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[fainmaca]

Chapter 13: The Ashes Of Tuchanka


A mercilessly hot sun beat down on the burnt out husks of ancient buildings, a desolate landscape of charred metal and shattered concrete. Fierce winds whipped up errant zephyrs of dust and sand, a blinding kaleidoscope of debris. Among the shadows of the devastated cityscape, small animals scurried about, foraging for food and seeking solace from the relentless sun. As far as the eye could see, there was no vegetation, the valuable nutrients in the soil long since harvested for a long-forgotten conflict.

The shuttle danced through the rough skies of Tuchanka, struggling against the unpredictable weather of the Krogan world. The pilot, Hawthorne did his best to avoid the still radioactive craters from the latest Krogan civil war, hazards that appeared in the landscape with alarming frequency. At the same time, he endeavoured to keep the shuttle close to the ground, in amongst the hollow skeletons of skyscrapers and warehouses. Tuchanka was considered a warzone, and rival clans often sought to cause disruption in some way or another. In such an environment, an unarmed shuttle was not above becoming a target for a Krogan rocket launcher.

Hawthorne breathed a sigh of relief as he nosed the shuttle into the bunker that was his destination, touching it down in a clear space among piles of weapons and supply crates. Inside the landing bay, a pair of hulking guards stood watch over the shuttle as it settled onto the dusty platform. Relieved at arriving in one piece, Hawthorne shouted back to the Commander and his team, waiting patiently in the passenger compartment.

"We’ve arrived, sir. No welcoming party for us this time, but the locals look about as friendly as ever."

Shepard looked up from his omnitool at the announcement, looking out of the shuttle window at the landing bay. He instantly felt the need to check his weapons, glad to feel their reassuring weight on his back. He looked to the rest of the squad before leaving the shuttle. His squad moved to follow. Bringing up the rear of the group, The Revenant shifted uncomfortably on his feet, uneasy at being among so many of the organics that until recently his species had been abducting for horrific experiments. As he stepped out of the shuttle, the Krogan guards jolted in surprise, clearly having never seen a Collector before. Their weapons twitched in their hands but, seeing the allies standing with the giant insect, they chose not to cause any trouble. Shepard approached one of the guards.

"Where’s Urdnot Wrex?"

The Krogan, fully two feet taller and broader than the Commander, looked down at him with a measure of hostility. It was clear that, even after Shepard’s actions during his last visit to Tuchanka, non-Krogan were still despised by the rank and file soldiers.

"The chief," He made sure to emphasise the word, hinting to the human that he should show more respect. "Is in talks at the moment. Go through to the fight pits. He’ll meet you there when he’s ready."

Deciding not to get in the alien’s face any further, Shepard nodded gratitude and proceeded out of the landing bay, following the rugged tunnel into Clan Urdnot’s communal area. Once there, Shepard noted that a few things had changed. The living area of the clan had been cleaned up a bit, clearing out the majority of the rubble and making way for more Krogan to move about. Several tomkahs sat idly to one side, near to the settlement’s defence guns.

"Looks like Wrex has been busy since our last visit." Garrus muttered. "Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a heap of crap, but a nicely polished one."

"Krogan never were the best housekeepers." Jacob said in reply. "Remember Grunt’s hold?"

"Usually in my nightmares. I’m sure there was something alive in those piles of garbage." Garrus suppressed a shudder. "He never even cleaned out his tank."

Up on a podium near the centre of the settlement, a group of Krogan were negotiating, loudly. Challenges and insults were tossed about between them, echoing about the settlement. In the midst of this, sat upon his throne, Urdnot Wrex listened to the arguments with a weary hand over his eyes. At one point, an aged Krogan stepped forward and hurled a challenge at the Krogan chief, one finger pointed at Wrex accusingly.

"This is foolishness, Wrex! Our numbers are depleted enough without your grand schemes depriving us of more strong warriors. You say your plan to unite the Clans will make us strong, but your methods will greatly weaken our race in the process. I have doubts about your having the Krogan’s best interests at heart. You only serve Urdnot! As long as your Clan rises to glory, the rest of us can be cast into the dust."

There was a sudden, shocked pause in all conversation around the settlement as every Krogan turned to look at the throne. Even the warriors going about their business stopped to look at Wrex. Shepard felt his own breath catch in his throat, anxious as to how his friend would react to the challenge.

Wrex froze for a second in his throne, not looking up at the impudent Krogan. Then, suddenly, he surged up from his chair, lunging across the distance between himself and the other Krogan. All around the challenger, Krogan stepped back as the chief took a hold of the challenger by his throat, lifting him bodily into the air. The Krogan wheezed as his windpipe was clamped shut. Wrex growled loudly, drawing the Krogan close until their faces were less than an inch apart. Then, with a grunt, he threw the Krogan over the heads of his fellows, launching him from the podium his throne stood upon to land on the ground below.

"You and your Clan need to learn your place, Notack. Speak no more, or Clan Govat shall be declared unwelcome here."

The Krogan, cowed by the display of sheer brute force, bowed his head subserviently. Shepard understood the implications of Wrex’s threat. To be declared unwelcome in Wrex’s camp was a death sentence, as his allies moved in on any enemies of Urdnot. Breathing heavily from the exertion and his own rage, Wrex stalked back to his throne. Before sitting, he cast his gaze about the gathering of Krogan.

"Anyone else want to challenge me?"

Every Krogan bowed their heads to avert their gaze. The respect they had for Wrex’s capabilities as both a leader and a warrior was evident in their silence.

"Then our business is finished." Wrex said simply as he sat down. The cluster of aliens broke apart, all heading away from the chief as fast as they could. Wrex watched them go until his gaze fixed upon Shepard and his team, standing off to one side. His face broke into the Krogan version of a wide grin. The gesture bared more sharp teeth than most species would be comfortably with seeing, evidence of the Krogan’s predatory ancestry. He waved the troupe over.

Shepard sauntered across to the throne with Garrus and Kaidan in tow. Feeling that they were too numerous to all cluster around the chief without guards getting nervous, he motioned for the others to stay back. As he approached Wrex, he saw Jack heading off to wander among the titanic reptiles, pushing past them with confidence that, show by anyone else, would have been perceived as foolishness. But Shepard knew she could handle herself. Samara made her way to the Varren pits, watching with a measure of distaste on her face. The Commander got the feeling that the Krogan there were about to receive a lecture on the treatment of living creatures, one he was sure was going to prove futile. Zaeed followed her, though his look of determination probably had something to do with the credit chit he had pulled out of his belt and the Krogan to one side accepting bets. Jacob, Feron, Legion and the Revenant stayed where they were, keeping an eye on the others.

As the Commander drew close, Wrex jumped up from his seat, grabbing Shepard’s arm in a warm handshake that ground the bones in his arm. Shepard returned the favour, eliciting a laugh of amusement from the Krogan as the extent of his human strength proved barely a match for the old Krogan. Garrus and Kaidan received the same treatment. As Wrex shook the Turian’s hand, the strangeness of the image struck Shepard. Here were two members of species locked in a bitter hatred, and yet the individuals were good friends.

"Hah! Its good to see you all!" Wrex said, a happy laugh echoing through his deep bass voice. "How’re you doing, Kaidan? You weren’t about last time the Commander came calling."

"Things are good right now, Wrex. I hear you’ve been busy." The human responded.

"That I have. It takes a lot to get these old warhorses moving in the right direction, but I’m getting there. Given a couple of years, I can have the Clans working together to rebuild Tuchanka."

"Good to hear, Wrex." Shepard said.

"So what brings you back to Tuchanka?" The chieftain asked, sitting back down on his throne. He threw one leg over the arm of the throne, achieving a very comfortable pose.

"Cerberus, actually. They captured the Normandy a couple of months back. I’ve just come back from a stint in a Batarian prison."

"Ouch. Those squints may not have much in the way of brute strength, but the four-eyes more than make up for it in pure nastiness." Wrex muttered.

"Yeah. While I was out of the picture, The Illusive Man took most of my crew captive. He sold two to a Clan here on Tuchanka. Mordin and Grunt."

"I see. I’m sure I can figure out some way to help you. Any Clan is glad to get its hands on a Salarian, just out of petty revenge, but your Doctor Solus has quite the medical mind. Who knows what bio weapons they’ve got him cooking up. The last thing I need right now is one Clan getting a clear advantage over any of the others. For my plans to work, the power balance needs to stay tipped in Urdnot’s favour.

"And as for Grunt, he’s an Urdnot, and a symbol to our people after taking down the Thresher Maw. There’s Krogan who say that I should look to appoint him as my successor because of his skill in battle. I’m not ready for stepping down just yet, but they may have a point. We were lucky to have Okeer’s perfect Krogan join our ranks.

"It should be easy to get my followers to pledge their support to the rescue. Which Clan did you say had them?"

"I didn’t. It’s Clan Jath. What can you tell me about them?" Shepard asked.

Wrex was silent for a moment. Then he stood up, moving to the edge of the platform that his throne sat upon, hands clasped in front of him in a pensive stance. When he turned back to face the Commander, his face was uncertain.

"Clan Jath is one of Urdnot’s strongest supporters. Their chief, Jath Fotnar, is a Krogan to be reckoned with. Aside from their stance as allies, their settlement is located on one of our most revered sites, around the base of the Dead Spire, where many of our most honoured chieftains are entombed. The location holds much significance in our culture. Convincing my people to move against Jath will be difficult."

"They’ve said nothing about their prisoners?" Garrus asked.

"No. I can imagine that they would want to keep an Urdnot prisoner a secret from me, but why hide the Salarian? There’s something not right there. Their ambassador is here, Jath Tonkal. I’ll question him about this, get the truth out of him. You’re sure of your information? I can’t cause a rift between my Clan and one of our allies over a mistake."

"I’m positive of it. This intel came straight from the Shadow Broker’s office."

"And he doesn’t make mistakes." Wrex said. For an instant, Shepard felt the compulsion to explain the Broker’s true identity, but felt that this was neither the time nor the place. "I’ll bring Tonkal in. I hope you realise the limb I’m stepping out onto for you, Shepard. If you were any other alien, I would refuse."

"I know, and I appreciate it, Wrex."

The Krogan grunted, turning to go speak with one of his Clan.

~o~0~o~


About an hour later, Shepard was ushered into a moderately large tent near the centre of the settlement. Judging from the bed laid out on the ground and the rack of weapons by the entrance, Shepard deduced that this was where Wrex slept. He stood patiently in one corner as the hefty Krogan ushered in a smaller one. The ambassador to Clan Jath was short, only about the same height as an average human, and his build was slim. His head plate was a dark grey, streaked with blue markings. Tiny green eyes peered about the tent before settling on the Commander with a mixture of recognition and distrust. His lip curled in a defensive gesture as he was motioned deeper into the tent by Wrex. He was clearly anxious at being left alone with the Urdnot chief and the human.

Shepard had ordered Garrus and Kaidan to stand ready at a safe distance, to make sure they were undisturbed during their interrogation, and in case things turned nasty. They waited inconspicuously at a respectful distance, weapons loose in their holsters.

Tonkal shifted nervously on his feet as Wrex and Shepard moved to stand between him and the door, ready for any attempt to bolt.

"What is it you wished to speak to me about, Urdnot Wrex?" He asked, his voice surprisingly deep for one of his stature. Even Wrex’s voice didn’t quite hit such a low note. "And what is this alien doing in our presence?"

"The human stays, Tonkal. What we have to discuss is his business as well." Wrex replied calmly. Shepard noted the suspicion grow in the ambassador’s eyes. Wrex handed the Krogan a datapad with the information Liara had dredged up on it.

"I want an explanation of this." He stated simply. Tonkal stood for a second, reading slowly.

"I have no knowledge of this. It is clearly a fabrication." He said. "Is this what you have pulled me aside for, Wrex? To bandy accusations with a human?"

"The human is not accusing you, I am." Wrex said firmly. "This information came from sources that are beyond doubt. What is your clan doing with a Salarian scientist and an Urdnot warrior?"

"These accusations are preposterous!" Shepard caught the splutter of anxiety in the Krogan’s voice, and latched onto it.

"A Krogan clan had taken a Salarian prisoner last time I was here, you know. Remember Clan Weyrloc? I took them out and barely broke a sweat. Do you really want to get in my way this time?"

The Krogan ambassador swallowed, the lump in his throat clearly moving as he fought down his anxiety. Shepard felt a measure of loathing for the alien. He was a politician, and he clearly only acted when it was of utmost benefit to himself.

After a moment’s hesitation, Tonkal’s resistance broke down.

"We got the prisoners off Cerberus. The scientist was a part of a project to modify the Genophage, and Okeer’s perfect Krogan was a natural test subject for any experiments we wanted to run."

"Why hide this from Clan Urdnot?" Shepard pushed. "Wrex would have gladly helped Jath in their search for a cure. Why take prisoners and operate by these means?"

"Because we doubt that Urdnot Wrex wants to cure the Genophage!" Tonkal spat. "He helped you to destroy Saren’s cure, and then refused to work with the Salarian who aided Clan Weyrloc. He even helped you to put a stop to the research Guld was helping the Salarian accomplish!"

"All of those examples would have been harmful to the Krogan!" Wrex protested. "Saren’s cure would have turned us all into slaves, and Guld’s cure was for the Weyrloc alone. Aside from that, Guld’s research called for live victims to test it on. We’re too few in number to throw our warriors into some research lab."

"So much for your ideal of leading the Krogan to glory." Tonkal sneered. "How can you hope to lead our people if you are unwilling to make the sacrifices necessary to save our people?"

"There’s more here you aren’t telling us." Shepard ventured, calling the Krogan’s bluff. "Why do you really want to keep this a secret?"

Tonkal at first looked as though he might try to run, but on seeing Wrex and Shepard tense up, ready to descend on him at the first sign of an escape attempt, he slumped, beaten without a fight.

"Jath Fotnar figured out a way to restore our genetic structure using the remains of our ancestors, buried in the Dead Spire. He knew that the other clans would put a stop to his work because of this, and so the research is being kept a secret, even from our warriors. We figured that we could repair ourselves first, cure ourselves of the Genophage, and once the process was perfected and the results were evident, we could use it to rally the clans around us, the Krogan reborn."

Wrex’s breath paused at the mention of their source of genetic material, his eyes narrowing as his face flushed with fury. His hands curled into fists, the knuckles popping as his fingers curled tighter and tighter.

Too fast for Shepard to react, Wrex lunged forward, fists flying as he laid into Tonkal. The ambassador fell to the ground with a cry, but Wrex did not let up. He roared as he pummelled his fellow Krogan, and when he finally stood up his fists were coated in blood. Tonkal was now a corpse, his face staved in by the ferocity of the attack. Shepard noted that even his armour had been heavily damaged by Wrex’s rage, in places cracked open from the force of a blow. As a blue flicker travelled up his friend’s arm he realised that the anger Wrex had displayed had fuelled his biotics, lending him strength beyond the norm. The Commander stepped back as the Krogan chief stood up straight, breathing heavily. In such a state, it was all too easy for a Krogan to slip into a Blood Rage, a frenzy that was nearly impossible to contain. At such times, it was dangerous to be anywhere near the Krogan.

However, Wrex took a deep breath and turned calm eyes on Shepard, a firm set to his jaw. Seeing the surprise and disapproval in the Commander’s face, he straightened, drawing up to his full, impressive height. His blood-red eyes locked with Shepard’s.

"He got what he deserved. His clan is desecrating our past." He seethed. "You’ll get the help you need for your rescue mission, Shepard, and then some. Clan Jath is going to be exterminated for their crimes."

~o~0~o~


Minutes later, the Krogan leaders present in Urdnot’s camp had been gathered before Wrex’s throne. There were murmurs of curiosity as to the reason they were gathered, and more than a few bouts of bickering as old grudges proved to be not quite buried. More than a few suspicious looks were thrown at Shepard’s squad, standing off to one side of the group. None present were sure of why they were there.

The whole crowd fell silent as Shepard stepped onto the platform before the Urdnot throne, looking out at the assembled Krogan with a confident stare. He took a deep breath before speaking, putting all the power he could into his voice.

"You’ve all been called here today because one of your allies has betrayed you." As he spoke, some Krogan began looking about, seeking to identify the traitor. More narrowed their eyes at the human, suspecting that the alien was trying to sow distrust among them.

"Clan Jath has been working on a cure for the Genophage, a cure that they intend to use to gain power over the rest of you." Shepard had to raise his voice even more to overcome the rising noise from the Krogan.

"Only an alien would see a cure to the Genophage as an evil to be destroyed!" One Krogan shouted.

"I believe the Krogan deserve a cure as much as you do!" Shepard retorted. "But not if the price is too high! Clan Jath have taken prisoners to serve as live test subjects, and they intend to keep the cure to themselves until they’re firmly in charge of the Clans. They don’t want to cure you, they want to turn you into a weapon to resume the Rebellions with! To turn you into their servants."

"This is ludicrous! How could Jath’s scientists have developed a cure?" Another objector called out.

"One of their prisoners is a Salarian with extensive experience at genetic manipulation. They use one of Urdnot’s warriors, Urdnot Grunt, as a test subject for their experiments." Shepard paused before throwing out the final ace up his sleeve. "And they use genetic material from the tombs in the Dead Spire in their research."

At the last comment, the clamouring Krogan fell silent, an awkward tension entering the air. Various individuals in the crowd turned to each other, surprise in their eyes, before turning back to Shepard.

"Where is Jath Tonkal, to defend his Clan against these reprehensible accusations?" The first dissenter asked. His question was met with a wave of shouts and jeers, some supporting his request that Jath be given the chance to defend their reputation, while others held that they deserved no such fair treatment.

Almost immediately after this query, the corpse of the Jath ambassador hit the ground before the crowd with a thud, leaving a bloody smear as it slid to a stop. All eyes turned to where the body had come from to see Wrex standing there, Tonkal’s blood still staining his hands.

"Right here. The snivelling excuse for a Krogan confessed his Clan’s actions to me, and has paid the price for his part in Jath’s crimes. But this is only the start. Urdnot’s warriors shall move to exact vengeance on the Clan. Who will stand with us?" His gravelly voice called out.

For a moment, none moved, the lull in their arguments betraying their hesitation. At last, one or two of the Clan leaders moved forward. Among them, Shepard recognised the ambassador from Clan Nakmor, along with his chief. The Krogan looked at him with a respectful greeting in his gaze before turning to the crowd.

"Clan Nakmor will fight alongside Urdnot. It is not just Urdnot Wrex who we fight alongside, but the human battlemaster Shepard, who slew the Thresher Maw during Urdnot Grunt’s Rite of Passage. Shepard fights with a ferocity like that of Nakmor Krall. We would be honoured to share a grand battle with such an ally!" He barked out.

At his proud words, many more Krogan stepped forward to commit their clans to the assault. In the end, only a few clan officials refused to participate, standing obstinately separate from the main group. Wrex regarded them with an understanding expression.

"You choose not to fight." He said. "I understand. You do not trust the word of a human, or you think Jath should be allowed to continue their work. I shall not hold your refusal to fight against you. Should you remain out of the conflict, there shall be no vengeance upon your clan. However, side with Jath and your clans shall be destroyed." He looked about at all of his fellow Krogan. "Now, return to your clans. Prepare your warriors. Tomorrow, we turn move against the plains of the Dead Spire."

~o~0~o~


The following day, Shepard met up with Wrex and a cluster of Krogan around his throne. Apparently they had been discussing tactics for some time by the time the Commander arrived. The huge aliens turned to look at him with curiosity, and he sensed a stronger feeling of respect from the Krogan now. They made way for him to take up a position beside Wrex.

"Wrex." The Commander said by way of greeting.

"Shepard. We’re just planning our attack." He motioned to one of the Krogan in his war council, who activated an omnitool and brought up a holographic representation of a large stone building at the foot of a mountain. The building was huge and boxy, utilitarian in the Krogan style. Thick walls surrounded the building’s courtyards, studded with gun turrets. As Shepard watched, the view changed to a top-down map view that showed a vast array of smaller buildings around the fortress. The Commander noted that the fortress itself was partially built into the mountain, the sheer sides of the mountain negating the need for a northern wall.

"This is Jath’s main fortress, the entrance to the Halls of the Battlemasters. It’s heavily fortified, being a site of some significance to our people. We need to be careful as we move in. A lot of the buildings closer to the mountains are of incredible importance to us. Normally we’d just nuke the Clan into vapour, but we can’t afford to damage the Halls in the mountain.

"So we’ve got battlemaster Nakmor Gratt leading a strike team of warriors from Clan Nakmor, Jorgal and Moitak through the necropolis on the east. I’ll be leading the main force of our warriors, a mix of Clan Urdnot, Forsan, Julton and Vraktar warriors, from the South. Chief Julton Vras will lead a smaller team from the West, with some demo experts to get close and breach the wall while the other two forces maintain the distraction."

"Where do we figure into this?" Shepard asked, pointing a thumb over his shoulder at his waiting squad.

"Don’t worry. We’ve got that all planned out." Wrex answered. "While the main army is moving on the Citadel, you take a small group in on the north side. You’ll sneak in the back and rescue your Salarian friend and Grunt. Then, fight your way to us and we get you the hell out of there."

"That does have the slight obstacle of the entire Jath army between us and you." Shepard objected.

"Hopefully by the time you’re looking for extraction, we’ll have whittled them down to a more manageable number. But even if we don’t, I’ve never seen you hesitate to take on a good-sized bunch of Krogan, Shepard."

"I reckon for a mission like this, I’ll want a smaller team with me. Ten fully armed commandos might draw Jath’s attention before we’re ready."

"Agreed. Plus, your vehicle is only gonna have room for a handful of you."

"Vehicle?"

"You’ll see. In the meantime, I’d like the rest of your team to join me on the battlefield. You tend to attract very capable warriors, and I wouldn’t mind having some of that coming with me for this fight. While we’ve still got a good advantage in the way of numbers, Jath are known for unpredictable tactics and turning up exactly where you don’t want ‘em to."

"No problem."

"I’ll also be sending a guide with you. All Krogan know the general layout of the Halls, and you’ll need someone to keep you from getting lost."

"Sounds like we’ve got everything sorted out, then. When do we start?"

"Our forces will be ready to move tonight. We’ll start our assault tomorrow at dawn." Wrex confirmed.

~o~0~o~


"Say what you will, we get to see the Galaxy in style." Shepard grumbled over the roar of the vehicle’s engine.

The Commander staggered as the Tomkah rolled over a large boulder, bouncing from side to side dangerously. Shepard stood in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, one hand firmly clenched around a bar at about shoulder height. Beside him, the Revenant also struggled to retain his balance, while Legion and Zaeed stood on the other side of the cramped cabin. The Geth was absolutely still, it’s joints locked tightly. Zaeed was suffering from the poor balance like Shepard, cursing as the Krogan driver sped over another series of jarring bumps.

Up front, the Krogan driver laughed as he forced the behemoth across the rugged landscape, skidding around the largest of obstacles. He looked back at his passengers, throwing back a few words of encouragement.

"Most of the soldiers who take these babies out don’t know how to treat ‘em right. You gotta know how to stay in control around some of these loose debris piles. You hit a patch of broken concrete just wrong, and bam! You’re a smear on the side of some old skyscraper."

"You Krogan obviously don’t have comfort in mind when you build these things." Shepard muttered over the crunch as the Tomkah bounded across the plains, arrowing straight for the mountain.

"These are troop transports, not luxury yachts. We’re heading into a warzone, and can’t afford to pamper our passengers." The driver threw back.

"I’m not looking for a spa. Some seatbelts would be nice."

"That’s why humans are so squishy. You get coddled by all these little luxuries. A real warrior relies on his strength and his armour to stay in one piece."

"I don’t think I caught your name."

"It’s Hurn."

"How many times have you driven one of these into battle, Hurn?"

"About two dozen. And I only crashed three times." The Krogan yelled proudly.

"Brilliant." Zaeed muttered sarcastically. "So we’ve only got a moderate chance of becoming a part of the scenery."

Outside the front windows, the landscape was slowly becoming brighter as the powerful sun slunk over the horizon. Rays of light, twisted strangely by the radiation in the atmosphere, flickered across the ground before them, lighting up the silent mass of the mountain they were swiftly approaching.

After several more minutes of being thrown about in the rear of the Tomkah, they began their ascent of the mountain. Hurn powered the truck up the steep slope, not letting up on the throttle at all. Eventually, they reached the peak of the mountain. Hurn slowed the vehicle to a stop, looking ahead with narrowed eyes. Shepard stepped up to stand next to him and look out of the driver’s window.

Ahead, the ground vanished suddenly, becoming the cliff that made the northern boundary of Clan Jath’s stronghold. On the very edge of the cliff, a massive gun turret had been erected. Beside it, two tanks sat menacingly, ready for a fight.

