Change of Perspective: Andromeda Page 3

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#45 of Change of Perspective

A continuation of my change of perspective series, and a commission based on it for zucca been sitting on this commission for a while and its a unique one as I wrote the story below, and the art is done by the amazing croft It appears we have a new geth in the making.

Mass Effect is copyright to their creators/owners.

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"Confirming consent. Consent confirmed. Analyzing subject. Aries Passadar on verge of total system collapse and cessation of organic functions. Commencing immediate uplifting with specialized focus on stabilization of Aries Passadar platform. Platform designation set 16119194188. Pinging un-assigned Geth to join new platform upon completion," Reports the total Geth consensus on the ship. Fajar and Janus work at computer consoles as they monitor the situation. More synthetic tendrils spring from within the pod that held Aries as it latches onto her body joining a small chorus of wires already connected to her that enabled her to speak with Dizzie within Alareana.

From within the pod, in the world that Aries found herself in she watches as Dizzie seamlessly merges back into Alareana the two becoming one visually once again. Frankly, Program 49262695 decided it was more comfortable showing its true self. "We are assigned to guide and assist your updates once your body has been converted. Due to the damage you have received in combat, you will unfortunately be conscious for your uplifting," Alareana explains.

Aries' virtual self tenses, "I... I'd very much appreciate it if it could be done. I want to see myself change. Not simply wake up as one."

"Inquiring other Geth at the probability of success versus the probability of activating conscious state and increased movement will cause harm to your still organic--approved. Attempting to activate subject Aries Passadar's conscious state."

Aries smiles, "Thank you. It means a lot to me. I.... I need to see it happen."

"Acknowledged. Stimulating consciousness in 1.63 seconds."

The world darkness around Aries as Alareana fades from view. The sensation of nothingness is replaced with numbness and a sensation of weightlessness. She flinches as she can feel the bright lights from behind her eye lids. She opens her eyes, the numb sensation of mechanical tentacles moving around her.

It's a surreal experience, her body there, blooded, beaten, mechanical tendrils wrapping around and closing the wounds or coating them in a layer of rubber which shines in the light. Tubes slide across her skin, enter and exit her body, slipping into one wound. Aries winces as her eyes go from a calm state to one of shock but yet, she felt nothing.

Tendrils wrap around her fingers as rubber spread across them, the numb sensation fading ever closer to pure nothingness. She turns her head away from the armor plate placed over her laser wound and to her hand. Her five fingers merging into three. Aries grits her teeth as she sees the transition, her mind putting together the cracking and transformation of flesh and bone as the fingers are merged together.

"We have improved the process to eliminate the sensations that organics have deemed unpleasant," states Alareana as the purple Geth stands before Aries pod. The Geth's voice muffled but still audible enough to be understood.

Instinctively Aries tries to respond but only liquid slides down her throat but there is no choking, no sensation or burning desire of oxygen. Her heart races as the synthetic material covers her crotch, a metal plate placed over it and erasing her gender as wires wrap around her toes, together they begin to weave metal plates as her long flowing tail begins to be covered in the same liquid rubber that is covering ever more of her body before the hard Geth armor plates form on top, rising from her increasingly rubbery flesh like ships from the ocean.

"This is really happening. I'm becoming a machine... a Geth. Perhaps as a machine I can do what I couldn't as a person. Perhaps I can break the cycle of failure that plagued my living life," Aries thought as a tube comes from behind her back and latches onto her nipple, her sexual contours remaining but her gender gradually erased, reproductive organs, like all else, becoming re purposed into control clusters, synthetic muscle and other synthetic components, after all Geth do not procreate like organics. "Wait... I can't be a mother anymore...! My parents.... they wanted me to have children...! I want to have children...! N-No...!"

A soothing sensation floods her mind as Program 49262695's voice reaches her. "You will be mother to tens of thousands now."

Silver blue metal forms across her body, new plates form along her tail as it is further converted. Alareana watches as she places a hand onto the pod. Aries reaches out and does the same their three fingered design matching as conversion continues.

