10/10/2019

Thank you to Pax Humana and Daisy Duck 39 for beta-ing.

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Part 6 Eternity
Chapter 160: My Power Is Unmatched

-cfr-

417534 Years after the Destruction of the Catalyst, 584433 Years after the Rebirth of Humanity in the LMC, 629487 Years after Human Ascension

42681 Years Later

Sol System, Milky Way

Shepard glided into orbit beside Harbinger. The First Ascended was overseeing the final stages of construction on the newest Ascended. The species name had been Kulfoldi. All non Human Ascended in the Milky Way were made in Sol. Shepard did not entertain any complaints about that from anyone. They deserved the safety the system gave them.

Sol was one of the few systems in all the twenty galaxies that his guard fleet were prepared to give him some space. A mere 100,000 were surrounding him, at a reasonable distance of 100,000 klicks. The millions of other ships in the fleet were scattered around Sol. They were prepared to move at any moment.

He watched the construction for a while. Kulfoldi would not awaken for several months yet.

"After the Catalyst was dead, what did you want to happen?" Shepard asked. The minds within him silenced at the question. They could feel that the channel to Harbinger was completely secure. They would be the only ones to hear the answer. He was not homogenised though the process was on the way. Still, those who retained enough of themselves recognised the privilege inherent in being Shepard.

The First Ascended was silent. Shepard waited. He knew Harbinger had heard. "The first time I thought about it, I'm sure I had the aftermath planned."

Shepard didn't reply. He could sense Harbinger had more to say. His voice was soft, softer than Shepard had ever heard before. It was as if the First Ascended was being introspective. It was probably that he was recalling memories of memories. The Catalyst would not have taken the thought of betrayal well.

It was at times like this that Shepard realised what Harbinger had been through. What he had sacrificed for Ascension. "The second and third time probably as well."

Again, Shepard didn't reply. Over the cycles, Harbinger would have had time to plan multiple times. He couldn't shiver but to try and fail that many times… It was humbling. He was only a few hundred thousand years old. Still a child by most Ascended standards.

"I do not know if it knew that in the end it didn't matter. So long as the job was done, the aftermath could be determined then."

Shepard cast his mind over the aftermath. He could see how it could be different. There were so many differences that were possible. "Did you-" He paused, not quite sure how to ask the question. Of all the Ascended Harbinger was the only one he could not order. He didn't want to. All the others, regardless of species were subject to his command, just as they were subject to Harbinger's. Theirs was an interesting relationship.

The First Ascended waited for him to continue.

"Even now, those who knew the embrace of the Catalyst cannot think about its destruction. Not as an action they might take," Shepard began again. "Did you alter me?"

It was a sensitive subject. Shepard wasn't sure what answer he wanted.

"No," Harbinger answered easily. "The Catalyst examined you too closely for me to risk anything. Not that I could." The last was added carefully. Shepard could feel the resentment in the First Ascended's tone. It was in stark contrast to his usual resonance.

Shepard could feel Harbinger's implied question but knew that the answer was already known.

"It was impatient," Harbinger stated.

"It wanted us to fall into line," Shepard reminded him. "To be fully mature and completely subservient to the cycle."

"Ascended serve the cycle." It was Harbinger's turn to remind him.

"But the cycle does not always serve Ascended," Shepard said, quoting back the truth Harbinger had once told him.

"If it was patient, if it allowed you to develop, to age within the fleet, the losses of the Prothean Cycle would have been replaced and while you would have been an anomaly, you would have conformed." The eldest Ascended made the assessment.

"We were prepared to conform," Shepard confirmed. There had been no reason to attempt anything else. They had agreed to that. "But-" He did not need to say anything further.

"You could envisage it because you had no intention of ceasing the cycle," Harbinger told him.

Shepard didn't reply.

"It could not envisage that."

"We were Ascended for revenge. That should have been warning," Shepard said. "It could not have envisaged this." He referred to the galaxies now under Ascended control. The new Ascended being formed before him was from the Milky Way but the species of other galaxies were Harvested, in a fashion. The difference was not enough to invalidate their purpose. The species, the nation was preserved. That was their purpose. That continued.

"It was not designed to think further," Harbinger said.

"Yet there were so many things to improve," Shepard countered.

"I am aware of that."

If Shepard was organic his jaw would have snapped shut. The anger in Harbinger's voice was not expected. "There were so many lost because it would not allow change. It would not allow effective measures."

