Mass Effect: Circular

[GreggHL]

So, my notes upon marathoning the FF.net bits of this:

- The Reapers self-identifying like Yozi was a stroke of genius. If anything ever lived up to their "Each of us is a nation" line and Legion's description of Nazara, it's the multi-soul structure of the Primordials. The fact that their names are as incredibly elaborate as the Yozi also amuses me. Though I find it interesting that Harbinger is apparently a Singular compared to the Many that form Sovereign.

AN:  Yeah, I basically decided that they're either primordials or really high level alchemicals, but more Primordials.  Also, bold text them.  First and Perfect Sovereign of Nazara, Resplendent Harbinger of Ascension, Jaded Gatemaker of Ages, Ageless Waking Undead Adjucator, Pale First Eternal Leviathan, etc.  And yes, the Harbinger thing?  On purpose.

- Sovereign being taken down is interesting, but I have to wonder if he's dead. The Leviathan of Dis was awake enough to take Kharshan in ME3, and the Reaper corpse in ME2 was still mostly alive until Shepard dropped it in a brown dwarf. And, well, if Harbinger ever needed to build Shepard's personal Nemesis, it'd be likely to incorporate the brain of someone driven half-insane with pain, rage, and humiliation over being broken by tiny flesh-things. A Reaper's bad enough. A *berserker* Reaper that wants nothing more than to KILL YOU DEAD even at the expense of its own existence is even worse.

Wouldn't it be hilarious if "Sovereign chases Joker progressively in angrier forms" is a recurring gag?

- The scene with Vigil was well done. It really does highlight that Jane is *tired*, and that she has the perfect chance to just let everyone else do the rest of the job for her. But she doesn't. Because that's not who she is.

Damn straight.

- I'm finding myself curious who it is that arranged for Thane's wife to be rescued. Someone else knows about the loop, because TIM isn't exactly one to consider sparing Mrs. Krios a worthwhile objective, while Jane didn't have nearly enough time to set it up. And whoever did it was a trained sniper. We can rule out Garrus, as he's a Spectre here and doesn't seem to recognize anything, which leaves people with rifle expertise.... and the only one I can think of that'd fit would be *Legion*.

Speaking of Legion, wouldn't it be hilarious if Legion did come back, shared the Upgrades with the rest of the Geth, and using their newfound intelligence the Geth factionalized into thousands and thousands of different factions, and a full half of them ended up following the Reapers this time instead of five percent?

- Vasir being Garrus' mentor rings some worrying bells, but one wonders if she's more on the up and up these days given that apparently Shadow Broker II: Yahg Boogaloo is instead working as a merc that Shepard's crew just blew up into Yahg kibble.

Sadly, that was not ManBearPig, aka Operative Klechu, aka Shadowbroker.

- I do like the amusing implications of Councilor Tevos' internal monologues. She's on good terms with Aria, because Aria is generally more bargainable with than Patriarch. Combine that with Wrex wondering if Aria actually is his old sparring buddy, and some interesting things could play out.

Aria and Tevos had some wild days.  Much of which is sealed by layers upon layers of encryption, but may have been the basis of one of those Asari Confessions videos.

- No sight of TIM since he authorized Miranda to blow her dad's head off. I have to admit I'm curious what he's up to, given he knows how badly his plan failed the last time.

I had a scene where TIM is asking Dr. Archer a) why the Geth attacked Project Overlord, and b) Why the Geth pistol whipped him three times, but that will be in a later chapter.

- Teenage Tali full of hormones is ridiculously amusing. Her internal monologue branching off at the sight of Kal'reegar is far, far too hilarious. "Cold shower?" "Oh, ancestors, yes."

Adorkable Tali is Adorkable.  She has crushes on everyone.  Everyone.  Including, following the adventures on Feros, Captain Hannah.

Also, before Spacebattles disappeared up the prolapsed pulsing hole of a forum software upgrade, I did post Arc Numbers:

-4

-6

-837,943

-9

This refer to important events and numbers in the story.  At least one of them refers to events in Book 1, one in Book 2, and one refers to a major plot point that is part of the overall arc.  And one refers to the actual, total number of time travelers.