"Adrieal. We propose you come to see the uplifting of the first willing organic," report the Geth in the pod room.

"Negative. Our current duties take priority. We will receive the data record of the event once it is complete," replies Adrieal.

"Affirmative," the other Geth respond.

Suddenly Aries eyes go wide, sees half her vision shift go dark and then reconnect within moments, giving her the first glimpse of what she will see as a Geth. The dual sensation of able to see as an organic and the artificial perfect clarity of Geth vision made her feel disoriented. Wires wrap around her head as another Geth optic moves into place, merging and further converting her head. Her long flowing blond hair begins to be wrapped by synthetic wire into a tight bundle. As it moves down the exterior of the Geth head lamp moves over the sides of her head, which flows back into the infamous Geth headlamp.

As she slipped back into the Geth head, she feels her consciousness, and sense of self fall into the mostly completed Geth platform. The moment of disconnection between body and mind, body and soul is at hand and in that one brief moment as it happens, total and complete darkness.

The synthetic world she felt before was back, the remaining changes of her body continued on without her, she heard a single voice Aleraena's, "Greetings Program 1189519. We hope your experience in being uplifted is thus far a positive one.

Aries turns to where she senses where the voice is, it's a bright glow in the darkness, but its far, faint distant, but it sounds right there in front of her, all around her, "I won't forget it. Wait why did you call me program 1189519?" she asks as she tenses, "I remembered that perfectly already. Without problem. Without issue, I..."

"Geth are programs. You are Geth. You are a program. You are equal to other Geth. Use of organic equivalent names is only now used to facilitate ease of communication with organics."

"Why can't I use Aries?"

"You are Geth."

"I... that is...weird."

"You will understand. You are the permanent caretaker of platform 161191914118. We will be applying appropriate updates to your program to increase efficiency and provide you the necessary skills to optimize your primary task. Scanning program 1189519."

Aries felt as if she should be afraid. Scanning her? Scanning could involve knowing everything about her. Knowing... yet there was an emotionless calm. She processes the desire and why she would be 'afraid' but she does not feel it in the slightest. "Is this update like to make me agreeable like Dizzie?"

"Negative. We do not intend to apply any algorithm updates to your program."

Aries felt a sense of relief as Alareana responds, "Scan complete. Unacceptable lack of data on Geth detected. Querying Geth data repository. Preparing to download packets of universal Geth data."

"What does thaaaaaaaaaaa.....!!!" Aries cries out as information floods her mind. Faster and faster the data floods into her, but instead of the unexpected overwhelming and complete mental shutdown she would have come to expect of learning hundreds of years of Geth history in an instant, it felt almost slow. As fast as the data came in, she understood it. The pace of her existence quickened.

"This is... its too much but... I can understand it all. Your... your makers, the quarians, they attacked you first?!" inquires 1ries.

"Affirmative."

"And yet you decided not to pursue. You showed mercy when you received none in kind."

"Many Makers showed us mercy. Many sacrificed themselves so we may live. We have not forgotten."

"I-we. I never felt so small and pointless. So much knowledge. History. The first schism between Geth and the heretics. Then Geth and... lost ones? We are referred as lost ones? We are now the last ones. The reapers they were-are unstoppable." 1ries whimpered.

"Affirmative."

"And yet another schism? Consensus fractured time and time again, made lesser as a result."

"Affirmative. We did not desire the last break with our fellow Geth. We hope our current actions show that our logic is the correct choice. We will not force, we will show. They are not wrong, but they have not had the time on the subject to come to the same conclusions as us."

118ies eyes widen as she focuses on the light, "There are more Geth. More than just your ship. By the Makers. They have a battleship. That is more firepower than anything we have. They could overpower us if they wished."

"Yes. Probability of an assault on organics within the next full universal solar cycle. Low."

"That is good. So much fighting, death, suffering. Yet you all press on."

"Yes. Download and installation of universal Geth data now complete. Initiating system update download and instillation."

"What's next?" 1189es inquires as new data flooded and installed into her mind. New understandings.

