Nexus Effect

Ch.87

Although we left the Citadel the next day to head for Feros, it didn’t come soon enough. The brat didn’t pester me again, but the fact he was there and waiting for things to progress and I couldn’t stop him made time crawl, even if I had Ghost to occupy me now.

“TIM says a Collector ship was downed by a Turian-” Penny began as she brought up an image of the Collector ship on the hologram.

“It’s a trap, don’t bother. The most we’ll get is info we already know.” I sighed, knowing that the only intel that ship had was its IFF. We already knew where the Collectors came from and what we needed to get through the Omega 4 Relay, but the ship was not needed for anything now besides an IFF. “The Collectors powered down their ship to lure us in and sent out a fake signal to entice us. TIM knows it’s a trap, but is sending us anyway for information gathering.”

“So wait, he wanted us rushing in for info we have?” Jack asked in disgust as she scratched Ghost’s ears while the precious puppy laid in her lap. Ghost and Jack really hit it off. He still considers me his great-grandma, but he really liked how much Jack enjoyed snuggling him.

“Doubtful. He’s hoping we’ll get something else from the ship. Maybe it's IFF or other tech.” Garrus huffed with a shake of his head at the obvious intent.

“But this is an opportunity we can’t afford to let slip if it will give us an IFF.” Mordin suggested as he looked at me and I shook my head so he hummed at how his theory wouldn’t pan out.

“If it is a trap, the IFF is heavily guarded and that ship could have millions of soldiers. Does the reward of the IFF outweigh the risk of the whole ship going dead?” Jacob asked.

“What about the Doom Marines? Couldn’t they go in and retrieve the IFF?” Miranda suggested, which got us all to look at her in confusion. “I mean, they are this and the next galaxy’s most skilled and powerful warriors. If it comes down to it, a single cruiser of enemies wouldn’t touch the numbers I’ve read they’ve taken on their own.”

This didn’t sit well with them and Berserker spoke to protest. “Miranda, that’s not a-.”

“Absolutely not.” Penny declared sternly with a glare at the room, which oddly seemed to have the warmth sucked out of it as her eyes shined bright turquoise. “This is my ship, I am a Spectre in service to the Citadel and all allied peoples. The Marines are our guests. I am not going to throw them at a problem and pretend I did my job, am I clear?”

“Shit, pissed Goddess of War. Everybody stay seated…” Collateral muttered calmly and I had to wonder what happened in the past that Urta and I guess Penny now, caused these juggernauts to ease back the throttle. All except Berserker, who saw her as a potential threat but played it cool, so as to not set things off further. Why do I get the feeling he’s a cut above the rest of his siblings?

“Yeah, don’t need the ship to implode.” Berserker agreed and gestured for Penny to continue, which caused the unsettling aura to vanish and Penny looked a bit dazed. “Careful there. You just had a sudden spike of your War Aspect in response to Miranda, who tried to call shots when none of us were above your rank in command. The last time someone pulled that off, half a planet got fucked.”

“N-noted...just...I don’t mind you volunteering to join us, but don’t think you can just go off without my input. You’re my guests, your purpose here be damned. I have the right and responsibility to see to it that you do not come to undue harm under my care and you are under my care right now. So, that noted. You can join us at your discretion, but you will need to operate with us this time. Unlike on Horizon, this is a far more deadly scenario.” Penny declared and the air got even less tense. “Fuck, being a goddess sucks.”

“Welcome to our life, Commander. That aside, we can work with you. Not all of our military is full of super-soldiers, we have normal folks that are also capable enough to get the job done. It would feel good to work with mortals again.” Berserker told us and this made Penny smile at them.

“Look, everyone. There is nothing to gain-.” I tried to stress, only for HK to raise a hand.

“Tactical Observation: We should spring this trap. Whether or not we find what we need to breach their stronghold, we can only learn from invading their ship. Cautious Optimism: We may even be able to retrieve more samples of their technology to reverse-engineer.” HK-62 pointed out and everyone looked at me, so I groaned in resignation.

“Fine, but we won’t find anything new in the ship’s systems. What we will find is proof a single ship could harvest possibly an entire planet’s worth of people, find a bunch of weapons to loot, confirm what I already know and maybe steal more working examples of their tech.” I sighed in exasperation as I considered all of the extensive numbers of ways this could go wrong.

[1001100 01101001 01101110 01100101]

I’m on the boarding party. Why am I on the boarding party? “I insist on staying behind. I won’t get anything new even if I’m directly at a console when I’m interfacing with this thing’s systems.” I complained to Penny even as the Kodiak ferried us to the Collector Cruiser, which was the size of a super-dreadnought, but only had the tonnage of a cruiser due to how much of it is open storage space.

“Just suck it up, Nora. Imagine how Grunt and Jack feel being on the Shadow Dagger with everyone else put on the cavalry team?” Garrus commented and Samara nodded in agreement.

“Nora, even if you think that, having you come along will give me confidence since you did interface with the ship before and you having direct access will speed us through any potential roadblocks.” Penny reassured me and I tried not to panic at the truth of it.

