System: Upgrade complete. User mentality has change enough for new avenues of growth... warning slight resistance detected in the psyche. Applying a small upgrade. Full upgrade after cleanup. Follower Aurora (Hoshot) Thessia has awakened Follower ability Haptics.
"You Vorcha, get in there and dig him out. Bring me his corpse if he's dead. The rest of you, get that drill-ready." The Krogan Warleader bellowed.
Waves of resentment flowed off the vorcha onto the surroundings. Fear, despair, and utter hatred. But also hope. A few knew something was going to happen soon. They found several of their kind in the caverns with different messages in their language. Ancient that only a few understood.
Zelda: Upgrades applied. Extraction was successful. Pulled soul piece from sleeping World. Nintendo 64-Starfox 64. Aurora has taken in your combined essences. It worked. How are you feeling?
Azul was holding himself up to keep from crushing Hotshot. She was out cold with a grin on her face. Every now and then, she would twitch. The melding went fine. But dangerous as she was to eager. She took in some of Azul's psyche. A him that was sleeping that he did not plan on going to.
'I am good. Actual a lot better but something is different inside me. I can feel something dormant as well something else. Ah wait..' He stopped communicating with her and looked at Hotshot. "Embrace .. what.. the.. ugh.. the words are not the same.." He grumbled and felt the throb again. 'I can feel Slannesh again. It is different this time. Its more peaceful. But I dont have the sword so..' His power started to grow from his Devil.
System: Conditions met. Awakening Pather power ability. Wandering Soul II-Embrace Life
'I could use this to my advantage.' Focusing on Hotshot he reactivated the meld. As they mixed again he found she was completely open to him. Slowly he strengthens her mind to resist temptation from Power. And from him. Only a little before retreating he was stopped. Hotshot mentally grabbed him and held him for a moment. She returned the block from him and smiled.
'Oh no, you dont. Your mine Commander!' She grinned. 'When we get everything is taken care of I have a gift for you. You will like it I promise. I enjoy taking you this way. It is nice. You did nothing wrong inside. Not like the last person tried to do. I like taking risks. Still young for my people. But I can be convinced to be a Matriarch. For the right Killer of course.'
She shook her head, the view changed to her and a Turian soldier she fought with as a mercenary. They were close. Partied hard and fought hard. Close enough for them to move into a Meld at one point. During the meld, he tried to dig a little deeper into her. She resisted and he pushed harder. The result, she awakened as an Ardat-Yakshi. Frying his mind and taking everything from him. She cried when it was over and tossed the body out of their ship. The next day she joined another group. Maldova's group.
Zelda: We can discuss what happened later. For now, I would like you to remember the task at hand.
'Right.' Azul focused and felt that a Vorcha had gotten close to him. 'Hey, you!' He sent to it when it stood above him. He went right through its meager defenses. But he found who he had been searching for. A large soul piece left and entered her. 'That was massive. I did not know she became that large.'
"Ekk, who sssaid that?" The Vorcha said looking around. She was dazed and freaking out after something travelled up her spine. Seeing a mercenary nearby, her hand went to her pistol on instinct. The mercenary walked away grumbling.
"Urghh stupid creatures." The merc saw her reaching and didnt want the trouble. The Vorcha had been rowdy lately. They outnumbered the rest of the company by a lot. 'Should kill them one by one. The stupid boss should not have hied so many of them.'
"Quit sslacking off. Another messs up and they will kill the ressst of the colony." Another vorcha said.
"Right, right," Shalla said moving about. "I musst be going crazy." She shook her head and took another step. She saw Azul underneath her foot. "Ehhh!"
'No, you aren't going crazy I am talking to you through biotic transmission. If you can get your fellow Vorcha to help me buy time. I will take care of those Krogan for you.' AzuI projected as much sincerity and trust he could.
System: Persuasion Check Auto Passed
A thread of biotic energy floated back to him. She agreed with him whole heartedly. A smile as she moved back and away.
AzuI uses the remaining time to meditate. A few minutes later as a Vorcha reached him. It dropped a medigel onto Hotshot. With enough healing from that and the energy he restored through meditation, it was enough to calm his mind. It was time to act.
'Brace yourselves!' Azul told Shalla mentally. Hopefully, the Krogan reacted slowly.
"Bwoom," several biotic barriers went up.