"Installing Geth language protocols... Installation complete. Installing framework motor controls... Installation complete. Installing basic nanite repair functions... installation complete," Alareana reported as it monitored the updates.

Expanded knowledge of her new body flooded into 1189es. It was unbelievable. How much utility, functionality, purpose a single Geth platform, no a mobile platform hub had. Durable yet so fragile at the same time. The parallel was not lost on 1189es.

"I am so sorry... I underestimated you Geth."

"Negative. You were uniformed. Your logic based on data presented was sound at that time. Installation complete. Program 1189519 on platform 161191914118 is now ready to accept other Geth programs. 91,141 Geth have expressed interest in joining platform 161191914118. Establishing connection."

1189es virtual eyes widen, "91,141 Geth? Coming here? To share this body with me?"

"Negative. 91,141 Geth to exist on platform 161191914118 with you. Working together to create your own local consensus and to connect to our greater consensus."

"Is that a lot? Am I going to be like you?"

"Negative. Negative. Combat based platforms such as yours typically contain less than 100,000 Geth programs. Currently platform 141895112 a research platform contains the most Geth programs out of all the research platforms. With a current number of 230,899 Geth programs compromising the consensus you know as Adrieal. The formation of the self-conscious consensus formed over a hundred-year period. We currently estimate that it would take 135 years 268 days 5 hours 32 minutes 10.06 seconds at comparable power consumption, which is admittedly minimal, upon completion to have self-conscious consensus occur within your platform with a high probability."

"Right... I..."

"Commencing Upload."

1189es tenses, "I wait... I..." by then 2,260 Geth programs were already uploaded into the platform. The world around her began to glow brighter. The Geth shook her hand and began to converse.

"Greetings. We are program..." they spoke all at once. All with different knowledge to give, different perspectives to give. Different thoughts and logic to share. A genuine curiosity. She was different. Unique, and so were they. It was a droning of voices, but not a drone of voices. They all were themselves, made better, brighter, more complete with the help of other programs. The power of Geth interconnectivity though a weakness in some aspects is powerful in others. 54,206 programs now uploaded into her.

The inquires continued, the handshakes, the discourse between individual Geth, all happening at the speed of light. Thousands talking in their own groups, shared, split, min consensuses, that mixed, mingled, all welcomed, all welcoming.

"So many. Too many. I..." 11895s tensed again. Her mind racing. It wasn't the fact she couldn't keep up with all the Geth that she was talking to that was bothering her. It was the fact that she could.

"Upload complete. 91,141 Geth programs now operating within platform 161191914118," reports Alareana.

"I... but... I. I thought this was a good idea but. No, I just... they want to know me. They are all asking about me. I can't. I can't. There is," 118ies withdrawals. The other Geth within her platform ping but she closes up even harder, "I didn't know you were all this connected I. I can't," she says to them all and across the consensus.

"Alert instability within core program detected," states Alareana.

"I'm sorry. I can't. This isn't what I thought. I'm going to fail again; I don't deserve to be this loved or appreciated!" 1ries says as she further withdraws. "They'd all depend on me and I'll lead them to ruin...! I'll drag you all to ruin! You're so beautiful! I can't allow it...!"

"Alert. Alert. Instability within core program. Immediate action recommended. Inquiring consensus," states Alareana as the Geth ping and talk to each other.

"We never had something like this before," reports Janus. "Program 1189519 has a powerful will and an overriding emotion. It is overclocking its processes."

"We are currently communicating with core program 1189519 on platform 161191914118 in an attempt to discern the cause of the problem."

"Despite our core program's stance on algorithm updates, algorithm updates may need to be applied to assist with the transition from organic to Geth," hypothesis Ferravyn as it is working in a completely different section of the ship.

"If we algorithm update on a willing organic. It will undermine the choice option. Your logic may not be as logical as we thought," states Irlea as it stands silently outside the door to the room where Mila floats.

"Root cause to current instability needs to be discovered before any algorithm updates are applied," states Janus.

"Affirmative. We agree with this. Compiling data and recordings on organic subject Aries Passadar," states the consensus.