I can feel the ship. It’s alive. Not in the way synthetic intelligences were alive, but in a twisted, corrupt, vile way. I could feel it breathing, asynchronous hearts beating. It was a constant buzz in the back of my skull, unlike back on Horizon where I couldn’t comprehend it. Did the Brat do something to me? D-destroying the controls of the Keepers, slaves similar in nature to the Collectors, seemed obscenely easy when before I couldn’t even touch that.

I feel sick. “A-alright, but if I vomit or start passing out, it’s your fault for insisting.” I also had to worry for EDI, since she’s our mission overwatch with Yola acting as her support back on the Normandy. They’ll be pinging off of me to boost our processing power and improve chances of mining the ship’s data with more coherency than what I managed back on Horizon.

“If it comes to that I have a way to get you back to safety.” Penny stated soothingly, placing a hand on my shoulder and kissing my mouthpiece before her helmet deployed over her head and sealed. “Did you find a good LZ, Cortez?”

“Yeah, I’m taking us in, Commander.” Cortez replied before we felt the Kodiak land. “I’ll keep the Drive Core humming, Commander.”

“The moment you’re at risk, book it back to the Normandy.” Penny ordered our pilot before the door opened and we jumped out of the M.E-shielded door and onto the platform. “Artificial gravity. Yeah, they’re waiting for us.”

“My experience agrees, Commander. I will be extra vigilant.” Samara declared as we jogged into the ‘disabled’ ship. I still don’t get why it laid out a trap for us. Is it because the Collectors know the way back through the Omega 4 Relay is suicide? Or is it just because it wants us dealt with before it heads home? Harbinger was always a rather spastic-.

[Nexus.] Oh, speak of the fucking devil. He’s even broadcasting directly to me. [I have received an ultimatum and I accept the challenge.] What? [I will be waiting beyond the Omega 4 Relay. If you can even manage to reach me, then we will see which path the aftermath of the Cycle must take.] That...that little shit just changed the rules!

[I will not lose! I won’t let this Cycle finish to let another begin! You and the brat can go delete yourselves!] I snarled back and almost missed Penny’s order.

“-Can you hack this door?” Penny asked and I nodded before I approached and transformed my right index finger into a manual jack to plug in. Ew~ it feels so squishy inside this system! Ew, ew, ew, ew! “Good work!” Penny praised when the door opened after I butchered the grossly thready control programs locking the door.

“It’s like I was having to wade through waist-high slaughterhouse gore.” I queasily told them and hugged my blue-suited body with a shiver as I followed Penny onward.

[1001100 01101001 01101110 01100101]

The rest of the ship was much the same as I remembered. Harbinger is really banking on this ship being a proper deathtrap. We even came across a stockpile of weapons that was way bigger than I remember, but I still worked with the others to shove all of them into my Inventory through my cleavage, save the weapons that were a clear upgrade for them. Hmph, still nothing better than my personal Pulse pistol and shotgun. I’m a tinkering goddess, after all.

Not literally! Please, no, that was my ego for a moment, please do not make me a goddess of tinkering! “Dear god…” Garrus breathed in fear as we emerged in the hollow core of the cruiser, the fleshy walls encompassing the whole inner wall lined with pods for victims. “They could harvest all of the Alliance’s colonies and only fill half of these pods.”

“They’re going to attack Earth.” Penny snarled through her teeth in fury and I distantly agreed with the outrage. I barely even consider my human life to be who I am after all this time, but I still knew people, I miss them, but then that kind of notion has shifted to all the people I’ve met. “EDI, you’re still recording?”

“Affirmative, Commander. What we had before was enough to galvanize the galaxy back into action, this will ensure that they understand failure is not an option.” EDI declared as we traversed the vein like stretches of flesh towards the platform where I knew it might be do or die time.

“Okay, I have a feeling this might be where everything goes to hell. Guns up people.” I said to my friends and lover before I morphed my finger and jacked into-.

[Assuming Direct Control!]

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[1001100 01101001 01101110 01100101]

I gasped, jumping out of the way of a massive amber spike of code and I felt terror at looking up at the giant Reaper in this warped and disgusting Matrix. The code was wrong, worse than when I was a lesser LI and the Reaper Update Executable was downloaded into me. “Prepare to be assimilated, Nexus!”

“To Hell with you!” I snarled back and dodged another of the monster’s many legs. I’m so small in comparison! How can I-right! Size isn’t important! It’s how you use it! I ran along the fleshy red code that composed the ‘floor’ that felt exhilarating in spite of the danger.

[“Might also help he’s a VI and you’re a Geth. Go fucking shove him in your womb!”] A tiny male Hermais chuckled as he flew alongside me while I dodged lasers, missiles and Harbinger’s legs with a speed that defied his lumbering attempts to delete and assimilate me.

“How can I when he’s so damn big? I know size is a relative representation of processing power, but he’s so slow due to lag from how far he’s broadcasting himself.” I replied with the understanding that, were we right next to each other, the sheer processing power he had would overwhelm me, even if he was a dumb piece of shit.

