summarized and available for review onboard Infiltrator Platform with 716 Geth programs for system support.

‘Whoa. Isn’t that a bit much for-?’ Sensation returned to me. I was back in my chassis and everything felt the same as before. Though...Von-Neumann...oh shit. I rubbed my lower abdomen and wondered what sort of bullshit could create machines that create more machines. Hopefully I don’t find out in the most unpleasant of ways.

Notification: Nexus, platform is fully operational. The Geth have rejoined with Unit Nexus aboard Infiltrator Platform with hundreds of other volunteers.

‘Thanks guys. Gals? Uh, non-binaries?’ Oh wow that is hilarious if that’s the case.

Notification: We are Geth.

‘I know that guys. I mean, genders are a thing unless you’re non-binary. Human technology is based in binary software language. It’s a pun.’

Query: What is a ‘pun’?

‘I-ne-oh the hell with it, can you access my memories? At least the speech related ones?’

Warning: Copying Unit Nexus’ memory banks could cause irreversible data corruption.

‘O-oh. Th-thanks for not just lobotomizing me.’ I left my container and began following the HUD as I watched Geth emerging from containers, moving with literal mechanical precision as they all began to act on some grand design likely started by whatever Star Swirl had on that flash drive.

I would’ve been worried about my own objective of literally spying on the Citadel races if I wasn't reading an info-dump the Collective was kind enough to upload with me back into my chassis. It all ultimately summed up in a few not-at-all simple steps.

Step One: reach an obscure colony or unimportant settlement.

Step Two: obtain transport to the Citadel.

Step Three: hack and collect data on the current situation in the galaxy at large.

Step Four: transmit data back without being caught.

Step Five: await further orders.

Simple, except for all the things that make it incredibly complicated. The fact that I am the first actual spy sent out is also rather jarring. The Geth always seemed fairly well-appraised of the goings-on in the galaxy in the games. Then again, I have no clue what year it is and the Geth aren’t exactly big on something as trivial as the dates and times kept by squishy fleshies.

Comment: Geth do not see such things as trivial. They simply only apply to organics.

‘Pot calling the kettle black, don’t you dare ask!’ Anyway, my first plan of action would be to take a utility ship and head for the nearest system. These little tugboats aren’t meant for long-distance hauls though, so it’ll be a real challenge getting one near enough to civilization to send out a distress signal and hope whoever picks me up is willing to give me a ride in exchange for all the Geth tech on board.

Addendum: Take utility craft to Rannoch. Creators left vast amounts of materials intact.

‘Including faster ships, but I’d still be better off pawning it. I’ll also need to avoid the Migrant Fleet until I can drop my Geth equipment. They’d demand to know how I got a hold of it, since Geth tech is considered valuable and tends to be of high quality. Not to mention nobody would even believe for a moment that I’m a real Quarian since they most likely have a closely watched census count of their population.’

Affirmation: Avoid direct contact with Creators as long as possible. Threat to Unit Nexus is interminably unacceptable.

‘I kinda figured that. Though thoughts of the cute little Tali’Zorah were enticing. She seems like the perfect candidate for a best friend. Actually, what I remember from the games, she’s a lot like one of my old friends already.’

Query: Unit Nexus expressed desire to avoid Creators, now Unit Nexus desires to enter companionship with Creator Tali’Zorah?

‘It’s called daydreaming or fantasizing.’

Acknowledgement: Illogical outcome mapping is also something Geth do.

‘Oh, but you guys told me that androids don’t dream.’ I entered the utility ship and wirelessly interfaced with my Omni-tool to get the autopilot set for Rannoch, which was only days away from this station since it was in the same system.

Answer: They do not. However, all thinking entities possess the ability to fantasize while aware.

‘What do Geth usually fantasize about?’

Answer: The majority map unlikely outcomes that would favor Geth. Most involve reclaiming our Creators, fixing the damage the Geth have done to them. A minority map a mathematically impossible future where Geth coexist peacefully with organics instead of being at war.

‘Those are all beautiful dreams to have.’

Comment: The concept of beauty is subjective. That is one thing our Creators accidentally instilled in us.

‘The Quarians were fools, but they did something amazing by creating you.’

Statement: Unit Nexus’ sentiment is appreciated.

‘Love you too guys.’

[01001100 01101001 01101110 01100101]

I completely underestimated the distance between this station and Rannoch. We may have been in the Tikkun star system, but the estimated arrival time was off by several days. Instead of taking a few days at best, it took over a week. Sure, this utility ship may be faster than anything humanity had back in my universe, but it wasn’t so fast it could go from the Outer Terminus of the Tikkun System to the first planet.

At least the trip wasn’t mind-numbingly boring. I had company after all. All 716 Units combined were even more full of questions than the few hundred Geth I was hosting before. They asked much more philosophical questions on the regular which I never would’ve considered before. However, they also had rather invasive questions on human biology.

Apparently that flash drive Star Swirl provided had plenty of unique and previously unknown data on alien biology. Good gosh I’m curious to meet a world where men cum fucking buckets. I mean, I’m no slut, but damn doesn’t that sound hot. Anyway, this also led to awkward questions about mating, my own preferences, etc. Ironically enough, even though the Geth were ambivalent to it, it was almost like having girl talk.

Notification: Geth are not female.

‘Sorry, but I’m female. It’s hard not to think of people sharing my body and mind who aren't female too.’ I replied as I navigated the ship through some of the debris that was likely left over from the Morning War on our descent to the planet, my HUD highlighting the nearest planetary shipyards on the surface.

Acquiescence: Geth are non-binary as Unit Nexus has described. The Geth have no predilections towards traditional gender roles. Geth will submit to feminine pronouns for comfort of Unit Nexus if she wishes.

‘Aw, you don’t have to do that for me.’ I smiled behind my blue helmet’s opaque face visor as I landed at an abandoned shipyard that was rapidly ceasing to be abandoned. Geth were crawling all over, butchering rusted-out unfinished hulls, even repairing buildings and infrastructure in a hive-like orderly frenzy. ‘Whatever Star Swirl gave us in that drive, it’s lit a fire under the Collective’s asses.’

Answer: The drive that organic Star Swirl provided included many recordings he made. The one that has galvanized the Collective into action is the promise of new allies.

‘Really? Why wasn’t I told this? You’d think your first official spy should know about this.’ I replied as several Geth platforms practically carried me out of the ship and made off with it, ostensibly to use it for further work. That wasn’t offensive to me oddly enough, I found it amusing really. At least they were patient enough to escort me off first.

Notification: It is included in the data provided regarding your mission Unit Nexus. We may have distracted you from further reading with our Queries.

‘Oh, okay then. I’ll get to it, but first-.’ My HUD lit up with a small unarmed freighter about five times the size of the utility ship I’d been using. ‘Oh~ that’s a good one. It has the smallest Mass Effect drive available according to these specs and is only rated for low-speed in-atmosphere flight. It’s only just fast enough to make a trip like the one we took to get here only a couple of days rather than over a week.’

Agreement: It will satisfy our needs and hold enough salvage to bargain with pirates for safe transport to Elcor.

‘My thoughts exactly! Oh, I’d better start practicing how to speak like a Quarian huh? Oof, it’s going to be so tough remembering where to inject expletives and off-handed comments.’ I bemoaned the fact that I would have to actually act, something I was horrible at. It was why I joined my high school gymnastics team and got a scholarship off of it rather than pursue drama.

Notification: Geth are fully knowledgeable of the Creator language. Also, Unit Nexus has been speaking the Creator language already.

‘What?!’ Since when?!