"Ah, damn." Hurn muttered. "Looks like they’re a bit more heavily fortified than we give ‘em credit for. Surprised that they don’t just leave it to the cliff to keep ‘em safe."

"They had to defend this side somehow. Have we got any weapons we can use on them?" Shepard asked.

"This baby’s designed for speed. That’s why it’s not as big as other Tomkahs. We stripped out any offensive weaponry and armour to let her rip across the field."

"Well we can’t fight them on foot. What do you suggest to get past them?"

They both turned as the comms unit crackled. Wrex’s deep voice began resonating over the airwaves.

"All units, move in."

Hurn looked out at the guard post between them and their objective, and then beyond. Shepard saw the gears turning behind the Krogan’s eyes as a plan began to formulate.

"I don’t reckon it’s actually that far down…" He muttered.

"You think this thing will hold together?" Shepard asked.

"One way to find out." The Krogan replied.

"What?!" Zaeed shouted over the Commander’s shoulder. "Are you suggesting what I think you are? Are you both goddamn insane?"

"I got three pieces of shrapnel in my head that say I am!" Hurn shouted back cheerfully. "Strap yourselves down as best you can. This is gonna get rough."

As the Tomkah began reversing away from the guard post, Shepard looked about, finding a bundle of cargo ropes in a locker in the back of the truck. Passing a few to each of his squad mates, Shepard began strapping himself down as best he could. Once he was fairly sure he was secure, Shepard activated his omnitool and tweaked a few settings on his kinetic barriers, subtly increasing the mass effect field to hold him in place. He saw the others do the same, and saw the Revenant’s limbs flicker with blue light as he used his biotics to further hold the team in place. They were ready by the time Hurn stopped the vehicle’s motion backwards and slammed it into gear.

"Hang on to your quads!" He shouted back as he gunned the throttle.

The Tomkah shot forwards like a cannonball, jolting and bouncing over the rough terrain. It crested the mountain like a leaping fish and began its descent of the far slope. Shepard gritted his teeth as the guard post and the cliff swiftly approached.

Noticing the rapidly approaching vehicle, the guards reacted quickly. The gun turret spun around with a groan as the two tanks moved to bring the Tomkah into sight. Pretty soon heavy fire was bouncing off the truck as it jumped unpredictably across the uneven ground towards them. As it rushed past the two tanks, they turned to pursue it, interfering with the turret’s aim.

Shepard clenched his fists as the edge of the cliff drew dangerously close. With startling speed, the turret rushed past in an instant, left behind by the Tomkah’s tremendous speed at this point. The Commander’s stomach lurched as the Tomkah launched itself over the edge. Hurn let out a whoop of delight as the truck soared through the air, deftly manipulating the jump thrusters to keep the vehicle from tipping over.

Behind them, the two tanks struggled to halt, both skidding on the dirt and loose rocks. One spun as the driver wrestled with the controls, continuing on its chaotic voyage until it struck one of the key supports underneath the gun turret. The pair locked together as the turret absorbed all of the tank’s momentum, and then slowly toppled over the edge of the cliff, the screams of tearing metal accompanied by the screams of falling Krogan.

The other tank fared slightly better, managing to lose a reasonable portion of its speed. However, it was not enough, and the vehicle hit the edge of the cliff. It hung over the edge for a second, tracked wheels spinning as it struggled to reverse back away from the cliff, before its weight pulled it over. Without jump jets to assist it in its flight, the tank’s flight was a lot clumsier than the Tomkah’s, plummeting down into the fortress below.

Shepard’s stomach flipped a somersault as the Tomkah roared through the air, dropping rapidly towards the Jath fortress. The Commander noted that Hurn was steering the vehicle ever so slightly using the jump jets. Built to help the Tomkah leap enemy trenches of traverse difficult terrain, the jets were no use at making a controlled flight, but gave the Krogan just enough steering ability to aim for a general area. As near as Shepard could tell, he was aiming for a wide open space inside the fortress walls.

With most of the power diverted to kinetic barriers facing the larger group, the fortress’s northern barriers had barely enough power to jolt the plummeting Tomkah, let alone stop it. The fractional resistance sent the vehicle into a crazy spin, but it remained on course for the fortress.

After an eternal few seconds, the Tomkah hit a paved area inside the fortress walls, wheels collapsing underneath the colossal impact. The truck rolled a few times, finally hitting a large building. As masonry fell down around it, the Tomkah rolled back out of the hole it had made, leaving the doors free for Shepard to force open. The Commander looked back over the wide swathe of destruction they had left in their wake, from the large furrow through solid concrete to the massive hole in the building that had proved to be the vehicle’s final destination. He turned as Hurn clambered out of the wreckage beside him, surveying the damage.

"Damn, that’s gonna leave a mark." He said, the ghost of a laugh in his voice.

They both turned as the rest of the squad climbed out of the rubble, cradling various bumps, bruises and scratches.

"We do not understand the organic fascination with dangerous vehicle manoeuvres." Legion stated, inspecting a large dent in its thigh.

"Neither do I." Zaeed grumbled, shaking his head dizzily.

"Such behaviour suggests a casual disregard for personal safety and base survival instincts." The Geth concluded.

"Alright, alright." Shepard said. "No more airtime in a Tomkah, I get it. We got in, though, didn’t we?"

"Gaining entry was never the obstacle, Commander." The Revenant supplied. "It is the extraction that remains our main hurdle to overcome."

"True. Let’s see if we can find Mordin and Grunt, first." Shepard said, turning to Hurn. "Any idea where they’d keep a lab in this complex?"

Hurn looked about at the fortress, hand lifted to his chin in thought.

"If they’re getting their genetic samples from the Halls, then we’d best head that way and start our search from there. Most of the guards will have run to the walls to fend off the main attack, so we should have a clear run."

"Lead the way."

The squad moved to follow Hurn, the Krogan blazing a trail through the fortress towards the foot of the mountain. They moved past ancient buildings, stone walls weathered by countless years. Rubble was scattered across the ground, remnants of buildings long since destroyed. Occasionally the group felt a tremor pass through the fortress as Wrex and his troops pressed their attack on the walls. The sounds of heavy gunfire echoed about the buildings.

After passing through several abandoned courtyards and empty buildings, the squad arrived at a large pair of heavy doors. Hurn paused, holding up a hand as he crept up to the massive stone doors. Behind the doors, a huge building had been carved straight into the rock, forming a part of the mountain’s base. The outside of the building was covered with stone carvings, depicting Krogan locked in combat. Shepard saw one image of a Krogan warlord standing triumphantly over the broken corpse of a Rachni queen, and another of a group of Krogan ruthlessly despatching Turians, Salarians and Asari. Some images were much older, showing only Krogan fighting Krogan. The whole selection was dominated by a large carving of a single Krogan facing down a nest of Thresher Maws barehanded.

As Hurn approached the doors, he slowed, putting an ear cautiously near to the seam between them. He listened for a second before moving to a small window nearby. He sneaked a look inside before moving back towards Shepard.

"Got a guard post inside. Probably just the usual grunts they have guarding the entrance to the Halls. There’s five of ‘em, plus a couple of Varren. Don’t think the mutts have scented us yet, but they make a stealthy approach pretty much impossible. I reckon if we move fast enough, we can take ‘em before they know what hit them."

Shepard nodded silently, motioning for Legion to stand with Hurn on one side of the door while Zaeed and the Revenant stood to the other side. Once everyone was in position, he paused for a second and then rushed the doors.

The heavy doors clattered open as the Commander bulled through them, holding his rifle at the ready. The squad immediately followed, guns at the ready. The guards inside had no time to react before a deadly hail of fire cut into them. Shepard focused his fire on one armoured Krogan, his attack quickly breaking through the guard’s armour and tearing flesh apart. The Krogan howled as the bullets pierced several important organs, but he stayed on his feet. Legion accounted for one guard by taking careful aim and firing a single bullet through the alien’s eye, the round destroying it’s brain. Zaeed jumped up alongside the Commander, laying down a smothering hail of bullets at the enemy ranks. The Revenant lifted a hand, biotic fire travelling up towards his hand, and two Krogan lifted into the air with surprised and confused shouts. The Collector followed this up with a powerful thrust of its other hand, launching a warp blast at the guards. One was thrown back into the wall behind it, ribcage crumpling painfully. The other one was thrown away by the force of the blast, hitting the floor with a painful thud. Hurn, meanwhile, had taken on the Varren. One of the strange creatures lay dead on the ground, half of its head blown away by a blast from the Krogan’s shotgun. The other Varren lunged at him, locking its jaws around his shotgun. He grunted as the powerful jaws twisted and the shotgun was wrestled from his grasp, tumbling to the floor. He barely had time to react before the Varren’s jaws closed on his forearm, sharp fangs drawing streams of blood as they pierced flesh. He howled as he wrestled with the beast, twisting his body until he was able to lock his free arm around its neck. He tugged his trapped arm to one side, twisting the creature’s head. With a snap, the Varren’s neck broke, and it released its grip as it fell limply to the floor.

Shepard marvelled at the strength that a Krogan possessed for a second, before a roar brought his attention back to the surviving enemies. The Krogan he had bloodied was charging him, mouth frothing with rage as its vital functions switched to its redundant organs. The alien crashed into him with terrifying force, knocking him to the ground. It’s teeth gnashed in his face as he held his rifle against its chest, trying to stop it from biting him. He grunted as he shoved, pushing the Krogan away. He barely had time to roll away before the Krogan attacked again, bringing his weapon to bear. Shepard feathered the trigger, releasing burst after burst of fire into the alien’s torso. Finally his shots pierced both hearts, killing it.

As he wiped away the blood staining his armour, Shepard looked up to see the rest of his team finishing off the guard post. With its cold machine reflexes, Legion had sniped a further Krogan, while Zaeed’s fire, combined with the Revenant’s biotics finished off the last guard. Hurn, smearing medi-gel over the puncture wounds on his arm, walked over to where his shotgun had been thrown, retrieving the weapon quietly. He turned to look at the squad, noting that none of them were harmed.

"Good start. Though I reckon the noise will have every guard in the Halls headed in this direction. Let’s get to searching before we get caught."

They moved off down one of the many passages beyond the entrance, moving slowly in the darkness of the Halls. Lining each passageway, a myriad tombs spoke of the proud history of the Krogan. Some were decorated with frescos of the entombed Battlemaster performing great feats of physical prowess, or leading vast armies to victory. Others had a statue of the Battlemaster carved into the door of the tomb, the Krogan’s likeness carefully crafted and preserved.

They proceeded through branch after branch of passageways, passing hundreds of Krogan tombs going back to the dawn of their civilisation, and eventually found themselves at a crossroads of the passages, a tall dome-shaped room that was dominated by the head of a Thresher Maw mounted on a pole in the centre. Evenly spaced between the passage entrances, six tombs were arrayed in perfect symmetry, exceptionally ornate. Hurn gasped as he caught sight of one, its seal broken and the door askew. The Krogan moved over to it, running a hand over the damage with a melancholy look on his face.

"These are the tombs of the Krogan Battlemasters who led the charge against the Rachni." He explained. "They perished in the Rachni War, and are given this place of honour in the Halls for making our victory possible. They were a part of the final generation to live before the Genophage."

"I guess it’d make sense for Jath to use them. Their corpses are the youngest sources of ‘pure’ Krogan DNA." Shepard said.

"This was the tomb of Tabgar Noll, the first Krogan to step forward to join the Rachni War. He led the siege of the Rachni homeworld and was the first being in the Galaxy to slay a Queen." Hurn pounded a fist into the wall beside the tomb entrance. "His memory demands more honour than this! A Krogan should know better!"

"I’m sorry."

"It is not your fault, human. It is Jath Fotnar! He’ll be made to pay for this." Hurn seethed. He stomped about the room in fury, head shaking from side to side. Catching sight of Shepard’s concerned face, he calmed. "I apologise, Commander. Knowing that Jath had raided the Halls for their tests was bad enough. Finding out that they desecrate the tomb of one of our greatest heroes, it is too much to bear!"

"Help me find Mordin and Grunt, and then we’ll go and give Jath Fotnar a piece of our minds." Shepard promised.

"You’re right." Hurn said. He returned to the tomb and looked at the marks around the seal, inspecting a few scuffmarks and footprints on the dirty floor. He sniffed the air, moving over to one of the passageways. "They left down this way."

The passageway he had indicated was nearly pitch-black. Shepard, Zaeed and urn relied upon their omnitools to provide the light they needed, while Legion and Revenant, the former with its bright ‘eye’ and the latter with his glowing yellow eyes, proceeded easily in the darkness.

The Commander found himself getting twitchy as he moved past silent tombs, half-expecting to have a bunch of husks to be waiting around the next corner. Strange scratching noises could be heard inside the tombs, though it was most probably just a collection of scurrying rodents inhabiting the Halls.

At last they began to move into more brightly-lit sections of the Halls. Shepard noted that the crumbling masonry and dank darkness of the Halls was giving way to metal panels and bright electric light more reminiscent of a lab. Hurn made a grunt of surprise as he made his way through the newer sections of the complex.

"These passages shouldn’t be here. They’ve been added recently. We don’t allow any excavation inside the mountain unless it’s to make room for more tombs."

"Then we’re most likely getting close to where we need to be. Keep an eye out for labs or prison cells." Shepard ordered. "I want to take a look at the research they’ve been doing, see what progress they’ve made."

They moved through a series of metal corridors, carefully inspecting the various rooms that they passed. In quick succession, they moved past a series of dormitories and recreational areas. As they passed through what looked like a communal galley area, Shepard came to the conclusion that this was where the Krogan scientists working on the project lived.

They moved out of the living quarters into an area that looked more like a testing facility. The large rectangular room was clean, by Krogan standards, and sparsely furnished. The Commander spotted a few scanners and surveillance devices built into the walls, along with various testing equipment around the room, exercise machines and biological monitoring devices. This was obviously where test subjects were analysed, their physical condition gauged and their capabilities tested. Four metal doors lined the other three walls, one each to the left and right, and two set in the far wall.

Shepard moved up to the door on the right, carefully taking a look through the square window that was set in the top of the door. Beyond, he saw a group of a half-dozen or so Krogan moving about in a sterile lab, cautiously handling vials of some unknown substance. The care that they showed in handling these, a gentleness alien to the Krogan, suggested that the contents were either very dangerous or very valuable. The Commander suspected both.

Shepard turned to the opposite door at a muttered comment from Zaeed. He moved over next to the mercenary and looked through the door. His breath caught in his throat when he saw the contents of the next room. A single large tank, similar to the one in Normandy’s auxiliary Cargo Hold dominated the room. Grunt floated inside it, suspended in a thick, electric blue liquid. The young Krogan’s features were recognisable, but different. Large plates covered his forehead now, approaching the plates of a Krogan adult. The Krogan had grown taller, too. His muscles, which had not been inconsiderable, were easily half as large again as they had been. Grunt now easily dwarfed any Krogan, at least a foot taller than any Shepard had seen. As Hurn looked over Shepard’s shoulder, he let out a whistle of amazement.

"Whoo! Now there’s a monster! And still growing, if the plates are any sign. I reckon he’ll be a match for Warlord Barkath when he’s fully grown. Say what you will, Okeer knows how to breed ‘em big."

"He looked nothing like that when he was aboard the Normandy. The experiments must have accelerated his growth. Why would they do that?"

"Krogan become more active as they age. Fotnar would have wanted to get him to peak breeding age as fast as he could." Hurn explained. "I’d say he’s the equivalent of a seventy-year old now, by Krogan standards. Not sure what you humans would equate that to."

"Let’s check out the last two rooms before we break him out. I’d bet a month’s salary that the instant we try to spring him out, all hell breaks loose."

"That’s a pretty safe bet for you, Commander." Zaeed said with a smirk. "After all, you did quit your last job."

"The hazard pay wasn’t good enough with Cerberus." Shepard quipped back. "But my point still stands."

"You couldn’t open this door from here anyway." Hurn said, indicating the smooth metal. "No interface. The lock’s somewhere else."

They moved to the right-hand door on the farthest wall, looking through cautiously. Inside, they saw a large group of Krogan standing around a table as another one, the smallest of the bunch, wandered among them with a set of surgical instruments. The small Krogan, who wore the uniform of a doctor, stepped up to each warrior in the room and calmly injected a dose of the chemical being handled in the first room into their arms. Every last one of the aliens was grinning with wolfish pride.

The squad moved over to the next door, noting that it was even more heavily fortified than the last three doors. Two mechanical locks, as well as an electrical lock, secured the door. The window was smaller than the others were, and Shepard had to stretch to look through it. There was a single small desk within the tiny room beyond. The walls of the room were scorched in places, clear signs of frequent escape attempts of varying success. The desk itself was metal, with the flat surface stained black with soot from one such escape attempt. On the desk sat a holographic terminal, isolated from the fortress’ main network. Behind the terminal the Commander saw the worn features of his old Salarian friend, Mordin Solus. The Salarian’s face was bruised in several places, and one of his eyes was nearly shut around a large swelling in his cheek. His left hand was held in a splint, two of the digits not functioning. The Salarian, who was almost forty, the limit of a Salarian’s lifespan, moved with pained slowness. His large, almond-shaped eyes creased around the edges as he focused on his task. The Commander knocked on the door, but the sound was so muted by the thick door that Mordin could not hear it.

"We’ve got to find the controls to these doors!" Shepard said.

"I reckon they’re through here." Hurn offered. "I can see a large control console."

"What do you suggest, Commander?" Zaeed asked. "One, two and go on three? I reckon we can catch the slimy bastards off-guard and wipe the floor with ‘em."

"This door isn’t as sturdy as the others, why don’t we just knock politely?" Shepard asked with a grin. "Revenant? Would you mind…"

As Shepard stepped back from the door, the Collector tilted his head, confused. After a moment, he caught on to the Commander’s wish. He drew a flowing curtain of biotic fire about himself, drawing one hand back like he was pulling a bowstring. The blue light swirled along his arm, concentrating in a near-white mass in his palm. With a grunt, the massive insect launched the blinding bolt at the door.

There was a colossal shriek as the door buckled, torn from its hinges, and tumbled across the room, laying out two of the Krogan scientists beyond. There were yelps of surprise from the aliens in the lab as they twisted to look at the source of the commotion, just as Shepard’s squad poured through the doorway, guns blazing.

The Commander felt a surge of confidence when he saw the enemy scientists tumble into cover, thrown back by the blistering rate of fire. That confidence vanished when all of the scientists produced a vast array of weapons, from powerful handguns to shotguns. One even lifted a flame-thrower into view. As Shepard ducked into cover, he reminded himself that these were Krogan scientists, and therefore expecting them to be lightweights was a poor strategy at best, and fatal at worst.

The Commander saw Zaeed pull a canister from his belt, thumbing the switch on the top of it before flinging it into the enemy ranks. The canister burst apart in a bright flash, jets of flame escaping from it and setting delicate equipment and Krogan alike on fire. There were few shouts of pain and some grunts of astonishment at the grenade, but the scientists pressed their attack.

Shepard stood up from behind his cover to lay down a barrage of fire, and was instantly met by a returning salvo. His shields beeped in alarm as the incoming attacks swiftly drained their power, but the barrier remained steady until the Krogan with the flame-thrower attacked. As the waves of flame washed over his shields, Shepard’s omnitool warned him that his kinetic barrier was losing power dramatically. Cursing, the Commander dropped back down into cover.

The battle continued in this fashion for several moments, with Shepard’s team remaining largely unscathed. Zaeed took a round to the shoulder, causing the old mercenary to drop back down behind the desk he was using for cover. Beside him, the Revenant hurriedly patched up the wound with some medi-gel, briefly pausing to fling a couple of biotic blasts into the approaching enemy. Legion, meanwhile, kept up a steady rate of fire, Krogan bullets pinging off it’s armoured shell as it stood to fire. Hurn’s shotgun barked out above all the noise, sending deadly clouds of bullets into the scientist ranks. They made slow progress, seriously hampered by the Krogan with the flame-thrower.

The squad turned at the sound of pounding feet behind them, and Shepard felt his confidence waver when he saw, back through the door they had torn down, that the soldiers in the other room had been alerted by the sounds of combat and, arming themselves, were now running to join the fight. He opened fire on the approaching Krogan before they reached the door, and was satisfied to see a couple fall, his shots piercing them through the torso or through the legs. One took a bullet to the kneecap, falling with a roar of fury. The fallen Krogan continued moving forward, crawling towards the enemy as his comrades marched past him. Shepard had to admire the Krogan resolve to keep fighting. Such determination was what made the species feared across the Galaxy.

Seeing his team surrounded, the Commander barked orders to his comrades, having Zaeed and the Revenant hold off the newcomers while legion, Hurn and Shepard dealt with the scientists. Taking a deep breath, Shepard activated his adrenal implants, flooding his system with adrenaline and sending his reflexes into a charged state. As everyone seemed to slow down around him, the Commander jumped up and feathered the trigger on his rifle, taking aim at the Krogan with the flame-thrower. As the alien turned to him and depressed the trigger on its weapon, two bullets found their way to the tank of the flame-thrower. The Krogan’s eyes screwed up in shock as its weapon ignited itself, exploding in his hands. Red-hot shrapnel from the exploding weapon scythed through the Krogan’s guts, instantly killing him as one piece found its way into his spine.

With the flame-thrower out of the way, Shepard found it a lot easier to eliminate the last of the scientists. When the last one died, he turned back to the doorway and the new threat. He saw the revenant lift up the buckled door with its biotics and force it against the press of Krogan, pushing them back out of the door and holding them at the threshold. Zaeed and Hurn added their weight to the door, holding the enemy back.

"We didn’t bring enough ammo to take out every last Krogan in the joint, Shepard!" Zaeed shouted through gritted teeth. "Find something to get rid of this bunch!"

Shepard moved up to the control console, searching for any system that might help. He shouted in triumph as he found a control for a shield and activated it, sealing the door between them and the Krogan squad with a flickering red barrier. The door rang from the sound of multiple impacts as the aliens tried bashing and blasting their way through, but the barrier held firm. A number of the aliens yelped as the fire from their weapons bounced back into their masses, inflicting a number of injuries.

The squad paused for a second to catch their breath, looking at the boiling mass of Krogan on the other side of the doorway. Zaeed casually flipped a finger up at them, sending them deeper into their rage

"That should hold the buggers for now, but how do we get out?" he asked.

"We’ll work something out." Shepard said as he worked the controls on the console. "Hurn? Legion? Can you give me a hand here? I’m not very good with Krogan controls."

The Geth and the Krogan moved over to assist, and in a few seconds they had deciphered the controls for the complex, figuring out how to open both Mordin and Grunt’s cells. Zaeed kept a watchful eye on the enemy at the door while the Revenant moved through the lab, examining various pieces of equipment and technical reports.

"Shepard? Where are you?" Wrex’s deep voice thrummed over the Commander’s comm unit.

"I’m in the enemy lab, Wrex. We’ve found Grunt and Mordin, and are just working on getting them out of here. An enemy squad’s slowing us down, but we should be done soon." Shepard replied.

"Hurry it up down there. Jath have us cornered out here. Not sure how much longer we can hold them back before we need to retreat."

"I’ll do what I can from this side. Just buy us a few more minutes."

"Just get your quads out of there as fast as you can, else I can’t guarantee we’ll be here to pick you up."

Shepard looked back up at the doorway, and the Krogan beyond, eyebrows knotted as he tried to think of a way out.

"Any suggestions on what we do with our friends out there?" He asked.

"There’s too many of the bastards for us to take on our own. We need more firepower."

Shepard’s eyes lit up as an idea stole into his mind.

"I just might be able to find us some." He muttered as he keyed in a few controls. "Be ready for when I lower this barrier."

[fainmaca]

Chapter 13: Part 2.


Shepard watched a video feed from Grunt’s cell as the tank emptied, the thick liquid pouring away through a grate in the floor. With a hiss, the tank opened, two wings of the glass front swinging apart to release the captive Grunt. He fell forwards, catching himself before he hit the deck, and stayed there, on all fours while he shook his head. For an instant, Shepard remembered when he had first awakened the Krogan, releasing him from the tank that created him. The Commander hoped he would be as ready for a fight now as he was back then.

With a lurch, the massive Krogan got to his feet, still unsteady as he took in his surroundings. Hearing the sounds of gunfire from beyond his cell door, he moved up to look out of the window. Beyond, he saw the squad of enemy Krogan trying to get past the shield. He grinned to see so many enemies facing away from him, and took a few steps back, a fiendish smile on his face.

With a roar that shook the very foundations of the mountain, Grunt charged the door. His massive frame crashed into the thick steel door and twisted it like it was no more than a sheet of aluminium. After a second charge the door caved in, the fury-fuelled Krogan bulling through the remnants and into the mass of enemies.