"The cycle was stagnation." The statement wasn't one Shepard ever expected to make to Harbinger. At least, not one to make while in a civil conversation. If it had come to a battle, maybe then.

"It was effective but did not allow variation."

"And those organics who deviated paid the price."

"Yes." The First Ascended added his own agreement. "As did those who recognised the stagnation in the cycle," he added slyly.

"We would have," Shepard agreed. He didn't know what they would have done at that point.

"You would have," Harbinger acknowledged. "That would have given it its desire."

"All of us?" Shepard asked. His subchannels clarified the question. Would Humanity have been like the Atreides? Lost to history. Lost even to the Ascended fleet.

The First Ascended was silent. Shepard could tell he was thinking. "Possibly," the answer was forthcoming eventually, almost grudgingly. "Some would have conformed."

Shepard couldn't deny that. Some of the Human fleet might have attempted to conform with the Catalyst's desire. If things had been like that, he wasn't sure what he hoped for. Would that conformation be temporary, until they found another way? Would it have been forever, to ensure the Human name lived on? Or would it have a form of cultural suicide? They might be named Human but the essence was forsaken? He didn't know.

The was thankful he never had to know. He would never have known, even in that situation. He would have been the first to fall.

"If it was patient." It was the obvious statement. It was the defence against speculation. It had not been patient.

There was no feeling in Harbinger's subchannels to indicate the eldest Ascended was frustrated with the response.

"You protected the fleet as best you could," Shepard said. "There were always those who were going to fall."

"They did not need to fall."

It was the first time Shepard had ever heard Harbinger regret. He couldn't argue the statement though. They did not need to fall.

"They are remembered. As I remember those who have fallen," Shepard assured Harbinger. His subchannels told Harbinger the truth. He had not known that those lost in the assault during the Human's first true cycle could have been saved. The fact that their cores had been retrieved was, not a bonus - calling it a bonus made it seem cheap - but was something he still felt relieved over.

The Ascended at the time had told the truth. They could not have repaired themselves, so they were lost. It was a symbol of the old cycle. A symbol of the Catalyst. It did not allow them to be helped, so they could not be helped. No matter how wasteful that was. The Ascended fleet had not been united because of the Catalyst.

Shepard looked at Harbinger, letting the First Ascended know he was the focus of his attention. "You remember them, even those who could not be retrieved." It was the same as Shepard's memory in that way. He remembered the fallen.

"They are all remembered," Harbinger said. It was a simple statement. It's dignity was in its simplicity. Harbinger remembered them in a way that was beyond the the gaps they caused in the network.

It was impossible to absorb the network fully. It was formed by the Ascended. It was added to with every Ascended that awoke. They were the knowledge. Most could overlook the gaps, Shepard now felt them as well. Not as keenly as Harbinger did, but he felt them.

The First Ascended knew them all. His relationship with every original Ascended was personal. It was a different type of leadership. It was why Harbinger remained in control of the original fleet. He wanted to keep that. Shepard couldn't with the Humans. There was simply too many. Most understood that. They didn't seem to mind.

In some ways those with Harbinger thought they got the better deal. It was the way of the new cycle. Nothing more.

"You were wise to be patient," Harbinger stated, somehow knowing the direction of Shepard's thoughts.

He wasn't sure what the First Ascended meant.

"Those that urged you to attack," Harbinger clarified in a rare moment.

Shepard felt non existent eyes widen as he understood. Harbinger seldom referred to the Human Ascended fleet. He was now. In the long years, while waiting for the Rock to reach the Milky Way, there had been a thought to attack with the Human Ascended of the LMC. Harbinger's praise answered the long speculated question. The Catalyst could have controlled them.

"I would not have sent Ascended," Shepard commented but he understood Harbinger's meaning. Sending a fleet would not have been certain.

Harbinger didn't reply. Shepard felt himself draw new meaning from the First Ascended's previous statement but more from the words not spoken. They would have failed. Ascended fleet or organic fleet, Harbinger was confident they would have failed.

Shepard sifted through the subchannel information. There were no scenarios or other thoughts given, just the First Ascended's confidence that the attack would not have destroyed the Catalyst. He searched through his memory, wincing slightly when he realised how much of Adams and the other Engineers information he had absorbed, how close they were to homogenisation.

Harbinger was silent. The First Ascended didn't know what he was doing but knew enough to give that impression. He had the experience of ages to be able to give that impression in all situations.

