Finishing off the Batarian ground forces was not difficult, and once that was done, we set about collecting trophies.
"So you're the one in charge here?!"
A little man who looked utterly indignant drifted toward me. I could guess the reason... they had to sit in the shelter for so long, and civilians often lack patience.
"I am. Do you have some questions?"
"Questions? Questions?! He actually asks me what questions I have?!"
"Uncle Pete, calm down..."
"No, Marcy! No! I'm going to tell him everything! He showed up when everything was already handed to him! When there was no danger left! Meanwhile, our loved ones, our neighbors, every resident except us was kidnapped! Where were you when they were taking us?!"
If I could have put my hand to my face, I would have, but the armor and exoskeleton made it impossible, so I could only shake my head.
"Uncle..."
"It's amusing to hear grievances from you..."
My words, spoken in a cold tone, made both the man and the girl trying to calm him choke on the air.
"And before you, Uncle Pete, start getting outraged, I'll point out a few details that are quite obvious. First, we are in the Terminus Systems, and they are not under the control of the Citadel or the Alliance. And everyone... I repeat, EVERYONE who wishes to found a colony in such a place is informed that the Alliance, the Turian Hierarchy, the Asari Republics, and any other state, as well as the Citadel as a whole, bear no responsibility for your safety here."
"But..."
"No, you weren't refused help, however, the flight from the nearest territories patrolled by a fleet—any fleet—to this colony takes significant time. And pirates attack even those colonies located in territory under state protection... and they have to wait too. So it is perfectly logical that after you sent a distress signal, an Alliance fleet didn't just appear here."
"But..."
"I'm not finished. There is another issue: you flew to the Terminus Systems, yet even in Citadel Space, it is considered mandatory to install at least a minimal Anti-Air Defense system, though I'm sure you simply decided it was too expensive and that by just flying further away, you would ensure your own protection."
The man shut up.
"Oh, there's one more thing. Everyone knows the galaxy is preparing for war, and judging by the state of the buildings, you arrived here when that was already known. Which means you initially did everything to end up in this situation. So, if anything, I should be criticized for even paying attention to your signal, as protection is needed by those who didn't do everything in their power to become a victim."
"Forgive us."
The girl squeaked quietly, and I, closing my eyes, sighed.
"I will contact the Turians who are currently helping in space to deal with the Batarian ships, and they will help you reach Citadel Space territory. Think very carefully about exactly where you want to go and if you are even needed there. Because in a new place, no one is going to help you, and any systems for refugees right now are designed for only one month. That is, in one month, you will have to find a job. However, everything else will depend only on you."
"But what about..."
"And those who were taken by the Collectors... it pains me to say this, but they are most likely dead."
"That's not true! They took them alive!
"Alive..."
I nodded in agreement.
"...however, I must point out that we cannot track the Collectors' Ship. There would have been a small chance if we had arrived as they were taking off, and to even try to save them, we would have had to ignore you."
My words were clearly painful for the little man and the girl.
"So accept it... that doesn't mean if we encounter their ship, we won't check it, but... the chances that they haven't already done whatever they kidnapped the colony residents for are minimal. I consider this conversation over."
Having lost all interest in the civilians, I turned to Tali.
"Who is this with you?"
"This is Veetor'Nara... he was on his Pilgrimage here, on Freedom's Progress, and he saw everything that happened when the Collectors arrived."
"And?"
I looked at Tali questioningly.
"He needs a medic. He's clearly not himself right now, so I'm asking for permission for him to come aboard the ship."
Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and, exhaling very slowly, opened them and looked at Veetor'Nara.
"Veetor'Nara... Veetor'Nara..."
"I'm telling you, he needs a medic, he's not himself."
"Veetor'Nara!"
Taking the guy by the shoulders, I shook him, managing to get him to focus his gaze on me.
"I will allow you on the ship if you give your word that you won't enter areas closed to you."
"Ah? Y-yes..."
The answer came to him with difficulty.
"Tali, you will be responsible for him. Does that work?"
"Yes."
After that, I lost interest in the guy, turning my attention to EDI, who was sitting next to one of the Batarians.
"How are things on your end?"
"I am hacking his Omni-tool. Of course, I performed the surface hack that allowed us to track them during the battle, but now I am trying to gain access to all the information he has."
"Very good, but be careful..."
"I am always careful."
"EDI..."
I looked at her intently and switched from external speakers to internal comms.
"...don't forget that previously the Geth trusted the Reapers and became a tool in their hands. And I wouldn't want you to fall into some trap set for such an occasion."
"Do you think one even exists?"
"Well... everything is too simple..."
