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Slaves of Cerberus	By : NakedOwlMan Category: +M through R > Mass Effect Views: 138076 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: Mass Effect and all the characters in it are owned by people that are not me. I have not made a cent off this work of fiction

Chapter List
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For a moment, Kasumi lost track of her quarry, Riggs taking a circuitous path around the lower decks as if he were trying to make sure nobody was following him. Eventually, though, she found him behind several gas pipes. He had his omni-tool activated and was furiously typing something, glancing up every so often to make sure nobody was watching before continuing.
Kasumi tried to get close enough to see what Riggs was doing, but before she could, she heard footsteps approaching behind her. She ducked behind an outcropping in the wall, and watched from the shadows as Javik approached the area where Riggs was standing.
Riggs heard Javik's approach after Kasumi did, and he quickly deactivated his omni-tool before Javik came into his line of sight.
"Human," Javik addressed Riggs. "Have you come to perform maintenance in this area?"
Riggs shook his head. "Just needed some privacy for a second. Looks like I won't be getting that here, though. I'll get out of your way." He turned to leave.
"Wait," Javik said. "I have questions I would like to ask, if you could spare a moment to speak."
After a second of consideration, Riggs shrugged indifferently. "Yeah, sure."
"My understanding, from what I have overheard the crew saying, is that you were one of the ones this Cerberus organization indoctrinated into their service. This is correct?"
Riggs leaned against the wall, crossing his arms and trying his best to look casual. "That's right."
"But when the Crucible was fired... the indoctrination went away?" Javik asked. "You went back to your normal self?"
"Don't think there's really any 'coming back' from what they did to me," Riggs calmly said. "But if you're asking if that voice in my head that I thought was mine went away, the one telling me to kill and destroy in the name of humanity and Cerberus... then yeah, I went back to 'normal.'"
Javik's four eyes stared intently at Riggs. "And once it was gone... it never came back? You never felt it again?"
Riggs narrowed his eyes at Javik. "What exactly you getting at? You asking if I'm still a Cerberus puppet?"
"Are you?" Javik responded simply.
This made Riggs let out a sharp laugh. Kasumi jolted in surprise; it was the first major display of emotion she had seen from the stoic marine since she'd set foot on this vessel. "That's good. Not many folks on this ship have the balls to come right out and ask. Probably because I freak them all out so much. But to answer your question: no, I'm definitely not with Cerberus anymore. Whatever control they had over me before, that's all gone now." He glanced to the side and smirked. "Not that I'll tell these people that. Especially not with our current mission. Somebody with my past on this ship, the infamous Bloody Hand, it's a constant reminder of what they're up against. Keeps them angry, keeps them focused. And just maybe, it'll keep them alive. The more they hate me, the more they hate Cerberus, and the better they fight. Something I'm sure the Prothean Avatar of Vengeance understands quite a bit."
Javik actually looked surprised. "You are aware of me and my past, then."
"Yeah, I read 'Journeys with a Prothean' on the can all the time," Riggs deadpanned. "And I think I can guess why you're asking me these questions. You're wondering if those Collectors that got freed from indoctrination... if they can ever go back to being normal again."
"You... may be correct, human," Javik said.
Riggs stared up at the ceiling. "Well, it's a pretty different case, isn't it? From what I've heard, those twisted versions of your old buddies weren't exactly born normal to begin with, were they? So don't really know if there's any real 'normal' for them to even go back to. And even if there was... it's like I said. You ask if I'm under anyone's control anymore? No. But you ask if I'm the same man who got stuck in a tube on Horizon and turned into a Cerberus puppet? Not so sure about that one, either."
Javik considered the human's words. "Perhaps you are right. The cases are not similar at all," he let out a frustrated grunt. "It appears I have wasted both of our time. I will not disturb you further."
"Actually, hold up a second," Riggs said, as Javik started to turn and leave. "I might have a question or two for you, as long as you're here."
Javik looked annoyed, but he stood his ground. "Ask your questions, human."
Riggs glanced down the hallway, looking to see if anyone was watching. "Actually, I wanted to ask you about one of the people you served with on the Normandy. The... uh... the shuttle pilot."
"The Cortez-pilot?" Javik said, a trace of confusion in his voice. "He flies the shuttle. He has hair on his face, I believe humans call it a 'goatee.' And that is the extent of my knowledge of this human. If you have not noticed, I do not spend much time associating with my fellow crew-members."
"Ah, but I read your book, remember?" Riggs said. "I know you Protheans have that... that scanning thing you do. You had to have picked up something from him in all that time on the Normandy, right?"
Javik groaned in aggravation. "Very well. When I first arrived on the Normandy, I could sense the Cortez-pilot's pain. He had lost someone very close to him, and I could feel his anguish whenever I flew in his shuttle. But after spending some time with Commander Shepard, I began to feel his pain start to fade. Not disappear completely, of course. No pain ever disappears completely. But the sorrow that he held inside him turned from a sharp agony to a dull throb."
"Lost someone," Riggs mused. "Could you tell anything about the person he lost?"
Javik shook his head. "Just that it was another human. A male human, I believe. Apparently your species engages in such relationships on occasion. My people found such pairings to be wasteful. The more time a Prothean spent with someone they could not procreate with, the less new, warm bodies they could provide to fight our endless war with the Reapers. But I suppose in these more peaceful times, such indulgences can be permitted."
Riggs seemed satisfied with this answer. "Thanks for the information, Javik," he said. "I'll leave you to... whatever it is you do down here."
"The information I provided to you on the Cortez-pilot was very personal," Javik said. As Riggs moved to pass him, he started to reach out a hand. "Perhaps I should read you in return, provide the Cortez-pilot with..."
Riggs jolted away from Javik's hand like it was a branding iron about to sear his flesh. "No!" he sharply exclaimed, nearly colliding with Kasumi in her hiding spot in his attempt to put distance between himself and the Prothean. Regaining his composure, he spoke calmly. "Sorry. It's just that... Cerberus has already been in my head fucking around with it enough. Would rather not let anybody else in if it's all the same."
Javik regarded Riggs's sudden panic with mild amusement. "Suit yourself, human. To be honest, I did not really care anyway."
Smoothing out his uniform and trying his best to look unperturbed, Riggs made his way down the hallway away from Javik.
Once Riggs was gone, Javik looked directly in Kasumi's direction. "I trust this conversation left you sufficiently entertained."
"Yes, very," Kasumi said, leaving her cloak on as she spoke.
Javik took a step towards her. "Something about you is different tonight, human. Your aura is... peculiar."
"Oops, look at the time," Kasumi quickly interjected. "Got somewhere I gotta be. Catch you later, buddy."
And before Javik could "sense" her any further, Kasumi padded down the hallway and back to the stairs.
She had one more stop tonight. The most important one of them all.
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Slaves of Cerberus