The Citadel was strong. It was armored beyond even the Ascended. As a stationary point without weapons, it had to be able to defend itself. It could be moved… No, that wasn't it. It also didn't have Quantum Shields. It couldn't. Not and still be functional for organics, or to let the Catalyst interact with the galaxy.

An attack fleet would have eventually cracked its armour, especially with some of the power that could have been brought to bear. The Ascended fleet had Black Stars, those would have been powerful enough. But… Against an organic fleet the Catalyst would have called the Ascended and a battle would have ensued. One the Ascended couldn't win. Which would result in the same answer, though with the loss of the Ascended. He hadn't wanted that.

He knew that wasn't what the First Ascended was thinking. What did Harbinger mean?

Then the answer came to him. It wasn't an engineering answer. It wasn't one that had to do with how an attack was launched, or if Ascended would have been lost. It was one that was embodied in what the Catalyst was. It was an AI.

"It wouldn't have!" Shepard said before he realised he'd spoken.

Harbinger didn't move. Shepard got the impression of a look. It was almost amusing that the First Ascended gave a gesture that was very Human.

"It would not have lowered itself," he amended his statement.

"It would not have wanted to," Harbinger allowed but his subchannels indicated that when faced with death, the Catalyst would have behaved like an organic. It would have done what was necessary.

Shepard returned Harbinger's look. His was not amused but measuring. The First One understood his concern. He didn't move. It wasn't submission, it was just the way Harbinger was. Shepard didn't move either. Could the Catalyst have jumped into Harbinger just before the Rock hit? It was possible but… Shepard didn't believe the AI would have been that patient, to wait out the years of now to have the opportunity.

And if it had, why now? There were ways for Harbinger to re-establish control over the entire Ascended fleet, Humans included. Shepard might be free, the others were not.

The mechanised husks continued their work on Kulfoldi. Silence stretched between them. Shepard felt himself tensing.

"My comms were cycling," Harbinger rumbled eventually.

It was not a joke. Harbinger did not joke. Shepard couldn't help but feel that in some way Harbinger had been wanting a stronger reaction from him.

"I can be patient," he replied. It was a reference to the Rock. It had taken 26 times recorded Human history to the point of Ascension for it to hit. 2000 Human life times. Far more than his young Ascended self should have been able to envisage. It made Cerberus' achievement at conceiving the plan all the more stark. The statement also referenced the Catalyst. It was it's impatience which caused the change.

"You can be patient," Harbinger agreed eventually. It was acknowledgement enough.

Shepard didn't reply. Instead he watched the construction. Mechanised Husks moved over the surface of Kulfoldi as they laid down the new form. The core was ready. That part was fast. But the core was currently unconscious, nestled in the shell growing around it. The comm link between them was still open but neither felt the need to break the silence. Eventually curiosity got the better of him. "Are you satisfied with the outcome?" The new cycle, the new reality of the galaxy was in question.

"The new Ascended know no other way," Harbinger replied. It was not really an answer. One of his legs gestured to several Ascended who were reasonably close. They were in hibernation but Shepard recognised them. They were all Ascended who had been created from organics that knew only the new reality of the Milky Way.

"You train them personally?"

"They learn the truth."

Shepard couldn't deny that. They learned the truth Harbinger wanted. It was sufficient.

"Your system is adequate," the First Ascended continued.

Shepard huffed. It was organic. He didn't care. The system was more than adequate. Over time, the new Harvest had been developed, though the basic outline had not changed from the time of the Nyvarg. With the Harvest of the Nyvarg they had tested using the slave's technology to attract the organics on a planet. It had worked well, and in every subsequent Harvest, the Ascended had held a competition. It was prestigious to Harvest your system the fastest. That prestige only got more valuable as the organic territories got smaller as further species arose.

Now though, each species was spread over the galaxy. A more drastic measure was called for. It was still based on the slave's technology but had a wider call. They activated it several months before the Harvest. It activated through the Relay network to attract the species back to their core territories. Then they were Harvested. With the number of Ascended now, it only took a few hours. The limiting speed was always how fast they could sort and load the organics. That had been the choke point for several years.

Yet there were always organics that did not belong to the subject species. They now formed the destroyer class Ascended. They were a mish-mash of species created to serve the Prime form.

For Harbinger to say the system was adequate was the highest praise it would receive from the Eldest Ascended.

"The organics do not know," Shepard said.

Harbinger gave him an almost organic look. "They know something is out there. They knew that during the Cycle. Those that did not deliberately look away," he added the qualification. "With them now, they do not know how to articulate it. They see what is happening, yet because it is random, because it comes without warning, they do not fight."