Grunt towered over his foes by a good foot and a half, his face locked in a grin of joy as he laid into the enemy with gusto. He thrust out one fist the size of a human head and grabbed a Krogan by the throat, tossing him into his comrades like a ragdoll. He grabbed yet another by his plates and twisted, snapping the creature’s neck with ease. As Krogan fell around him, he grabbed a shotgun from one, spinning it around to unload its magazine into the owner’s face.

At last the terrified Krogan recovered enough to return fire, but their aim was so thrown out by Grunt’s charge into their midst that they barely grazed him. As they readied for another attack, Shepard lowered the shield to allow his squad to join the fray. As Shepard and Zaeed rushed into the Krogan mass, guns blazing, Legion remained on the far side of the lab, using his sniper rifled to kill two Krogan before Shepard had even crossed the distance to the door. Beside the Geth, the Revenant lifted his insectile hand, a biotic glow pulling Krogan from the crowd and slamming them into the walls, the ceiling and the floor.

The battle was chaotic and bloody, but finally the last Krogan soldier fell, leaving Shepard, his squad, Grunt and a whole lot of corpses in the central room. Grunt was kneeling over one Krogan, pummelling its face as he beat it to death with his bare hands. The young Krogan turned upon hearing Shepard, his eyes partly clouded by the rage of battle. Grunt almost charged the Commander, his reasoning impaired by his fury. Shepard felt his hand twitch to his pistol, but stopped when Grunt let out a loud laugh.

"Shepard! Should have known you’d be in on a good fight like this."

"You know me." Shepard responded. "I’m never happy unless there’s something blowing up nearby."

"Hah! You’re more Krogan than anyone I’ve met, Battlemaster. Let’s show these pathetic excuses for warriors why it’s a bad idea to mess with the Normandy’s clan."

"Let’s get Mordin out first." Shepard said, turning to face the door to the Salarian’s cell. Legion and Zaeed were crouched in front of it, fiddling with the locks. As Shepard stepped over, Zaeed looked back over his shoulder.

"Working on it, Commander. You got rid of the electronic side of things, but the lizards put a bunch of locks on here. I reckon the Doc’s tried breaking out a few times, and they’ve had to put on manual locks that he can’t hack. Give us a minute, and we should be through them no bother."

"Make it fast. Wrex’s forces are taking a solid beating out there."

With a snort of irritation, Grunt pushed past the Commander. He motioned for Legion and Zaeed to step back, and then slammed a fist into the cell door. He repeated the action, making the door jump on its hinges, and then delivered a final solid blow to the door, the locks giving way with a loud crack. As the door swung inwards with a tortured shriek, Hurn let out an amazed whistle.

"Glad you’re on our side, Urdnot Grunt. Remind me to buy you a ryncol back at camp."

Shepard moved inside the cell cautiously, eyes adjusting to the dim light through the doorway. Mordin was still standing at the desk, working busily. As the Commander drew close, he noticed a small pile of dirty rags in the corner, presumably the Salarian’s bed. Apparently Clan Jath’s hospitality was somewhat lacking.

The Salarian didn’t look up as Shepard entered, his stance one of defiance as he ignored the newcomer to his cell. He continued tapping away at his terminal as he began to speak.

"Did not need to knock so loud. Am your prisoner, so no need for courtesy." Mordin’s quick-fire voice barbed. "Am working as fast as I can, but cure is not finished yet. Further beatings will not change this."

Mordin’s snide taunts stopped as the one remaining horn atop his head twitched.

"Wait. Footsteps too light to be Krogan. Violent way door was opened suggests intruders, rather than guards." The huge, almond-shaped eyes lifted to look into Shepard’s face. "Shepard! Good to see you. Unless am having hallucinations again. In that case not so good. Prefer the ones with Dalatrass Ometha."

"It’s okay, Mordin. I’m here to get you and grunt out of here." Shepard assured.

"Good! Was finding it hard to create excuses to delay development of Genophage cure. Would have finished cure in matter of weeks."

"You’re that close? I thought a cure would take decades to develop."

"For most scientists, yes. Unfortunately, Clan Jath have been working on this cure for over a century. Though Krogan science presents no threat to Genophage, they managed to lay down a lot of groundwork for a cure. Part of deal with Cerberus included Maelon’s research, which provided needed to boost to efforts. Combine with very…" Here the Salarian paused, sniffing deeply. "Persuasive methods to gain my compliance, and the cure is very near completion."

Shepard felt a pang of guilt at hearing of the Doctor’s experience with the Krogan. As a former Special Tasks Group agent, and what’s more one who had worked to keep the Krogan from recovering from the Genophage, Mordin would have faced brutal treatment at the hands of Clan Jath. Even Krogan like Wrex and Grunt bore a strong resentment for the Salarians’ involvement in the development of the plague.

"I’m sorry, Mordin. If I hadn’t pissed off Cerberus like that, you’d have never ended up here."

"Nonsense! Illusive Man cannot be trusted. Only has humanity’s best interests at heart, with priorities lying with himself. Long-term partnership was not feasible."

"Come on. Let’s get the hell out of here."

"One moment." Mordin bent over his terminal again, tapping out a few commands. He pulled a flashing data disk out of it and closed it down, stashing the disk about his person. He then limped out from behind the desk, and Shepard noticed that one leg was tied up in a splint, further evidence of the torture that Clan Jath had visited upon the Salarian. "Am ready to go now."

Shepard motioned for Grunt to help the Salarian. The Krogan moved forward and, with barely a thought, lifted the tiny alien with one arm. Had circumstance been different, Shepard would have found the sight of the diminutive Mordin being carried by the gargantuan Grunt humorous, as it looked like a parent carrying a child. Grunt’s stern face discouraged any mocking comments as he carried the scientist in one hand and hefted a shotgun single-handedly in the other. Mordin made no comment as he was lifted in this fashion, knowing that speed was a necessity.

The squad made their way back through the passageways, Hurn leading them back through the raided tombs and towards the exit. The revenant and legion covered the rear while Shepard and Zaeed, assault rifles at the ready, followed Hurn closely, Grunt pounding along powerfully in between them.

As they approached the final few bends, Hurn halted suddenly, pulling back around a corner. As Shepard moved up next to him, he held a hand up, listening.

"Hear that?" The Krogan asked.

The Commander was silent as he tried to detect what Hurn was hearing. After a moment, he caught it, a rhythmic thudding sound. The sound of a multitude of marching feet.

"Sounds like three or four squads." Hurn estimated.

"Too many for a straight out fight." Zaeed said. "Not with wounded."

"You’re right." Shepard admitted. "Is there any way around?"

"There might be." Hurn said after a moment’s thought. "There’s a few passages that lead through the centre of the mountain. They’re reserved for the shamed Battlemasters, so most Krogan avoid them. There might be a few passages that go deeper underground, and we could probably find our way into the main Jath fortress from there. At the least, we can lie low until we get a chance to make a run for it."

"It’s better than nothing. Lead on." Shepard said.

Hurn led the way back through a few twists and turns in the Halls until he suddenly made a sharp turn to the right, heading deeper into the mountain. As they progressed deeper and deeper into the darkness, Shepard was ever aware of the sounds of their pursuit. The passages echoed constantly with the pounding footsteps of marching Krogan and the occasional warcry. Even as they moved farther away from the more commonly travelled passages, the sounds of their pursuers stayed with them. Obviously the Jath warriors had split up to search for them.

The further they went, the more decrepit the stone passageways became. Dust and thick cobwebs coated the seals of the many tombs they passed. Shepard noted that most of the tombs now bore little in the way of decoration, clearly given less esteem than the ones they had passed before.

After an interminable race through the ancient tombs, Hurn signalled for a brief pause, hands on knees while he caught his breath. The squad looked up as they heard more shouts echo along the passageway they had just come down. Their pursuers were still on their trail.

"We can’t keep this up forever." Shepard said. "Where’s the way down?"

"It’s close." Hurn said, still breathing deeply. "We just need to keep ahead of them for a little while longer and we oughta lose them."

"How can you be so sure they won’t follow us down there?"

"Krogan just don’t go down there. The underlevels are off-limits."

"I remember something." Grunt muttered. "Something in Okeer’s imprints. Just now, when you mentioned the underlevels, the name brought forth an image of a dark hallway. There’s nothing to explain it except one word: Fear. Okeer wanted me to be afraid of this place."

"What are you hiding?" Shepard asked Hurn pointedly. "What’s down there?"

Hurn looked Shepard defiantly in the eye, but the Commander’s gaze was stronger. The Krogan backed down.

"The underlevels of the Halls have been a part of our legends for even longer than our Battlemasters have been. We built the Halls above the caverns down there so that our Battlemasters stand guard over them, protecting Tuchanka from them." Hurn was hesitant in his speech, clearly reluctant to speak of such things. "The Krogan of old believed that the underlevels held the way to the Void. The human equivalent would be a gateway to Hell. Legends say that beasts roam down there to devour any Krogan who try to cross into or out of the Void."

"Okay, so the Krogan bogeyman lives down there. Big deal." Shepard said. "Why keep it a secret?"

"The legends are thought to be based in some kind of truth. Whenever any Krogan have tried going down there. None come back."

"We’ll be fine. No one came back from beyond Omega Four until I tried it. Now let’s move." Shepard ordered.

Hurn nodded and moved off, leading the way to a yawning dark staircase. The smooth floor gave way to rough-hewn stone steps. Hurn hesitated a moment before Shepard moved past him, leading the way down. The Commander used his omnitool to light the way, though the light did little more than give shape to the darkness.

The team moved down the stairs cautiously until they reached the bottom, fanning out in the large open space below to cover each other’s backs. They had moved into a large cave, the ceiling about twenty feet above them and each wall at least fifty feet away on either side. The far side of the cave was invisible, far ahead of them. Dripping water echoed about the cave, the noise mingling with the squad’s heavy breathing as they scanned their surroundings.

Shepard led the way through the cavern, moving across the uneven ground towards the far wall. He checked his omnitool to make sure that the squad was heading in the right direction, and moved off into the darkness. Behind them, Shepard heard the sounds of their pursuers reaching the top of the staircase and pausing, unwilling to come down. The Commander was relieved when, after a few minutes, it became apparent that none of the Krogan were willing to climb down into the darkness after them.

Shepard moved through a series of pitch-black caverns, hairs on the back of his neck rising as he proceeded deeper into the network of natural caves. After a couple of minutes, he became aware of a flickering light ahead. Thinking he was close to the end of the network, he moved forward a bit faster.

Shepard emerged into a perfectly round shaft, about thirty feet in diameter. The walls were slick with water, rivulets of eroded stone giving the walls a corrugated appearance. A narrow walkway ringed a massive hole in the centre of the shaft, which extended down beyond the limits of the Commander’s light. Up above, a tiny pinprick of light could be seen, hundreds of metres above. Four alcoves were built into the shaft walls, each housing a statue of a Krogan, all four wielding different weapons. One carried a spear, while another bore a razor-sharp axe. A third held a heavy crossbow in both hands, held parallel to his chest, while the fourth simply wielded a heavy club in one hand. All four Krogan looked ready to spring into action, their granite features set in a determined expression.

As the rest of the squad stepped out onto the walkway, which widened out at the entrance to the cavern they had just left, Shepard noted the more artificial passageway on the opposite side of the shaft. The passage was clearly built by Krogan hands, a sign of a way back to the surface.

As Shepard moved around the edge of the shaft towards the other tunnel, he felt a tremor pass through the stone underneath his foot. He whipped his rifle around, looking about for the source of the movement. At the entrance to the caves, the squad also looked about curiously. Seeing nothing, Shepard moved towards the edge of the walkway, aiming his weapon down into the darkness.

With a roar, a massive wall of flesh darted up out of the shadows, throwing the Commander back against the wall. With a massive body about twenty feet wide, and a head the size of a tank, the full-grown Thresher Maw looked straight at Shepard, green venom dripping from its mouth.

Shepard scrabbled on the stone walkway, trying to retrieve his dropped weapon. As his fingers curled around the trigger, the creature lashed out at him with a tentacle, catching him around the ankle. As the tentacle tightened, pulling the Commander towards the massive mouth, Shepard scrambled with his free hand, catching a hold of the edge of the walkway as it rushed past him. The muscles in his arm screamed as he wrestled against the beast’s strength.

Seeing the Commander in danger, the squad sprang into action. Zaeed fired his rifle, the bullets bouncing harmlessly off the Thresher’s thick hide. Legion dropped to one knee, sniper rifle taking aim at the head of the beast, trying to take out one of its sensory organs. The Revenant launched a rapid succession of biotic blasts on it, denting the chitinous armour in several places. Hurn calmly walked up to the edge of the platform and unleashed several blasts from his shotgun, the point-blank blasts tearing through the hide and splashing gore over the Krogan’s armour.

As the rest of the squad moved to action, Grunt carefully put Mordin down, giving the Salarian his shotgun. With this done, he turned to the nearest statue and tugged at the spear clutched in its hands, breaking the stone fingers to get at the weapon. With a roar, he charged at the monster, leaping from the walkway. He soared through the air, planting his spear in the Thresher’s back. The beast squealed in anger and pain as he kept a hold of the spear, using it as leverage to clamber up the beast’s back and onto its head. It roared as he pulled the spear free again and plunged it into one of the soft, vulnerable blue eyes. As the thing shuddered, letting go of the Commander, it shook its head furiously, launching the young Krogan into the wall of the shaft. As he tumbled back onto the walkway, Grunt bounced back onto his feet, charging back at the Thresher.

Shaken by his close call with the thresher, Shepard climbed to his feet, lifting his rifle. He let loose a volley of bullets, frowning when they were rebuffed. Realising the need for heavier fire, Shepard put away his rifle and pulled out the new weapon Jacob had crafted. Slotting a large round into the barrel. He lifted the weapon and fired.

The bright blue shot raced towards the Thresher Maw, punching through its thick hide with no problem at all. There was a tiny pause, and then a flash of bright light as a jet of flame shot out of the impact wound. The creature screamed as the round exploded inside of it, heavily damaging its internal organs.

Screeching in agony, the Thresher Maw thrashed about, sending quivers through the shaft. Its claws scrabbled at the walkway, trying to hold it up, and as it did, Shepard took aim and fired a second round, straight into its head. The beast let out a final shrill roar before it went limp, plummeting back into the depths of the shaft.

The squad fell silent as the noise of the tumbling beast echoed up the shaft, ending in a final thump moments later. They waited with baited breath, making sure that the Maw wouldn’t make reappearance, before moving over to stand next to Shepard. The Commander got to his feet and looked each of his squadmates in the eye, breaking out into a wide grin as he looked at Grunt’s wide features.

"That’s two Thresher’s you’ve got under your belt now, Grunt. I reckon you’ll be fighting the females off with a shotgun."

"I’ve definitely got Wrex beat, anyway." Grunt said, smiling uncontrollably. "But I get enough breeding requests as it is. I’ll forward any I get this time on to you."

"That’s… generous, but I think I’m okay, Grunt." Shepard said, struggling to keep his laughter under control.

"That was damned impressive, Commander." Hurn said. "I’d heard stories of Grunt’s Rite of Passage, but seeing the two of you in action was more glorious than I could have imagined."

"Let’s keep moving." Shepard said. "I’m dreading what sort of shape Wrex’s armies are in."

~o~0~o~


After a long, winding series of passages, Shepard became aware of a rhythmic series of thuds. He recognised the noise of heavy weapons fire and realised they were nearing the surface, underneath the Jath fortress.

"Sounds like we’re getting close to where we need to be." He murmured. "Look for a way back up to ground level."

They moved through another couple of junctions and finally the Commander spotted a stairway, the faint light of day filtering down into the dark passageways from it. Seeing their way out, Shepard rushed to the foot of the stairway, looking up cautiously. He proceeded step by step until he reached the top, emerging into the ruins of an ancient building. Warm air washed over him as he left the labyrinth of the Halls behind, a luxury after the clinging cold of the darkness.

The squad filtered up behind him, weapons readied as they emerged into the ruins. Zaeed and Hurn moved to the husk of the doorway, looking out into the street beyond to check for enemies. As his team secured the perimeter, Shepard activated his comm unit.

"Wrex, do you read me?" He called. "Come in, Wrex."

"Shepard! It’s about time! Where in the name of the Void have you been?"

"Had to make a detour through a nasty neighbourhood. On the bright side, we’ve got Grunt, and Mordin, and we’ve got some stories to tell over some of Ratch’s ryncol."

"First round’s on me if we get out of this alive."

"What’s the situation?"

"Jath are pressing their attack. They got some reinforcements, Lonfar by the looks of them, who took us by surprise. Our main force is fighting a battle on both sides. Chief Vras’s team was massacred trying to take on Jath Fotnar, and Gratt’s forces are having a hard time moving in on the other side. If we can’t take out Jath Fotnar, then we’ll have to pull back.

"Get to the South wall. If you can get outside of the fortress, my warriors can get you out of here. Then I’ll call a retreat."

Shepard clicked his communicator off, turning to his team, pondering his choices. He took a deep breath before speaking.

"We’ve got a chance to end this, right here and now. We could go after Fotnar, and cut off the serpent’s head. But it’s going to be dangerous. He didn’t become a Krogan chieftain by playing nice. He’s going to have his best guards around him at a time like this. It’s your choice. We go after the chief, or we get back to Wrex."

"Fotnar is a traitor to our people." Hurn said firmly. "I vote we go and show him how to be a real Krogan."

"I’ve never hesitated to walk into danger." Zaeed added. "As long as the pay’s good. I reckon seeing the look on that Krogan bastard’s face when we march into his throne room oughta be pay enough for this mission."

"We deem it logical to attack chief Fotnar while he is within reach, Commander." Legion stated matter-of-factly. "Such an opportunity is statistically unlikely to occur again."

Shepard turned to Grunt, then the Revenant, receiving affirmative nods from both of them. Finally he looked to Mordin, the Salarian’s face pale from the pain of his injuries.

"What about you, Mordin?"

"Attacking a Krogan Battlemaster in our current state would be foolhardy, incredibly dangerous." Mordin said seriously, before a small smile crept across his face. "However, many missions undertaken by Shepard possess these criteria. None fail. Also, a little vengeance would be nice."

"I’ll take that as a yes, then." Shepard said with a smile. He reactivated his commlink. "We can’t get to you, Wrex. We’ll try and find another way around."

"Get a move on, Shepard! I can’t keep this up all day." The Krogan responded.

After the Commander switched off his commlink, the squad moved out. Shepard and Zaeed resumed their position at the front of the group, with Legion and the Revenant bringing up the rear. Grunt continued to carry Mordin with Hurn walking alongside him, walking in the midst of the team.

They continued in this formation as they moved through the empty buildings inside the fortress. Hurn occasionally muttered directions to Shepard, suggesting routes that might be less heavily guarded, and they slowly made their way towards the centre of the complex. Occasionally they had to duck into cover as a patrol marched past, using the many ruined buildings to their advantage to hide from the enemy.

At last they arrived at the central building of the fortress, hiding in a burnt-out building as they scoped out Fotnar’s base of operations. The building was immense, walls towering about seventy feet into the sky. A quartet of fearsome anti-aircraft guns kept the airspace above the fortress clear, while a massive emitter dish at the peak of the building maintained the kinetic barrier that held the attacking Urdnot forces at bay. Several squads patrolled the sides of the building, though they appeared to be bored, dissatisfied at missing out on the larger battle.

Shepard waited a few moments, timing the patrols. He waited for a gap in the surveillance and motioned for his team to follow him as he scurried across the open ground towards a small door set into the base of the wall. He crouched beside it and activated his omnitool, hacking the door controls. After an agonising wait, the door’s interface flashed green, and the door slid open. The team rushed through the door, the Commander sealing it as another patrol rounded the corner.

Shepard scanned the room beyond cautiously. Fortunately, there were no guards here, though he assumed that was only because most of the Krogan would either be participating in the battle or finding a place where they could watch its progress. He checked the ceiling for security cams, and was glad to see there were none. Apparently Fotnar was so confident of his base’s security he did not feel the need to take such precautions, a weakness Shepard could exploit.

Armed with this new understanding of his foe, Shepard started moving through the base. He moved down several hallways, all comfortably decorated for a building on Tuchanka, searching every junction for approaching enemies. Just as the silence was getting to him, the Commander heard a commotion from around the next corner. Slowing, he drew close to the corner and peered around.

Beyond, a cluster of Krogan was gathered around a holographic display which showed a summary of the battle. The walls of the fortress were clearly shown, and beyond them, a large group of tiny red lights, each apparently representing one of Wrex’s forces. Behind the largest concentration, a group of green lights were pushing their way into the back of Wrex’s army, trapping his forces between them and the fortress. To the east, a smaller cluster of red lights was struggling through a breach in the walls, though they were making very slow progress against the fortress’ defences. As Shepard watched, red lights vanished one by one, a lot faster than any of the green lights did. At that rate, the Urdnot armies would be eliminated long before they could breach the fortress walls.

Around the display, several Jath warriors were laughing and commenting on the progress of the battle, making wagers on how long the attackers would last and arguing over some quarrel or another. The Commander caught a glimpse of a flask of something being passed between them, probably ryncol.

Confident upon seeing the guards’ relaxed attitude, Shepard moved around the corner, assault rifle at the ready. The conversation lulled as the aliens noted the single human moving into view. A few guards reached for their weapons, but most, especially the more inebriated members of the group, just looked at Shepard with a bemused expression. Those expressions turned to surprise as Shepard’s squad rounded the corner behind him and opened fire.

Several of the Krogan perished in the opening salvo, while more dived behind the holo display and drew their weapons. Shepard feathered the trigger on his weapon, mowing down a Krogan before he could draw his weapon, while Zaeed and Legion combined their fire to keep a duo of guards hiding behind a desk. The Revenant physically lifted the holo display from the floor, ripping it from its fittings so that it trailed sparking wires, and flung it at a shocked Krogan, pinning him to the wall. The three Krogan that had hidden behind the display looked shocked as Hurn and Grunt fired their shotguns into their midst, decimating their numbers. The final Krogan, hiding behind another desk, was gunned down as he rolled out of his cover, barely bringing his shotgun to bear before he died.

Shepard moved among the dead guards to activate the terminal in the sole undamaged desk, pulling up a schematic of the building. He plotted a course to the war room, near the top of the building, and downloaded it to his omnitool.

"Okay. I’ve got us a route to Fotnar’s control centre. Let’s keep moving. The sooner we take him out, the more Urdnot lives we save."

As they proceeded through the Jath base, Shepard noted a distinct lack of guards. They moved through the ground floor and the second floor without a hitch, gunning down a couple of small patrols they found. It wasn’t until they moved to the third floor that Shepard started hearing the voices of many Krogan gathering.

The squad was approaching a large pair of wooden double doors silently when the doors snapped open, exposing them to the occupants of the room beyond.

A large conference room was situated beyond the doors, filled with benches and tables. This would have been where the Jath soldiers received their briefings and where the Clan elders would have consulted with their chief. At that moment, a large force of Krogan occupied the room. One stood out among the rest, wearing ornate armour and walking about with an air of authority. He stood at the front of his group, ready for the Commander and his team.

"You took your time getting here, Battlemaster Shepard. And here I thought the mighty Urdnot Grunt only chose great warriors for his krannt." He gloated. "Don’t look so surprised, Shepard. You didn’t expect us to neglect to install security cameras in our base, did you? Just because they cannot be seen does not mean they are not there!"

"I take it you’re Jath Fotnar?" Shepard asked.

"I am his lieutenant, Jath Gartab. Chief Fotnar has more important things to deal with than a puny human." The Krogan shouted. "Your interference in our plans is merely an inconvenience. We’ll take the Salarian and Urdnot Grunt back once you have been dealt with, and soon we shall be cured of the Council’s plague!"

Shepard chose not to bother replying, instead opening fire on the haughty Krogan. His attack was repelled by a blue flicker of Gartab’s hand, a biotic barrier springing up around himself as he ordered his soldiers forward.

Shepard flinched as a hail of bullets flew towards him, but the Revenant jumped in the way, throwing up a barrier of his own. The Collector held the barrier long enough for the squad to move into the room, taking cover behind an array of benches and desks. Then the Collector thrust the barrier forward as an attack, the bubble of energy becoming a blast of energy that flung two Krogan to the ground with a heavy crunch.

The two sides traded fire for several minutes, neither side making a decisive move. Shepard activated his adrenal implants several times to allow him the swift reaction time he needed to bring down four of the Krogan soldiers. Legion assumed a position behind a desk, sniping over its flat surface and accounting for a further pair of Krogan. The Revenant maintained a steady string of biotic attacks, keeping the enemy off-balance. Twice Shepard saw a glowing blue Krogan soar into the air and slam down among his comrades with bone-shattering force. Grunt and Hurn accounted for at least a half-dozen Krogan between them, firing their weapons with devastating accuracy, displaying combat prowess befitting of Urdnot warriors. Zaeed and Mordin helped sow panic among the soldiers, the former using his incendiary grenades to great effect in burning through enemy armour, and the latter using his omnitool to create sonic waves that stunned the Krogan soldiers momentarily.