Azul slowly wrapped his energy around the rocks and lifted up as he stood. Looking down, he saw Hotshot still in the proverbial Lala land. She was safe since he lifted everything up and at the ready. The mercenaries looked at him suprised.
"Hi," Azul hand went outstretched as he flung the rocks towards the Krogan laser.
"Ding, ding, ding." The final shard hit something good. A vorcha nearby threw a grenade before ducking into cover. "Ding," it bounced once before getting deep inside.
"Boom," it exploded sending the casing up into the air. A few rocks landed on the opening.
"Bzzt., " Electrical sparks started to gather around.
"What the hell?" A Krogan by the machine said startled. "The readings are skyrocketing. Damn it! It's not shutting down." He looked to the vorcha in cover and growled. "Grrr, filthy pest!"
The vorcha all ran to the sides fling rocks about for distraction. A few others fired as they ran to where Azul was.
"There he is, get him!" Another Krogan yelled spotting the grenade thrower. "Thats the ring leader. Kill him." The other's turned to fire. Before they could make do on that an electrical charge flared up.
"Bzzt," the electrical charged started to hit those nearby. This caused the kinetic armor to disrupt.
"Boom!" The laser exploded lighting some of the Krogan on fire. They were defensless as with the armor barely holding long enough.
AzuI watched as Shalla lifted Hotshot from the debris. He was now faced to face with her and a few others.
"Holyshit your tall." Azul said with a smile. Reaching for his pistol, he realized it was gone. 'Damit they took it. I forgot about that.' Looking over he noticed Hotshot had no weapons on her either. Most likely lost them in the tussle.
"Greetings Broodfather. Have you been well?" Shalla smiled and watched him. No damage to him and Hotshot. She was impressed. 'The Brood Father is stronger than before. But worried for something. What can it be?' The Vorcha near her was surprised at her acknowledgment. A human as their leader? As her Broodfather.'
"He can not be our leader!" A vorcha protested. It was the same one who told her to get it togethor earlier. "He will use us and kill us."
"Whack," Shalla backhanded him. Her claws scraping against his face leaving a mark on it. He stared at her suprised at her viloence. She was always a more cautious one of their kind. "Hiiiss," she bared her teeth at him and bit at the air. It was a threat. A blatant one at that. Seeing that he backed away, she gestured for Azul to take care of the mercs. Taking Hotshot, she moved to the sealed door.
"Guess Melee it is." Activating his biotics, he charged in. The flames burning even cleared around his body. In seconds he was on the first mercenary. "Bury me under rocks huh. Shoot me with a fucking laser. I am gonna kill you bastards." He yelled as he tore into them.
Gunfire started to pour from behind him. The Vorcha didn't let this chance slip by to get revenge. Once they were in cover that is.
One Vorcha had pulled out a heavy pistol. Each shot was accurate and steady. This Vorcha took care of any of the Krogan who got close to the others. A snarling grin plastered on his face. It was hard to tell with all the teeth. But it was there.
"Pow, Pow, " the shots landed in the Krogan's knee cap to the left. It dropped a little. "Pow," another shot blast the krogan in the side. It dropped low.
"Kachak!" A precise sniper shot blew its head off. A vorcha had taken the sniper rifle that had done all the damage earlier. Round after round tore into the remaining Krogan causing them to fall back. The firefight was short-lived. Quantity versus quality at the moment.
Next thing Azul knew, he felt a tap on his shoulders. This drew him from stabbing into the Turian he was mounted on.
"Yeah what is it?" He asked. Shalla pointed to the door that opened just a bit. "Don't shoot! The Vorcha are on our side." Azul said to help clarify to the others just to make sure nothing happened.
He managed to say this just in time. As the Krogan he spared came out guns at the ready. Before he ask anything, Kasumi and Tifa came out running. They jumped up kicking him in the gut.
"Tag team kick!" The both knocked him onto his ass. Kasumi just stared at him angrily. She was mostly doing it because of the residual memories planted over. She grinned to keep her self from laughing. Tifa was actually angry.
"Never do that again asshole!" Tifa said somewhat red-eyed. "How can we grow as a martial artist, if you are dead? Days without communication!"
"Right no promises. How the hell are you here? Are you injured still?" AzuI asked surprised that she kick him that hard in her condition. She did not get off him till she ran her Pather power over him. Seeing he was at least happy, she stood off him. Azul stared at her as he stood up. He thought his eyes deceived him for a bit. A few Protheans walked out with Jane and company.
