Nexus Effect

Ch.5

“So you’re a Changeling?” I rhetorically questioned my reluctantly accepted new companion as he-sorry, she walked next to me towards the transport hub of the station. This time, travel was far less hindered since my companion, who while appearing male and an even more alien person among the crowd, was apparently being seen as an Asari by onlookers.

“Yep! I metaphysically alter my physical composition to match other living entities. Considering there are no AI in this galaxy, I figured just copying the Asari ‘mind-fuck’ broadcast their brains naturally do would be enough. You’re seeing the true me while everyone else sees a sexy blue-skinned woman that matches their species’ preferences.” Marrow cheerfully informed me with the consideration that all the general commotion around us would mask our conversation.

“Damn. That’s cool.” I commented as I worked this over in my mind. That power is bullshit. No wonder the Empire sent a Changeling as their initial scout and infiltrator. If he can just copy local species, then he can essentially take any form to suit the environment on top of the stealth applications.

Notification: Dossier on ‘Changeling’ species is being constructed. Please continue to probe Marrow for further input for correlation with data provided by Star Swirl.

‘I will, but later. He’s stuck to our hip anyway.’ I replied to my friends as Marrow looked at me curiously.

“So you’re talking to your friends right now? You taste a bit zanny when you do that.” Marrow commented and I mentally reminded myself that one of the first things he informed me about himself is that he’s an emotivore.

“Yes, please don’t feed off of me without telling me first.” I chided my companion who shrugged. I have to wonder how she looks in that outfit. I hope that doesn’t come up in conversation, because I only see him in those Jedi-like robes.

“I’m not. I just taste everyone’s ambient emotion signature subconsciously. Now that I’ve been so intimate with your subconscious, I can actually taste your emotions unlike before when I assumed you were just a machine.” Marrow replied as we neared the reception desk for the local transit authority. “Allow me. Hey sweetie~!”

“Marrow! Good to see you.” The Turian girl manning the desk greeted cheerfully before looking at me. “Another charity case?”

“Oh, I don’t know about that. She’s a cute one after all.” Marrow winked back at me and I felt my face heat up behind my visor.

“Marrow, I know you have a bit of a reputation around here, but be mindful. Her immune system is something to consider.” The receptionist replied worriedly and I felt warm again at the implications that A: Marrow wants to sleep with me and B: that Marrow has a reputation. How long has he even been here?

“Oh, don’t worry. I know ways to get around the limitations caused by full body suits.” Marrow purred and leaned against the counter, the female turian leaning back from the space-invading invader. “Want to find out again?”

“I-I’ll be ringing up a pass!” The Turian female nervously declared and retreated behind the counter as Marrow turned around, leaning his ass against the counter and looking at me smugly.

“How did you do that?” I asked in awe of such a display of overwhelming force of personality. That poor woman didn’t stand a chance!

“You just have to know how to talk to people, sweet cheeks. You could be the most offensive and crass person in the room and still talk your way into, or out of anything if you have the right charm. Also, I’m a telepath and can tweak people’s perceptions.” Marrow leaned towards me and stage-whispered the last bit, knowing nobody nearby would hear.

“Alright. I’ve got a day pass. If she wants a longer term pass she’ll need to buy it like anybody else.” The receptionist declared as she used her Omni-tool to transfer the pass to my own tool.

“Thanks sweet thing. The offer still stands~.” Marrow lilted and leaned forward a bit, thrusting his chest out and the female’s face, while unable to flush, still visibly wrinkled in interesting ways as her eyes were drawn down to what had to be blue boobs that I can’t see.

“N-noted. Now get out of here before I get in trouble.” The female Turian hissed and Marrow pouted before blowing a kiss at the poor woman and hooking one of my arms to hug to his chest as he dragged me towards the public transport shuttles.

“Why are you acting like we’re a couple?!” I whispered harshly with embarrassment and warmth spreading through me. What is this?! Why is my body reacting like this?! What did Star Swirl do?!

“It’s easier to get you by security this way. The whole stigma against Quarians will be quite a hurdle for you. I don’t have too much of the whole story, but I know the Quarian-Geth war is what started it.” Marrow replied just before we neared the security booths, who checked my guns to see if they were locked by the security broadcast system before simply letting us pass with suspicious glares at me and curious looks at Marrow.

“The Morning War. The slaughter that occurred when the Quarians tried to kill their beautiful creations instead of reaching a compromise with them, all because they didn’t want to lose their membership with the Citadel. They ended up fucking themselves over on both fronts, leaving the species a drove of vagabonds in a space floatilla.” I morosely replied with sadness for both the Geth, who were betrayed, as well as the Quarians, whose foolishness had doomed them.

“So they have no ties with the Citadel anymore?” Marrow asked as he pulled out a Data Pad from...somewhere around his chest. “What of these Krogans?”

“Where did that come from? Why aren’t you using an Omni-tool?” I questioned curiously and Marrow looked panicked before making the datapad disappear around his chest area. “What was that?”