As Shepard’s team kept up their assault, the Krogan returned fire, scoring more than a few direct hits. The Commander winced as a lucky shot got dangerously close, lowering his shields and grazing a line across the side of his neck. He dropped back down into cover to allow his shields time to recharge and took stock of his team’s status. Mordin and the Revenant remained unharmed, but both Grunt and Hurn had taken serious wounds in their torsos and Zaeed was panting with pain as he tended a wounded thigh. Legion’s status report told Shepard that its shields were down and motor skills in its right arm were being hampered by physical damage.

Gartab growled in frustration when it became apparent that the enemy squad would not go down, and drew an assault rifle from his back. Using his biotics, he lifted the bench Shepard and the Revenant had hunkered down behind, flinging it aside as he charged. The Collector tried to summon a biotic attack, but the charging Krogan rebuffed it, flinging the giant insect aside. Shepard barely had time to raise his weapon before the Jath lieutenant bulled into him. The pair wrestled for a few seconds before Gartab grabbed a hold of Shepard by the throat, lifting him bodily from the ground. The Commander gasped as his throat was constricted before he noticed a sheath strapped onto the Krogan’s upper arm. The hilt of a large dagger jutted out of the sheath invitingly. As he struggled with one hand to loosen the lieutenant’s grip, the other reached out slowly, under the guise of wrestling with Gartab’s strong grip. Once his fingers reached the sheath, he reached out with lightning speed and drew the dagger, slashing it across the Krogan’s bicep and severing muscle. Shepard twisted the knife as it moved through the air, bringing it across the alien’s face. Gartab howled as the Commander’s attack slashed through his eye, rendering it useless. He dropped the human, his arm spasming as blood gushed from the wound just below his shoulder.

Shepard moved back from the alien, still clutching its face. As Gartab looked at him with his one remaining eye, rage filling his face, the Krogan roared and charged again. Shepard rolled out of the way easily, dodging the attack and slashing at the Krogan again with his stolen dagger. He dropped the blood knife and drew his shotgun, firing it at point blank into Gartab’s back. His defences deflected most of the attack, but a number of tiny pieces of metal pierced his flesh, sending shafts of agony racing through the Krogan’s body. Shepard pumped the weapon to reload and fired again. This time the already damaged armour offered no defence and, with no biotic barrier in the way, almost all of the shotgun’s attack was absorbed by Gartab’s body.

The Krogan stumbled, but remained on his feet, half of his back a mangled mess. With blood covering an entire arm and half of his face, he looked like he was already dead, but he kept on coming. Shepard unloaded a third round into his belly, and then a fourth, and finally a fifth, bringing the Krogan down as the last shot overloaded the weapon’s heat sink. He slowly changed the tiny metal device and unloaded a further two shots into the lieutenant’s body at point blank range, just to be sure.

During his scuffle with the Jath lieutenant, his squad had cleaned up the remaining soldiers, making short work of the untested rookies and eventually bringing down the more seasoned veterans. Shepard watched as Grunt stepped up to the one remaining survivor and stepped on his neck, twisting his foot just so to snap it.

The squad collected their breath for a minute, administering medi-gel and recharging shields before moving on. There was only one way out of the room, aside from the door they had entered by, a small wooden door on the far side. Once rested, Shepard led the team through that door.

On the far side there was a small room. A number of displays showed scenes from the battle, from an overhead view of enemy and ally locations, to security footage of a breach in the eastern wall and of the mass of Urdnot warriors moving against the south. Behind this equipment, a large, heavy metal door had been set into the wall, presumably leading to a private shuttle hangar. Shepard stepped up to the equipment, activating his omnitool. With legion and Mordin offering advice, he worked his way past the system’s security and located the controls for the fortress’ defences. With the push of a button, he lowered the defensive shields and opened all of the gates in the fortress walls, allowing Wrex’s forces to pour into the complex. He then activated the gun batteries atop the walls and switched their targeting priorities, firing into the midst of Jath’s allies and decimating their numbers. With the fortress’ defence systems focusing on wiping out the remainder of the Jath army, the tide of the battle turned within moments. Shepard smirked smugly as Jath’s allies, who had been hounding Wrex’s armies from the rear, turned to flee under the relentless assault of the gun turrets.

The squad turned their attention to the door in the back of the room, hearing a loud crash from beyond. Shepard had his team stand ready as Mordin keyed the door open, guns raised in preparation.

A shuttle landing pad was situated beyond the door, open to the air above. In the centre of the pad, a private aircraft was powering up, ready to carry the Jath leader to safety. Shepard caught sight of a Krogan face peering out of the cockpit worriedly before the vehicle’s engines took on a more frenzied tone, building up the power to take off. At a signal from Shepard, Mordin worked the terminals inside the control centre and in seconds had a flickering blue barrier activate over the pad, trapping Fotnar. The Krogan chief saw this, but tried to make his escape anyway, aircraft surging forwards and upwards with sudden power. The vehicle hit the barrier with a tremendous crash, the noise vibrating through the entire building as scraps of metal splintered off the vehicle, which kept trying to push through the solid wall of energy.

Eventually, Fotnar gave up on trying to force his way out, and swung the aircraft around. With a clank, two large guns deployed from the vehicle’s sides, spinning and twisting to take aim at the Commander. Seeing the danger, Shepard ducked behind a heavy crate of spare parts, just in time to feel the vibrations of several close shots impacting the floor and wall around him. The whole squad except for Mordin, who chose to stay in the relative safety of the command centre, darted for cover in the hangar.

Fotnar kept up his assault on Shepard’s position, even as the rest of the squad opened fire on his vehicle. A kinetic barrier sprung up around the aircraft, repelling most of their attacks. The Revenant flung a biotic blast at the vehicle, scoring a hit that punched through the kinetic barrier and wrenched a piece of its armour away in a twisted lump. Grunt, Hurn and Zaeed’s weapons sounded out a staccato chorus as they unleashed a blazing hail of fire, focusing on a single area of the craft’s barrier and whittling it away so that their bullets peppered the hull. Legion scuttled around behind the vehicle, activating its mobile combat drone to sap at the shield.

Shepard developed a routine of popping up from behind his cover, loosing a burst of fire at the vehicle, and then retreating before the Krogan’s weaponry could get a lock on him. By keeping his appearances random both in timing and location, he could avoid the deadly metal rain. By the time Fotnar’s shields dropped, none of the squad had lost their shields.

Once the barrier dropped, flickering a vivid red in its final moments, Shepard renewed his assault, his bullets hammering away at the aircraft’s armour mercilessly. Beside him, the Revenant used his warp attacks to tear layers of armour away, exposing lower strata of armour along with a few minor electrical systems. Legion’s drone took advantage of this exposure to send arcs of energy through the craft’s systems, shorting out non-critical systems. While not crippling, this certainly hindered the operation of the vehicle, making Fotnar’s job harder.

Getting through the craft’s armour was proving hard work, and Shepard was aware that he only had a couple of rounds of ammunition left. He knew that his omnitool could make more, given time, but that time could mean the difference between catching the Jath chieftain and letting him go. Realising that he was out of time, Shepard turned to his last weapon. He pulled Jacob’s new weapon from his back, slotting the second-to-last round into its barrel. He stood carefully and took aim.

The blue-white round punctured the vehicle’s bullet-proof cockpit window, vanishing into the rear of the craft. Fotnar looked back at where the round had rushed past with a measure of surprise, but disregarded it when, at first, it seemed to have inflicted no more damage than to make a tiny hole in the centre of the window. A second later, the interior of the craft was thrown into chaos as the round, rolling about on the deck in the rear of the vehicle, detonated. It turned the deck around it to slag and filled the rear of the vehicle with flame and smoke. Several critical systems were shorted out as their wiring was burned through. Fotnar found it increasingly difficult to see as his cockpit filled with smoke. The entire craft lurched as the controls became sluggish, two of its four thrusters flickering and sputtering.

Seeing that the vehicle was barely holding on, Shepard loaded the last round into his weapon, readying for the killing blow. He lifted the sight to his eye, finger over the trigger. As he did so, the vehicle swerved erratically, forward thrusters losing power as the stern thrusters surged with power. The aircraft lurched towards the Commander, nose scraping across the deck of the hangar. Shepard jumped out of the way as the craft raced past, watching as the front of the craft caught on a crate and flipped it over onto its back, propelling it into the hangar wall. It struck the wall with a powerful thud and dropped to the floor, lifeless. Shepard moved over to investigate, but was thrown backwards off his feet as the fuel tank detonated, consuming the craft in a ball of flame. The explosion devastated the hangar, leaving scorch marks up the walls and throwing the team from their feet.

Shepard sat up dazedly from where he had landed, shoving a crate that was pressing down on his torso aside. He looked up at the still-burning wreckage through dry eyes, squinting against the brightness of the flames. He coughed as smoke filled his lungs, the sooty smell clinging to the inside of his nostrils, and was about to look for the others in the destruction when he saw a red-hot hull plate shift in the midst of the fire.

Armour charred, skin blackened and cracked from the heat, Jath Fotnar rose from the wreckage like a demon escaping from hell. He stumbled out of the remains of his vehicle, looking about blearily until he focused on Shepard. His green eyes narrowed as he roared, charging the human.

Shepard struggled to his feet just in time to be knocked back by the huge alien’s attack, thrown bodily across the hangar. Fotnar drew a wicked-looking shotgun in one hand and pounded after him, firing wildly. At that distance, very few of the bullets launched by the weapon hit Shepard, but as he drew closer the Commander’s shield status warned him that its power was being rapidly depleted.

Shepard waited until the Krogan was almost on top of him, his shields down to their last scraps of power by this time, and lashed out with a booted foot. His armoured foot connected with the Krogan’s knee, causing the chief to stumble. As Fotnar hit the floor, Shepard grabbed at his weapon, trying to wrestle it from him. The pair grappled in the debris for a few seconds, neither getting a distinct advantage over the other. Shepard lashed out at the Krogan’s face with an elbow, knocking a few sharp teeth loose, but Fotnar responded by kicking the Commander in the kidneys, the alien’s knee solidly connecting with the human’s belly and winding him.

As Shepard reeled from the pain of the attack, Fotnar got to his feet. He lifted his shotgun, pumping the weapon to reload, and brought it to bear on the Commander. His lips curled in a smile as his finger tightened on the trigger.

An ear-splitting roar echoed about the hangar, and a gargantuan black shadow tackled the Jath chieftain, knocking his shotgun away. Shepard felt the weapon’s discharge blast into the floor near to his head, chips of metal threatening to blind him as they rebounded off the deck.

Grunt snarled into Fotnar’s face as he wrestled with the chieftain, muscles straining. Even facing such a powerful opponent, Fotnar held his own, pushing back against the Urdnot warrior. The two Krogan remained locked, neither overpowering the other, for some time, Grunt’s icy blue eyes searching Fotnar’s blood-red stare.

Fotnar’s head suddenly jerked forward, plate solidly colliding with Grunt’s. The younger Krogan staggered back from the impact, caught off-guard. Before he recovered, Fotnar repeated the manoeuvre, pushing Grunt further back. He was about to headbutt Grunt again, but the younger Krogan shot out a fist, catching the chieftain across the jaw. Fotnar stumbled from the powerful blow, put off balance.

Before the chief could regain his balance, Grunt lashed out with his foot, aiming for the gut. Fotnar took a step back as the wind rushed from his lungs, doubling over. As the older Krogan lowered his head, Grunt reached out and grabbed a hold of Fotnar’s brow-plate with both hands, pointed fingers curling around the edges of the plate. His back muscles squirmed as he twisted sharply, snapping the chieftain’s neck as the head turned to the side. Fotnar died with a confused expression on his face, shocked at the fact that a mere child by Krogan standards had beaten him.

Dropping Fotnar’s body to the ground, Grunt knelt beside it, pulling a knife from the chieftain’s belt. He lifted the weapon high into the air, and thrust it downwards, firmly sticking the blade between Fotnar’s brow-plate and the rest of his skull. Teeth gritting, the Krogan twisted the knife, levering the plate upwards. With a triumphant smile, he tugged the plate free from Fotnar’s head, holding it aloft as a trophy. Turning to look at his companions, he noticed the looks of distaste on Shepard, Zaeed and Mordin’s faces.

"What?" He asked defensively. "It’s a battle trophy. He was a Battlemaster, and a Clan chieftain. I want a souvenir."

"And you’ve earned it." Hurn said approvingly. "I’ve never seen any Krogan fight like that before! Your Battlemaster must be a hell of a mentor."

"Shepard has no match, human or Krogan." Grunt said proudly.

"We’d best get out of here." Shepard said. "I’m dreading what sort of shape Wrex’s forces are in."
~o~0~o~

Wrex uttered a string of curses that would have peeled paint, such was their coarse nature. His troops were halfway through the fortress gate, but he was having to fight an immensely difficult battle for every foot of progress they made. Although the Jath defences had suddenly mysteriously turned against their allies, there were still a lot of soldiers between Urdnot and victory. Tanks rolled through the dusty streets within the fortress, hampering Wrex’s every move. Rank upon rank of Krogan attacked Wrex’s beleaguered troops. Though he had the numbers to press forward to success, the Urdnot chief knew the price was swiftly becoming too high. But then he realised that Shepard’s life was at stake, a being who had done more for the Krogan than most chieftains were willing to. Hoisting his weapon to his shoulder, the old warrior decided that surrender was not an option.

Wrex turned at the sound of running feet. Vaulting the pile of rubble the Krogan hid behind, Garrus rolled when he hit the dirt, spinning to face his old comrade.

"Jath are pushing the attack pretty hard. We’re making progress, but they just won’t stop. We’ve taken too many casualties."

"Shepard said he’d be here, so we’ve got to keep this up until he arrives!" Wrex shouted stubbornly. "Take the Asari and that little firecracker with the tattoos, and go cause some hell for the troops coming at us from the left. Leave the two humans and the Drell here with me."

"Jack’s taken a pretty bad hit. I’ve got her taking cover in an old warehouse next to the wall until the meds take effect. Give me one of your warriors, and Samara and I will see what we can do." The Turian replied.

"Done, now just make something happen fast." Wrex said as he waved for one of his troops to follow Garrus.

He waited a minute, surveying the battle, and was rewarded with a brilliant explosion as one of the enemy tanks in the centre of the opposing ranks detonated. Smiling, the old Krogan charged out of his cover, leading his own troops into the disorganised Jath forces, still reeling from the sudden turn of events. He led the charge straight at the frontlines, his army racing after him. Shot after shot rebounded off his barrier as he ran, and he fired wildly into the enemy mass, unable to miss due to the sheer concentration of foes before him.

He was two thirds of the way across the gap between the Urdnot and Jath armies when a dark shaped plummeted into the street, hitting the dirt with a dull thud. A large Krogan corpse lay in the street, blood still seeping from a massive wound on its forehead. Wrex recognised the features of the traitorous Fotnar, as did a large number of the Jath forces. Every last Krogan looked up to where the body had come from, spotting Commander Shepard and his team standing on top of the nearest building. Next to the Commander, a towering Urdnot Grunt stood proud, the stolen brow-plate of the fallen Jath chieftain hastily strapped to his shoulder. There were a number of dismayed shouts from the Jath forces as Shepard called out to them.

"Clan Jath! Your chieftain is dead, slain at the hands of an Urdnot warrior. Do the smart thing, and surrender. No more Krogan need to die today."

There were a few murmurs from the Jath warriors, and a great deal of glances thrown at the corpse of Fotnar. After a few seconds, one warrior dropped his weapon, falling to his knees with his hands up in a gesture of surrender. More soon followed, and then the rest of the Jath forces dropped down to their knees in a wave of fear, lowering their weapons so their survival rested squarely in Wrex’s hands.

Wrex looked up at Shepard, seeing the human smile broadly at the victory, and the old Krogan felt the grin become infectious, inspiring a huge belly laugh. A great battle, indeed.

~o~0~o~


Shepard sat down on the seat with a groan of relief. His muscles were tired, and even though the shuttle offered little comfort, it felt like a luxury after the long day he had just been through. Opposite him, Mordin rested with one leg stretched out in front of him, splint keeping it straight. Next to the Salarian, Jack sat, nursing an ugly wound to her stomach. Though the medics had declared she would be fine, a small pool of blood could be seen collecting underneath the medi-gel layer that had been applied to the wound. Beside the Commander, Garrus carefully notched several markings on the handles of each of his weapons, ten on his sniper rifle, two dozen on his assault rifle, and seven on his pistol. Shepard guessed they were marks for the kills he had achieved that day with each weapon.

"Shepard?" The Commander turned upon hearing the Salarian’s voice, noticing the scientist had opened his eyes. "Wanted to discuss important matter with you. Opportunity didn’t present itself in Jath fortress, too many Krogan around, discussion… delicate in nature.

"You may be wondering what I was doing as we left my cell. Was deleting Genophage research data, making sure Clan Jath didn’t have access to latest breakthroughs. Backups exist, of course, with previous research. Planted virus that will spread to rest of system on attempt to look for latest research, should destroy all data of my work. All record of genetic material from Krogan tombs, all of Maelon’s research, all gone.

"Except for this. Made single copy of research to OSD." Mordin produced the tiny disk he had retrieved earlier. "Only known cure for Genophage, almost complete. Would take matter of weeks for even Krogan scientists to complete, days for a Salarian like me. Was reluctant to destroy completely. Still unsure Krogan entirely deserving of further endurance under Genophage. Urdnot’s willingness to risk lives, clan existence for us shows capacity for honour, other redeeming qualities. Wanted to discuss with you before deciding what to do with cure."

"Why would you hesitate to give the cure to the Krogan people?" Shepard asked.

"Jath’s actions show Krogan brutality and tendency towards rash actions. Large Krogan army would present risk to Galaxy. Not sure if Krogan are ready for return to glory."

"Is there any way to just give the cure to Urdnot and their allies?"

"No. Just like Genophage itself could not be restricted to more violent Krogan clans, but rather led to saturation of entire race. Cure would be passed from Krogan to Krogan. Once administered in sufficient mass, cure will self-propagate among entire species."

"I don’t know, Shepard." Garrus said. "The Doc said it himself. The Krogan are still dangerous. Giving them this cure could be like opening a planet-sized can of worms."

"Bull****!" Jack said. "The Reapers are on their way. We need the biggest blunt instrument we can find. This cure will guarantee that the entire Krogan species will fight with us, not just a handful of clans. The cure represents the biggest bargaining chip we’ve got."

"Krogan like the Urdnot do not deserve their fate, but Genophage keeps dangerous Krogan like Jath Fotnar and Weyrloc Guld in check." Mordin said. "Either decision could face dire consequences. Destroy cure, or give to Krogan. Decision is yours, Shepard."

[fainmaca]

Time for a vote! Go to my profile page, and help me choose what Shepard does next.

Will he preserve the cure, giving it to Clan Urdnot? Or will he destroy the cure?

vote on the poll on my profile page: http://www.fanfictio...673351/Fainmaca

[fainmaca]

Chapter 14: The Fate Of The Krogan

Shepard leaned forward, hands covering his face as he closed his weary eyes, his mind in turmoil as he considered the two paths laid before him. On the one hand, he could destroy the cure and the Krogan would be unable to present a credible threat to the other races of the Galaxy, but Wrex’s people would remain firmly under the cruel yoke of a plague that hobbled their entire race. On the other hand, he could release the cure to the Krogan. Having a whole species owing him a debt of gratitude would prove useful in the near future, but the distribution of the cure would be impossible to control. It would spread to every last Krogan, like the virulent Genophage. After this, there would be no turning back, no resealing Pandora’s Box.

The Commander felt that his head would explode from the pressure of the situation. Why did all of these decisions seem to fall on his shoulders? To save the Council or not, the future of the Rachni, the fate of the Geth heretics, it seemed that he was making these choices on an almost daily basis, single-handedly shaping the future of galactic civilisation.

He took a deep breath, lifting his gaze to look back at his companions. Mordin, so proud of his work, and yet nursing a deep-seated guilt over the impact of said research. Here he was, holding the solution to the situation in one hand, paralysed by the ache of indecision as his huge dark eyes pleaded with the Commander for help. Garrus, a warning flashing in his deep-set eyes as his imagination assaulted him with images of a reborn Krogan Horde tearing their way through Citadel space as they wrought their revenge on the Galaxy. Jack, having been on the wrong end of so many medical experiments that she was understandably slanted against the cure’s creation, and yet she saw the value of using it to help the Krogan.

"The Krogan have lived under the Genophage for too long. It’s time to give them a second chance, let them try to lift themselves out of the ruins of their past. I don’t doubt that there’ll be a few troublemakers, but as long as Krogan like Wrex keep trying to make their species more than what it is, then they’re worth saving."

Mordin wordlessly passed the OSD to the Commander, the insignificant little blue device glowing in Shepard’s palm.

"I’ll give this to Wrex today. He can have his scientists working on finishing it off and distributing it."

"I hope that we don’t regret this down the line, Shepard." Garrus cautioned.

"Am inclined to agree with Shepard." Mordin said. "Have seen first-hand the reactions continued existence of Genophage inspires. Can stay to help complete research, if you wish."

"I’m going to need you back on the Normandy, Mordin. I need your expertise to help us prepare for the Reapers." Shepard said. He eyed the Salarian’s injuries. "First order of business is to get you patched up. Looks like the Jath did a real number on you."

"Fotnar was… crude in his methods." Mordin said standoffishly. "Seemed to lack understanding that brute force is not always best way to obtain co-operation. Psychological torment much more effective. Pain can only buy so much compliance before injuries interfere with efficiency."

"Looks like we’re nearly back at Wrex’s camp." Shepard commented, looking out of the shuttle’s window. "I’ll go talk to Wrex. You guys get back to the Normandy, have her prepped and ready for lift-off as soon as you can. Much as I’d like to take a vacation on Tuchanka, we’ve still got to get to Stynos as soon as we can."

"Right you are, Shepard. And I’ll make sure these two head straight to the Med Bay." Garrus said.

"Like hell you will!" Jack exclaimed obstinately. "I don’t need to go to sickbay."

"You took a point-blank shotgun blast to the abdomen, Jack." Garrus said wearily. "No matter how strong your biotic barrier was, that’ll leave a mark."

"I’m fine." She huffed.

"Jack, just go. It won’t take Archer long to make sure you’re okay." Shepard reasoned with her. She jutted out her chin defiantly, but held her tongue.

The shuttle glided down to hover above the Urdnot landing zone, touching down carefully in a swirl of dust. Shepard clambered out of the shuttle, turning to watch as it took off again to rendezvous with the Normandy up in orbit. The Commander moved away as the vehicle dashed up into the harshly bright Tuchanka afternoon.

Shepard stalked through the gloomy pathways of the camp, making his way to the heart of the settlement. He walked into the main courtyard of the Krogan Clan to see Wrex in yet more talks with representatives of various different clans. It looked like they were discussing the battle with Jath, recounting losses and victories, assessing observed tactics and suggesting new ones to use in the future. Behind Wrex stood Grunt, an attentive look on his face as he listened to the wisdom of the array of warlords and chieftains before him. The Commander noted that very frequently the other Krogan threw Grunt awe-struck glances, their eyes often drawn to the still-bloody brow plate he had torn from Fotnar’s skull and strapped to his shoulder. The young Krogan’s gaze settled on the Commander as he drew near, though none of the other aliens paid the human any attention as he stepped up to the Urdnot throne.

"We paid too high a price today, Urdnot Wrex!" One of the chieftains clamoured. "Clan Julton’s warriors have been decimated, and the death of Chief Vras is a loss we may never recover from. What is to happen to our women, our young?"

"Peace, Julton Turgg! Your clan is welcome to remain here in the neutral ground with Urdnot until you recover the numbers to survive on your own." Wrex assured.

"And what of our losses?" Another Krogan asked. "Are you going to have all of us gather here till the Genophage wipes out the last of us? It’ll take centuries for us to recover the numbers we lost today."

Wrex paused as he tried to think of an answer, and his red eyes turned to the Commander.

"Shepard! Hurn’s had nothing but praise for your performance today. You may just have another fan in him." He rumbled. "Jath Fotnar presented a threat we could not ignore. The fact that he had so many of my supposed ‘allies’ poised to attack us shows just how dangerous he had become.

"But now he’s dead, and we’ve got one less obstacle to overcome before we unite the Clans. And our ancestors can rest easy now. I’ve sent some of our number to repair the damage in the Halls. Urdnot will be taking care of the Dead Spire until another clan can be appointed to the task."

"What happens to the remnants of clan Jath and their allies?" Shepard asked.

"They’re to be given the choice; submit to Urdnot’s rule, or be destroyed." The Urdnot chieftain raised a hand before Shepard could protest. "Krogan warfare isn’t like that of humans. There are no non-combatants in a clan. Each and every last individual is a dangerous fighter. I’m hoping the last few Jath warriors see reason. Their clan was host to many prestigious bloodlines, and it would be a shame to lose any of those old families because their final generations were too block-headed to know when to quit."

