The door opened, and I walked quite calmly into the room where Morinth was being held, followed by Samara, Falere, Rila, and well, Miranda and Oriana. The latter two, however, were not sure if they should be present here. But Samara said she insisted they be present during the conversation.
Samara actually took a very interesting attitude toward the fact that she had a son, and that this son had sisters from the same man who made this very son. She couldn't consider them daughters, but she began to treat them very warmly. This was noticeable at the very first meeting, as soon as I explained exactly who these girls were.
"And what is going on here?"
Morinth tensed slightly when so many beings entered the room, though naturally, Samara caused her the most tension, and her sisters also caused her to tense up somewhat.
"Actually, we've come to explain what's what."
"Oh, really?"
She smirked caustically.
"Yes."
I nodded quite calmly.
"So, it was I, or rather an acquaintance of mine, who arranged your kidnapping, but if it weren't for me, she wouldn't have cared about your existence and would have sooner helped Samara find you than simply kidnap you."
Morinth gave a quiet snort.
"Also, you are on a colony that belongs to me—the entire colony belongs to me—and it was I who created this cell you live in."
"Should I say thank you for the comfortable cell?"
"Perhaps..."
I shrugged.
"...but that's not important now. What's important is this."
I placed the analyzer on the table and was the first to press my finger to it, and when it took my blood, I nodded to Morinth to do the same.
"And what the hell for?"
"Just press it..."
Samara said this with a slight sigh.
"...and you'll understand what's what."
"And if I don't want to?"
"Then nothing will happen..."
Samara shrugged and, rising
approached the analyzer and pressed her finger to it, and after the analysis was complete, a result appeared on the device.
"This... can't be..."
A hint of shock was audible in Morinth's voice.
"But it is..."
I repeated my story, which the girl listened to very intently. She clearly didn't want to believe my words, but she had seen the confirmation of them just moments ago.
"And they..."
She cast a glance at Miranda and Oriana.
"They are my sisters; we share the same father, but different mothers. But you could say they are distant relatives of yours."
"I... don't know what to say..."
"And what can you say? You can only accept that your family has grown larger and that your brother doesn't like the way you live."
"Seriously?"
"More than seriously."
I nodded at her sarcastic words.
"Think about it yourself: why run across the galaxy, hiding from the law and Justicars, when you can live on a resort colony? Sunbathe, swim, enjoy life..."
"In exchange for my freedom, right?"
"Well, why?"
I looked at her in surprise.
"I'm not going to restrict you. You can travel all over Bali. If you want, you can move to another colony under my supervision. On those, I can provide you with a comfortable life. The main thing is to prove that you are capable of living without killing."
"I... am supposed to believe you, considering she's been hunting me for a very long time?"
Morinth pointed a finger at Samara, and the gesture was extremely accusatory.
"And was I supposed to not care that my daughter was becoming a monster? You know..."
Samara didn't let Morinth answer, continuing to speak, which made the latter frown, but she decided to listen nonetheless. When else would they have a chance to talk heart-to-heart, so to speak?
"...I actually covered for you during those first years... I tried to sweep away your tracks, hoping you would come to your senses and at least stop killing."
Morinth's eyes widened in surprise and disbelief. After all, these words... they were very hard to believe. On the other hand, when she was just starting out, she was a pathetic brat—certainly compared to her mother—which meant she could have been caught easily. But for some reason, she wasn't.
"But you kept killing. And the intensity gradually increased... and what was I supposed to do, in your opinion? No, if you had chosen pirates, murderers, maniacs—basically the dregs of society—as your victims, I would have even helped you pick them out. But you didn't choose them..."
"I won't make excuses."
This was said in a voice that made it clear to everyone that Morinth simply didn't know what to say to that.
"And I'm not asking for any. I only told you how things were from my point of view. And how they were from yours... if you want, you'll tell me yourself; if not? Well, then you don't have to."
"Fine, what happens to me next?"
"Next? You'll sit in this room for a while so your head can get screwed on straight, and then I'll let you out. You'll live near your sisters, enjoying the resort. After all, as your brother, I must try to help you before realizing it can't be done and protecting the world from you instead."
"To put it bluntly... you've decided to kill me?"
"Maybe... or maybe just put you in a cell for the rest of your days. You'll live knowing you could have lived free, even if relatively so, but because of yourself, you'll spend the rest of your life in a cell."
"Well... quite a brother I have..."
Morinth closed her eyes.
"And is he a bad one? Or would you prefer that in a year or two, Samara finds an assistant and, learning where you are, doesn't run to try and stop you herself, but sends him or her to lure you to the right place?"
"I..."
Morinth froze, but only for a couple of moments, after which, with a smirk, she shook her head.
"That's impossible..."
And then something happened that made her stare in shock at Samara, who simply began listing all her preferences that she had managed to learn during the time she hunted her.
"This is..."
"I think you need to process everything you've learned, so we'll leave you."
