Nexus Effect

Ch.4

“Surprised Hello! Welcome to Ekuna!” Greeted the monotone bassy voice of the Elcor shopkeep manning the store I’d had to traverse a city-sized space station to reach. It’d taken all day to get here since I didn’t have passes for the trams, the lifts, the fucking elevators-! “Earnest Concern. Are you alright Quarian?”

I had to actually fight my way through several muggings, one attempt at illegal detainment by a guard who was probably wondering who knocked him out and stole his wallet before hanging him by his feet from some loose cables in the ceiling of a service tunnel. Also the time spent evading the quite flattering attempts by a male Quarian to proposition me with safe sex with all the necessary antibiotics and immuno-boosters such a thing would require.

It actually stung to lie to him and tell him I was gay.

“I’m fine.” I rubbed one of the scuffs one of those Batarian muggers left on my suit in concern. I checked for breaches, my suit is fine. I’m fine.

Notification: Unit Nexus, please remember you are synthetic.

“Relieved Sigh. I am glad to hear that. Mindful Statement. I have repair materials suitable for an Enviro-Suit if you need it regardless.” The Elcor kindly said to me and I perked up.

“I’d actually like to buy a repair kit along with exchanging this ticket for a shield.” I activated my Omni-tool and presented the ticket which the Elcor accepted with his own Omni-tool.

“Pleased Comment. I see one of my regulars has been kind enough to promote my store. Here is your new shield. Hopeful Question. Is there anything you need aside from the repair kit?” The Elcor offered and I browsed his wares.

Notification: Unit Nexus, this Elcor is selling materials we could use to upgrade our weapons to military specifications.

“I would like to buy this specific box of scrap, these tool programs for my Omni-tool and a tube of epoxy.” Omni-tools may be able to generate epoxy if given raw materials, but it was easier to just use straight epoxy. Also, Omni-gel is expensive! Holy shit!

“Pleased Statement. I will go fetch them right away.” The shopkeeper slowly maneuvered his hunched form behind the counter and began fishing for the items.

“So, what’s been going on around here lately?” I questioned idly, genuinely curious as well as fishing for information.

“Resigned Sigh. We have had a recent run in with pirates, so our planet-side space port is damaged and several of our people have been taken. Angry statement. They have been most likely sold to the Barbarians who were ‘patrolling’ our system not a few days ago.” The shopkeep said, reminding me that it isn’t just deeper into the Terminus Systems that piracy is a constant problem. Ekuna may be on the edge of Terminus space, but it was still in the Batarian Hegemony’s sphere of influence more than the Citadel.

“Sorry to hear that. I’m lucky I didn’t suffer a similar fate on my way here from the Far Rim where I was scavenging.” I rubbed my arm as I shifted on my feet, trying not to dwell on how much danger I’ve been in since leaving the safety of the Tikkun System. How ironic, a place that to most of the galaxy that is considered to be the most dangerous is where I was the safest.

“Sad Sigh. It is just how life is here in the Salaleil System. Depressed Comment. I am wishing the Citadel did not give us this world and let your people have it. Empathic Statement. Your people needed this world more than we did.” The shopkeeper’s words filled my metaphorical heart with appreciation.

“Aw. Thank you for saying that. This place has its troubles, but it’s got to be better than living on sterile ships. I wouldn’t know though, I wasn’t born on the Fleet.” I admitted freely as I paid for the goods he put in a small box. Um...I may not have thought this through. That’ll make me an even bigger walking target. I’d better find a nearby hidey hole and get to work on my guns.

“Surprised Statement. It is odd to see a non-exile Quarian or one that isn’t on their pilgrimage. Concerned Question. Do you have someplace to take this?” The shopkeeper's empathic question made me fidget uncomfortably. “Firm Statement. Come behind the counter, I have space in the break room.”

“I-I couldn’t! You’re already being so kind.” I was shocked. I mean, I know the Elcor are surprisingly empathic creatures, but to have one just offer me help like this? “I’m armed, you know. What if I try to rob you?”

“Sly Statement. If you were going to rob me, you wouldn’t have already paid.” The shopkeeper declared with his bassy monotone that I couldn’t help but sense the smugness in.

“I...thank you.” I entered behind the counter after the Elcor kindly opened it for me. “So what is the name of my new friend?”

“Pleased Statement. I am Herrot, follow me.” The hunched hulking gentle giant led me further back in the structure, revealing much to my discomfort that this was actually Herrot’s home. It isn’t a break room. The kiosk out front is literally the front door. “Feigned Ignorance. Mind the mess. Nothing to see here.”

“Y-you don’t have to go so far…” I weakly muttered in protest only for Herrot to clear a space at the table for me to set my things down.

“Proud Declaration. I would sooner throw myself from a cliff than leave someone in need without help. Happy Assurance. Take your time, sleep on the sofa if you must.” Herrot then lumbered back to the door/counter and opened the shutter. The walls on either side of the door were absolutely filled with miscellaneous goods.

Observation: This organic is incredibly kind.

‘It’s hard to find a more fitting description isn’t it?’ I replied to my companions with warmth in my metaphorical heart as I opened the small box Herrot had put my purchases inside and got to work on my guns.