"They will comply or perish." The voice of the Nakmor ambassador rumbled out. "We guarantee it."

"I appreciate the support of each one of you." Wrex said graciously. "Now, return to your clans. Spread word of the glory you have attained this day."

The chieftains nodded, lumbering away from the Urdnot throne. Eventually only Wrex, Grunt, the Urdnot Shaman and Shepard remained. They watched the chieftains leaving, then turned a set of wide grins on each other. Wrex let loose a deep belly laugh and leaped to his feet, stepping up to the Commander and nearly flooring him with a bone-breaking slap on the shoulder. Shepard coughed out a few laughs as he tried to keep his footing. The trio’s laughter echoed about the camp.

"You just keep on amazing me, Shepard. Another Thresher Maw, and another Chieftain! There’s nothing that can stop the pair of you!" The Shaman chuckled.

"Well Grunt did most of the work today." Shepard admitted modestly. "You should have seen him take on the Maw. No gun, no armour, just an ancient spear and his bare hands. From the looks of things, he was damn near about to try and bite it to death!"

"It was a good fight, but don’t forget that you were the one who brought down Fotnar’s gunship, and then fought him hand-to-hand by yourself. I’ve never seen a human take on a Krogan Battlemaster like that and come out with his head attached." Grunt reminded.

"I couldn’t believe it when he came shambling out of that wreck." The Commander said. "Nothing I’ve ever seen could have survived that."

"Fotnar was strong, stronger than most chieftains." Wrex commented. "There’s not many beings in the Galaxy who could have gone toe to toe with him."

"I am glad to have been Shaman during these past few years." The Urdnot Shaman said. "I have been witness to the rise of some of the greatest warriors our people shall ever see. Urdnot Wrex, the chieftain whose wisdom and cunning overcame the Genophage to make the Krogan whole again. Urdnot Grunt, the strongest warrior our people have ever known. And his Battlemaster, the alien Commander Shepard, an unstoppable force charging across the Galaxy and reshaping it with his very presence. Other Krogan might not be able to see it just yet, but I know I stand in the presence of legends of the future."

"You may be right." Wrex said as he dropped back onto his throne. "Grunt certainly proved his courage today. His performance during the Rite of Passage showed his combat ability, but today he showed he was willing to leap into the jaws of death for his krannt. A promising trait in a warrior. Even better in a leader."

"What are you suggesting, Wrex?" Shepard asked curiously.

"If you are suggesting what I suspect, you must bear in mind the effect this could have among your allies, Wrex." The Shaman warned. "Strong as Grunt is, he’s still a tank-born, and the offspring of Okeer. Allowing him into the Clan is one thing…"

"Who I choose as my successor is entirely my choice." Wrex said, a tinge of anger in his tone. "He’s not ready yet, but has much potential."

"Successor?" Shepard asked incredulously. "You want to make Grunt the next Urdnot chieftain?"

"He’s got a lot to learn yet. Okeer may have taught him the facts of being a Krogan, but he hasn’t been given the knowledge he’d need. But yes, I think, given time, he’ll be fit to succeed me. Should he be willing to do so, of course."

Grunt stood stock-still, clearly surprised by the opportunity laid before him. His jaw worked silently, trying to formulate the right words. Eventually he frowned, dismissing the look of surprise on his face, and his expression became more focused.

"It is an honour that you think me worthy to follow in your footsteps. I will do what it takes to be ready."

"Good boy. You’ve got the skills in battle, and the courage in the face of danger, but you’ll need more to be a chieftain. That’s why you must stay with Shepard for the time being. A warrior must always follow his Battlemaster. Plus, I can’t think of a better teacher. Watch the Commander, see how he leads his troops in the battlefield."

"Chieftain." Grunt bowed formally.

"Now, go see Fortack about getting some new armour. I doubt your old stuff will still fit."

Grunt stomped off to see the Urdnot scientist, and was swiftly followed by the Shaman, who made his own way to his usual spot, overlooking the Urdnot camp. Shepard noticed a significant limp in the older Krogan’s gait, and was reminded of the last time he had met the Krogan, and the Shaman had hinted at the many rites he had to endure for his position in the clan. The Commander’s attention was pulled back by a quiet cough from Wrex.

"Now that its just the two of us, Shepard, why don’t you tell me what you found in Jath’s fortress? My warriors went to look for any of their research into the Genophage, but the clan’s databases had been wiped by a virus. Did you find any of their work?"

Shepard’s next few words lurked in the back of his throat, reluctant to come out. Here he stood at the final instant that he could change his mind, hold his tongue. His last chance to keep the data and guarantee the Krogan would not become a threat. But then he looked about the camp, and saw what Wrex had tried to forge his clan into, the work he and his kin were willing to do to make a better life for their entire species.

His mind wandered back to before Omega Four. Back aboard the Normandy, Mordin had confessed to his work on the Genophage. When Shepard had questioned him about the plague, the doctor had explained the nature of the Genophage, including the fact that it was carefully balanced so as to preserve the Krogan species at the same time as keeping their numbers in check. When pushed for an explanation of why he had worked so hard to keep the plague from being too powerful, the Salarian’s reasons were simple, though surprising.

"Krogan as a whole violent, aggressive. Still… have outliers. Worth saving."

Shepard slowly pulled the data disk from his belt, tossing it to Wrex. The wily old Krogan had seen the debate in his face, and obviously appreciated and understood the difficulty of his choice. He lifted the OSD to his omnitool and streamed the data onto the holographic display, noting the complexity of the data.

"It’s nearly complete." Shepard said. "Your scientists should have little trouble with crossing the Ts and dotting the Is. Mordin reckons it’d take a few weeks, tops before it’s ready to start distributing to your people."

"This… this is… Thank you, Shepard." Wrex struggled to say. "I thought there might be some preliminary groundwork, but nothing this advanced. My people have been searching for something like this for over a thousand years. I won’t forget this. With a cure for the Genophage, I’ll be able to unite every last Krogan in the Galaxy under Urdnot’s banner. Not just Tuchanka, but our colonies, all the roving pirate and merc bands. Hell, probably even the Blood Pack. And it’ll all be at your disposal when the Reapers come calling. This I swear on the plates of my forefathers."

"I’m only doing this because I trust you, Wrex. Not your people. Keep them honest. If they restart the Rebellions, I will have to stop them, and I won’t hesitate to protect the rest of the Galaxy from you all." Shepard warned.

"I know you won’t, Shepard. And I’m only going to trust my people with this because you’re here to stop them if things get out of hand. You’re probably the only one who could."

Wrex stood up from his throne, walking over to stand before the Commander. A solemn expression on his face, the Krogan drew a long dagger from his belt. Shepard flinched in anticipation of some Krogan custom that involved symbolic self-harm or something, but Wrex simply turned the weapon in his hands, holding it hilt-first towards his old human friend.

"Take it. This belonged to my forefathers. Its what I used to kill Jarrod, all those years ago. My great- grandfather carved the hilt from the claw of a Rachni queen, about halfway through the Wars, but the blade’s been around a lot longer. If there’s any ceremonial item for clan Urdnot, that’s it. Carry that with you, as a token that any Krogan warlord with a speck of honour will recognise. It can be a symbol for you whenever you need to call the Krogan to your side."

"Thanks, Wrex." Shepard said, accepting the dagger and sliding it into his belt to one side. "I’d best head back up to the Normandy. We’ve got to be heading out of the system by the end of the day. I’ll swing by Fortack’s and pick up Grunt. Are you sure you can spare him? You’re a little short on warriors after this morning."

"We’ll cope. With this," He said, indicating the OSD. "I’ll have more allies than I can count. Besides, I reckon with the Reapers coming, you’ll have more need of him than I do. Hell, I’d love to be coming with you too, but I’ve got responsibilities here, especially now."

"I understand. Take care, Wrex. Be sure to have your people ready for when the bad guys come calling. Next time you see me, chances are I’ll have a whole fleet of the damned things on my ass."

"No different from any other day, then. Why change old habits now?"

Shepard chuckled as he walked away, leaving Urdnot Wrex sitting on his throne, reading the data that would save his people. The tough alien would have killed anyone who suggested it, but the Commander was sure that his eye glinted with a wetness that seemed grossly out of place on such a battle-hardened warrior.

~o~0~o~


Shepard inhaled deeply as he felt the cleaner, processed air of the Normandy fill his lungs. It was a relief after the gritty, sand-choked atmosphere of the Krogan homeworld. He stepped out of the shuttle into the frigate’s cargo bay, followed by Grunt. The last two members of the crew to come back aboard, the pair formed an almost comical image, the towering Krogan, torso almost as broad as a skycar and lank limbs stretching as long as most Salarians grew tall. Shepard cut a much less intimidating figure by comparison, standing at only six foot and a couple of inches with a chest, while broad by human standards, not even half as wide as his comrade’s. Grunt’s armour, a gift grudgingly given by Fortack, was pitch-black, with a red pattern tracing joints and crossing the chest. Pipes and pistons were built into the elbow, knee and wrist joints, capable of delivering a powerful boost to his strength.

Grunt was toting a huge shotgun. It was basically a Krogan Claymore, but was built larger than traditional specs, designed for Grunt’s larger-than-average hands. Shepard had a weapon similar, but smaller. The gun was no doubt capable of stripping away the most powerful of kinetic barriers and passing right through heavy armour. The Krogan was keen to test his weapon out, but Shepard didn’t want that thing going off anywhere near him.

As they walked towards the elevator, Grunt sighed.

"Something wrong, Grunt?"

"Huh? No, not at all. Just… good to be back, I guess. I’ve been caged up for three months, doing nothing but float in that damned tank."

"What was it like in there?"

"They kept me sorta sedated most of the time, awake, but unable to move. They paraded the Salarian in front of my tank, whether that was to get me angry or to threaten him I’m not sure. They kept taking samples, probably to test the cure on, and that was about the only outside contact I had."

"I’m surprised Fotnar never tried to recruit you or something like that. He just kept you in that fishbowl for three months?"

"Fotnar was smart. He knew I’d never turn my back on my clan. And setting me loose would have been too dangerous. You saw what happened when you broke me out. He knew that was what he’d get if he opened the tank."

"I have to admit, it was worth it just to see the faces of those Krogan you surprised!" Shepard chuckled.

"It was a good fight. That’s why I follow you, Shepard. You’re where the action’s at."

"We’ve got a whole boatload of battles coming our way, that’s for sure. You might end up sick of war by the time we’re through with the Reapers."

"I’ll never lose my appetite for war, Battlemaster."

"I guess we’ll find out soon enough." Shepard hit the control for the elevator, turning to face the young Krogan. He stared straight into the icy blue eyes, set beneath the half-formed brow plate. "How do you feel about Wrex choosing you to succeed him?"

"I am honoured." The Krogan said, though his face trembled with uncertainty. "But I’m not sure I am the best choice to lead."

"And that’s why both Wrex and I think you will be, some day. Just watch us, and learn what you can. Wrex isn’t that old, he’ll be around for a good long while yet, so you’ve got plenty of time to work on becoming what he hopes for you to be." Shepard said as they got in the elevator and punched in their two destinations.

"Yes, Battlemaster."

"Go get yourself settled back in, Grunt. Your old Cargo Hold’s just the way you left it- an absolute tip." The Commander said with a grin, indicating that his friend should step out of the now open doors.

The Krogan smiled as the elevator doors closed before him, and the elevator carried Shepard up to the CIC. The moment the Commander entered the command deck, he was greeted by Kelly, a smile on her gentle face.

"Welcome back, Commander! Another successful mission, and we got Grunt and Mordin back!" She said, her chirpy voice light.

"We’ve done well today." Shepard allowed. "I’m glad to get them back, and we’ve taken care of a very dangerous enemy. In all, I think we’ve all earned a cold one in the Lounge."

"Sounds good. I’ll spread the word. In the meantime, you’ve got some messages on your terminal. One was marked urgent."

"Thanks, I’ll go take a look." The Commander stepped over to his terminal, just on the other side of the steps leading up to the Galaxy Map. As he opened up his mail inbox, he muttered over his shoulder to the yeoman. "Have you had a chance to give Mordin a quick psych evaluation after he got back on board? I’m worried how his stay on Tuchanka might have affected him."

"I had a quick chat, but nothing in-depth. He’s been through a lot of physical torture, but his strength has always been in his mind. The Krogan are too unsophisticated for psychological torment, so I think he’s going to recover. I wonder what it was that convinced him to give in and work on the cure. They definitely didn’t break his mind. He chose to co-operate."

"I’ll talk to him about it." Shepard said, pulling open the topmost message on his list. "He’s always borne a lot of guilt over his work on the Genophage. Maybe that’s all it is."

"Perhaps. I’m glad to have him back. The ship wasn’t the same without him. It’ll be refreshing to have his energy in the atmosphere again."

Shepard nodded with a small smile before looking at the message blinking before him. He opened it, and was surprised when a wash of flickering green numbers flowed across his screen. At first he assumed a malevolent virus had infected the system, and was confused as to how EDI hadn’t picked up on it, but then the numbers faded as quickly as they had appeared, and a small box of text appeared, reading: Security scan complete. The message then blinked up on the screen for the Commander to read.

Shepard,

Glad to hear your mission on Tuchanka was a success. While your choice to preserve the cure may not have been what I’d have done, I respect your judgement in this matter. I’m sure Wrex will handle the data responsibly.

I must also congratulate you on rescuing your crew. Grunt and Doctor Solus will be valuable assets in the war to come, and after their willingness to join your cause against the Collectors we owe them a debt of gratitude which would have been ill-served by leaving them to rot in a Krogan dungeon.

You’re making impressive progress, Shepard, and I hope you continue to do so. I’ve received some troubling reports which indicate we’ll need to act soon. I still need to nail down the details, but we may have a lead on Reaper activity inside the Milky Way. I’ll be in touch as soon as I have some tangible data to send your way.

Stay safe,

Liara.

P.S. Here’s a little gift from the last Shadow Broker. I’m sure the Normandy’s lab will be able to replicate it. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to make it small enough for a human to use, but your Collector team mate, the Revenant, or a Krogan like Grunt should be able to wield it no problem. I am sure it will be useful.

Shepard pulled up a schematic which looked familiar. It was a modification that could be applied to any omnitool, enabling the device to project a powerful shield for a short while. The flat, red wall of energy was impervious to all kinds of attacks, and took a lot to wear down. The last Shadow Broker, the Yahg that had nearly sold Shepard to the Collectors, had used the device when Shepard and Liara had come calling, to great effect. The shield had deflected bullets, biotics, punches and tech attacks with ease. The one drawback was the fact it wasn’t all encompassing, leaving parts of the body exposed around the edges. Nevertheless, it would come in handy.

"Commander-" Shepard looked up from his terminal as Kelly spoke. "While we’re talking about our new arrivals, we’d best discuss Grunt."

"You’ve got concerns?"

"He’s been cooped up for a long time. Even before our capture, he’s always had a lot of pent-up energy that he’s found difficult to control. I mean, he had to fight a Thresher Maw to work out the aggression he had built up in Okeer’s tank. I think he might find it difficult to keep his cool on a ship as small as this one."

"What do you suggest? Yoga?" Shepard joked. Kelly shot back a serious glare.

"Very funny, Commander. Just keep giving him things to do. Take him out on your more violent missions so that he can vent himself on the bad guys. It may be wise for the rest of the crew not to get in his face."

"If he causes any trouble, I’ll be the one getting in his face, faster than he can blink. Don’t worry. I’m sure he’ll keep his violent impulses in check. He knows I won’t stand for any of that crap on my ship."

"I suppose so. He does hold you in high regard. It’s like you’re the parental influence Okeer never had the chance to give him. He’d go to any lengths for your approval."

"I’ll make sure that respect is well placed." Shepard promised.

"I know you will." Kelly saluted. "I’d better get back to work. Good to talk, Commander."

Shepard nodded as she breezed past on her way to the elevator. He then turned and skimmed through his remaining messages. A few that he instantly deleted after reading the subject, mostly scams that requested his details in exchange for a fictional financial windfall, or some Hanar ‘princess’ with an offer he couldn’t refuse. One message declared that his subscription to the Gerunno vid rental service had expired after three years of neglect. He chuckled at that one, as the reason he hadn’t been renting was on account of being dead. He imagined the card he had been issued by the company was somewhere in Alchera’s snowdrifts, among the remains of his old quarters on the first Normandy. There were a couple of messages from old contacts, happy to hear he was back in action after his brief disappearance. There was even a message from Westurlund news anchor Khalisah Bint Sinan al-Jilani, requesting an interview to discuss what he had been up to in the past year, along with a not-so-subtle line about rumours of his links to a known terrorist organisation. Shepard didn’t even bother to reply, simply putting it in the trash folder.

A few minutes later, he stepped back from the terminal, closing down his private files, and stepped around the map to stride up to the cockpit, where Joker was busy tinkering with his controls. The pilot spun around the second he noticed the Commander’s reflection in the ship’s forward windows.

"Hey Commander! That was, uh, that was a pretty tense situation down there. I know I wouldn’t have liked to make that call."

"It wasn’t easy, but giving Urdnot the cure was the right thing to do. The Krogan have suffered long enough."

"I’m with you on that. And hey! We got Grunt and Mordin back! That’s just perfect." Joker said sarcastically. "Cause, you know, if there’s two people in the Galaxy who I feel safe around, it’s the Mad Scientist and your two-tonne beatstick of doom. One likes to test out all kinds of crazy experiments on me in the name of curing my bad bones, and the other can high-five me into the bulkhead like I was made out of jello."

"It builds character." Shepard said teasingly.

"Go on, laugh all you like. You won’t be smiling next time you need hauling out of some Charlie Foxtrot and I’m mashed into goo on the wall." Joker said, spinning his chair back around to face front. "So did you need something, or are you just here to bask in the Joker-ey goodness?"

"I have our next destination planned out." Shepard said by way of explanation.

"What, and you couldn’t just punch up the Map?"

"I wanted to speak to you and EDI first, without being overheard by the rest of the crew."

"Ooh, mystery on the Normandy! Hit me with it!" The pilot grinned.

"Serious time, Joker. Straight face." Shepard said sternly. "We’re going to Khar’Shan next."

Joker’s comedic demeanour vanished, replaced with a more professional attitude.

"We’re really going into squint space?" He asked nervously.

"Yes. Liara’s set up a meeting with a Batarian political leader who I want on our side. If we can make peace with the Hegemony, they’ll be a valuable ally. The Krogan represent almost a third of the merc and pirate forces in the Terminus Systems. The Batarians represent another third. Imagine the forces they could gather."

"I wouldn’t want to face that in a fight. You really think they could all be called together?"

"I do. And that’s why we need this Etarn on our side."

"You got it. Do you reckon we’ll see any trouble once we enter Hegemony space?"

"I suspect so. That’s why I needed to speak with EDI." Shepard stood before the AI’s holo interface. "I need you to plot us a route to Khar’Shan that will get us there fast, but will allow us to make maximum use of our stealth drive to avoid any confrontation. Work out when we’d need to discharge our heat build-up, and factor that into your course so that we aren’t stopping in more heavily populated patches of space."

"Yes, Shepard." EDI said quietly.

"Done." She said only two seconds later, even as the Commander was turning back to speak with Joker. Shepard’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"That was quick."

"It was a simple task, and I am an AI."

"Right." Shepard said uncertainly, a little put-out by the speed with which she had accomplished the task. "Maybe you should have a few back-up flight plans plotted out, too."

"Also done. I have two hundred and forty eight alternate flight paths plotted that have us re-entering Council space within a ten minute window of the optimal flight pattern."

"Okay, I get it." Shepard said huffily. "You’re good at what you do. That’s all for now."

"Stings when the machines let you know just how much smarter they are, doesn’t it?" Joker teased.

"Yeah, yeah. Just set a course."

Shepard stalked back down towards the Galaxy Map, his footsteps echoed by Joker’s chuckles. The Commander proceeded to step up to his spot above the Map, where he looked down on the holographic representation of the Galaxy as well as the command deck crew working around its edges. He keyed a few controls to open a channel and delivery a ship-wide announcement.

"This is Commander Shepard. We’re about to head into Batarian space, right to their homeworld of Khar’Shan. I know it sounds strange, but we’re on a mission of peace, to negotiate with one of their leaders.

"We’re going to be running silent until we reach Khar’Shan, doing our best to avoid patrols and other less official contacts in Hegemony space. I’m not going to pretend that every one of the Hegemony’s leaders wants these talks to succeed, and I’m certainly not about to trust them to let us move through their space undisturbed. But these talks must go ahead, whether we trust the Batarians or not.

"I want everyone ready for any trouble. From the moment we hit the borders of Hegemony space, the ship’s status will be raised to combat readiness level two. That means weapons loaded and shields deployed, but no hostile action unless fired upon first. I’ll do my best to make these negotiations a success, and I trust you, my crew, to give a fine account of yourselves, no matter which way things go. Begin preparations immediately. We set off for Batarian space within the hour."

He nodded to the command deck staff, a number of which were regarding him with looks of surprise, uncertainty and anticipation. Clearly they were unnerved at having to go so deep into enemy territory, but trusted their Commander to see them through it, like he had so many missions previously. Shepard left the CIC with a feeling of pride in his heart that his ‘family’ was made up of beings of such fine mettle.

~o~0~o~


The door to the Tech lab hissed open, and Shepard stepped through, coming to a swift stop as he saw what was inside. The entire length of the room was filled with a device, stretching almost from the door to the far wall. Wires and pipes expanded away from it in many directions, linking to a vast array of diagnostic terminals and power supplies.

As the Commander walked in, a small face popped out from behind the device, the huge black eyes and single horn on the head instantly identifiable. Mordin regarded Shepard for a second before vanishing again, squirming out from behind the contraption.

As the Salarian worked his way out, Shepard marvelled at the device. The fact that this had been put together in the time since Mordin had given him the cure to the Genophage was impressive. Shepard found himself wondering where the scientist had found the parts, and how he had ferreted them into his lab. His ruminations were interrupted as Mordin emerged from behind the device and approached. The Commander noticed there was no sign of the limp the Salarian had been sporting earlier.

"Shepard. Good to see you." Mordin said in his quick-fire manner. "Was… how do humans say it? ‘Getting back into the swing of things’? Have been working on this for past hour."

"You built all of this in an hour?" Shepard asked incredulously.

"Not quite. Salvaged parts from damaged skycar in Cargo Bay. Saw vehicle and, after hearing from Vakarian about mission to Omega, had idea on new tool for use in field."

"How did you get this up here?"

"Elevator was a tight fit, but just managed after some adjusting."

"And what are you trying to turn it into?"

"Ah! Would like to keep it a surprise. Still a lot of tests to run, much work to do. Would not like to advertise results before certain can be done."

"Alright. While you’ve got a minute, I’d like to pass these on to you." Shepard lifted up his active omnitool, streaming the data Liara had given him to the alien’s ‘tool. "A gift from an old friend of mine."

Mordin studied the data for a few seconds before making a couple of noises of approval.

"Tri-layered multi-frequency kinetic barriers in a hyper-dense configuration, very clever. Requires a complete overhaul of power- ah! There it is! Secondary and tertiary capacitors to maintain power over extended periods. Will be impossible to reduce size of barrier, as dimensions are acutely tied in to shield strength. But should be usable by squad mates with larger build; Krogan, Turian, Collector… maybe large human male, like Zaeed. Will get to work on prototype. Suggest Grunt as candidate to test finished device, verify effectiveness."

"Glad you like it." Shepard commented. "Have you got a minute to talk?"

"Of course. No doubt you are wondering how I fared in Krogan dungeon. Am fully recovered now, thanks to treatment from Archer."

"Fully recovered? But you only got set free this morning! I can understand that the doc patched you up, but how can you be mentally ready to dive back into your work?"

"Forgetting Salarian metabolism. Processed emotions of relief, happiness and trepidation over cure in shuttle on way up. Still feel out-of-place being back here, but feelings will pass. Some memories of imprisonment hard to leave behind, but working helps to keep mind focused on the here and now."

"I… think I understand."

"Excellent! Was that everything?" Mordin asked as he crouched down, tweaking a few sparking connections.

"Just about. I’ll leave you to your work." Shepard said, retreating out of the Lab.

[fainmaca]

Chapter 14: Part 2



Shepard left the elevator, stepping out onto the crew deck and swerving to dodge a pair of crewmen heaving a pile of equipment through the corridors. The two sweating servicemen paused to give the Commander room to negotiate his way around their heavy load, unable to salute with the awkward pile in their hands.

"Commander." Rolston said by way of greeting.

"What’s all this, then?" Shepard asked curiously.

"Gunnery Officer Vakarian asked us to take this down to the Cargo Hold. I think he want’s to put together a sparring area in the back of the hold."