Looking around, I mentally noted that it was only simple because of the number of Biotics and thanks to the exoskeletons.
"...simple for us, of course, but I don't believe the Collectors view us the same way they do everyone else. So, most likely, this is a trial balloon."
"Will it get harder later?"
"Most likely... notice, not a single Husk, not a single Collector, no technology that the Batarians could have been equipped with. Just Batarians charging at us. We were being evaluated."
"And yet they gave us what we needed."
EDI nodded toward the containers standing near her, which contained the midges—very large midges, the size of a fist—that put people into stasis.
"They did... but considering the amount of these midges, I dread to imagine what size the individual protection device will be, or rather, what size the power source for that device will be."
"John..."
Jane approached us, and I shifted my gaze to her.
"Yes?"
"You won't believe this..."
Raising an eyebrow, I waited to hear what had happened that made Jane decide to come to me and start with that phrase.
"We found proof that Cerberus is collaborating with the Collectors. It was they who signaled that the colony had no Anti-Air Defense systems."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. A Cerberus operative sent that signal and waited for evacuation until the very end, but it never happened, so as I understand it, he became a victim of the Collectors himself. And we got his computer with all the data."
"That is very good."
A very satisfied smirk appeared on my lips.
"This will allow us to discredit Cerberus and The Illusive Man even further. It's a pity that rat is constantly changing locations now. And tracking him down has become very difficult. Но we need to strike a blow against the organization."
"We'll do it. But..."
"Yes?"
"That's not all. There are several residents on Bali..."
This news made me clench my fists.
"EDI... analyze all the data and pass it to Miranda Lawson and Oriana Lawson..."
"Better to Mirala."
"Mirala?"
"Yes... we'll have to release her earlier than we'd like, but I believe in her prudence. She has only just begun to find a normal life and won't risk it. And besides... in any case, she'll kill three or four sentients, while Cerberus will destroy Bali."
"You want her to use her experience to track down the agents?"
"Exactly."
Nodding, I looked at EDI.
"I hope you'll make this task easier for her."
"I will do everything in my power."
All that remained was to trust EDI and Mirala, though I had lingering doubts about the latter, and judging by how Samara froze after hearing my words over the internal comms, she felt doubts too.
** Some time later. **
"Doc, here are your specimens for research."
"Good... very good... have several test subjects that can be dissected. Don't need to adhere to ethics with these. Work will go faster. Much faster."
Freezing for a couple of seconds, Mordin Solus focused his gaze on me.
"Your AI will be useful to me. Performs calculations quickly. Can model situation development. Would be grateful for access."
"EDI."
Looking toward one of the cameras, I nodded to her.
"Provide the Doc with full assistance."
"It will be done."
A satisfied smirk appeared on Mordin Solus's lips.
"Very good, must work!"
Cheering up, Mordin Solus immediately set to work.
** A view from the side. **
"Mirala, we need your help..."
Miranda Lawson opened the Asari's cell and stepped inside, which made the girl freeze in surprise. Previously, only those who could actually oppose her in Biotics, or those in the company of such sentients, had done so. And here her half-sister just up and walked in...
No, she wasn't a weak Biotic, of course, but she didn't measure up to Mirala herself.
"Help?"
"Yes, information came from John; there are sleeper Cerberus agents on Bali who can disable the Anti-Air Defense system and signal the Collectors to come and collect people."
"And?"
"John wants you to use your experience and help find them. We have some initial data, but it's very little."
"Show me."
Mirala simply snatched the tablet from Miranda Lawson's hands and began quickly scanning what was there.
"This... I'll have to leave this place."
"John and Samara have given the go-ahead for that."
"They... gave the go-ahead?"
"Yes."
"But I'm..."
"You are strong. And they believe you won't want to return to your past life. And also, you will WANT to preserve what you've gained."
"They... I don't believe in my own strength..."
"That doesn't matter. What matters is that they believe. And that means I believe too. But in any case, everything will depend only on you."
Miranda Lawson looked closely at her half-sister, though she tried not to look directly into her eyes to avoid provoking her unnecessarily.
"So, will you help?"
"Yes."
Mirala's voice sounded composed, but still a bit uncertain. And at that same moment, in another room, Rila, Falere, and Oriana Lawson, who were watching this conversation through the cameras, smiled with relief. They had feared she would refuse or that she would still try to return to her past life. But realizing that Mirala was keeping herself in check, they felt a sense of relief.
"So, our actions?"
"We will help."
Falere answered Rila's question, after which the girls, without a word, immersed themselves in work. They had to check a lot of data to help the sisters in the investigation, and none of them doubted that Miranda Lawson would be helping Mirala.
***
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