“Shh!” Marrow harshly shushed me and suddenly I wasn’t looking at Marrow the Changeling, but instead a beautiful blue-skinned Asari woman who looked like sex on legs. “I’ll tell you later-So what are we looking at, sweet cheeks?” Marrow suddenly asked in a husky woman’s voice that was completely at odds with his natural raspy tone.

“Uh, well, we’re trying to look for affordable tickets into Citadel Space.” I reminded her-him in bewilderment, only for a hulking Krogan that approached Marrow from behind to suddenly grope Marrow’s D-ish cup breasts. “W-what the-?!”

“Ah! Those hands! Findok is that you~?” Marrow questioned with a disgustingly saccharine tone to her-his, he’s male-that was almost painful for me to hear with how insincere it was.

“Hey babe. You finally headed off this rock?” The towering hulking brute questioned my companion who winced when the alien’s claws got a bit rough with her-his breasts.

“Y-yep! I have my next heading.” Marrow nervously replied, her-his eyes glinting and the towering mountain of muscle chuckled deeply.

“Shame to see a babe like you to just waltz on out. How about we go somewhere to have fun before you go?” The letch named Findok suggested in a tone that wasn’t at all a suggestion. I was about to do something rash when Marrow sent me a pleading expression.

“S-sure! One for the road!” Marrow declared with a quiver to her-his voice and mouthed ‘wait at the station’ before she-he was dragged away by the brute when the shuttle landed.

“What is-I just-whatever.” I huffed and exited the shuttle to find a communal bench to wait for Marrow on, hoping that she-he would be okay. As I walked past a few more Krogan, I noticed that a couple of them were specifically speaking to a third holding a fox-like pendant with exaggerated feminine attributes that also seemed to be armored. “Is that a fox?”

“Hm? You know about our people’s Matron Goddess of War and Fertility?” Questioned the charm-bearer curiously. He was dressed much less combatively than the other two, oddly enough. While they wore patchwork armor, he wore mostly a draping white-gray hooded robe accentuated with well-maintained and placed pieces of plain gray metallic armor.

“That’s a silly myth Wrekrov and you know it.” One of his companions grunted in disapproval, to which the clearly bigger white-clad alien responded by whacking him over the head casually so loudly it was like hearing a piston striking a car door.

“You two go on without me.” Wrekrov growled at his companions, who grunted and left him alone with me. “You identified her as a fox. A creature nobody has ever seen or heard, yet Urta’s most devoted know to be what she is.”

“Uh...um...I don’t really have an easy explanation…” I meekly replied to the towering hulk who was easily three times my size if only perhaps a couple feet taller than me. He made Dwayne ‘The Rock'' Johnson look smol.

“That is the same for all who know the glory of Urta, but you don’t. I can tell. You shy from battle, you lack the aura of carnal desire. Yet you know. I am curious regardless.” Wrekrov commented as he approached and I backed into a public bench, which I yelped as I plopped my butt onto it.

“I-uh.” I frantically stammered as he sat next to me.

“I am Jorgal Wrekrov, one of the last true Priests of Urta for the Krogan. Shamans know of her, but they don’t worship her as they should.” Wrekrov sighed as he rubbed his white-painted crest atop his head in annoyance. “The loss of the war and the genophage has shattered our beliefs in the old ways, when in truth they could save us.”

“Okay?” I replied, unsure what to do right now. Why was he sitting here talking to me? Most krogan from the games are headstrong warriors and they don’t have an established religion. Yet in this version of them they do, who is this goddess Urta?

“I...cannot explain this. I feel like I should follow you. Like if I do, I’ll get my answers. Urta acts in mysterious ways. Even for a Goddess of War and Fertility, she can be quite obtuse.” Wrekrov huffed and patted me hard on the shoulder, which for normal people would’ve sent then tumbling, but only registered as an unusually high amount of pressure on my endoframe.

“Um...oh boy. We can talk to my friend when he gets done with his business.” I have an inkling of what he’s talking about…

Notification: File found. Goddess Urta, a member of the Imperial Cabinet who has served as Empress for several centuries in non-consecutive service.

‘Holy shit I was right. Thanks guys.’ “Yes. He’ll know what to do.” I replied to my potential new companion...holy shit, is this my Tutorial?! Am I gathering the Crew?! I have my Liara in Marrow, Wrex in Wrekrov and Tali in me. Now I just need a Turian and three humans or something!

“Sorry Sweet Cheeks! He was a bit persistent.” Marrow, now male in my eyes again, jauntily jogged up to us. “Um...who’s the big guy? I just got rid of the last one to bug us…”

“If I were a younger and dumber Krogan, I would’ve taken offense to that. I’ve seen enough good warriors get crushed by Asari to know better though. Are you this skinny gal’s friend?” Wrekrov-wha-skinny?! I’ll have you know I’m seductively thicc! Wait, why am I protesting being called skinny when I used to be a gymnast?

“Yep. Judging by the vibes I’m getting, you want to tag along with us?” Marrow warily questioned as he looked at me and I made a crown gesture with my hands above my head and he made a face of realization. “Wow. One day and I have two people in on the secret. Alright, I’ll explain, but it needs to be in a private place.”