"Really? An interesting idea. I know Turians have something like this on their warships."

"So he said." Rolston replied.

"So who’re the odds on for topping the leaderboard?" Shepard smirked.

"Sir?" Rolston’s voice was carefully even, the confusion an obvious mask.

"I know how these things go, crewman. Of course there’s going to be some wagers made. Who’s the favourite?"

"Uhh… Nobody, at the moment. None of us can figure out who’d win between you, Garrus and Grunt."

"Fifty creds say I floor ‘em both before they can blink." Shepard chuckled. "Carry on."

Shepard moved past the two crewmen as they manhandled their burden into the elevator and into the Mess Hall. He walked around the tables, filled with chattering crew, and strode down the corridor to the Gunnery control station. Through the door he saw Garrus in an all too familiar position, stood over a diagnostic terminal as he ran some calibrations on the guns. The Turian looked over his shoulder as the Commander walked in.

"Shepard." He said by way of greeting. "Something you need?"

"Just came by to talk." The Commander said, making himself comfortable by leaning back on the doorframe just inside the small room, arms crossed in front of him.

"Sure. I’ve got a few minutes while EDI runs the latest numbers. Keeping these things firing straight has got a lot easier now that we’ve got an AI regulating the systems."

"Why not let her run the diagnostics?"

"Peace of mind, mostly. I’m not happy unless I’ve performed the checks myself. An AI might be smart and all, but I’m just not ready to give one complete control over our weapons systems."

"Whatever floats your boat, Garrus." Shepard said, understanding fully. It was the same reason that Joker manned the helm, even when the Normandy was performing the most basic of manoeuvres, the same reason Mordin relied on physical research rather than computer generated experiments. Having the equipment do everything was unsettling, even if the equipment was a sentient member of the crew.

"I bumped into Rolston on my way here. He was heading for the Cargo Bay with some kit, following your orders. Something about a sparring gym?"

"An idea I had on my way up from Tuchanka. I did submit a report, but I wanted to try it out with the crew as soon as I could. Having Grunt back on board, I figured it’d be wise to have a spot where the crew can work out their… tension… without tearing out a bulkhead."

"Don’t worry, I approve. But you should’ve come through me first before you started shuffling the ship’s furniture about. We’re not a cruiser, space is one thing we don’t have an unlimited supply of."

"I’ll make sure it’s not getting in the way of the ship’s operation, Commander. I’m sure it’ll prove more of an asset than an inconvenience."

"Well, the ship’s design was a combination of Turian and Human ideals. That worked out pretty well. Maybe doing the same thing with the crew’s activities during our downtime."

"Glad you’re on board with it, Commander."

"Don’t thank me yet. This concession comes with a price. If I’ve gotta take part in Turian customs, you gotta take part in some human ones. Next time we hit Earth, we’re going to an old-fashioned baseball game."

"Wha-?"

"No buts." Shepard interrupted the Turian.

"Next time we’re in the Local Cluster, got it."

"Good." The Commander said. "I’m just gonna get something off Rupert. Got time for dinner with your boss?"

"Sounds good. Just give me a second to close up in here."

Garrus met Shepard out in the crew mess in a matter of moments, opening one of the cupboards behind Sergeant Gardner’s workstation and taking out a couple of packs of rations. The Turian couldn’t indulge in the food that the human cook prepared, his dextro-DNA making any attempt to eat food suited to humans, or any species other than the Quarians, a potentially lethal experience. Whenever he visited a place with Turian or Quarian foodstuffs, he always stocked up on dextro food packs, hermetically sealed to prevent contamination from Gardner’s supplies. Taking his silvery packs of food over to the tables and sitting next to Shepard, he smiled at the Commander as he opened up his meal.

"Most days I just eat as I work. Its good to take a break."

"Can’t work all the time." Shepard said, shovelling down a big mouthful of beef stew, Gardner’s dish of the day. "Sometimes it feels like there’s no such thing as shore leave for us."

"True. We always seem to be chasing down some nasty thing or another. Mind you, it wasn’t so different back when I was in C-sec. The worst crimes would always seem to happen during your day off, and you were the only one your supervisor could count on to get the job done. I guess the good guys never take a break."

"Meanwhile, I bet a rich old bastard like the Illusive Man has a whole planet reserved for his vacations. Hell, Vido Santiago had Zorya."

"Maybe we’re on the wrong side of the business here." Garrus mused. "Ever thought about going pirate? Living off the loot we can steal, holing up in some base out in the Terminus. And, if the Council decide they need to send a Spectre after us, we’ve got our own one to fight back with."

"A tempting thought, but you’d never settle for working on the other side of the line. I give it a week before we’re both itching to get back to hunting down the bad guys."

"You’re probably right." Garrus chuckled.

The pair finished their meals, sharing jokes and reminiscing over the good old days. It seemed that meeting up with Wrex had unleashed a flood of old memories of their work aboard the first Normandy, and they were eager to think back to the days when they had taken on the mission to hunt down Saren, before Cerberus, before the Reapers, before Virmire. Finally, their plates clean, the two friends parted, Garrus returning to his station and the Commander heading towards the Med Bay.

Shepard stepped through the doors of the Med Bay to see Doctor Archer tending to Jack, the latter spouting a string of blistering curses as the doctor’s tools probed about in a deep wound, searching for a few stray pieces of shrapnel fired from a Krogan shotgun. Medi-gel could seal up a wound, expedite the healing process, but it couldn’t remove any foreign matter from deep inside the body. The metal spray from a shotgun could go deep, beyond the reach of a cursory examination, and while small, still presented a risk to the body, either through infection or migration to the vital organs. From the looks of things, Archer had managed to remove all but the deepest offenders, which he was working on. Jack hissed as a tool dug deep into her abdomen.

"Cut that **** out, or I’ll cut your balls off!"

"It’s necessary if we’re to get all of it out." Archer said, a harassed note in his words. "This would go a lot easier if you’d just let me administer the-"

"Try to slip me any drugs and it’ll be the last ****ing mistake you make." Jack’s brown eyes broached no argument, the threat clear.

"Okay, okay! No meds. But you’ll just have to put up with the pain. A couple of slivers of the round have gone dangerously close to your kidneys, and another two have moved up towards the lungs. I don’t take them out now, you could be dead by the morning."

"Maybe that’d be better." Jack seethed.

Jack looked like she was about to utter another series of curses, but then she spotted Shepard entering and her mouth set in a determined line, resolved not to show weakness in front of the Commander. Shepard felt a twinge of disappointment that she no longer trusted him enough even to show that she was in pain. Just before Omega Four, she’d opened up, and Shepard had seen the sensitive side of her, something she’d hidden behind the tough-girl bluster, the language and the coarse attitude. Now, after the apparent vindication of her opinion that getting into a relationship would cost her, the convict had clammed up emotionally in Shepard’s presence, unwilling to even display the vulnerability that feeling pain might indicate.

The Commander watched for a few seconds before Archer sensed his presence and, looking over his shoulder, raised his eyebrows in an impatient gesture.

"Yes, Commander?"

"I was hoping to speak with you, Doctor."

"I won’t be long here. In the meantime, I suggest you speak to our friend over there." Archer said, nodding at the Revenant, who was standing behind his desk against the far wall. "He’s been acting a little strange since you all got back."

Shepard nodded and left the pair, the doctor resuming his work. Jack let out a tiny groan of pain as he dug in a little carelessly, the noise just escaping her lips as she tried to hold up the tough façade for Shepard’s benefit. As the Commander approached, the Revenant turned his glowing yellow eyes to regard him, the creamy white orb where one eye had been damaged beyond use shining in the bright light of the Normandy.

"Something up? The Doc says you’re not acting like yourself."

"A curious observation as I have not yet developed a sense of self to measure my actions by."

"That doesn’t answer my question. Are you okay?"

"I am unsure. At first I believed it to be the loss of my people, but now I am not convinced. When I am not running data analysis for Doctor Archer, my mind is filled with images I cannot suppress. They do not make sense."

"Your entire species’ consciousness has been funnelled into your mind, that might have something to do with it. What do you see?"

"I see planets, long neglected by sentient hands. Flashes of buildings, devices and creatures that I do not understand, and images of my people dying, and yet they are not my people. It does not make much sense."

"Is there anything in particular that stands out?"

"Nothing. It is like trying to watch a ship pass by at FTL speeds. The moment is gone before one’s mind can process the image." The Collector shook its head uncertainly.

"Sounds a bit like when I had the message from the Prothean beacon running around in my head."

"You made mention of that in our last conversation."

"Maybe it’s a remnant of the Prothean people, some sort of hard-coded genetic memory? I don’t know how you’d be able to decode the images. I wasn’t able to make any sense of the message until I got a hold of the Cipher."

"From that creature on Feros?"

"Yeah. Everything made a lot more sense after that."

"Do you still experience the visions?"

"Not since my death above Alchera. The images from the beacon are still there, but its like things have been sorted and put to rest now. They don’t jump into my mind unbidden anymore, only when I try to recall them."

"The Cipher may be able to help me with my images."

"Perhaps. There’s one person I can think of who might be able to help. I’ll put out some feelers, try to track her down." Shepard promised. "In the meantime, try to find something to take your mind off it. When I had the visions, I just threw myself into my mission to stop Saren. But you burn out pretty quick that way. Try getting to know the crew. I think they’re getting a bit more comfortable around you now."

"I will try. Thank you, Commander."

"Anytime. You can make a start right now. Tell me a bit about yourself."

"About myself?"

"We know next to nothing about the Collectors. I mean, until we took you on board, we assumed you were all like security mechs; basic programming and not much else."

"There is not much to tell. Beyond our research, there wasn’t much to my people. We had no culture as other organic societies would understand it. We lived, served the wishes of our creators, and sought to learn about the races reaching for the stars in the larger Galaxy."

"What were the Collectors researching?"

"Any genetic traits not in keeping with racial averages. We used to make trades with slavers in your Terminus systems for anything unusual. Dyslexic Salarians, Asari with low or high biotic potential, albino Turians. We studied these traits, seeking to understand how the genetic potential of their races might be affected. We tried mapping changes that could occur in a race with the next thousand years, making predictions about genetic evolution in much the same way a meteorologist can read weather patterns, or a seasoned soldier can read the tactics of an enemy."

"Predicting tactics? You mean this was part of your plans for war on us?"

"Perhaps. It may be that the Reapers instilled our curiosity in genetics in us so that we would be able to provide them with data that could help them choose which races to make into slaves, like us, and which races to use in their reproductive process. Then again, they may have been plotting the most effective methods to launch a biological attack on the Galaxy. Much like when we tested that plague on Omega."

"What did you know about the plague?"

"Everything, thanks to the connection I shared with my brothers. But it was more than that. I was a part of the team sent to negotiate with the Vorcha, one of the Collectors responsible for distributing the Plague. I had first-hand experience with it."

"A lot of people died as a result of that plague." Shepard accused.

"I am aware." The Revenant said calmly. "The plague was designed specifically to wipe out the non-human population of Omega, and it would have done its job very well, had your Doctor Solus not been there. I am curious to speak with him. A scientific mind that can match wits with our technology is certainly a rarity."

"I’m sure the two of you will get on well together." Shepard responded. "You mentioned the Reapers gave you commands. Were they in regular contact with your people?"

"Not until the abductions of your colonists. For several centuries before that, we had heard nothing from the Reapers. But then we received word from the one who bore the human moniker of Harbinger. It compelled us to begin our large-scale abductions and begin work on the Reaper larva. It made little mention of what the new-born reaper was for, but I recall it making mention of ‘replenishing the vanguard’."

"That sounds ominous."

"I suppose we will never know what was meant by that."

"You’re probably right. Anyway, thanks for the chat. It was enlightening." Shepard said, turning to Doctor Archer just as he helped Jack to her feet. The convict swatted at him as he put a hand on her shoulder to steady her before stalking out of the Med Bay without so much as a thank you. The Doctor sighed before turning to the Commander.

"You wanted to speak with me, Commander?"

"I wanted to speak about Joker, actually. Have the pair of you made any progress in separating him from EDI?"

"Little more since your last visit, Commander. The risk of neural damage is still unacceptably high. Compared to this, the programming side of things is simple."

"Then I suppose it’s a good thing I’ve got another specialist on board to help you out. Have a word with Mordin, get him to help you with you work. I expect the three of you to be able to do something."

"If I may be so bold as to ask, Commander, why is it so important? Joker is functional as he is, and his reaction times have been improved by fifty per cent."

"He can’t go far from the ship in this state, Doctor." Shepard replied. "He’s a prisoner aboard the Normandy as long as his mind is twisted up inside EDI’s. Plus, have you given any thought to what will happen if, say, the Normandy were to be destroyed? We’re going to war, Gavin. Casualties are likely. If EDI’s lost, what happens to Joker’s mind, all tied up with hers?"

"You make a compelling argument." Archer conceded. "We’ll step up our research. I’m sure having Doctor Solus lend his expertise will be a boon in our efforts."

Shepard nodded in satisfaction before leaving the Med Bay.

The Commander’s next stop was the Observation Lounge, where he saw Samara in her usual spot, staring out into space silently as she manipulated a glowing orb of energy. As quietly as he tried to enter, the Asari still heard his footsteps and tilted her head to the side.

"Shepard." Her serene voice said.

"How do you know its me?" Shepard asked with surprise.

"Your air of confidence and authority is hard to mistake, Commander. You lend an atmosphere of danger and security to the space you inhabit."

"Thanks… I think." Shepard said uncertainly. He stepped over and knelt next to Samara. Sensing his presence directly next to her, the Asari opened her brilliant sapphire eyes, the white biotic glow fading from her irises and pupils as her vision focused on the human beside her. The biotic blue tendrils were extinguished as she lowered her hands, the ball of energy dissipating.

"I heard of your decision to give the cure to the Krogan today, and I wanted to let you know that I believe you chose the best course of action. My grandmother was killed in the Rebellions, so I have no illusions about the threat they present, but the Krogan have grown beyond the level of civilisation they occupied back then. Now that they have tasted the consequences of the rash actions that sparked the conflict, they should have a greater respect for the value of peace."

"It wasn’t an easy choice. And I’m still not sure whether I’ll regret it further down the line." Shepard admitted. "But the genie’s out of the lamp now."

"I am unfamiliar with such human terminology, but I suspect I can guess your meaning."

"How did you do it? For four hundred years, you meted out justice. How did you decide what constituted a just or an unjust action?"

Samara winced at being reminded of her time as a Justicar, and Shepard kicked himself for broaching the subject so soon after her exile. Clearly it was too soon to bring this up.

"For the most part, our Code made the path before me painfully clear. As long as I obeyed the sutras of the Code, I was just. If I strayed, I was unjust. But, beyond that, I knew the correct path in my soul."

"There were no times where you had to choose between paths that weren’t clearly right and wrong?"

"As I have told you before, the Code of the Justicars makes no room for grey, only black and white. However, there were times when I was forced to choose the lesser of two injustices." She looked up at the Commander with the shadow of a smirk on her lips. "Sometimes, the greater injustice would have been to obey the Code."

"You mean like when you exploited that loophole in your code so as not to kill the police office on Illium?"

"I stuck to the Code, though not necessarily in the spirit most Justicars would have interpreted it. I would have been perfectly in my right to gun that poor woman down for obstructing me in my investigation, but certain conventions in the Code made it possible for me to leave Illium with little innocent blood spilt."

"I… think I see. You didn’t twist the Code, but you gave priority to certain tenets when it became impossible to do everything expected of you."

"Close enough. Of course, now I am only guided by my own moral compass, not a series of ancient texts their writing occurring in an era which nobody even remembers."

"I wanted to speak with you, see how you’re doing now."

"My time spent meditating has done me some good. I am healing, and I feel at peace."

"We hardly see you in the Mess Hall. After all that time in the Thessian mountains, are you sure you need more solace here on the ship?"

"Aside from my time here before Omega Four, I have not had the joy of the companionship of others for several centuries. Even with you trying to help me the last time I was aboard, I am still very much out of practice. Given what has happened in recent days, I feel it is better for me to remain here. I have to admit, the prospect of having to face so many in close association intimidates me as much as I intimidate them."

"No way! The Asari with no fear is scared of having to make small talk?"

"You unsurprisingly find this amusing." The Exile’s voice had a tinge of annoyance to it.

Shepard paused before answering, considering the being before him. Before Omega four, Samara had always exuded an air of confidence, an aura of nobility and pride that at times could be intimidating. However, a lot had changed since then. Aesyyri had wrought a change in the old warrior, and now Shepard noted a more fragile Samara, her armoured persona now vulnerable.

"I’m here if you want to talk." He said tenderly. "You know you can speak to me."

"I appreciate that." Samara responded gratefully. "You have always been a good friend to me, Commander. Though I have to admit my repertoire of small talk is somewhat limited."

"Last time we talked, you made mention of your bondmate. I’ve never heard you talk about her."

"Notana." The Asari’s voice was still, though there was the barest shadow of fondness in it. "She was a strong young maiden, working as a Commando for the Republics when I met her, nearly seven hundred years ago. We lived a happy life together on Thessia for over two centuries, during which we were blessed with three beautiful daughters."

"What went wrong?"

"Everything changed after Notana died. She was killed during a pirate raid on a passenger transport between Thessia and Forua, a planet on the edge of Asari space. The loss struck all of us deeply, though my beautiful Mirala seemed the most distraught at the loss."

"Mirala…?"

"The name Morinth bore in her previous life. In ancient Asari the word can be translated as ‘Moon’s Heart’. It was Notara’s choice." Samara smiled at the memory. "She was always enraptured by the light of Thessia’s two moons. She’d say that the moons were kinder than the sun, a source of light that didn’t hide behind their own brilliance." She chuckled. "She was always the more fanciful one in our pairing."

"She sounds like a wonderful woman."

"And a good companion through the long years of an Asari lifetime. Understand this, Shepard; pureblood pairings are rare, mostly due to the commitment required. With most alien species, we do not have to think of the length of time that we must spend abiding by our choice, what with the comparatively short lifespan of humans, among other species. I do not mean to offend you, merely state fact. When one Asari bonds with another, they must be certain that this being is the one they are ready to spend an entire millennium with."

"You must have really loved her, to be ready to take such a step."

"I still do. Even though she is long gone now, I still carry her face in my heart, her voice in my soul. A benefit of the melding process is the fact that we are never truly separated from our loved ones. We remain in their minds, and they remain in ours."

"How did you cope after losing her?"

"It was not easy. I struggled to keep my family fed through the following years. My daughters were still in their teens at this point. In human years, they were little more than babes. Such a young family should not have to bear such devastation."

Shepard shuffled over to throw a companionable arm about her shoulder, to comfort her. He was a little pleased when she did not pull away. Previously, when he had tried to comfort her over the fate of Morinth, she had kept her distance, her code keeping her from drawing close to anyone, even a trusted friend like Shepard. Now, though, she accepted the gesture, taking strength from his presence. Even as he gave her a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder, she continued to talk.

"And yet we persevered. We found a way to exist, and lived full lives for some time after that, until my daughters’ condition was brought to light. Then I became a Justicar, Falere and Rila went into exile in their monastery, and Mirala was twisted into the monster that you knew as Morinth."

She straightened, resuming her meditative pose before the window.

"Thank you for listening to me, Commander. I have never spoken to another being of these matters, save my daughters. It has been… good to share."

"We’re all the poorer if you close yourself off from the rest of us, Samara."

"Indeed. Perhaps we can continue this conversation later. I must now return to my meditations."

"Of course." Shepard stood up with a groan, and turned to leave.

The Commander stole one last glance at the exiled Justicar, and noted a strange mark on her neck. Almost hiding among the tentacles at the base of her skull, a dark symbol stood out on the nape of her neck in a vivid blue. It looked like the skin had been cut open and then forced to heal in such a way as to leave the dark blue scar tissue standing out from the rest of her sky blue skin, a bold mark. He realised that this must have been another mark of her exile, yet another obstacle between her and her family. Then the doors hissed shut and she was gone.

~o~0~o~


Shepard’s last stop was on the engineering deck. He wandered past the door to the Normandy’s engine room, spotting the two Engineers, Ken and Gabby, working feverishly to fix some part or another. He chuckled as he heard the young woman berating her male companion for his clumsiness.

"Keep that transducer steady, blockhead! My god, I’d sooner be working with a Krogan."

"That can be arranged, Gabs." Ken threatened. "I can go call Grunt, if you’d prefer."

"Do that, and I’ll have the Salarian give you something in your next meal to make your balls drop off!" Gabby shot back. "That brute’s barely fitting in the Cargo Bay, let alone in here."

Shepard chuckled at the pair’s antics before slipping over to the Starboard Cargo Bay, where he opened the door a little more cautiously this time, having learned his lesson from the close shave last time he’d gone to visit Zaeed. Inside, The mercenary was busy organising the vast piles of ammo crate into a configuration he liked. Shepard noted that a few charred items had been dug out of the mess in the back of the bay, from the barely recognisable remnants of a large Krogan helmet to the barely holding together model of a Turian ship. Zaeed turned at the noise of the door opening and threw Shepard a triumphant grin.

"Shepard! What’s eating you this time? If it’s the Alliance sap complaining about where I stow my weapons, tell him to cram it."

"No, Kaidan hasn’t made any complaint. Why? Are the two of you not getting on?"

"I think he’s got something against bounty hunters like me. Likes to pick a fight whenever he sees me, bringing me up on some reg or another I ain’t sticking to. Does my bloody head in, but I’m not going to be the one to lay him out for it. It’s your boat, your crew."

"Kaidan’s just done things by the book all his life, its natural he’ll not be comfortable with someone like yourself who doesn’t play by Alliance rules."

"A typical attitude these days. Reminds me a bit of the Cerberus totty we had stalking about here last time. She loved to hear herself spouting Cerberus’ set of rules and regulations at us. Did my sodding head in."

"Wouldn’t have thought you’d let something like that get on your nerves, Zaeed." Shepard chuckled.

"I’m getting on now, dammnit! I’m allowed to be grouchy." Zaeed heaved a final crate onto the top of a pile. "So if you’re not here to read me my rights, what do you need, Commander?"

"Just checking in, seeing how the crew’s getting on."

"Aside from the sap, I’m doing fan-bloody-tastic at the moment. Hey, look at this!"

The merc shuffled over to a nearby pile of crates and opened the topmost one, lifting a weathered old rifle out of it.

"I found her this morning." He said, a possessive gleam in his eyes.

"Is that… Jessie?" Shepard asked.

"Damn straight! I knew a tough old **** like her wouldn’t find her end in a Cerberus raid. She’d fallen down under one of the deckplates and wedged there." Zaeed cradled his favourite rifle in one arm fondly.

Shepard was about to say something when his communicator beeped. Joker’s voice rang out from his omnitool.

"Hey, Commander? We’re about to hit the edge of Batarian space. Just letting you know that we’re going to silent running now." The pilot informed him.

"Roger that, Joker. I’ll head up to the CIC to keep an eye on our progress." Shepard closed down the omnitool and nodded to Zaeed. "Arm up, old man. We’ve got a busy couple of days ahead of us."

Zaeed lifted Jessie’s muzzle to his forehead in a crude salute, a casual gesture that most by-the-book soldiers, like Jacob or Kaidan, might have found disrespectful, and turned to gather his equipment. Shepard, meanwhile, made his way up to the CIC and his post above the Galactic map, where he could watch their path through Hegemony space. As they moved further and further into Batarian space, the crew’s mood grew ever more tense and solemn. They realised they were travelling into territory into which no human had ventured into before, and were well beyond any reinforcements, had any of their allies the lack of sanity necessary to launch a rescue mission into Hegemony space.

The Normandy purred as she cruised through the space between stars on her way to Khar’Shan, homeworld of the Batarian hegemony and meeting place for the negotiations with the mysterious Etarn Kol’mehk.

[fainmaca]

Chapter 15: Peace Talks In The Viper’s Den



"So this is Khar’Shan, then." Kaidan murmured as he stared out of the shuttle’s window. "I was expecting something a little… cooler."

Outside, the surface of Khar’Shan broiled under a thick black layer of ash. Tumultuous volcanoes erupted with alarming frequency, keeping the planet’s topography in a constant state of flux. The sky glowed a dirty grey colour, dense clouds of ash and smoke dampening the sun’s light. Most of the atmosphere’s light was emanated by glowing orange streams of lava flowing from the peaks of the planet’s mountains.

"I like this planet." Grunt said. "Such a world forges strong warriors."

"The Batarians have adapted very well to this environment." The Revenant supplied stiffly. "Their hide is well-insulated against extreme temperatures, their lungs are capable of absorbing large quantities of sulphur and carbon, and their four eyes give them the enhanced vision necessary in the low-light conditions that Khar’Shan’s permanent ash could creates."