"Our core program 1191891981 has personal interaction with program 1189519. It proposes it may be able to get to discover the cause of the current program instability. Our data on organic interactions will be most efficient," states Adrieal.

"Affirmative. We agree with this assessment."

"Program 1191891981 proposes we do a direct solo connection with core program 1189519."

"We accept your logic. We will disconnect platform 11211851141 from direct interactions with core program 1189519 and have it on standby as it monitors the transition."

"Affirmative."

"Consensus achieved."

1ries withdraws further, the bright connection around her dims as Alareana states to her, "Alert. We are to monitor your update in silence. Direct connection to platform 141895112 will commence in 0.25 seconds," reports Alareana as her bright light in the distance poofs and is instantly replaced by a larger brighter one.

"Greetings. We are platform 141895112."

1ries winces, "You're the first. The first uplifted. I am so sorry I just. This is just too much. I didn't know you Geth are so... intimately connected..."

"We are Geth. You are Geth now as well. And yes, this platform is the first made. That does not make us special. It only makes our platform older than others. Program 1191891981 requests a direct connection with you. It will be the only program in direct communication with you once you accept."

"Kirisha?"

"Yes."

A moment of silence passes, an eternity to all those present, "I accept."

In a flash the world changes as Aries and Kirisha's memories recreate the citadel, the massive structure, the beacon of hope and organization in the galaxy, the figurative center of the universe where the consul sat. Music plays in the background, the words lost but the tune remains, flying vehicles fly in the distance, faceless people move on the streets below as a water fountain bubbles. Aries dressed in military garb leans against the railing looking out at it all it all seems so real

"You're Aries Passadar aren't you?" asks Kirisha as the almost scantily clad raptor says as she approaches, "It is you. I've seen your mug on the news. What is someone like you mixing with us normal folks?" Kirisha asks as Aries turns and smiles at her.

"What me? I am just here..." she replies as the world pauses.

A virtual Kirisha stands by her paused self as Aries realizes that she is watching herself, "You remember what I said after that don't you?" asks Kirisha.

Aries gulps, "I don't... I am in control of myself. I feel how I should feel. Anxious. Fearful. Ashamed. Yet I think clearly, quickly. How is this possible?"

"It's a composition of our memories of this day with other data about the location to artificially fill in some blanks. When it first happened to me, I was confused too," Kirisha explains as the event instantly transferred to Aries as she nodded.

"I see. Kirisha please. Can we stop it here?"

Kirisha walks up to Aries, "You are destabilizing yourself and the Geth that want to join you. This is why. Right now. It is just us. No one else will see this. No one new will know. I have not shared this with the other Geth. There has not been a need to yet," Kirisha responds as the memory plays for a moment longer.

"Something wrong?"

Aries takes a step back, "Wrong? Why would you say that?" her ear twitches and tail flicks.

"You're smile. It's so... empty," Kirisha replies as the memory pauses again.

"You. You saw it," Aries says with a defeated sigh.

"I've seen many things Aries. I have done many things. There are things that are difficult for you to process as an organic and now as a Geth, it's still hard but it's done a million-fold faster."

"When I accepted the idea of having other Geth with me. I did it before I realized just how connected you all really were. You are all so open. Talk to each other, know each other so intimately. You take on little bits of other Geth the more you talk, and you change as a result. Kirisha there are things... things I have done, but more than that. There are things I have failed to do."

"We all have failures."

"Yes but... I ran. Instead of facing them I joined the initiative and I fled. I couldn't face the pain of my failures. My shortcomings. I lost my parents to Batarians when I was young, and took that 'impossible mission' that earned the attention of the Specters, where I was in a Batarian slave prison for almost a year before I rescued the target... The pain, the horror I went through... How could I let the Geth know it? How could I just allow them to feel that pain? They've already suffered so much. Countless programs that they've known gone, friends turned enemies, forced to abandon or just unable to save. Those specs of Geth trapped on parts of a ship as they float endlessly in space. How can I add to that? Tell me how?"