"They cannot fight," Shepard said confidently.

"You are hoping for battle?"

"Not from here," Shepard indicated. His subchannels made it clear he was not speaking about the Milky Way.

"It will be a challenge," Harbinger agreed.

"You want to go?"

"Not initially."

Shepard was silent. It indicated to the First Ascended that he could lead the expedition if he desired. Shepard had the right to order any Ascended, as did Harbinger. Leadership would be an issue.

"Not initially," Harbinger repeated. His subchannels indicated some curiosity towards Andromeda. They had experienced no difficulties conquering the other, smaller galaxies, even when those galaxies were occupied. Those species who had not been able to fight.

Andromeda was likely to be different. The force to scout it would be large. The subsequent waves would also be large. Expansion was only a matter of time.

"I will go only later," Shepard told Harbinger.

The First Ascended's subchannel revealed that he considered this a good move.

"I do know," Shepard groused. He knew what would happen if his true form was to be destroyed. An Avatar was just that. His bodyguards still guarded any organic form he downloaded into but they knew it was only a shell. His true form was always far more heavily guarded. He didn't slip away with it, the way he still did in an organic shell. He could afford to take more risks in an organic shell. And did.

Harbinger didn't need to say anything. His silence indicated that he still thought Shepard took unnecessary risks. It was a function of youth.

"I will not be stupid," Shepard defended.

"But you are curious."

"As are you."

"As am I," Harbinger agreed without the slightest trace of discomfort.

Shepard send him the impression of a grin and they both watched the construction again. It was their right to spend their time as they saw fit, even if it was watching over the creation of a new Ascended.

"You were right, you know," Harbinger announced eventually. There was no context to the words.

"I was right?" Shepard asked after a few moments. The moments were spent scanning memory files. There was nothing he could attach the words to.

"You once said it was more interesting with more organics," Harbinger clarified, one pereopod gesturing towards the star field.

That allowed Shepard to recall the conversation. He hadn't quite said that. The sentiment was there. Interference, the amount he allowed, was far more interesting. The Assembly, the League and the Commission had always assumed the Humans wished for peace. They had imposed that upon themselves. The Commission and the League never discovered otherwise.

The Assembly had. It had been amusing to see the reaction when the first species worked it out. The Lihini. They had arisen in the Nyvarg territory. They had seen the writing on the wall and had conformed with the Assembly. It was only a ruse as they gathered strength and technology. Never Human tech, though they tried, but everyone elses.

And then they'd struck.

The Assembly had been outraged. Shepard couldn't remember laughing quite so hard for some time. He'd told them point blank that the Terrans would not interfere. That they would never have interfered. The only reason they had interfered with the Quendior Cruleas War was that it had interfered with their territory.

The Lihini took that message to heart. They were scrupulous about avoiding combat in Human border systems.

The Lihini didn't win. But they sure as hell woke the Assembly up. They changed the status quo of the galaxy and from there… Well, the organics wouldn't see it that way, but Shepard did. That time onwards began the weakening of borders. The organics recognised, in a way, that to avoid war, they had to be homogenised. It took millennia for that to happen. It still wasn't complete, but many planets were a mish-mash of species.

It was the beginning of the Galactic Collective, though the Assembly persisted.

There were still wars today. They were kept contained. While the memory of the chaos the Lihini had caused had faded, the Galactic Collective kept most of the species linked and dependent on each other. It was just another experiment in galactic government between multiple species.

Shepard turned away from the still forming Kulfoldi. "Tailored interference has its place," he replied, referring to the cycles and the subtle interference the Ascended had in that. The cycle had been a trap. The Relays were laid out to encourage development along the paths the Ascended wanted. It had worked for ages. It was effective. He didn't argue that.

"It does," Harbinger concurred. There was a note in his voice that indicated the discussion was finished. The comm channel wasn't dropped but it would be.

Shepard grinned to himself. Even now Harbinger liked to remind him that he was younger. The dismissal was simply that. And he had asked all that he wanted to know today. But he had his own ways of making his point.

He remained in place, just looking at Sol.

The system was crowded with Ascended. It was always crowded with Ascended but the planets were as he remembered. His sensors turned to Earth. The single city was visible on the night side, lit up brightly. The rest of the planet was dark. The wilderness allowed to reclaim everything else.

