Mass Effect: Duty

Prothean Ruins

As they made their way through the winding corridors, the air grew thick and oppressive with a sense of anticipation, as if something momentous was about to occur. The shadows stretched like bony fingers, looming over them as they passed. The only sound was the faint echo of their footsteps against the ancient stone walls, each step bringing them closer to their objective.

As they delved deeper into the heart of the Prothean ruins, the silence between them grew heavier, broken only by the occasional skittering of unseen creatures in the shadows. Valius's eyes darted from side to side, his grip tightening on his rifle as he scanned for potential threats.

Shiala, on the other hand, seemed to grow more focused with each step, her brow furrowed in concentration as she navigated the labyrinthine corridors. The green-skinned asari moved with fluid grace, her movements almost dance-like as she wove through the crumbling stone archways.

"Have you been down here before?" The Turian asked, breaking the silence. His voice echoed throughout the ruins in which they walked.

Shiala paused for a moment, her eyes distant as if recalling a memory from long ago. "Yes, I have," she replied, her voice soft and tinged with a hint of sadness. "During my time under the Thorian's control, I spent countless hours exploring these ruins." She ran her fingers along the ancient stone walls, tracing the intricate patterns etched into the surface. "These ruins hold many secrets, Commander. Secrets that the Thorian sought to exploit for its own gain."

"It must have been hard, not being able to control yourself," the Turian said in response.

Shiala nodded, her eyes clouding over with the weight of painful memories. "It was like being trapped in a waking nightmare," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "My thoughts, my actions, even my very sense of self were all subsumed by the Thorian's will. I was nothing more than a puppet." She took a deep breath, her shoulders straightening as she pushed the dark thoughts aside. "But that is the past," Shiala declared, her voice growing stronger with each word. "I am my own person now, and I will do whatever it takes to protect my people from ever suffering such a fate again."

As they pressed on, the air grew thick with a sense of ancient power, as if the very stones themselves were imbued with the remnants of a long-forgotten civilization. Shiala seemed to be drawn forward by an invisible force, her steps quickening as they neared their destination.

Finally, they emerged into a vast chamber, its walls adorned with intricate carvings and glowing, pulsing veins of an otherworldly energy. In the centre of the room stood a raised platform, its surface smooth and polished, reflecting the eerie light that emanated from the walls.

Shiala stepped forward, her eyes fixed on the platform. She turned to Valius, her expression solemn. "This is where I must perform the ritual," she explained, her voice echoing in the cavernous space. "Once I begin, I cannot stop until it is complete. No matter what happens, you must not interfere, and you must ensure that no one else interferes."

Valius nodded, his mandibles twitching with a mix of apprehension and determination. "I understand," he assured her, taking up a defensive position near the entrance of the chamber.

Shiala stepped onto the raised platform. The Turian watched as she closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, centring herself, preparing for the ritual that lay ahead. The air around her seemed to crackle with energy, the ancient power that resided here pulsing through the chamber like a living, breathing entity.

As Shiala began to chant in a language the Turian couldn't comprehend, her voice low and melodic, the veins of energy on the walls began to pulse in unison, bathing the room in an eerie, flickering light. Her body swayed with the rhythm of her words, her arms outstretched as if to embrace the power that flowed through her.