"Learn that when your people were butchering those that you kidnapped?" Grunt asked, a growl of challenge in his voice.

"That’s enough, Grunt." Shepard snapped, heading off the confrontation before it could begin.

"Why have you brought us along, Commander?" Kaidan asked. "Peace talks aren’t exactly our forte. In fact, you’d probably be able to manage this by yourself."

"You’re here as a representative for humanity." The Commander explained. "I’m a Spectre, so I represent the Council in these negotiations, but I can’t represent both. It’d be a conflict of interests." He paused while he turned to Grunt and the Revenant. "They’re here as backup. These are still Batarians we’re dealing with. If any of them are planning something, a Collector and a Krogan should make them think twice, especially a Krogan as big as Grunt."

Grunt chuckled, shifting uncomfortably on his seat. The shuttle was a little small for his massive frame, and he barely fit on the bench built into the side of the shuttle’s passenger compartment. Even sitting down, his head reached up towards the ceiling.

They finished the journey to Jok’Shira, Khar’Shan’s capital city in silence. The city was a muddled mass of buildings, built with durability given priority and appearance taking second place. Many of the buildings were fashioned from a sleek black stone, showing little wear from the planet’s partly corrosive atmosphere. Metal prefab buildings dotted the skyline here and there, their neat lines and corners contrasting vividly with the rougher local-made buildings. The shuttle touched down in a plaza near the centre of the settlement, one of six in a circle around the largest building, the spire that housed the city’s administration. The plaza was dominated by a pair of unusual sculptures carved from the same black stone that formed the majority of the structures, their smooth surfaces run through with glittering veins of crystal. Shepard looked at the sculptures, but could make neither head nor tail of the Batarian artwork.

"They must have been great warriors." Grunt muttered, nodding his head in appreciation.

"How can you tell what it’s about?" Shepard asked, tilting his head.

"Batarian art. You got to look at it like you’ve got four eyes. I guess Krogan have an advantage, we’ve got a wider perspective than humans."

"Let’s keep moving. Etarn will be waiting for us."

The team moved up a large set of stairs that terminated at a large pair of doors, guarded by a pair of bored-looking Batarians. Upon seeing the two humans in the approaching group, they tensed, lips drawing back in an angry scowl. Shepard stood in front of one, defiantly locking his gaze with the Batarian on the right. The Batarian’s scowl deepened as he looked over the Commander’s shoulder, and Shepard looked back to see Grunt tilting his head to the right. A grave insult in Batarian society, such a gesture was only worsening the guards’ moods. Shepard would have pointed out the error to the Krogan, but the gleam in Grunt’s eyes revealed that the slur was intentional. Sighing inwardly, he turned back to the guards.

"We’re due to meet with Etarn Kol’mehk."

At first, the guard made no motion, remaining squarely in Shepard’s way. The Commander was about to repeat himself when there was the subtle sound of Grunt shifting menacingly, moving his shoulders in such a way as to show off his impressive muscles and bring attention to his fists, each as large as a human head. The guard buckled, stepping out of the way. Shepard nodded with just a pinch of smugness before entering the building.

Inside, a Batarian aide walked up to Shepard’s group, bowing formally in line with human tradition, making sure to keep his head tilted to the side. The alien’s four eyes blinked in a staggered pattern, never closing more than two at once. He wore a neat black suit, giving him a professional look Shepard found strange to see on a Batarian.

"Commander Shepard. I am Jarnad, Etarn’s personal assistant. We’ve been eagerly awaiting your arrival. Please, follow me." He said, his voice lacking the harsh edge the team had come to expect from the species. The Batarian paused as he noted the two aliens following the Commander. His eyes narrowed as he spotted the terrifying visage of the Revenant.

"What, what is… that?" he stammered.

"He’s called the Revenant." Shepard said firmly. "He’s a part of my crew."

The aide looked like he was about to make a comment, but tactfully held his tongue.

Jarnad led them up a flight of stairs, tracing a long, circular path towards the upper levels of the spire. The building was a bustle of activity, Batarians moving about accomplishing a great many tasks. Shepard caught glimpses of the occasional Asari and Turian moving about amidst the Batarians, though other species were clearly in the minority on Khar’Shan. The Commander saw no other humans, aside from himself and Kaidan, though this was not surprising.

Eventually the aide guided the squad to a nondescript wooden doorway among several just like it. Through it, a small office looked out over the Jok’Shira skyline. Beyond a thick window, the city was outlined by a red-hot glow from the rivers of lava that traversed the plains before the settlement. In front of the window, a tall Batarian sat straight-backed at a desk, hands folded before him as he waited patiently. As his guests were escorted inside, Etarn smiled warmly.

"Spectre Shepard! Welcome to Khar’Shan." He said, his voice jovial. "I am Etarn Kol’mehk. Please, take a seat. We’re very eager to begin the negotiations."

He waited for the two humans and the Krogan to be seated. The Revenant remained standing, his frame not suited to the chairs arrayed around the office. Shepard winced as Grunt dropped into his chair none-to-gently, the seat groaning under his bulk, though it held, just.

"You’ve already met Jarnad, my PA and chief adviser." Etarn said. "So let us get straight down to business."

He shuffled some papers on his desk before continuing.

"The Hegemony is on the cusp of an era of great change. The ruling caste, under the leadership of Gorm Jib’bat, is losing support among the Batarian people, especially after that debacle on Anhur. The people feel that Gorm doesn’t act in their best interests.

"Ever since we lost our embassy on the Citadel, our society has been in decline. Trade sanctions have crippled our economy. We are forced to be self-reliant due to societies like the Turian Hierarchy and the Vol Protectorate refusing to even meet with our merchants. Many Batarians turn to a life of piracy just to find a better existence than the one they have on our colony worlds. Khar’Shan fares better than most Batarian worlds, and that makes the lower castes all the more disgruntled. Poverty is harder to swallow when you see your politicians living in luxury.

"It is with those worst affected by our isolation from Council space that I have managed to gain support. Sha’Belnak, the political party I spearhead, has grown in power considerably in recent months, what with the way Gorm dealt with Balak and his crew."

"Balak? What did he do?" Shepard asked.

"Ah, yes. I’d heard that you ran into him above Terra Nova." Etarn said. "Before that, he was a large voice in Khar’Shan’s community, pushing for action against the Alliance to ‘make the humans pay for their crimes’. He urged Gorm to commit resources to his cause. Though publicly Balak was denied the support he needed, it got out that Gorm helped him in any way he could. After Balak failed, thanks to you, Gorm lost a lot of respect, much to our benefit."

"I’m glad we could help." Kaidan said, a little sarcastically. "Our only regret was letting the bastard get away that day."

"Don’t worry." Jarnad reassured. "No doubt he’ll show up soon enough, doing something equally stupid, and then he’ll get his due."

"So what’s brought about your new way of thinking?" Shepard asked. "Why the sudden urge to make alliances with the Council and humanity?"

"We feel that our isolation from the rest of Galactic society is hindering our culture. If we can broker a peace between our species, we can open up trade alliances, procure technologies that our people need, become a real part of the Galaxy." Etarn explained. "I’m offering my people the chance to grow beyond the limits of our few planets, to be more than just a race of slavers and mindless thugs."

"I admire that." Shepard admitted. "And I’m sure there are a lot of people on the Citadel who’ll be glad to hear about this."

"Yeah, not to mention in the Alliance. There’ve been a lot of frayed nerves after the Aratoht incident." Kaidan said. "Mind you, peace won’t be achieved overnight. Some grudges go back generations."

"Oh, I agree." Etarn said enthusiastically. "That’s why I feel it best to make a start building bridges as soon as possible. The sooner we can begin to smooth over the feathers ruffled by our grandparents, the sooner we can see Batarians, humans, Turians and all of the Council races forging ahead, side-by-side."

Jarnad stood up and passed some datapads to Shepard and Kaidan.

"This is a list of our short-term and long-term goals for the Batarian Hegemony. We’ve also got a list of items that we wish to bring to the table in our negotiations; resources, reparations, mapping information, and the like." He said.

Gazing at the list, Shepard settled more comfortably into his chair, steeling himself for the tedious political process he was about to endure.

~o~0~o~


Some time later, Jarnad showed the squad out of Etarn’s office, steering them to another office where they could speak in private. Rubbing at his weary eyes, Shepard sat back on one of the chairs.

"Politics." He said with distaste. "I hate it."

"On the bright side, Etarn does seem eager to get us on his side." Kaidan said.

"I don’t have time for most politicians." Grunt grumbled. "But he wants to help his people. That’s something I can understand. The Batarians may not have to endure something like the Genophage, but they’ve still got their past weighing them down."

"I’m not sure." Shepard said cautiously. "It’s too good an opportunity to pass up, but I don’t really get the feeling that Etarn’s genuine. He came off a little as though he was trying to sell us something he didn’t believe in."

"You think the negotiations are just a ploy?" Kaidan asked. "What could they hope to achieve by pretending to make peace with humanity?"

"Or the Council?" Shepard added. "I don’t know. They might be telling the truth when they say they want peace with us. But there’s something they’re not telling us.

"We’ve got to make this work. If we can forge an alliance with the Hegemony, it’ll give us another resource we can call upon to fight the Reapers. The military force of an entire race is too valuable to pass up because we don’t fully trust them. We proceed with the negotiations as planned."

"Why didn’t you mention the Reapers to Etarn?"

"One thing at a time. Its going to be hard enough to just keep the Hegemony on speaking terms with the rest of the Galaxy. Demanding they commit their armed forces to fighting an enemy even the Council is reluctant to believe in would be a bit too much to start off with."

Kaidan opened his mouth to speak, but the words were drowned out by a colossal thump. The whole building shook as the window shattered, the glass fracturing from the blast of a nearby explosion. Cracks spread through the walls and ceiling, the building’s very skeleton struggling to hold together.

Shepard and his team were on their feet before the echoes of the blast had finished reverberating about, weapons drawn and pointing at the door and window. The Commander cautiously opened the door to the smoke-filled hallway beyond. He coughed as thick smoke threatened to fill his lungs. He fumbled at his belt, pulling away the helmet portion of his armour and slipping it over his head. He looked back to see Kaidan and Grunt following suit. The Revenant, with his cybernetic enhancements, had no need for a helmet or breathing apparatus.

The squad advanced into the hallway, omnitool torches creating beams of light through the roiling clouds of smoke. Shepard turned left, making his way towards the source of the explosion. They proceeded past burning offices and scenes of chaotic destruction, looking for survivors. Shepard paused as he noticed several bloody forms lying in a heap on the floor. He moved over and turned the first body over. A Batarian’s bloody visage stared sightlessly back at him, four eyes opened wide in a frozen expression of shock. The alien’s body had been torn open by a storm of flying debris, killing him instantly.

The next couple of bodies were in a similar state, all killed swiftly by the explosion. Shepard noted with a moment of surprise that one of the bodies had been female, the slight build and softer features, along with almost non-existent ridges on the skull, giving her gender away.

He was almost about to step away from the bloody corpses when the fourth one coughed violently, back quivering as he struggled to expand his lungs and draw in enough air. Shepard jolted at the sign of life and hurried to turn the Batarian over. He recognised the features of Jarnad, Etarn’s aide.

"We’ve got a live one here!" Shepard shouted over his shoulder. "Kaidan, help me move him."

The two men lifted away the other corpses to get at Jarnad, carefully carrying him to a clear space on the floor. Shepard administered a shot of medi-gel, at the same time using more of the substance to seal up a few vicious looking wounds created by shards of stone and glass dislodged by the explosion. After a few moments of treatment, the aide’s breathing stabilised and two of his eyes opened slowly. The upper pair remained closed, though whether this was a reaction to intense pain or if they were damaged, Shepard could not tell.

"Jarnad! Stay with us." Shepard urged. "Do you know what happened? Who did this?"

"Ugh. My ribs…" Jarnad curled around his chest, cradling a badly beaten portion of his torso. As he seemed to become more aware, he straightened, all four eyes opening. Shepard noted that the upper right one was stained a bloody red. The Batarian tried to stand. Shepard put a restraining hand on his shoulder.

"Take it easy! You’re beat up pretty bad. Where’s Etarn?" Shepard asked, already suspecting the answer.

"Still in the office. We’ve got to go find him." Jarnad responded earnestly.

"Kaidan, help him up. Slowly."

Limping, one arm thrown around the human’s shoulder, Jarnad showed Shepard the way to Etarn’s office. As they proceeded down the once-familiar hallway, now twisted by the violence of the attack, they approached the spot where the Batarian leader’s office had once been. The door had been split asunder from the blast, and the office beyond had almost been incinerated. Not one piece of furniture remained intact in the room.

In the centre of the devastation, the badly charred corpse of Etarn lay prone, facing pointing towards the ceiling. Gunshot wounds perforated his torso, tracing a bloody line across his ribcage. His face was a mutilated mess, the eyes slashed by a wickedly sharp blade. Jarnad gasped upon seeing the body, stumbling over to get a closer look. He grabbed a limp hand, solemnly placing it over the opposing pair of eye sockets. He then took the second hand and crossed it over the first, covering the far half of the face. In this way, Etarn’s four destroyed eyes were covered over. Shepard stood behind Jarnad, gut frozen at seeing the Batarian who had promised so much change for the better lying dead.

"I’m sorry, Jarnad." He said, meaning every word. "What happens to Sha’Belnak now?"

"We continue our work." Jarnad responded, a firm edge in his voice.

"But with Etarn’s death…"

"This wasn’t Etarn. He was a mere decoy." Jarnad stood and looked Shepard in the eye. "I am Etarn Kol’mehk."

It took a moment for the squad to recover from their surprise at the revelation. In that instant, Shepard saw in the Batarian before them what had been lacking in the decoy. Originally dismissed as an aide, the alien before him bore a fire in his eyes that spoke of someone with drive and ambition, a firebrand who could take the lead in reforming an entire people.

"I apologise for the deception, Shepard, but it was necessary in case something like this happened. This was the real Jarnad, the only advisor I really trusted. We agreed that, in order to keep our organisation’s ideals and purpose safe, we had to craft this lie to keep me safe. No one cares about a personal assistant, not enough to waste resources trying to kill him.

"I didn’t expect Gorm to try something like this during the negotiations. I certainly wouldn’t have expected him to go so far as to remove Jarnad’s eyes."

"Why is that significant?" Kaidan asked.

"Batarian burial rituals aren’t as complex as other species. We believe that the soul leaves the body through the eyes, so the location of the corpse is not important, so long as the eyes remain unharmed. Without a way out of the body, the soul will be trapped, damned to blind suffering for all eternity. Mutilating a corpse like this is unspeakable in our society, a grave insult to the victim."

"So why would Gorm go that extra distance?" Shepard queried.

"He must be planning to turn these negotiations to his advantage. The people will find it a lot easier to accept that aliens would do such a thing to a beloved Batarian leader rather than one of their own. He’s going to try to pin my murder on you, Shepard. He’ll use that to turn the Hegemony against other species, and regain the support I’ve worked so hard to steal from him. With the upheaval such a crime will create, he could rally the entire species under one banner, garnering more support than he’s ever had. He could become a very great threat."

"If he’s got so much riding on your demise, it’s probably not a good idea to stand around here then. Chances are good he’ll want to make sure that you’re dead, and then he’ll want to wipe out anyone who can deny his story. Namely us."

"You’re right. You’ll never make it back to the plaza, not alive. It’s a good bet Gorm’s got forces moving in on your shuttle as we speak. You won’t be leaving that way, but there is another route." Etarn hobbled over to stand near Shepard, activating his omnitool and showing the Commander a map of the building. "There are some garages in the first sub level. If we can get there, we can take one of the vehicles and plough our way through Gorm’s forces until we find a place to arrange for your shuttle to pick us up."

"Us?" Shepard asked curiously.

"Gorm won’t rest until I am dead. I have many allies that I can use to spread word of my survival and of Gorm’s plot, undermining his group. But I’ll be hunted fiercely if I remain here. I need to leave Batarian space for a while. I’ll only lead you to safety if you can give me passage off this planet."

"Deal. Do you need anything before we leave?"

"Only this." Etarn responded, bending down next to a pile of fragments that used to be the office’s desk. He hit a switch and a drawer unfolded, falling apart as the damaged mechanism opened it. The Batarian pulled a short submachine gun from the remnants of the desk, checking its chamber and clipping it to his hip.

"Okay. I’ll have the shuttle head back to the Normandy for now, and meet us when the coast is clear. In the mean time, we’d best not be caught standing still. Lead the way." Shepard said, sending a message to the shuttle to take off.

~o~0~o~


His pace getting stronger as the medi-gel took effect, Etarn led the way through the devastated offices, guiding the squad down a couple of sets of stairs, finally arriving once more at the foyer of the building. He was about to round a corner into the main part of the room, but stopped, throwing out a hand to stop the Commander from proceeding. Keeping as still as he could, the Batarian pointed out a group of moving shadows on the floor ahead, belonging to beings around the next corner. Their stances suggested combat readiness, and the outline of offensive weaponry was clearly visible.

Shepard hoisted his rifle to his shoulder, advancing slowly to look around the corner at the newcomers. Beyond, he saw a small knot of Batarians advancing slowly, checking every corner of the foyer. They finished their inspection of the room, turning to their leader.

"No sign of any survivors here, Sarge." One reported.

"Move on to the next floor, keeping up the search pattern. Grobatt didn’t find the aliens on his sweep of the upper floors, so chances are they’re on their way down, probably looking to get back to their shuttle. They can’t leave here alive."

The alien troops nodded in confirmation of their orders, and began to march over to the stairwell Shepard crouched in. the Commander backed up as fast as he could, signalling for his team to retreat up the stairs as fast as they could. On the floor above, they each found a place to hide, Grunt, the Revenant and Etarn each finding an empty office to shelter in while Kaidan and Shepard assumed positions on either side of the top of the stairs, out of sight of anyone emerging from them.

The enemy squad reached the top of the stairs and began moving cautiously along the hallways. Shepard pulled back into his hidey-hole as one of the four-eyed aliens walked past, barely daring to breathe as the Batarian’s gaze swept past him. The other Batarians took an office each, opening the doors slowly. The silence was powerfully painful as the Commander held his breath, waiting for them to be found.

The silence was shattered when one enemy inched an office door open, cautiously looking inside. An arm as wide around as the alien’s waist shot out, grabbing the terrified Batarian by the head. The Batarian screamed as he was pulled bodily into the office, his gun discharging as his fingers reflexively tightened on the trigger. There was a series of horrific crunching noises and the enemy, now bent horribly out of shape, tumbled back out of the office, followed by his rifle, snapped in half.

Across the hall another Batarian, distracted by his colleague’s demise, was hurled across the hallway by a fearsome biotic blast, the blue wave of power tearing the door in front of him from its hinges and pummelling his body into a jelly-like mass.

The rest of the aliens descended into a chaotic mob as Shepard and Kaidan opened fire, their weapons tearing a swathe of death through the enemy ranks. Shepard carefully feathered his trigger, downing enemy after enemy with carefully efficiency. Kaidan operated a slightly different strategy, using his biotics to hoist the Batarians into the air before letting loose with his weapon, almost keeping pace with the Commander.

The leader of the searching Batarians barked orders from the back of the group, keeping as many of his men as he could between himself and the Commander. He visibly blanched when Grunt and the Revenant charged into his team’s flanks, mowing down Batarians like wheat before a pair of gargantuan harvesters. He almost turned to bolt, but something held him in place. He noticed the familiar blue glow of a biotic field enveloping his limbs, rendering them as heavy as lead. His four eyes darted about, looking for the one holding him in place, but saw no one. Then a flicker shimmered through the air in front of him, and Etarn deactivated his tactical cloak. The two Batarians regarded each other for a moment before a blue glow surrounded Etarn’s fist and he punched his kinsman square between the eyes. The biotically enhanced punch floored the soldier, snapping his neck backwards in a killing strike.

Shepard downed the last of the weaker troops as this happened, nodding in approval at the politician’s combat skills.

"Impressive. For a penpusher." He commented.

"This is Khar’Shan, Shepard. It breeds a different kind of politician to the one you are used to. Our competitive nature makes combat training a necessity." Here he lifted a hand, blue swirling around it. "My extensive biotic training comes in handy as well."

"I’ll bet. How close are we getting to those garages anyway?"

"Not far. We’ll have to hurry, though. Once this group stops reporting in, the others will be alerted to our presence."

Etarn began to jog down the stairs, rushing through the main foyer and turning away from the main doors as he drew near. Through the doors, Shepard caught sight of several airships buzzing around in the plaza outside. Most of them bore the symbols of local law enforcement, but Shepard held no hope that they were here to help. No doubt Gorm would have stirred them into a frenzy, ready to attack the aliens on sight.

Their new Batarian ally led the way down a secluded set of stairs, out of the normal public view. Emergency lighting over head illuminated the utilitarian concrete passageway, clearly reserved for emergency evacuations. Etarn was leading them down the route less likely to be policed by their enemies.

They reached the lower end of the staircase and paused, scanning the garage at its base. It was a large hangar, with a variety of ground and air vehicles. On one side, a bank of small private shuttles waited patiently for their owners, while opposite them the hangar opened out onto a small cleared area of the city.

What immediately drew the Commander’s attention, however, was the dozen or so guards visible, patrolling the silent vehicles. Two of them had powered up one of the armoured vehicles housed here, turret twisting as it scanned the area for enemies.

Shepard gave the vehicles a cursory inspection, eyeing them up for speed and carrying capacity. He instantly dismissed the smaller skycars, aware that Grunt’s bulk alone would be too much for them. The more luxurious private yachts would have far too sophisticated a security system for any of his team mates to hack swiftly. He finally focused on an unassuming skycar, sitting close by and relatively ignored by the guards. The Commander turned at a disapproving cough from Grunt.

"You’re not thinking Krogan enough, Shepard." He said sternly, nodding his head.

Shepard turned to look in the direction of the nod and saw the other tank in the hangar. His better judgement screamed at him to go for a less high-profile vehicle, but then a little part of his mind spoke up, the tiny voice that had driven him to steal the first Normandy on his way to Ilos, that had motivated him to take on not one but two Thresher Maws on foot, and that had carried him through his impossible mission through Omega Four. And he listened to it.

"Etarn, as a government official, do you have any access codes we could use to get into that thing?" He asked.

"Not really, but buy me enough time and I can make a square peg fit a round hole, if you catch my drift. Just keep them off my back." The Batarian said.

"I hear you. I’ll stand guard over Etarn while he hacks that tank. The rest of you, keep ‘em busy until we’re ready to move." Shepard ordered.

Grunt grinned widely, moving into the hangar bay with a silence unexpected of a creature his size. The Revenant moved in the other direction, a blue biotic glow surrounding him as he layered protective barriers around himself. Kaidan drew his rifle, taking the middle route. All three used the cover of parked vehicles to approach the unsuspecting guards.

The hangar descended into chaos when Grunt made the first move. With a throaty battlecry, the Krogan flipped a skycar onto its back, shoving it into the pair of guards on the other side. One was immediately killed by the weight of the vehicle, while the other managed to scramble clear before it could crush him. All around the hangar, Batarians twitched at the noise, searching for their enemy. As they did so, the Revenant began his attack from the opposite side of the bay to Grunt. Two large crates of tools and parts lifted into the air, launching straight into the midst of the largest group of guards, a cloud of flying metal spilling from them as they traversed the room. Several guards were seriously injured by the flying debris, while two died from the attack, one screaming as a wrench on a lucky trajectory pierced his eye, and the other pulverised underneath one of the crates. Kaidan did his best to sow additional chaos among the guards, firing random bursts of bullets into the enemy or tripping off-guard Batarians with his biotics.

As the other three pressed their attack, Shepard patted Etarn on the shoulder, signalling that they should move. They scurried across the hangar floor towards the tank, bending close to the floor to stay out of sight. Approaching the access panel on the far side of the vehicle from the conflict, Etarn activated his omnitool, beginning his attack on the tank’s security systems.

Shepard stood back-to-back with the Batarian, keeping an eye out for any guards who might have noticed them. A pair of guards, seeking to flank the rest of the squad, rounded a skycar not too far away, noticing the pair after a second. Just as they looked set to raise the alarm, the Commander opened fire, killing one in the initial burst of fire and severely wounding the second one before he could stumble into cover. Knowing that the guard would summon help, Shepard fired off a concussive shot, aiming a little high so that the projectile soared over the Batarian’s cover, hitting the vehicle behind him and exploding with a ringing blast. The shock of the explosion threw the alien out of his hiding place, leaving him sprawled on the cold floor of the hangar. Shepard swiftly pulled the trigger twice, finishing him off.