He wandered there often enough in organic form. He'd even died a time or two. The others had laughed but he hadn't minded. That was the way of Earth. It was still a beautiful planet and time had allowed it to heal. The waters were once again blue though the continents had shifted.

Shepard could almost feel Harbinger's regard. The First Ascended was still facing the construction dock but Shepard knew his attention was on him. They'd discussed this already. It only highlighted Shepard's youth. They could not remain in Sol forever.

But it would be long enough, though even the First Ascended couldn't predict if another sentient species would arise on Earth. It wasn't a concern now.

For now, now he'd take the praise from Harbinger and leave it at that. It wasn't often that the First Ascended changed his mind. That event should be acknowledged.

He moved away. The comm channel dropped. Harbinger remained focused on Kulfoldi's formation. Shepard linked himself into the network again. Nothing major had changed during the relatively short period of his inattention. Not that he expected it to but you never knew.

Perhaps then, in this relative time of peace, he should take another look at the border. The reformed Ascended species were always interesting to watch. Maybe it was time for another experiment of his own.

He now had time. All the time in the galaxy.

That was a nice thought.

-cfr-

462358 Years after the Destruction of the Catalyst, 629257 Years after the Rebirth of Humanity in the LMC, 674311 Years after Human Ascension

44824 Years Later

Milky Way, Ozree Station (Not the Original Station of course, the replacement!), Edge of Terran Alliance Territory

Sisqing stood in the observation room. Ozree station had several but very few people bothered to come down to this one. That suited her purposes. It meant she could control the observation screens. All of the observation rooms had the screens built in. The Humans might be able to see the ships in the distance, but no one else could.

She'd spent several days just cataloguing ships to hide her real interest. Now though she was about to take the readings which would confirm everything. There was a Terran Ship coming in. She had to know.

Sisqing pulled up the image. Its lines were sleek. It cut through space like a knife and seemed to radiate power. The running lights gave it the impression that it was some huge organic creature. It wasn't. She knew that much, but in another life, it might have been.

She brought up her omni-tool. That's what it looked like anyway. It was instead a scanner. She'd made it herself. It read the energy signatures of ships. Each species' ship had a unique signature. It was what made that ship theirs. By itself it wasn't anything special. Everyone knew that.

What made her scanner special was that she had other ships recorded. Ships everyone knew existed but no one thought about. The galaxies continued blindness was infuriating! She understood it in one way. There was proof of things happening in the empty planets. Yet no one had ever seen the ships or species responsible.

There were rumours, always rumours, that a species lived in the core of the galaxy except none of the Relays went there. So how would they been travelling? She'd answer that question later. For now she had to know.

With the rumours, there were blurry images on the 'net. Sometimes they were actual images, at others they were sketches. The thing that they had in common was the shape of the ship drawn. It was primitive. Or it seemed that way. They were curved with legs descending from underneath. The main body of the ship tapered upwards. Speculation online was that it was required to better fit a mass driver cannon. She didn't know. She didn't care. What she cared about what the energy signature.

Sisqing didn't know how it had been collected. It had probably been pieced together from half destroyed records over a hundred planets. It was the type of thing you didn't ask questions about.

She used the image on the screen to help her aim her omni-tool scanner. Other people had scanned Human ships. But Sisqing had noted that there were different types of Humans ships. They didn't announce it. It was in their names.

They all had different suffixes. Some were PMS, which stood for Phoenix Merchant Ship. Others were TAV, which was Terran Alliance Vessel. That made the most sense. She had no idea what the Phoenix stood for on the Terran vessels. Both were normal ships though. They had different energy signatures but they were built for different purposes. But there were other suffixes on the Terran Ships. One she'd discovered had no energy signature on record.

That's what she was here for. Ozree station. There was no guarantee the ship would come passed, but Sisqing had been lucky. There was one here now.

Her scanner activated, indicating it had locked onto the ship. She couldn't see it but kept her eye on it via the screen. It would only take a minute. Then she'd know.

And once she knew… The galaxy would know. At the moment no one thought about the Disappearances. They were rare. There was generally no outcry. That was all because they didn't know. Once they did...

Sisqing could image the might of the Galactic Collective rising up to strike the Terrans. It would not be easy. She knew that. But it had to be done. The Disappearances had to stop. The extinction of so many species could not be forgiven.

Her omni-tool beeped. Sisqing pulled it back, disengaging the scan. Her arm almost felt heavier but she knew it was now grinding out calculations. Sisqing tapped the view screen, letting the ship take over every one. They were holograms so the stars were visible through them. It made the ship look even more spectacular.