Samara said this in a voice that brooked no argument.
"We'll come again tomorrow. I hope you'll be as reasonable then as you are now."
Under a gaze full of shock from Morinth, we left her cell, and only when the door closed—and it was thick and armored—did Samara allow herself to exhale.
"She was surprisingly reasonable... I kept waiting for her to lunge at you or at Miranda and Oriana so I could with a clear conscience..."
The older Asari bit her lower lip. She didn't finish the sentence, but it was perfectly clear to everyone exactly what she meant. Just as it was clear that she very much did not want to kill her daughter. After all, what she said recently showed that if she had the desire, Morinth would have been dead long ago.
"Do you want to ask something?"
"Why is she still alive?"
Miranda managed to ask the question before I could ask the same one, only slightly more politely.
"I just couldn't bring myself to... even though I understood it was necessary, I couldn't..."
Samara, shaking her head, walked to the opposite wall and, leaning her back against it, slid down to the floor, wrapping her arms around her bent knees. Right now, she didn't look like an iron lady who could do absolutely anything, but like a tired and perhaps even frightened girl. A girl who doesn't know what to do next.
"So I just chased her across the galaxy, not letting her stay in one place for too long."
"Is that so?"
Rila and Rila exchanged glances.
"Exactly so..."
** Some time later. **
We gathered in my office, where there was also a monitor showing Morinth's face.
"So, specifically for those who don't know... or know and don't take it seriously. In the next five to ten years, a very serious war will happen, and not with someone from the Citadel Space races, but with an external enemy that once destroyed the Protheans."
Not only my family was here, but also Liara T'Soni, Tali, Jane, Chifuyu Orimura, Rebecca Lee, and Lissi along with Missi. And they were all looking intently at their tablets.
"In this regard, I ask you to think about what else we can do to save at least part of the galaxy's inhabitants. It's clear that all Bali settlements are equipped with kinetic barriers and have 'underground' passages within the floating hull. And all these settlements will be submerged, plus there are underground shelters here that can accommodate all residents and even more, with a hint toward Quarians, Krogan, and generally everyone who will need cover. Similar systems exist on all my colonies except Eden Prime, but they are being built there now."
"It feels like you've already let them into our galaxy and to the planets under your control."
"Daughter, what were you listening with?"
Morinth only slightly turned away from the camera, as if showing her attitude toward Samara.
"This enemy destroyed the Protheans, and they were a unified empire that united many races. And us... do you think we can reach an agreement?"
A sad mockery was heard in Samara's voice.
"Well, regarding the preparation, we were able to agree, but that's only until the enemy arrives at our home and occupies it. And when that happens, all state forces will be thrown into defending the capital, and even many colonies will be left to their fate."
"Then you need a fleet."
"I have one, as well as orbital and ground PKO systems."
"Provisions warehouses?"
"Yes..."
Rila nodded to her sister.
"...and there is more than enough food there. There are also warehouses with parts, materials—basically everything we could think of."
"Then why did we gather?"
"I have an idea."
We all looked at Tali, who said this with a slight thoughtfulness and even, one could say, uncertainty.
"And what did you come up with?"
"Well, I was thinking—I don't believe everyone just accepted the law that studying Mass Relays is forbidden. Surely they are being studied, and we could try to find information on this. And make Mass Relays that will connect our colonies. Only we need to make it so they aren't part of the general network and aren't tracked..."
Tali said the last words very quietly.
"Yes, communication between colonies would be useful, but..."
Samara looked at Tali with a gaze full of sympathy.
"...I'm afraid such a thing is almost impossible to execute. And while I believe a Mass Relay can be created, making movement through it undetectable to our enemy is very doubtful. And without that, using a Mass Relay is too dangerous, as the enemy will know exactly that we are still alive. But making some kind of communication..."
I was writing down ideas in my tablet, and Liara T'Soni was doing the same. She understood perfectly well that she would be the one to find out about the existence of such developments.
"I might say something a bit mean, but communication will only hinder you."
"Explain."
Rila looked at Morinth with displeasure.
"It's simple: if you are currently considering a scenario where the colonies remain separated, then by having communication, you will simply receive requests for help, demands to send someone—anything. But you won't be able to do anything about it."
"You're right."
Under the displeased glares of everyone around, except perhaps Samara, who sighed sadly and in agreement.
"However, we must develop or buy a communication system, as it's not yet known whether communication will be needed or not, and if it turns out we need it and it's not there..."
I spread my hands to the sides.
"I'm not arguing, I just noted that it could become a problem."
Morinth shrugged.
"Any more ideas?"
Morinth only snorted, but I saw in her eyes that she was thinking. I don't know how seriously she took the words about a large-scale war, but it was clear that she decided to at least verbally try to help. And for that, I was ready to kiss her.
Not now, but when she proves she already controls herself. For now, I just continued working, as did everyone gathered at this meeting.
***
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