"We found all kinds of stuff inside. I am all patched up, and ready to go." Tifa beamed at him smiling.
"Sweet. How about getting Hotshot and the others checked over as well? Someone kicked me in the gut. It hurts something fierce." Azul stifled a chuckle. "Hehe, you have gotten stronger."
"Yeah, yeah sure. What about these Vorcha? Are they them?" Rayna asked coming up. Her biotics were already flared up and ready to go.
"They are some of them. Others, I have no idea. I will not screw them over however. Oi Vorcha with us." Calling them over, Azul's mind started to fog up again. Another throb at the base of his neck.
"Crrkkk crk," Shalla turned to the others. With a clicking of noise from her throat, the others fell in behind. A few did not. She did not care.
Tiffany came over and lifted Azul up. Not a shoulder carry or helping him walk. She grabbed him like he was groceries and sprinted them inside. "I was told to do this by Kasumi," Tiffany said looking at him puzzled. Azul looked over to see Kasumi smiling with her Omni-tool recording everything.
"If I wasn't so happy I would actually be upset." He said while looking at her. She just looked down at She blew a kiss along with Tifa. They then broke into laughter looking at the video. "Oh boy. Glad I have no shame and dont get embarrassed. So how are you, Tiffany?" She smiled but said nothing.
Once inside he could see several pods lining the sides. There was a strange uniformity to them all. But they were clean and operational. A few pods on the left-had all been opened with. A few Protheans working on them. The ones on the right were more jammed packed together. Once inside she dropped Azul who walked around and checked his people quickly. All good for them, but a little problem that Jane was dealing with the Protheans.
"I hope they have not tampered with the controls to much." Touching the nearest one, he was proven wrong. "Fucking Protheans. Just great... so many of them." He started getting to work as fast as he could. Bass was already finished with the ground work. Azul just needed to put togethor the finishing touches. Jane walked over.
This chamber and the others were cleared out. All the survivors are her. The bodies are tucked away in my inventory. The others are with Slipp." She felt bothered and did not know how to ask but she steeled herself to do so. "I..I would like to have the Protheans join me."
"Done," Azul answered looking at her with a smile. He then looked back to the screen and doubled his work faster. Jane was suprised and happy. "What? You helped me. I helped you. That is what Allies do."
"What about friends?"
"That to Jane." Azul answered not looking up. Their was a power diversion that was causing a problem. 'Bass cut off who is doing that. I want that energy for what I need.' Bass went to work abruptly feeling the urgency. "Jane they mean the same. Sorry, but like I said previously some things are going on that I need to take care of. I promise we can talk after the meeting."
"No problem." Jane walked away happy and went back to talk with the Protheans. With Azul's approval, the System took that as him awarding the Protheans to her as the reward. He would receive the other portion even more so now.
"You have it ready for them?" Tifa asked coming over. Azul nodded as he worked. The Vorcha that trust him went into the pods instantly. Shalla was the first one to do so. "We took care of the dead ones before waking them up." Kasumi walked over connecting with him.
'The dead ones are freshly dead for the most part. A few only by weeks. The genetic data should work wonders for your research. I was able to steal some things in the room they were in. Thos Protheans keep a very mindful eye. Slipp had trouble keeping them from shooting the Geth.' Kasumi rubbed his neck. The Protheans who watched knew nothing of their conversation. Far as they were concerned, it was just a lesser race doing useless things. 'I have so many goodies to tinker with. The crew is gonna flip at what we have found.'
Zelda: Jane has all of what she needs. As well as her rewards. A few live ones were hidden away thanks to Slipp. Would you like me to do the rest of what you want?
'Do it. Two pairs into the inventory. Also, two pairs to turn into mana again. Just in case a different composition of genetic material was exposed to the living ones.' Finishing the work portion, he took a breather and turned to look at the others.
Seeing Rayna walking over he was surprised at he movements. She was anxious and looking at him weirdly. She had to pause for a moment to collect herself. She looked at me staring at the pods weirdly.
"Will they be ok?" Rayna walked closer staring at the console. "Also the Geth. What about them?" They looked over to see the geth following Slipp's instructions precisely. "They have worked for her since they regained function. I have been informed they have evolved thanks to the coding of Bass. That and your node. They are closer to human now. Closer to full A.I. It is scary how much they are like me. It is... complicated. My feelings are not my own entirely. Programming says to do whatever I can to exploit their weakness."