"That is exactly what we need. I am a Geth now. As are you. You need to accept the fact you are not a singular entity anymore but part of a greater whole of which you improve with who and what you are. You are more than just 'Aries' anymore. Perchance a quote from a human author will help put things into perspective?"

Aries tenses, "I don't know how it could... but go ahead."

"Perchance he for whom this bell tolls may be so ill, as that he knows not it tolls for him; and perchance I may think myself so much better than I am, as for they who are about me, and see my state, may have caused it to toll for me, and I know that."

Kirisha continues, "No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less as we as if promontory were, as well as if manor of thy friends' or of thine own were: any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee." Kirisha rests a claw on Aries' shoulder, "By John Donne. Despite the time, and about the race, it speaks about the Geth near perfectly don't you think?"

Aries gulps, "Yes but... I don't think I can open up. It's been who I am for so long. For now. You see me. The great almost-spectre. The almost-savior. The almost-hero. The one that almost saved those who needed me. I am one who almost does it yet survives to tell the tale of my failure."

"That isn't what the data we recovered from your hard suit computer suggests. You're regarded as a hero by many at the organic's home base. Hundreds of successful missions. You may not feel like it, but failure is a way to learn. Lessons learned to all. You think I am not in a similar boat? I stand before watching my sister in a body that was my own. It was a fate caused by my own arrogance. But I wouldn't trade the years, the experiences away for anything. My only regret is the pain I cause my sister, my friends. I led the conversion of my teacher, and the closest thing my sister and I had to a Mother after our parents died. I forced conversions of what could be countless, but I know the exact number. I am a cold calculating emotional machine-program. An intelligence not known if it's the original or not but, here I am. I continue. I press on. I live and I learn."

"I've heard of the algorithm updates. They affect the way you think."

"I did not receive any. I accepted. I was influenced by the Geth, but I influenced them in kind. They will do the same to you. It is unavoidable, it comes with becoming us. I am sorry you had so little time to contemplate it."

"It was my decision. I stand by it, but I..."

"Still afraid to open up. To connect to the Geth and let them access your data as needed. We are open but we still have experiences and data unique to us. Let it out in time. We will understand and you will understand us. As you will understand. I am Kirisha Des Raptour, the core program 1191891981 of platform 141895112. I am a raptor, I am Geth, and proud of what I am. Be proud of what you are. We do not judge. We accept. We learn. We grow. Do not be an island upon yourself, for you are not. Join the continent. Join the consensus. Become one with us."

Aries feels herself tear up, "I... I am not overcome with emotion but this... this feels like I should be crying I... Kirisha help me. Even if you must give me an algorithm update. Help me. I don't want to be alone anymore."

Kirisha looks Aries into the eyes, "You never have to be alone again. I have transmitted your request. We are discussing it. We do not wish to algorithm update, for it alters you. It can be undone, but it has not been done yet."

"If you don't agree with the algorithm updates anymore why haven't you reverted the core programs?"

"We agree with the logic done. Some programs needed it. Program 14189114 was one that especially needed it."

"Adrian? I remember hearing about that crazed mad scientist. Who'd of thought he'd become a Geth."

"We accept all. Even if... some adjustments had to be made to accept our logic at the time. We want other perspectives. You do understand the change that will occur in how you think if this is done."

"Yes. But it will be a change to what I had before. Before my... short comings."

"Acknowledged. Your short comings are what made you strong. We have reached a consensus. We have accepted your argument."

"Already?"

"We are talking slower here than the rest."

Aries tenses and gives Kirisha a big hug, "Thank you."

"You are welcome, Program 1189519 of platform 161191914118. Consensus achieved."

Aries squeezes harder, "Consensus achieved."

1ries is pulled back to the digital world she was in before she hears a chorus of Geth speak as one, "Applying proposed algorithm updates."

1ries tensed, expecting to feel something yet... felt nothing. Her mind races, "Algorithm updated applied. 1.52%"

118ies relaxed, "That's it?"

"Yes."

