Collectors
From Mass Effect Wiki
The Collectors are an enigmatic race that live beyond the Omega-4 mass relay, within the same system as Omega and Shelba, within the Terminus Systems. They are rarely seen in the Terminus itself, let alone Citadel space, and are regarded as a myth by Citadel citizens. Definite sightings of Collectors have been made on Omega every few centuries.
They are thought to be highly advanced and are known for their odd trade requests. They offer new technologies in return for - for example - two dozen left-handed salarians, sixteen sets of batarian twins, a krogan born of parents from feuding clans, or two dozen "pure" quarians (quarians that have never left the Migrant Fleet due to illness, importance to the fleet, or disability). One of their current interests is in healthy human biotics.
No one knows what happens to these individuals after the exchange is completed. It has been speculated that they make these strange requests because of strange fetishes or gruesome culinary tastes. However, it is more likely that they perform genetic experiments on these subjects. Regardless of the possible danger, their requests are often granted by fringe groups because the technology the Collectors offer in return is often extremely valuable, giving any race who receives it an immediate advantage, before it becomes adapted to the galactic community.
All known expeditions to investigate the Collectors have failed. No vessel that has ventured beyond the Omega-4 relay has ever returned. Some speculate that there is a black hole at the relay's counterpart, but this raises the question of how the Collectors can safely use it. Another, rather fantastic, explanation is that on the other side of the relay is a paradise which no citizen of Omega would care to leave due to the crime and suffering of the asteroid. A more likely reason is that the Collectors either detain or destroy any vessels encroaching on their space. [1]
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[edit] Mass Effect: Ascension
The quarian Golo was a member of the Usela's crew, until he made a deal with the Collectors. They wanted two dozen 'pure' quarians from the Flotilla, quarians who were uncontaminated because they had not gone on their Pilgrimage. Golo agreed to sell his own people in exchange for new technology, but he was discovered and punished with exile.
In 2183, Golo offered Cerberus operative Pel a deal to give healthy human biotics to the Collectors, in exchange for enough credits to escape Cerberus. Thus, the latter planned on giving the captured Gillian Grayson and Hendel Mitra in, as well as throw in Kahlee Sanders, a specialists on biotics and Paul Grayson in as bonuses. However, they were rescued by Lemm'Shal nar Tesleya before the deal could be transacted and Pel and his cohorts were all killed. It is unknown what the Collectors' reaction to this was.
[edit] Mass Effect 2
The Collectors have been confirmed to appear as adversaries in Mass Effect 2[1], launching a campaign of human abductions that Shepard must investigate. They are shown using insects to paralyze colonists before abducting them and moving them into stasis pods. The collectors appear insect-like in form, with wings and multiple eyes. They attack using advanced technology such as beam weapons, under the control of a single leader shown be even more insect-like, who can possess any of them at any time, causing them to burst into flames and become even more deadly opponents. It is believed the Collector's advanced technology may have some connection to the Reapers.[2]
[edit] Trivia
The actions of the Collectors vaguely recall the mythological sacrifice of Athens, where seven young men and women would be sent to Knossos every year as tribute, only to be devoured by the Minotaur deep in the Labyrinth.
This could have been partially influenced by the "To Serve Man" episode of the Twilight Zone, in which an alien race provided much useful technology before they invited many humans to their planet to be "served". The humans believed they were being brought to a paradise planet when in reality they were to be cooked and eaten by the aliens ("To Serve Man" being the name of the aliens' cook book). [1]
[edit] References
- ↑ Mass Effect: Ascension
| Citadel | Asari • Elcor • Hanar • Human • Keeper • Salarian • Turian • Volus |
| Non-Citadel | Batarian • Collectors • Drell • Geth • Krogan • Quarian • Rachni • Reaper • Vorcha |
| Historical | Prothean |
