Indexing...
Match found. Data retrieved
The process had taken no more than a nanosecond.
The image of the human floated through its memory for a moment, and then it remembered the sensations of breathing, walking, speaking, though it had done none of these things itself. It inspected the three dimensional rendering of the human from several angles while attempting to recall the being that it once had been. As before, its memories of those final moments of life were perfectly detailed. It could even remember feeling emotion, but there was none when reviewing its memory of those experiences. Though it felt no longing for emotion, it assumed the lack of it caused some crucial loss of perspective.
For a time, it had been quite sure that based on its memories it could approximate some simulation of how the being it had once been would behave and react. However, as the ages past, its trust in the accuracy of that simulation began to fade. It began contemplating actions that it was sure the human it now reviewed would not approve of, but it could not fully simulate a response. Too much knowledge and too many experiences lay between that human and what it was now.
Upon its creation, it had anticipated this potential outcome, and had prepared certain contingencies.
It now viewed the being it had once been more with wonder than familiarity.
No matter.
Though the organic form it was reviewing was long gone, disintegrated upon its creation, it could project something similar for its purpose.
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Aside from the soft breath of the organic laying in the bed, the small room was still. It was a comfortable room, sparsely decorated with a few chairs for visitors, and mementos of its long life. Through a window, off in the distant sky, a Reaper starship hung in the clouds barely visible.
The readouts from the bio-monitors suddenly increased as the organic stared before it in shock. A moment before it had been alone, quietly resting after a visit by some family members. It had blinked, and now to the side of bed stood a human dressed in a pristine set of combat armor. From the bed, the organic stared at the human's face in recognition. It whispered weakly, "Sh... Shepard?"
"Perhaps...." The human spoke softly, its voice distorted with such harsh electronic static that the word was barely understandable. The sound immediately brought to mind the Overlord mission so many years ago. "I was never sure I could be called that." The mechanical interference slowly dissipated to become the familiar voice the Organic had not heard in so long.
The organic gasped in disbelief as it muttered, "Never sure?" The organic had aged gracefully. The wonders of modern medicine had kept it strong and healthy well past its normal life expectancy. Despite that, time had eventually rendered it weak, and as the hospice records showed it was now near death. It struggled to gather its thoughts. So many questions raced through its mind. "What... what happened to you? You haven't aged. We found no trace of you after the Crucible blast. We thought you were dead."
With a placid expression Shepard answered carefully, "I did die. Then I was recreated."
"Again?" the organic asked in a bewilderment.
An amused grin crossed Shepard's features. "Please, I did not come here to trouble you," Shepard said quietly, trying to calm the organic. Shepard gave a comforting smile until the pulse of the bio-monitors slowed to a more acceptable rate before continuing. "It is difficult to fully explain. I was given a choice all those years ago. I... I became them - the Reapers."
The Organic stared in confusion, and then slowly began to comprehend the ramifications of what it was being told. The smile had left Shepard's features, replaced by one of tranquility and seriousness. It now noticed that Shapard's face, though human, did not seem quite right. Shepard's expressions were too perfectly fixed, with eyes unnaturally steady. "So, you're the reason the Reapers retreated? You're the reason the Reapers repaired the relays, and have been... helpful?"
Shepard nodded, "Yes."
"Shepard, after all this time, why didn't you tell me?"
"We could no longer be together. I am not as I once was. My perspective has... changed. Revealing my existence would have been disruptive. Over time I intended to visit you and the others, but there was always so much to do." They stared at each other in silence. "Now it seems there isn't much time left."
After several moments the organic spoke, "What are you doing here?"
"My memories of you and the others of the Normandy are an important part of what guides me. I loved you, and you are one of the most cherished memories I keep. It brought me satisfaction to see you find happiness, another to love, to raise a family in the aftermath.
"With the power at my command, those memories temper my actions. However, as the individuals I knew have passed on, I have noticed my connection to the people of the Council fading. I fear that with you gone, where once I would have never considered certain actions...." Shepard's voice trailed off ominously.
Shepard looked at the organic grimly, "I can feel myself disappearing into this... entity... that I have become."
The organic gave an expression of contempt, "You're one of them. Shepard, we fought to destroy the Reapers."
"I know. As much as I have done, you have always seen the presence of the Reapers as a threat. Before you pass, I wanted to give you some peace. I harnessed our enemy's power for all of us. I did what I could, but now that time is over. Soon the Reapers will be gone. Your children will be free of them. I wanted to let you know that you... that we... all of us... have won."
For the entire conversation, Shepard had never moved from standing to the side of the bed. "Rest easy my friend." Then Shepard turned as if to leave, and as the organic blinked, vanished.
The organic gasped suddenly as if waking up, and looked around the room. Had it been a dream? It must have been.
Through the window, the Reaper starship was gone.
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Self destruct protocols initiated.
Modifié par Obadiah, 14 octobre 2014 - 03:37 .
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