"They are... complicated," AzuI said. He was trying to pick at her mind. "Your feelings will be your own soon. Give it time. You are five years old technically. Finding your way in the world. It takes time. You should not rush it."
"I know. But meeting your crew and you.. the world has a lot to offer. I cannot wait." Rayna walked closer to Azul. "I wish to help the Quarians. Not all will come to us. I do not care. I will help the stragglers first. Then move up from that. Will you help me achieve that? Get me treatment and help help heal the people. My people." Azul gave her a nod. "Good need to fix these hands and my feet. The curve in our muscled are defiantly worth it for the work our people mostly do."
"Ok, let us get you medically treated. I have taken care of the Vorcha myself." Azul hit away at the panel for another moment. He fixed a pod for treatment next. She hopped inside and receded her helmet before anyone got a good luck at her.
Slipp walked over interested in everything. The geth followed in tow. The tallest geth had weird eyes. Not a singular one. Two like humans. They had changed greatly. Reminded him of the Cyber Initiative those in Mortal Kombat went through. His Observe kicked in.
Observe: Vigil ??? Class: ????? Infiltrator Lvl 10 Second Class: Engineer Lvl 20
Specialty: Maintenance Engineer
Relations: Adopted brother of Bass
Status: Scared, Inquisitive
"Wow? So that is what you have been doing since arriving. The quietest stowaway in the world." Azul looked him over. "So staying or going?"
"Staying Commander," Vigil responded neutrally. His metal eyebrows moved out of synch. Kind of like Johnny 5 from Short Circuit. "Protheans have been informed of current information. Better they go with Jane and work with her and Shepard. Better I go with you and your lot. Your node can help free us. Help free those like me. Make us more alive. Like Bass. You take over the Geth, they get the Protheans. Solve galaxies problems and rebuild. Easy peasy as they say."
"Right... that will take a few decades but sure." Azul looked at Vigil skeptically. "Will take longer than that probably."
"We can wait. We are immortal." Vigil responded as matter of fact. He looked at Azul steadily. He did not mean the others really. Just that Azul was Immortal in a way they were.
"So the pods are doing what exctly?" Slipp asked. She tried to link with her Omni-tool but was denied access. "I cannot get to view the contents. And from the looks of it, the Protheans cannot as well."
"Yeah, they can not. I will explain what happened. The files will be given to you later. Except Rayna's." Azul said cool as a cucumber. He did not care if the Protheans were upset. They should count the stars for being able to breathe. " I had them get into these pods to fix the genetic abnormalities."
"What abnormalities?" Slipp asked.
"They are an older species. Infected by a disease designed by the Protheans to fight against its enemies. It is the reason they breed so fast and high in numbers. But life expectancy is lowered because of that as well. If the subject can be kept in control in high numbers, it would be easy to conquer a planet. With the shorten life, they cannot become a threat. Learning capabilities stunted. I have to return it to them." Azul did not lie. He told them exactly what he knew from last time. Additional information had been found with his higher increase in genetics as well as information Bass found and forwarded to him. The information made him hate the Protheans just a bit more. He was glad they were going with Jane.
They discuss the different medical information for awhile. With Vigil able to give a little more data over as well not that he had linked with the System. A few hours passed as Jane and a Prothean came over.
"So.. what are you doing?" She seemed slightly apologetic but was trying to figure things out. "Jaleek here was wanting to know why the power has been cut."
"Fixing them," AzuI said looking to her. "Don't worry, they will be fine soon. Back to what they originally were. By the way, thanks for letting the colonists open those pods and getting the armor inside. Those Protheans were not going to need them. The Vorcha that come out will need clothes. Armor will work better though for them. We are getting out of here soon."
"My people need that armor. We have to rebuild soon. From what I have been told, the Reapers are still a threat." Jaleek said with agitation in his voice. "We need it as well as power restored. Those tools are not needed." Jane was a little angry at that remark as well.
"Yeah no. End of discussion, walk away or I kill you." Azul voice contained traces of his power. It built the moment the Prothean said tool. "I said move. Now!"
System: Intimidation Check Auto Pass
They walked away. Jane mouthed an apology before walking away. AzuI couldn't help wanting to get out of there soon. This place was making everything wonky again. But why was it affecting him this way. He already gained control earlier. He was happy and beside the Prothean jus then. Zelda said they were working on it. So it had to have been still in the works.