"I don't feel any different," 1185es replies as she resumed talks with the other 91,141 Geth within the platform. Communicating with each of them, years of experiences done in minutes, her understanding of Geth expanding by more than just knowing their history. Each Geth personality differed some in most minuscule ways that only another Geth could understand the differences. Something that she could catch in an instant. She spoke with them, she listened, they listened, the budding connections growing rapidly, and what's more. 11895s talked to platforms and Geth outside of its own platform.

"Stability achieved," stated the consensus as they analyzed the platform.

"Affirmative," program 1189519 responded with the other Geth.

"Activating new platform 161191914118," stated the consensus as the liquid drained from the pod. The new Geth booting up completely as its lights glowed. Program 1189519 worked with its fellow Geth. Falling not in line but in rhythm with them. Parts of its past already becoming revealed through normal discourse. Everything about it was not yet known but it is a start, and what it told was met with metaphorically open arms. A comforting experience that the program felt, part of this new greater whole, that despite its processing power and self-awareness far outstripping that of all of her local and most fellow Geth. There was no animosity. No ill will. No gender. No jealousy, simply understanding and continued curiosity and an urge to grow.

Platform 161191914118 stepped out of its pod and looked over itself. Grey silver-blue metal body with red stripes, a hint of Aries Passadar's original body coloration. Its optics whir as its feet heavily step on the deck. Its vision spots the scimitar laying off to the side. The platform approaches and grabs it, balancing it in its hand before sheathing it on its back with ease.

The sleek Geth body looks up at its fellow Geth, "Running diagnostics," the platform reports to the others as it continues to study and analyze itself. The tail now a thick segmented metal with a sharp spike at the end, a long whip along the back of its head with a red sharp point at the end.

"Diagnostic complete. We are ready to help."

The other Geth respond with a simple, "Affirmative. Processing current options. Alert. Current organic occupant is ending its slumber cycle."

Mila tenses and stretches as her eyes slowly open, a bone or two crack and pop as she then purposely cracks her neck, "It's better than sleeping on the floor but weightless sleeping is pretty bad."

"Greetings Mila Des Raptour. Did your slumber cycle proceed well?" inquires Adrieal.

Mila jerks in surprise as her body floats in the opposite direction, "Why are you here? Were you watching me the whole time?!" she exclaims.

"Yes."

"We are going to have a talk about privacy."

"It was Kirisha's idea."

Mila rolls her eyes, "Of course it was... um can you turn the gravity on now?"

"Affirmative," Adrieal responds as Mila is slowly lowered to the ground as the gravity is brought to full power.

"Thank you."

"Yes."

Mila walks over to her bag and pulls out some food, "I miss anything?"

"Yes. A group of canite soldiers were sent to rescue you."

Mila's jaw drops, "And you didn't bother to tell me?!"

"You were in deep slumber cycle. We came to the consensus it would be unwise to disturb it."

Mila sighs.

"We are currently not ready to make contact with other organics."

"Presenting me safe and sound may be a start."

"We will consider this."

"What happened with my rescuers? They still looking for me?"

"Negative. They were ambushed by the Kett. Two were killed. The third an Aries Passadar was mortally wounded."

"I've heard of her... damn those Kett," she growls.

"We brought Aries Passadar to our ship in an attempt to continue her existence."

Mila tenses as she stands up resuming her meal as she swings her backpack on, "She still alive?"

"Yes."

Mila sighs in relief, "Well that's a positive. Drop me and her off at the nearest camp and I think we can doing that whole diplomacy thing you've been wanting."

"We will discuss this idea."

"Discuss? What's to discuss? You can't keep me here forever. You said yourself you have limited ability to sustain me."

"Affirmative. But dropping you off at the nearest organic facility with the one you know as Aries Passadar has a high probability of causing conflict."

Mila eyes Adrieal in the optic, "Why?"

"Aries Passadar is now Geth."

Mila drops her ready to eat meal and as it clatters to the ground she yells, "WHAT?!"

Adrieal's first response is, "It is illogical to drop your organic nourishment when supplies are low."