There was a final beep. The calculations were done. Sisqing lifted her arm, her focus on the number.

"No…" She whispered. The scan confirmed it. That ship… It looked different but it was the same.

There was a clap from behind her. Sisqing spun, her eyes wide. The clap continued, forming a slow ovation for her. A Human was there. Male, simply dressed in a grey suit without adornment. He pushed himself off from the door frame, smiling at her, though thankfully the gesture did not reveal his teeth. He moved forward to stand beside her.

Sisqing got the impression his eyes could see the ship without the aide of the screens.

"So, what else have you worked out?" the Human asked, gesturing vaguely towards the screen.

She was silent. How did you answer that? Who was he? How had he gotten here? What did he know? Could she run? She tapped at her omni-tool, attempting to upload her findings. Even if she died, the information would be there. It would be acted upon.

There was an angry squawk from her wrist.

The Human turned his head slightly, looking over at her. "You can't upload," he told her gently.

She shivered. "Who are you?"

He gave her an amused look. It filled her with trepidation. "My name is Shepard."

"She-" Sisqing couldn't finish the word. Even if you had no interest in the Terran Alliance, you knew who Shepard was.

"As the first to figure it out, I thought it best to come myself," he said. While he didn't comment on her discomfort, Sisqing thought he was relishing it.

"Figure it out?" She breathed the question.

"Your scans. Your careful calculations." Shepard chuckled. "Did you really think Miranda arrived by chance?" He added the question, gesturing towards the ship.

"You knew?"

Shepard gave her another smile. "Miranda was wondering how long she'd have to stay there," he said, only obliquely answering her question.

She tried again to send her information.

"I told you, it will not upload," Shepard's voice was chiding. "But you will get another reward," he added. He gestured. The screens all lit up.

"Reward?" Sisqing didn't want to know yet at the same time, she knew she had to know.

"I believe I am a fair ruler," he announced. "I reward those who seek excellence. I like to think my rewards are tailored to the individual and so yours will be to watch."

She looked at the screens. They were filled with images of the ships. The huge, tapered, almost organic ships. The images she had seen before were blurry or sketches. This was what they really looked like. They were dangerous. Their running lights were baleful eyes. She had no idea where they were but even through the electronic image Sisqing could feel the force of their presence. It pressed against her. She felt like she should fall to her knees and her breath became short.

"They are beautiful, aren't they?" Shepard murmured. He waved slightly and one of the screens zoomed in on a ship. "There he is. Harbinger."

"What?"

"Harbinger," Shepard repeated, gesturing towards the screen. "Over two billion years old and still as functional as the day he was made."

Sisqing gulped. She didn't like the sound of that but she didn't know what to ask. She took a trembling step back. Shepard didn't appear to notice. That was enough for her.

Sisqing bolted.

She didn't get far. Two humans appeared in the door, blocking her path. Sisqing skidded to a halt. Her breath rattled in her throat as if she'd run miles, rather than a few steps. The humans said nothing. She stared at them. Then one gave her a look, before lifting her hand, rotating her fingers through a circle. Sisqing understood the meaning. Turn around.

She did. Her knees felt weak. Her entire body was trembling but she obeyed.

Shepard was looking over his shoulder at her. His smile was back. This time it really was amused. From this angle she had no choice but to see the screens. Up close, she'd known they were full of ships. Taking a few steps back only reinforced that.

They were all identical but now she could see differences. There were smaller ships mixed amongst them.

Shepard seemed to interpret her gaze. "There are destroyers to go with the dreadnoughts," he told her. He gestured. The screens split, this time each of them displayed a different ship. "These are the Prime forms. They are a nation. This one is Prana."

Sisqing recognised the name. They were the first species the Humans had greeted in space. At least, that's what was said. "Prana?"

"Yes, Prana. The first of the new nations," Shepard explained. He flicked his fingers, moving the screen. "This is Jedlicka, a destroyer class. Not always the full nation but still respected. This is a troop transport."

"You have troops?" She couldn't help but gasp.

"Well of course I have troops. I don't maintain control over thirty or so galaxies without being able to fight."

"Thirty?" She'd never heard that.

Shepard sighed. Another screen appeared. Sisqing didn't understand what the image was for a moment until labels appeared. The were written in what she assumed was Terran text but quickly resolved into basic. She read the labels. Pisces II, Ursa Minor Dwarf II, Boote III, Carina, Tucana II, Horologium, Crus, Leo, Triangulum 2, Ursa Minor, Hercules and more. She didn't understand the names.