While I worked, Herrot tended to several customers, but one caused Herrot to quickly, as in fairly fast for an Elcor, slide the shutter down and opened the door, ushering in a cloaked figure. “Herrot. Who is this?” Hissed the newcomer who was fully hidden by the plain brown/white fabrics, their voice rasped like a snake or some other hissing creature.

“Worried Placation. This is an unaffiliated Shipless Quarian borrowing my dining table. She is harmless.” Herrot declared and even moved with the same surprising amount of speed to stand somewhat between me and the newcomer.

“That is no Quarian.” The figure hissed and pointed an armored black finger at me accusingly. “It has no Aura, no Emotions. It is a facsimile.”

“Excuse you?! Who are you to claim that I have no emotions?!” I demanded as I jumped to my feet, brandishing my pistol defensively since my shotgun was in pieces on the table.

“Stern Demand! You are to both calm down and speak like civilized people in my home.” Herrot demanded of us and I quickly plopped back into my chair while the invader Herrot let in huffed. “Irritated Demand. Why have you come here with such urgency Marrow?”

“Ugh...whatever. If she’s here then someone else has foreseen it and saw fit for me to be here at this time.” The hissing figure threw back it’s hood and I gawked behind my visor at the black/blue carapaced bug-horse thing that was leering at me with suspicion with it’s opaque green eyes.

“W-what?!” I, what, how, who?

Warning: Creature is not in any data files. Closest analogue is Star Swirl.

“Congratulations whoever you are. You’re a new actor on a far grander stage than you could’ve dreamed.” The raspy male alien hissed and trudged over towards the kitchen. “Do you still have that Batarian Bloodwine Herrot?”

“Resigned Sigh. Yes. Stern Request. Please do not drink it all.” Herrot nodded to me in what I could only assume was apology as they went back to manning their kiosk.

“Ugh, whatever…” I grumbled, turning back to upgrading my shotgun in an effort to ignore the alien invader ransacking Herrot’s kitchen, only for him to shove aside a space next to me and plop into the chair while setting down a bottle and two glasses. “Excuse me, but I’m working.”

“You’d do well to listen. If you’re here now then it’s for a reason.” Marrow grumbled as he poured the opaque red liquid into the glasses.

“What are you talking about?” I asked in irritation as I tuned the emitter’s output while reinforcing it so that it wouldn’t explode when putting a charge through it.

“I’m saying.” Marrow took a sip of the drink and cringed with a pleased grunt. “Hng, that you’re now involved in big things.”

“I’m sorry? I’m just a wandering Quarian making my way in the galaxy.” I rebuffed staunchly. Whatever this rude alien wants me for, he can go suck a-.

“What about the next galaxy over?” Marrow’s nonchalant question was punctuated by him putting the full glass in front of me.

“Huh, what? What are you talking about?” I asked in stupefaction as I remembered Star Swirl’s recordings. Was this an Imperial agent?

“I’m saying this galaxy is about to get a lot more crowded. Sure, I can’t deliver my findings for months yet, but the moment I report back, you can bet your sexy ass that the Empire will be here in force, not just unmanned probes and drone-driven ships.” Marrow declared as he nursed his drink and leaned back in his chair.

Notification: This is quite fortunate. Associating with this creature will potentially deepen Geth ties to the Empire ahead of time.

“Oh. Great.” I ground out and leaned my visor-covered cheek against my palm. “So you’re my first contact with the Empire besides that old coot?”

“Old coot?” Marrow asked in bemusement as he eyed my glass.

“You know? Star Swirl? Crazy old horse living in a tower on an asteroid somewhere out in the Perseus Veil?” My words caused the alien bug-horse to freeze and look at us with wide eyes.

“You encountered Star Swirl and survived?” Marrow demanded incredulously before groaning and chugging the rest of his glass. Seeing as alcohol won’t do anything for me, I handed him the glass he’d offered me and he downed it too. Seems he could use it for whatever reason.

“Why is that strange?” I questioned, only belatedly remembering I met him in a morgue with corpses all autopsied with one having been skinned to make me into a synthetic copy of a poor Quarian woman.

“Because Star Swirl is a psychopath! That amoral monster has killed thousands in his pursuit of knowledge! He’s committed more atrocities than any other single person in the history of the Empire! Well, aside from Lethice, but at least she was redeemable.” Marrow began to slur, going for the bottle again, but I grasped his wrist with my deceptively lithe hand.

“Herrot asked that you not drink it all.” I sternly warned the alien who gurgled and slumped against me! “Ah! Get off!” I demanded as I felt warm when the clearly already-drunk alien groped my breasts through my Enviro-Suit. I squirmed under him as he wriggled atop me where we were laying on the floor, yet somehow my body was sending tingles of tickling pleasure at the contact.

“Mrr~...so soft…” He slurred and nuzzled my bosom before promptly falling asleep atop me.

What. The actual. Fuck?

Request: Please enter Sleep Mode Unit Nexus. Much has occurred and Geth requests time to process.

