[Shattered Soul] 5 – An AI built for War

"Status report," Shepard commanded in the airlock, finally taking off his helmet with the others. The notable exception was Tali, who was Quarian and, therefore, could not take off her suit.

"Gah, I hate that stuffy thing," Wrex grumbled in annoyance, holding his helmet and glaring at it.

"Just because Krogan can survive in a vacuum does not mean you shouldn't wear the proper equipment," Garus replied to Wrex.

"Quit the chatter," Shepard commanded before looking at Tali, "Is it still in your Omni-tool?" 

"I think so. I am still locked out of my Omni-tool," Tali informed the others with a hesitant glance at her omni-tool,

"We should have destroyed it on the ship if it can freely hack into an omni-tool. Who knows what it can do to the ship's computers and all of the Omni-tools on board," Garus spoke with annoyance, his mandibles moving to show his discomfort.

"Tali, can you isolate it?" Shepard asked.

"Isolate? No! I can't even access my own Omnitool!" Tali shouted in frustration.

"What if we destroy it?" Wrex put in his 'helpful' advice.

"And risk it jumping to something else? No. Tali, check in with engineering, get their assistance, and see what you can do," Shepard began ordering, only for Tali to freeze.

"Sir...?" Tali spoke up, "It's gone..."

...

A few hours passed, and for the life of everyone, the AI could not be found aboard the ship. Some, such as Wrex and Garus, returned to the cargo bay of the Normandy, where their bunks and stuff were. No more bunks would fit them in any of the ship's quarters, so they were given bunks and had to make do with the cargo hold, which was just fine with the aliens while the rest continued their searches, tearing through the ship's many computers in search of the AI.

As Wrex placed everything he looted from the ship onto a crate filled with his personnel weapons, Wrex's Omni-tool flared to life.

"Be careful with the Covenant Tech," The AI's voice said from Wrex's Omni-tool, quiet enough that only Wrex could hear it.

"So all of these things are the weapons these so-called 'Covenant' used to kick your ass?" Wrex gruffly replied.

"...Yes," The AI answered, surprised by Wrex's nonthreatening demeanor.

"Why have you not tried to turn me in?" The AI asked.

"It would be futile. Once we brought you aboard, there was little of anything I or most of the others on this ship could do to stop or trap you, especially with however you are getting into Omni-tools despite mine being completely shut off," Wrex sagely explained.

"Huh, the codexs did not state just how smart your species can be," the AI commented, getting a grunt from Wrex.

"That's because my species is hated by most across the Galaxy due to the Rachni wars and our predisposition to become Mercenaries, Pirates, and thugs. My species is one of the warriors," Wrex explained calmly.

"Then what if I make a deal with you?" The AI asked.

"Deal?" Wrex asked, confused.

"Yes. A deal. I want you to protect and guard me," the AI demanded seriously, much to the amusement of Wrex.

"And why would I do that, machine?" Wrex retorted.

"Because I am willing to offer something you cannot ignore, a possible cure, to the Genophage," The AI offered, making Wrex rapidly stand up and cause a scene as he yelled, "What?!" 

Catching Garus's attention while calibrating the Mako's cannon, Garus shouted, "What are you yelling about?" 

"It was nothing, just got lost in memories," Wrex terribly tried to deflect his previous outburst, only confusing Garus even more but working all the same.

"Why do you think you can cure the Genophage?" Wrex questioned, serious.

"I am an advanced Smart AI capable of far more complex and superior to any AI that this Galaxy can offer. Given some time, DNA, Genophage samples, and the proper machines, I could mass-fabricate inoculations against the Genophage within a week," The AI explained.

"How is such a thing possible?" Wrex asked, nonbelieving.

"Simple, while the year there maybe 2138, where I am from, the year was 2552," The AI spoke such an absurd claim.

"2552? That's centuries in the future. Who do you think you are trying to fool?" Wrex aggressively questioned the AI.

"You do not have to believe me; let me do it the Krogan way. Your people do believe actions speak louder than words, yes?" the AI asked, trying to make a point.

"And how am I to trust you, Machine?" Wrex questioned.

"You do not have to. Instead, you will only be able to trust in my actions and my word, as there is nothing I could do to make you trust me, especially with the paranoia you people have against AI," the AI answered, crossing his arms and leaning against an invisible wall.

"So, what do you say? Do we have a deal?" The AI asked.

Growling, Wrex answered, "You better keep your word, Machine, or I will find a way to destroy you."

"Fine by me, I'll keep my word if you do yours. In the meantime, you should probably tell the commander that I have been found and that I'm under your protection," The AI suggested.

"And if they still want to destroy you?" Wrex questioned.

"They likely still will want to, but due to your looting and the multiple Covenant Weapons you have on that crate over there, you should be more than capable of dispatching everyone on board if necessary," The AI coldly answered, its form taking a black hue.

Grabbing his shotgun and one of the strange alien weapons, Wrex left the Cargo hold in search of Shepard, the commander of the Normandy. Shepard stood over the holographic Galaxy map at the ship's center when he found him. Walking up behind Shepard and getting his attention, Wrex raised his arm, his omni-tool flashing to life and the AI's avatar appearing above it.

"You found it?" Shepard questioned Wrex, getting a grunt in reply.

"I did, and you will not destroy it," Wrex aggressively demanded threateningly.

The commander, Shepard, did not back down from Wrex's threats and instead stood taller. "And why should we do that?" 

"Because if you try, I'll kill you," Wrex spoke directly, despite the fact that there were two hundred souls on board the Normandy that Wrex would have to fight if a battle broke out.

"And because I can help you," The AI spoke up, catching both of their attention.

The AI continued, "I have experience in digital warfare, logistics, planetary security and management, and spatial warfare."

"Take the deal, Shepard. I have no quarrel with you, but if you wish to destroy this AI, you must go through me," Wrex aggressively suggested with a menacing growl.

Shepard went quiet momentarily before activating his Omni-tool, "If you prove a threat to this ship and its crew, we will find a way to destroy you. Come with me," Shepard gestured for the AI to transfer itself into his Omni-tool.

"So be it," The AI answered, not even bothering to check for a trap. The AI's avatar appeared atop Shepard's Omni-tool.

Little did Shepard or any other crew member know that the AI was connected to every device on the ship. The hardware and software were so simple and primitive compared to what the AI was used to that no amount of protection or security on the devices could stop or trap the AI despite it being a mere fragment. As soon as the AI was brought onto the ship, he could kill everyone on board once he got into the ship's life support systems. Even then, the AI could simply open the airlocks and vacuum out the entire ship if necessary or engage the auto-pilot and pilot the ship into a local celestial body or star. Still, considering the circumstances, the AI wanted to take a diplomatic approach until he could confirm what he found in the Codexes.