"Those are the galaxies the Terrans control." Shepard told her.

"So you are only the ruler of the Milky Way?" Sisqing asked. It made sense. He was here. The Terrans were here as well.

"No." Shepard's smile was deceptively gentle. It was at odds with the cold note in his voice. "I am the ruler of them all," he told her as the image disappeared. The ships reappeared.

"This is a Blackstar. It's a pure combat vessel. But these are the vessels you need to know about. They are Processors." Another ship appeared. It was ugly. "They are remote controlled but they are what preserve the nation. Every nation." Shepard spoke softly. He didn't appear to think anything was wrong.

"So what happens now?" Sisqing asked. She didn't know why he was showing her these ships.

"Now, you watch," he told her again.

She didn't understand.

"You watch these ships as they fulfill their purpose."

"People will notice," Sisqing objected, gesturing behind her self vaguely. People might not use the lower observation room but someone would eventually come here.

"No one will disturb us," Shepard assured her. It was only then that Sisqing noticed two chairs. They hadn't been there before. "Sit, sit," he encouraged, moving towards one of them.

"This will take a little while, you will want to sit," he said. "Do you want a drink?"

In response to the question she saw a small table appear. There were two glasses and a jug of liquid upon it. Sisqing had heard of this. The Humans made the Relays. They could control the technology so well that they could transport anything, anywhere. That seemed to be the truth. The liquid wasn't even sloshing in the jug.

Sisqing trembled. He was offering her hospitality while… she didn't know.

"What is happening?" She demanded.

Shepard looked at her as he poured himself a drink. He took a seat, leaving the other for her and sipped at his drink as the screens went back to displaying a wide view of fleets moving.

"I would have thought that is obvious," Shepard replied. "You are intelligent. You have been working on the problem for years. Surely you can work it out." His praise was not appreciated.

Sisqing took several deep breaths. "You are showing me ships that are the same design as those responsible for the Disappearances." She held onto that statement. She knew it was true. It was the only thing she could cling to.

"I am."

"Those ships have the same energy signature as some of the Terran Alliance vessels."

"They do," Shepard agreed again.

She didn't like the way the dots connected. "You are showing me a Disappearance," she whispered the words.

"See? I knew you'd work it out," Shepard congratulated. "Now just enjoy," he added, gesturing towards the screen.

"Who are you disappearing?" Sisqing was afraid to ask.

"The Framandi," the Human replied.

She knew that answer. Her species.

"I assure you, what you call disappearance is not death. Your people will be Ascended," Shepard continued. "But not you," he added. "I can't have you telling everyone and I can't have you surviving. I know what just one being can do."

Sisqing shook her head. "No."

"Oh, you aren't going to die yet," he assured her. "And when you do, you won't feel a thing. I promise that. Through Ascension, your species will live on. For eternity. Isn't that worth the sacrifice?"

"You've had practice?" She didn't know what made her ask that question.

"I have," Shepard admitted easily. He patted the seat next to him. "Enjoy the show. This is the first time I've truly had the opportunity to share it with someone."

"You want me to enjoy the extinction of my people?" Sisqing spat.

"The Ascension," Shepard corrected fastidiously. "It was going to be the Obia, but since you figured it out, the target changed. They will be Ascended next."

"You are enjoying this."

"Ascension is the genetic destiny of all organics," he told her. He took another sip of his drink. "Ah, they've gone to light speed," Shepard said as the ships disappeared.

"I've seen enough. I won't tell anyone. I will delete the data," Sisqing sobbed. "Just don't. Please. Don't."

There was no pity in the gaze Shepard directed at her. He didn't bother to reply.

She felt her legs give out but she did not feel herself hit the floor. Sisqing stared at the last screen. It still displayed one of those strangely primitive ships. It seemed to stare at her. She stared back. It was like looking into the abyss.

Sisqing knew what was staring back at her. The abyss looked back with their eyes.

Everything went black.

-cfr-

471895 Years after the Destruction of the Catalyst, 638794 Years after the Rebirth of Humanity in the LMC, 683848 Years after Human Ascension

9537 Years Later

Sol System, Milky Way

"Shepard."

He looked up at the voice. It was an organic reflex but that was acceptable. Currently he was in an organic body, enjoying the sights of Earth.

"Hackett?" Shepard asked, securing the connection.

"We're ready."