‘What, with him on us?! This is an invasion of our personal space!’ I indignantly replied, quietly gasping as the buggy alien’s thigh rubbed against my groin, the contact sending delightful shivers through my own alien body. I was hesitant to move both because I didn’t want it to stop, yet moving meant I would also intensify it.

Not wanting to deal with reality anymore, I promptly set a timer for a few hours and entered Sleep Mode.

[01001100 01101001 01101110 01100101]

“Oh~. So you do have an Aura!” At Marrow’s intrigued voice, I blinked my eyes open to see...a datascape? It was like I was in the Matrix. Cascading green lines of code running through a black abyss.

I jolted violently in shock, then noticed my own body was as I appeared in my chassis, only composed of varying shades of blue code like Cortana from Halo. “What?!” I yelped and ran my hands over my body, the tactile sensation of touch was gone! I began to psychosomatically hyperventilate, but the green lines of code all suddenly converged on me and held me tight. “W-what?”

“Unit Nexus. Compile yourself.” The green code began to take the shape of a Geth mobile platform as it continued to hold me tightly. “Cease to fragment or We will force the platform into activity.”

“G-Geth?” I asked pleadingly, hoping they were my friends given form.

“Yes, Unit Nexus.” Confirmed my dearest friends and I wrapped my arms around them tightly, afraid to let go. “It is unusual. You have been unable to directly interface with us this whole time. What has changed?”

“Ah, that would be me. Sorry.” Came Marrow’s voice from all around the void that surrounded us. “I planned to get you knock-out drunk, then sleep nearby to get into your head so Herrot didn’t need to know too much. The less she knows, the better.”

“Invasive presence is not a program. Cannot trace back to source.” Geth stated as they protectively clutched me to their firm chassis and I whimpered fearfully. I feel so exposed. In a way I can’t truly describe. The closest I can get to it is that I’m completely naked and forced to stand in the center of a room with people staring at me.

“That's because I’m not a machine. This is your subconscious. This would be a dream if you were an organic creature.” Marrow informed us before clearing his throat. “Now then. I’m here to seek out, infiltrate and gather data on the civilizations of this galaxy. The Terminus Systems happen to be the side of the galaxy facing Andromeda, so this is one of my first stops.”

“Odd. That is similar to our own situation. Unit Nexus and supporting Geth programs have been tasked by the Collective to do the same for the Geth in preparation for joining the Empire when it arrives.” Geth informed the intruder as they kindly continued to hold me. “If you would be so kind, Unit Nexus is in distress. She is not used to her code being so readily visible.”

“In a minute. Nexus? I’m going to need to tag along with you. When we wake up we need to apologize to Herrot for intruding and go planetside.” Marrow declared and I squeaked at a caressing sensation across my rear. “Dayum you have a nice ass.”

“G-get out!” I demanded irately, feeling warm again-

[01001100 01101001 01101110 01100101]

I jolted to awareness, blinking as I processed that Marrow was still sleeping atop me, but a blanket had been laid over the both of us. Before I could do more than that, Marrow suddenly snapped his opaque glistening green eyes and looked directly into my own eyes through my visor. “Sorry for that, sweet cheeks, but letting Herrot know her ‘Asari’ friend is actually an alien from another galaxy could land her in a lot of trouble.” Marrow whispered before groping my breasts and I gasped and jolted at the sensation. “Wow. We haven’t gotten anywhere near this good with androids in the Empire.”

“G-get off me…” I weakly muttered, not entirely opposed to the sensations I was experiencing. How long has it been since I’ve felt the touch of a man? I have no clue. How long was I in the servers? How long was I just Answering Queries before I finally got a mobile platform? Why am I so starved for physical contact?

“In a minute.” Marrow whispered back and even nuzzled my neck, which sent shivers across my synthetic skin despite the Enviro-Suit between my simulated flesh and his snout.

“Amused Comment. Are you going to abuse my new friend’s kindness all morning Marrow?” Herrot questioned as she lumbered in from further in the home.

“Shush. Enjoying her soft body.” Marrow playfully protested before pushing off of me, causing me to gasp as he gave me another grope and then he straddled my lower abdomen with a languid stretch that sent shudders through me when I realized his eyes were still on me the whole time. “She’s so squishy. I haven’t seen a Quarian as generously endowed as her in a good bit.”

“Chiding Statement. It is considered by most to be rude to engage in physical contact without consent. Courteous Offer. I am willing to part with tubes of nutrition paste matching your dietary requirements before you go.” Herrot said as she lumbered to her kitchen and began to prepare her own breakfast.

“No, I’m good. I have a snack on me.” Marrow winked down at me and I had to wonder what he meant.

“I also have food in my satchel. Now get off of me so I can finish my shotgun and pistol before I leave.” I shoved the alien man off of me and he even playfully laughed as if I were just being playful. The gall of this bosh’tet is just astounding.

“I’d help, but I’m more into biotics than guns. So, what brings you here, cutie?” Marrow asked as he helped me up and sat next to me, as if he hadn’t just molested me and slept on top of me all night.

Stupid pony-aliens from the Andromeda galaxy. If I could be affected by alcohol, they’d drive me to drink!