Mass Effect: Manipulation/Unintended Consequences

Unintended Consequences
No nightmares intruded on Emmanuelle's sleep that night, but just the same, her slumber was disturbed, and she felt a sudden compulsion to get up and walk around.

"Mrrm?" Siani murmured, half-asleep, as Sharon gently pushed her away in order to get up.

"Shh, it's alright, babe," Sharon whispered. "I just need to get some water, that's all. You don't need to get up." She bent down and kissed Siani's forehead, then made her way to the closet to find a robe. She realized that she was still half-asleep herself as she stumbled her way into the hallway.

Arine was waiting for her. "You fuckin' idiot," she said reproachfully.

"What the hell?"

"When the asari mate, they briefly become one with their partners. Tell me you knew this before you jumped into bed with her."

"I've got part of her mind?"

"Aye. You fuckin' idiot." Arine briefly paced about, as if trying to decide something. Finally, she said: "Well, when life gives you fuckin' idiot humans..." She gestured to Sharon. "Follow me."

Sharon followed, even though everything around her seemed hazy. "Where are we going?" she demanded.

"The Lygadi. There's things you need to know."

"You're not Arine. Arine's dead."

"So's yer parents, but that didn't stop them from hauntin' yeh, did it?"

"So this is a dream, then?"

"It is and it ain't. There's a vast amount o' real estate between yer dreams and the wakin' world. Shut up and keep following. This is important, and we only have so long before you leave this state." They reached the Pantaphon. "Up with yeh." The platform rose, and soon they were in the chamber itself, surrounded by the angels. "Get rid of the illusion."

"I don't know how to use this thing."

"Aye, but Siani does, and you got half her mind right now.

It was true, Sharon realized. Almost of their own free will, her hands flew over the control panel, and suddenly, the angels were replaced with stars and planets.

"Now look closely. What do you see?"

"What am I looking for?"

"Look closer!" Arine demanded.

"At what? What am I supposed to look at?"

Arine gave an exasperated sigh. "You idiot. You should not have touched her. You shouldn't have bonded with her. You're flawed an' weak, and now you've dragged her down into yer bullshit."

Emmanuelle threw a punch, but Arine moved out of the way before the blow connected, and suddenly she was hurtling forward...

And she kept flying, beyond the platform, out into the stars themselves. Oh fuck, now I've done it...

Onward she flew, unable to stop, the stars passing her by, until suddenly she stopped.

A strange... thing was watching her. It looked vaguely like a mechanical cuttlefish.