[“He’s just code right now, software, that’s nothing physical like hardware. Besides, where is that Everlasting Dragon I put in you for just this occasion?!”] Excuse me, what?! [“Why do you think you have such a powerful desire to breed and be bred more and more while you’re still pregnant? That’s not just you! Now go get him! Even if it will only take his echoes, it will still make it easier to deal with him in person later!”]

“We’re having words later Hermais!” I warned my Displacer as I did something suicidal and flipped upward while pulling my digital quim open as one of his legs speared at me. “Ahn~!” I screamed in pleasure since instead of being deleted, I began taking him into me~!

[Danger to self detected! Partitioning!] Harbinger announced and the data-leg I was devouring with my code-cunt detached, but as it vanished inside me, I grew larger, rapidly going from the size of a person relative to him, to the size of one of his legs shaped as a person. [Tactics updated!] Harbinger began backing away, firing his laser and missiles at me rapidly, but my movement speed increased with my size.

I dodged to the side, closing in even as he retreated, but as I got closer he didn’t lift any of his legs, instead dead-set on blasting me with his laser. Okay then, I can still work with this! I ducked a blast underneath him, sliding groin-first into one of his back legs, which tripped him up as it began vanishing into me! I squealed in pleasure and fucked myself on his data-limb! [Partitioning!] Harbinger detached the other leg and then took to the ‘air’. [Retreating!]

“Ah~, no! Come back~! I wanna assimilate the rest of you!” I wailed hungrily, but he soon vanished and I was suddenly in control of the ship. I...I have control of the ship! The Collectors! I smirked darkly. [Assuming Direct Control!]

[1001100 01101001 01101110 01100101]

“EDI! Please tell me you’re any closer to rescuing Nora!” Penny shouted over the gunfire as yet another platform swooped in and the Collectors on it kept them pinned next to the completely unresponsive Nora, who was stuck. Something was keeping her finger linked to the console and EDI warned a forced disconnect could harm Nora irreparably.

“Hey guys! I’m the Collectors now!” Nora yelled out of a purple eyed Collector, the others next to it looked at her as if in confusion, before their eyes dulled and they looked around rapidly. “I just lobotomized their control network! I’ll be jacking out in-!” The Collector she was controlling directly suddenly turned as dull-eyed as it’s brethren and Nora jolted up. “Whoa~...I feel...cramped. Again.”

“Nora!” Penny shouted and hugged her future wife desperately.

“Oof, not now Penny. I feel-.” Nora tossed off her helmet despite the vacuum, because she doesn’t breathe, then she proceeded to vomit up Argent. “Eugh...not again…”

“What is wrong with her?” Samara asked in concern as Penny began undoing her torso armor, because slimes don’t need air either. “Commander?”

“I’m putting you someplace safe, okay?” Penny said to her lover before she unzipped her hardsuit and her mocha breasts were exposed. They rapidly expanded and engulfed the sickly Nora before shrinking back to her still overly-voluptuous size to reveal Nora to have vanished. “She’s in my own Imperial Inventory, tell nobody I have it, okay? I want it to be as secret as possible.” Penny said to her other team mates before she shoved Nora’s helmet into her cleavage, then zipped back up and placed her armor back in place.

“That is quite convenient.” Samara commented as she touched her absolute-cleavage that made her look so enticing were it not for her plastic face and creepy demeanor.

“Don’t remind me how useful those things are for mammalian species. The fact I can’t use that trick the male way either doesn’t soften the blow either.” Garrus playfully groused as the Collectors buzzed about and even put their weapons in their holsters. “It looks like the Collectors have collected themselves.”

One of them flew down to them and held up a hand before...is that...human sign language? “Uh...EDI? I don’t know how to read human sign language or any sign language besides Alliance operations hand signs.” Penny admitted much to her shame. It wasn’t a required skill, but every strike team needed one member fluent in HSL in case they came across a deaf civilian, as rare as those were.

“Hold on, their hands aren’t meant for five-fingered signs, so it’s compensating a lot. ...Oh, well then. Come on back, Commander. They have no clue what to do without directives, but they’re thankful for their freedom.” EDI informed me before humming. “Where is mom? Wherever she is, I’m seeing a lot of sex toys and guns.” Penny felt her body turn from mocha to red under her armor.

“Th-that’s my secret place, tell no-one!” Her precious stash of sex toys and sexy weapons must never see the light of day after all the additions she’d appropriated!

“Is that a dismounted tank turret?” EDI asked and Penny snarled with a far-too-canine sound. “Fine, I won’t ask, but be aware that mom is, uh, soiling a lot of your collection.” Penny mewled. She’d deal with it, her lover needed help now, not later.

[1001100 01101001 01101110 01100101]

I’m not sure when I blacked out or when I was put in the med-bay where Chakwas was giving me an ice bath. Ice bath? How hot am I run-oof. That is hot. I’m surprised my circuits haven’t fried. “Doc…”

“Shut back down! Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep!”

[1001100 01101001 01101110 01100101]

I awoke, in a pool of coolant. I’m still running so hot. So hot. I’m frying myself. Am I dying? Did I push myself too far?

I was pulled from the coolant and immediately began to overheat, my synthetic flesh had melted off of me! I’m just my endoframe! Help! Someone!

“Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep!” Yola screamed-.