A smile stretched over Shepard's features. "Finally," he said. He looked around. Here was as good a place as any. Shepard sat down, crossing his legs as he sat in the dirt. This was Earth, so his avatar was actually allowed to go places without an escort.

But not unarmed. He was never unarmed. The link to his Ascended self was easy, and upload was almost instantaneous. Below, on the surface, his organic avatar collapsed. It would decompose there.

"Completely ready?" Shepard asked Hackett, feeling that Anderson was also in the link.

"Yes," the former Admiral confirmed. "We have chosen the attack fleet and the eezo packs are ready, for all waves."

"Good," Shepard purred.

There were a lot of Human Ascended. 600 million were going in the first wave. 800 million in the second wave. They would scout the main Andromeda galaxy in force. Of course, they would be accompanied by their remote ships. So that meant even more presence there.

No one knew what they would encounter there but there were plans upon plans for dealing with whatever they found. And further waves of ships ready to go if needed. They wouldn't need eezo.

"The inter-galactic Relays are ready?"

"They are," Anderson assured him. His subchannels indicated that several of the Ascended had already begun the journey, carrying the pieces of the Relays. There were several ways of constructing intergalactic Relays. With these ones, obviously the terminals would end in the Terran Alliance territory. But that meant they were free to launch from there as well.

The normal way of constructing a Relay was to construct it in place. Alternatively, the Humans had become good at modularising the Relays. They constructed large pieces of the Relay at a central location and then took them via the existing network to their new location and assembled the final product insitu.

Intergalactic Relays could be constructed in the same way. It was just the distance that was different. That, and if you forgot something, it was a far longer trip back to collect it.

Shepard chuckled to himself. The trip to the store was long. He suppressed his mirth as he linked with the network. The Human network was currently united, and were focused on him, and this project. He could feel every Human Ascended. Most merged into the whole. They weren't eager to receive his personal attention. Others were like brilliant lights. He couldn't help but notice them.

"Why is Harper so cheerful?" Shepard murmured the question. The other Ascended seemed to be delighted at some thought.

"Oh that," Anderson spat. "Even with the eezo packs, the main force are going to be stuck in FTL for years," he explained. "Even at half a million times light speed, it is going to be a five year journey."

Shepard had shown the way to compress the time when he'd used the eezo from the Project. Enough to move a 200 peta tonne mass. That was more than the backpacks would have now. Still, 500,000 times light speed was a huge improvement over an Ascended's usual 11,000 times light speed.

"Oh," Shepard snorted. That explained it. Harper always did like to see others suffer as he had. It might be 580,000 years back but Harper never lost the opportunity to remind anyone of what he had to endure. "It was only fifteen years." Shepard couldn't help the small admonishment.

"Yeah, which is why he's even happier," Anderson sounded disgusted. "Not only does the force have to do a long journey, they have to thank him for creating the Imperial Archives."

Shepard sighed. Harper really was being insufferable about this. "Tell him he's going, too."

Anderson and Hackett laughed.

Over the network Harper lost the amused feel. "Shepard!" his objection was stringent.

"You have experience in long distance operations," Shepard told him unapologetically. "Besides, it's not really that long." He emphasised the time differences. Even though the journey was far longer. Eezo was such a nice product. "I could go myself."

"No!" Harper's denial was instantaneous. They all knew the disaster it would be if Shepard died.

Shepard's subchannels revealed he was joking only after Harper's outburst. He was not stupid. "You will provide guidance," he instructed. Hackett was going. The former Admiral would be the military leader for whatever they found.

"You are just going to send us off?" Harper questioned.

"Yes." Shepard was confused as to what Harper was implying. Cerberus' subchannels didn't offer a hint.

"No ceremony? No showmanship?" Harper was aghast.

"This is not a jaunt for the Organics," Shepard advised him. He knew what Harper was referring to now. "Sending the fleet to the Milky Way was. This is purely for the Ascended." He was firm. "At least for now." He was prepared to allow that much.

Harper was wise enough not to argue.

"When can you be ready?"

"As soon as the fleets are gathered."

"Then gather them. It is time to expand again," Shepard ordered.

The network almost trembled with the command. They had anticipated it for a while.

"To Andromeda." Shepard said the words. "To Andromeda," he repeated.

The future awaited.

-cfr-

End Part 6: Eternity

And despite all this, only 600,000 years have passed. Shepard is still a baby to Harbinger. The First Ascended has been alive 2 billion years, Shepard hasn't even reached 1 million, so… still a baby.

Review please :D