“Trust me, it’s really outlandish.” I commented and Wrekrov snorted before standing and nodding to us.

“Lead on then. My last contract just finished and those two runts could do with trying to take care of themselves for once. My senses for adventure are tingling.” Wrekrov rumbled and I stood to follow Marrow. “So you two got a ship?”

“No. I did have one, but it was a small cargo hauler without weapons, so I sold it. Little toad bought it for 250,000, but I’ve already used about 10,000 on upgrading my guns and repair materials for my suit.” I replied to our new heavy who hummed.

“Gonna have to fix that. 240,000 is really cheap for any sizable ship. We’d be better off hitchhiking on bigger ships as hired help instead.” Wrekrov hummed in serious consideration.

“I actually may have a solution.” Marrow hummed as he led us through the spaceport city we’d come down from the station to reach. “My last ship got trashed by pirates so I had to sell it as salvage when I managed to limp the rest of the way here. I’ve got maybe a good 60,000 credits to my name left.”

“So that brings us to 300,000. Not much better, but I’ve been in worse situations and made do. If worse comes to worst, we could try to find a pirate den, clear it out and steal all their shit. Sell the goods, then turn it around into a new ship, or just patch up any ship they had stowed away.” Wrekrov replied with a tone of experience. He sounds like he’s had quite a few adventures.

“Okay, that sounds fine. It’s not the first time I’ve done such a thing to get back from a mission. I haven’t lived six hundred years without a few massacres in my old line of work.” Marrow huffed as he cracked his neck.

“I have you beat by forty years then.” Wrekrov chuckled as Marrow led us to a scrapyard adjacent to the spaceport proper, where the hulls of ships were being dismantled by-

Detecting a quarian military frigate! Came an excited announcement from my Geth friends without a prefix! Since when did they have the ability to broadcast emotion? Since last night. I’m not broadcasting my thoughts! We have full access to Unit Nexus’ systems now with permission given by said Unit. O-oh...okay then. More than okay! We are ecstatic to be experiencing things as Unit Nexus does.

That statement made me feel warm...

I shook my head and looked where my HUD was highlighting a scraped out shell of a ship. It had the same ergonomic flowing design methodology that the Geth and thus the Quarians followed. The hull was the same metallic purple as the Geth mobile platforms. Shame it was in ruins, it would’ve been such a beautiful ship to fly in.

“Sorry, that husk is being held for the Migrant Fleet when next it comes around.” Came the iconic flanged tone of a Turian as said alien in orange coveralls and coated in grease and oil approached us. “So to what do I owe the pleasure Marrow? You here to give me more charity cases for grunt work?” The female Turian snarked at my companion who huffed.

“Look. You knew that was just a night of fun, please drop it Vitoria. I’m actually here to ask if any reasonably armed, armored and space-capable ships have been dropped on your lot.” Marrow asked snippily, clearly his charm didn’t really work on people who felt like jilted lovers.

“Are you serious? Tell me she’s joking?” The annoyed metal-skinned raptor-woman asked of us and I shared a shrug with Wrekrov. “You are serious. Yeah, the answer is no. I wouldn’t send my worst enemy up in any of these hulks. They’re all labeled as scrap for a reason and the ones bought off are still a long ways away from being space-worthy.”

“Welp. That was my idea. Any ideas where we can go raid a pirate den Wrekrov?” Marrow flippantly asked and the Turian woman suddenly seemed aghast. I’m still getting used to reading the expressions of other races.

“Oh Void no! I’m not about to just let you-ugh...okay. I don’t have any ships here, but I have an...associate, who might be able to help you get a ship. So long as you don’t mind iffy details.” Vitoria said in a hushed tone as she looked around and then sent something to Marrow via Omni. “You’d better call me tonight so I know you’re alive, damn you.”

“Hey, if I didn’t, I’d be a horrible friend wouldn’t I?” Marrow chirped and then smooched Vitoria’s cheek, which caused the alien woman to quickly retreat and disappear behind a nearby building. “Told ya. If you got the charm, you can get people to do almost anything.”

“That was just beautiful.” Wrekrov complemented with a hearty chuckle. “You didn’t even need to do anything besides pluck a few heartstrings. You’re positively evil.”

“You are going to call her tonight.” I declared firmly and Marrow nodded with a soft smile. “Okay then, where to now, our charismatic leader?” I asked sarcastically, not at all upset at the idea of someone else taking the lead. One less issue for me to deal with.

“Let’s see here...oh great. Back to the RTC station, it’s on the opposite side of the city at an impound lot.” Marrow muttered and I sighed while Wrekrov chuckled.

“Ah, the impound. I remember those places fondly. Stole my first ship from one.” Wrekrov nostalgically commented as our group began walking back to the station.

“Might not want to broadcast that…” Just what kind of people am I associating with?

“Bah. None of the so-called ‘police’ in this sector have any spine unless it’s a shoot-out with pirates that they have outnumbered. Have a Krogan on your side and they’ll fold like a house of cards.” Wrekrov stated with confidence and I had to sigh.

The company I keep may be shifty, but at least they’re capable and willing to get things done thus far.