On the other side of the tank, Grunt heaved a skycar onto its side, sliding it across the floor of that hangar as a makeshift shield between him and the Batarians. Occasionally he reached over the top of his mobile hiding place and let loose with his shotgun, carving a bloody path through the enemy. He made his way across the hangar towards the Revenant and Kaidan, who had taken up a position behind a luxurious private shuttle. The two of them scuttled from there to behind Grunt’s skycar, the trio moving as a unit to harry the guards from any angle. There was a shriek of metal as the Revenant twisted his wrist in a strange fashion and a brilliant black-white point of light appeared above the floor in the midst of the guards.

The Batarians yelped as the singularity tugged at them, threatening to drag them into crushing oblivion. Parts and tools, scattered by previous attacks, whipped up into the air in a deadly storm of flying metal, all getting sucked into the miniature black hole’s massive gravity well. The hulls of the nearest vehicles shivered and rippled as the incredible gravity strained at them, some hull plates beginning to peel away like the skin off a banana. One of the Batarian guards slipped on the smooth floor and, scrabbling for any purchase he could find, on the floor, on a heavy vehicle or even on one of his comrades, but was unable to get a grip. He screamed as he was pulled the last few feet, vanishing into a tiny point of light that was absorbed by the singularity’s lightless maw.

The Collector maintained the singularity for as long as he could, his entire body glowing blue and crackling with static charge as he funnelled a huge amount of power into its existence. With a final gasp he released the power, the singularity expanding suddenly in a circular blast that further threw the guards off balance. Kaidan and Grunt set about the messy work of finishing off the remainder of that large knot of guards, about half of whom had been disarmed by the Revenant’s attack, while the rest staggered about in a dazed stupor from the shocking turn of events.

Back at the tank, Shepard took care of the occasional Batarian guard who came charging into the bay, following their trail. All the while, Etarn’s omnitool beeped as it combated the vehicle’s security systems. The Commander began to grow impatient with the process, knowing it was only a matter of time before a larger force of enemies closed in on the hangar bay.

"This going to take much longer?" He asked as his rifle chattered a sharp rhythm, gunning down another unlucky guard.

"I’m almost there, just a couple more minutes." Etarn said, a strained tone running through his words.

"We might not have a couple more minutes!" Shepard barked, noting a large host of enemies beyond the doors to the hangar bay. Several squads of Batarians had gathered to storm the bay. Cursing, Shepard activated his commlink.

"Kaidan! Get over here now! We’ve got a large force headed our way, and Etarn needs some more time."

"Copy that, Shepard." The soldier replied.

In seconds the rest of the squad gathered around, forming a perimeter around the Batarian. Grunt laughed as he saw the enemy ranks pouring into the hangar, relishing the prospect of a good fight. On either side of the Krogan, Shepard and Kaidan loosed a rain of fire on the Batarians, their rifles singing in harmony with Grunt’s shotgun. Behind them, the Revenant crouched, holding his hands above his head as he lifted a large domed barrier around the squad, the flickering blue biotic field keeping most enemy attacks at bay.

There was a roar as a couple of enemy units tried to circle around, attacking from the squad’s flanks. Grunt spotted the charging Batarians and, activating the gift he had received from Liara, dashed out to meet one group. Chanting an Urdnot battlesong, he bulled into the aliens, his shield sparking red as he used it to swat two Batarians out of his way like they were nought more than a pair of ragdolls, laying into a third and fourth with his shotgun before reloading it one-handed. The fifth Batarian shrank back from the Krogan’s rage, fear evident in all four of his eyes. Grunt grinned fiendishly at him before thrusting his shield forward with a snort, hitting the guard in the forehead and buckling a good portion of his skull. The Batarian slumped to the ground, his brain pulverised by the impact.

Shepard and Kaidan, meanwhile, held off the second team of guards, closing in on their other flank. Using his adrenal booster, Shepard accounted for several enemies in quick succession. Kaidan, using his biotics, dealt with two of the Batarians, lifting one up and using him to bodily beat the second one.

Etarn was finally rewarded with an affirmative click from the tank’s door controls, and one of the doors hissed open. Clambering inside, the Batarian powered the vehicle up.

"Shepard! We’ve got our ticket out of here."

"Everyone inside, now!" Shepard barked over the sounds of enemy fire. Kaidan moved first, emptying his clip into the Batarian ranks before turning and jumping inside the vehicle with ease. Grunt moved next, forcing his huge bulk through the Batarian-sized entrance with a little difficulty. Still maintaining the barrier, the Revenant followed closely, his concentration wavering as he moved. The barrier flickered as its centre shifted with the alien, allowing a few stray bullets through. Shepard winced as his own kinetic barriers trembled, taking the brunt of the damage. Around him, the thick armoured hide of the tank rattled under repeated impacts, dents and scrapes becoming apparent on the recently pristine paintwork.

Seeing their quarry making a bolt for freedom, the Batarians pressed their attack, swiftly closing in on the armoured vehicle and Shepard. The Commander pulled back towards the open door, still firing at the approaching guards. He scrambled backwards over the threshold of the entrance and pulled the door shut, flinching as bullets peppered the metal around his hands. With a reassuring hiss, the vehicle’s door sealed itself, reducing the sounds of their pursuers to a far-away murmur.

Realising this was no time to relax, Shepard climbed into the driver’s seat, activating the controls. The controls, designed for Batarian hands, were remarkably easy for a human to work compared to most alien technology. Pretty soon he had the thrusters working at full power, and a holographic display of the tank’s immediate surroundings flickered up in front and to either side of him.

"Etarn, I need you up here with me for directions. Grunt, take the main turret. The rest of you, pack yourselves in tight and hold on."

"Are you sure you can handle this thing, Commander?" Kaidan asked nervously.

"No problem. It’s a lot like the Mako." Shepard responded confidently.

"That’s what I’m afraid of. I never got round to finishing my will, Commander."

"Very funny. But who else here is armour certified? Buckle up, things are going to get fun."

~o~0~o~


Outside, the Batarians approached the thrumming tank cautiously. Several kept their weapons trained on the hatch the squad had gone through, while others nervously eyes the gun turret atop the vehicle. The leader of one squad advanced carefully, but was brought up short by the tank’s kinetic barrier, a flickering red shield shimmering about the vehicle.

The guards jolted as the thrusters powered on with a sudden whine, lifting the monstrously large vehicle into the air. The turret spun around as the guards opened fire, their attacks being easily repulsed by the vehicle’s defences. The turret honed in on one Batarian who was trying to hastily assemble a grenade launcher, hoping the heavier weaponry might be more effective. The four-eyed alien vanished in a ball of fire as the tank’s main weapon coughed once, leaving no trace of him. The Batarians descended into a blind panic as the turret belched out round after round, leaving a trail of greasy black patches of soot on the hangar floor.

The tank swivelled around on its thrusters, racing towards the open hangar doors. Before any of the guards could make a move to stop it, the vehicle had powered out into the city, taking a sharp turn down a narrow street.

Shepard powered the tank through the dark streets, thankful for Khar’Shan’s nearly perpetual gloom to provide a measure of concealment for their escape. The holographic HUD took a little getting used to, completely replacing visual reference with the outside world. Buildings showed up on the HUD as cold blue shapes, lacking in detail on the outside, but some were filled with glowing orange shapes which, after some thought, the Commander concluded were bio readings.

Under Etarn’s guidance, he steered the tank through a labyrinthine series of streets, at once glad and annoyed because of the haphazard way the Batarians had built the settlement. On the one hand, it would make them much harder to find, but at the same time it made their navigation to safety that much more difficult.

As they were proceeding down a series of wider streets, the silence that had been their companion since losing the guards was shattered by a deafening explosion. The wall of a residential complex ahead of them disintegrated from the impact of a pair of luminescent rockets, clogging the street with rubble. Overhead, a gunship swerved into view, its weapons tracking Shepard’s vehicle. Another made an appearance behind the tank, covering their one remaining exit route. Their jet engines roared fiercely in the stillness of the Jok’Shira evening. As the first one opened fire, Shepard twisted the tank’s controls to the side, the lumbering vehicle responding sluggishly, but still dodging the rockets. The projectiles tore into the street where the tank had just been, carving a charred path through the street surface and throwing up a sharp hail of stone splinters which rebounded off the tank’s barriers.

"Etarn! We need a way out of here." Shepard said, his voice straining as he tugged on the controls, wrestling to keep out of the gunship’s line of fire.

"We’re close to the edge of the city now. Just a few more streets." The Batarian said, his voice jumping as an explosion rocked the tank. Shepard gritted his teeth, refusing to get so close to escape only to trip at the finish line.

"Grunt! Take out those gunships."

"Can’t do it, battlemaster. This thing can’t fire straight up."

The Commander cursed, brain working at a hundred miles a minute as he searched for a way out. He scanned the nearby buildings, looking for something he could use. Finally his eyes settled on an unassuming building to one side that glowed a dusky blue on his thermal scanners.

"Then hit that prefab on the right there." Shepard ordered after a moment’s thought.

The Krogan’s brow shifted in a momentary confusion, but he complied, the massive gun barking out a fiery projectile. The prefab crumbled under the attack, metal sheets and burning furniture spilling out into the street in a jumbled mess. The Commander gunned the controls of the tank even as the pile began to settle, aiming for a massive slab of steel that rested at a slant to the street. The tank hit the makeshift ramp with a bump, mounting the rubble with a wheeze of its thrusters and powering over the crest, side scraping the remains of the building they had just destroyed. Just above them, the gunship swerved violently to avoid Grunt’s fire as the tilting axis of the tank brought it into range for him.

A couple of loud retorts from the tank’s weapon, and the gunship vanished in a ball of flames, careening down into the street to explode in a violent inferno. As its fellow was swiftly despatched, the second gunship opened fire with its chainguns, chewing up the rubble behind the tank’s tail. Showing no regard for the residential buildings to either side, the Batarian craft began its pursuit of Shepard’s vehicle, weapons leaving a wake of destruction behind the two opponents.

Shepard traced a sinuous course through the dark streets, doing his best to shake their pursuer. At one point he even shifted into reverse, hoping the gunship would miss them as it flew overhead, unable to get close to ground level due to the encroaching buildings. But even with all of these attempts to shake the Batarians, the gunship remained firmly on their tail.

As Shepard brought the tank careening around a final corner, he saw a large cleared area ahead of them, a paved square for shuttles and public transportation to land in. Just past this, the city’s border waited tantalisingly, beyond which the black plains of Khar’Shan beckoned. Before the Commander could feel any sort of elation at seeing their way out so close, a group of jeeps and heavier armoured vehicles trundle out to form a line between the escaping tank and the Khar’Shan countryside. A veritable arsenal of weaponry threatened to pummel the tank’s defences should Shepard so much as inch out from the cover of the buildings.

"Go for it, Battlemaster!" Grunt urged. "We can break their defences."

"It’s risky," Shepard said cautiously. "But if we can get past them then we’ll be able to use the landscape to put some distance between us and Gorm’s forces."

"This is the nearest way out of the city." Etarn explained. "Taking another route will take a lot of time."

"Time we can’t afford. We need to get out of here." Grunt said urgently.

"And what about the gunship? That’s not far behind us." Kaidan protested.

"The longer we play cat-and-mouse with it inside the city, the more damage its going to cause. These are people’s homes." Shepard said firmly. "We’ll draw it away from the city and deal with it."

"The smaller vehicles will not be able to follow us once we get beyond the city limits." Etarn supplied. "The terrain’s too rough for them. The larger tanks will be a problem, but we should be able to lose them with some fancy driving."

"We’re doing this. Hang on."

The Commander revved the engine, building up the power to make his move. As the thrusters began to run hot, he set the tank rolling forwards, the lumbering vehicle picking up speed. The kinetic barriers shivered under a sudden, blistering assault as the Batarians opened fire, a few rounds piercing the wall of energy and pinging off the armour. Behind them, the gunship screamed over the rooftops of the buildings, loosing a barrage of bullets at their rear.

Shepard managed to get the tank about three quarters of the way across the square before alarms began to sound throughout the cockpit, red warning lights flashing in a distracting display.

"Shields are gone." Etarn reported, watching the vehicle’s readouts. "Other primary systems are still functional, though the backup capacitors are having trouble restarting the barriers."

"We’re not gonna make it!" Kaidan said.

"We’ll make it!" Grunt laughed. "This thing can take a bit more punishment!"

The line of Batarian vehicles rapidly drew closer, their turrets swivelling to track the tank on its headlong charge across the square. With the interior of the tank rattling under the chatter of enemy fire, Shepard poured more power into the vehicle’s propulsion systems, aiming for a narrow gap between two jeeps. The Batarians atop the jeeps’ weapons narrowed their eyes as they noted the tank wasn’t stopping, their bewildered expressions turning to ones of terror as the tank surged forward over the final few yards, crashing into the two smaller vehicles with tremendous power.

The two jeeps crumpled up like a pair of tin cans underneath a steamroller’s wheel, offering the tank little resistance as it blazed through the gap. Shepard winced as squeals of tortured metal filled the tank. Then, with a sudden jerk, the tank broke free, bounding across the uneven ground beyond. The Batarians maintained their attack, their bullets still springing off the thick armour. As Shepard manoeuvred the tank over a few small rises, a new warning sprang up on the tank’s HUD, this one even more insistent than the others. He looked to Etarn.

"What’s that?"

"One of the thrusters has taken damage." Etarn explained. While he was speaking, the other warning lights flickered out. "Oh, perfect timing. Shields are back."

Shepard worked the controls to dodge an incoming attack from the gunship, which still doggedly pursued them. As he completed the manoeuvre, the vehicle dipped suddenly, its controls sluggish.

"You’ll need to go easy on the starboard bow thruster. It could go at any minute." Etarn warned.

The Commander nodded sharply as he struggled with the controls, now missing one quarter of his vehicle’s power and agility. He spun the vehicle about to dodge a sharp rock protruding from the sooty plain, only just managing to force the tank to lumber in the direction he wanted. A cautioning beep drew his attention, the HUD pointing out the Batarian gunship approaching fast from directly ahead, its guns blazing as it performed a strafing run.

The kinetic barriers barely held together as the gunship’s brutal attack tore through the loose black soil all about the tank, piercing the defences in several spots and creating a new set of dents to match those received on their flight through Jok’Shira.

The armour of the tank continued to tremble as a cluster of Batarian tanks hove into view behind, struggling with the terrain almost as much as Shepard’s vehicle. They bombarded the rise the Commander was driving up, raising up vast plumes of ash, soot and soil. The attack only relented once Shepard managed to navigate the crest of the rise and proceed down the other side, putting the small hill between him and his foes.

"I can’t get the right angle to take out that gunship!" Grunt growled, spinning the turret around.

"We’ve got to deal with that thing if we’re gonna lose these other tanks." Kaidan said, struggling to hold on as the vehicle vaulted a large mound unevenly.

"Working on it!" Shepard retorted.

The Commander spun the tank to the side, causing it to veer wildly over yet another hill, briefly bringing it into the Batarians’ line of fire and being rewarded with another volley of enemy fire further straining the kinetic barriers. Ignoring this, Shepard gunned all four thrusters, angling towards a large black rock jutting out of the ridge of the hill. The tank hit the rock with a screech of tearing metal, twisting violently. The vehicle’s prow moved through the air in a wide arc, aiming up into the sky. At last the tank stabilised, its front aimed straight at the gunship, now returning for another attack.

"Grunt!" Shepard barked.

The Krogan complied with a series of shots from the tank’s turret, the flaming projectiles arrowing straight at the gunship. Two bounced off the Batarian vehicle’s shields before the third and fourth found their mark, gouging red-hot chunks of metal from the hull. The gunship swerved dramatically, dodging the remaining shots, though it seemed that most of the manoeuvre was thanks to the destabilising effect of the previous shots.

Recovering from the shock of the Krogan’s attack, the gunship resumed its advance, drawing closer and closer while keeping out of the tank’s crosshairs. Grunt let out a rumble of annoyance.

"I’ve got the gun over as far as I can, Battlemaster. He’s smart enough to stay where I can’t get at him."

"Shepard, he’ll tear us apart!" Etarn exclaimed.

"Shepard," Grunt said with sudden urgency. "back it up, I’ll get a shot off as we move."

"You sure you can react fast enough?" Shepard asked.

"I’m Krogan. Fighting’s what I am made for."

Shepard chose to put faith in his Krogan comrade, slamming the tank into reverse. The vehicle staggered off the rock, shifting Grunt’s view about wildly. Eyes glued to the targeting scope, the Krogan waited until the gunship darted through his crosshairs, flexing a thick finger instinctively to depress the trigger. He let out a growl of triumph as the projectile left the barrel of the tank at several times the speed of sound.

The bright round raced towards the gunship, closing the distance in less than a second. The shot hit the vehicle square in the cockpit window, shattering the transparent material and destroying the interior in a brilliant explosion. The burning hull remained aloft for a few more moments before it lost too much speed, plummeting to the ground. It ploughed a wide trench through the loose ash before coming to a halt, emitting a beacon of thick black smoke.

Shepard allowed himself a small grin of triumph as Grunt laughed out loud.

"Hah! These amateurs are no challenge. Let’s find a real challenge."

[fainmaca]

Chapter 15: Part 2



"We still have those tanks following us." Etarn reminded the Commander. "We should get away as fast as we can."

"Why?" Grunt asked, a frustrated tone in his voice. "We can take ‘em!"

"I very much doubt that." The Batarian shot back. "That last little stunt removed that damaged thruster completely. We’ll be lucky to move at half speed, let alone survive a drawn out fight."

"Kaidan. Now that there’s nothing in the air to threaten us, get Joker on the line. I want the shuttle down here, ASAP." Shepard ordered.

"Joker, get us out of here." Kaidan said over the commlink. "Transmitting you our co-ordinates now."

"No can do, Kaidan." Joker’s reply was instantaneous. "The shuttle took some fire getting out of the city. Ralston’s hurt pretty bad, and the Cub’s only just holding the atmosphere inside it. Barely made it back here in one piece. It won’t survive re-entry."

"Damnit!" Shepard yelled as another shot from the enemy tanks hit home, throwing the crippled vehicle off-course. "We can’t take much more of this, Joker. If you can’t send the shuttle, you’ll have to take the Normandy down."

"Shepard, the gravity on that planet’s one point six!" Joker protested. "She’s not built to fly through something like that, not even if there was a fully kitted out spaceport there. It could tear her apart!"

"We’re out of options, Joker!"

"Why not send down the Hammerhead?" Grunt asked.

"Number one, I wouldn’t trust that thing’s armour to hold up against this kind of firestorm. And two we’ve got too many people here for it. You’d need to send a pilot down, and there’s four plus myself for pickup. We’d need to do two trips, and we haven’t got the time for that

"As your commanding officer I am ordering you to bring that bird down here right now, or I swear to god I’ll haunt your sarcastic ass for the rest of your life!"

There was a moment of silence from the other side of the line before Joker responded, his voice mildly reproachful but cowed.

"On my way."

~o~0~o~


In orbit around the murky grey sphere of Khar’Shan, the Normandy suddenly accelerated, tracking a graceful curve. The engines flared as it traced a wide loop before surging down towards the planet’s surface, cutting a neat line as it entered the atmosphere. The prow glowed red, then white-hot as the friction of the ship’s movement through the ashen skies generated a tremendous amount of heat.

Inside, Joker narrowed his eyes as creaks and groans echoed about the ship, the metal fixtures trembling as the frigate endured tremendous strains. EDI’s holographic ‘face’ flickered, the iconic eyelike almond shape in its centre undulating faster than usual, a clear sign that the AI was experiencing concern, a side-effect of her sentience.

"Joker, descent from orbit at this speed in a gravity well of this magnitude is sure to result in significant structural damage. I recommend assuming a less aggressive rate of descent to minimise the damage."

"No time, EDI. We’re coming in hot, and Shepard can foot the repair bill."

"If we continue at these velocities there won’t be enough of the Normandy left to-"

"Don’t finish that sentence! I’ve got enough to focus on right now."

"…Acknowledged." The AI responded, the tiniest hint of offence in her simulated speech.

Joker gritted his teeth as the Normandy continued to shudder, struggling not to imagine the implications of the explanation that he had prevented EDI from voicing.

~o~0~o~


Shepard nearly lost his grip on the controls as another explosion hoisted the tank up precariously on its side. The vehicle slammed back down with a crunch, igniting yet another series of warning lights on the HUD. The Commander gunned the engine as they touched back down, powering the vehicle around yet another massive rock formation. The tank’s engines wheezed, threatening to choke from the vast clouds of dust and ash they kept drawing in as the vehicle, struggling to keep off the ground thanks to its missing thruster, left a deep groove in its wake.

"We’re barely making any progress this way, Shepard!" Grunt said, frustrated. "They’ll be on us long before the cripple gets here."

"We can’t stop now." Kaidan said. "If we turn and fight we’ll definitely be killed. This thing’s only good to keep us moving after the beating it’s endured already."

"We go on." Shepard ruled firmly. "Even if we have to get out and push, we’re gonna survive until the Normandy gets to us."

He pushed the throttles forwards, squeezing a couple more miles per hour out of the failing tank. Grunt swivelled the turret around to watch the rear, firing off a couple of shots at their pursuers as they approached around the rocks behind them, only a couple of hundred yards away. The Krogan’s ferocious rate of fire kept them at bay for now, but it couldn’t last. Eventually the tank’s ammo reserves would be exhausted and the Batarians would lose their caution.

As the tank surged over yet another ridge, it slammed down on a loose slope of black scree, sending a ripple of rocks cascading down ahead of them. The thrusters stuttered as they pushed against the moving mass, struggling to hold the tank up as the slope almost became fluid, pouring downwards. The tank, its downward force suddenly pushing against a surface that offered no resistance, scraped the slope, sliding along with the rockslide with alarming speed. Shepard swiftly reversed the thrusters, pushing to keep the tank from slipping into a free tumble. The tank slowed, maintaining control, though it continued to slide down the slope at a menacing pace.

Shepard flinched as the bottom of the slope came into view on the HUD. The entire display suddenly turned a blinding white as a swift-flowing river of lava rushed into view. The Commander momentarily lost control of the vehicle, instinctively lifting his hands to shield his eyes from the brutal luminous assault. The tank began to spin as it slid, the world displayed by the HUD whirling in a confusing blur. Straining to see against the brilliant glow, Shepard flicked off the thermal imaging, transforming the blinding display into a muted wall of light.

The tank hit the bank of the river with a thud, stopping just short of the molten rock. As the craft settled into the air just above the bank, Shepard released an anxious breath. Seeing the deadly hazard so close was a little unsettling.

The brief pause was torn apart as a volley of weapons fire echoed about the river, projectiles striking the bank about them, exploding with increased violence as they hit the river, and some hitting the tank’s beleaguered barriers. Back up the slope, four of the Batarian tanks that had been following them began their descent towards Shepard’s craft.

Grunt grinned as he saw the enemy approaching again, bringing the turret to bear with slow malice. He depressed the trigger, firing into the slope just below the enemy vehicles. As the slope began a renewed landslide, the Krogan jerked the controls, hitting the ground immediately underneath one of the tanks as it began to struggle on the shifting surface. The blast was enough to topple the struggling vehicle, flipping it onto its back. The Batarian craft hit the slope with a crash, dragged along with the shifting mass of stone and dirt. Shepard saw its thrusters attempting to right it, even as the tide of moving rock swept it into the lava. There was a pause as the vehicle’s kinetic barriers momentarily held back the molten rock before failing. Then it was pulled along with the current of liquid fire, its hull beginning to glow as it was relentlessly assaulted by the fearsome heat. The Commander felt a twinge of regret for the Batarian crew’s fate, knowing that with the tank upside down they would be unable to get out, and would be cooked inside their own vehicle as it melted around them. A nearby explosion snapped him away from the thoughts of charring flesh and dying screams, bringing him back to his own situation. He worked the controls, moving the tank away from the incoming fire. Grunt tried to pull the same trick on the remaining trio of tanks as they rode the landslide down to the bank, but the Batarians were wise to the tactic now and dodged his attacks.

"I’m going to take this thing up river." Shepard shouted over the chant of the guns. "Try to find some high ground where the Normandy can meet us. Grunt, see what you can do to keep them from following us."

The Krogan acknowledged the order, sighting down on the foremost of their pursuers. He pulled the trigger of his weapon, but was rewarded with a single clank, a slightly hollow sound. He tried the trigger again, but to no effect beyond that.

"That’s the last of our ammo." The Krogan shouted. "Looks like your flying is gonna have to get as good as your fighting, Shepard."

"Joker! Where are you?!" Kaidan yelled.

"I’m about four minutes out from your position. Going as fast as the ship will let me."

"You tell EDI to speed the hell up, and damn the risks!" Shepard shouted over his shoulder.

"It’s not EDI getting in the way, Commander. Its physics. I cannot make us move any faster than what we’re currently doing."

Shepard growled in annoyance, turning his focus from formulating a response to keeping the tank in one piece. Seeing the Commander’s mood darkening, Kaidan chose to answer for him, using a more diplomatic tone than Shepard was likely to.

"Do what you can, Joker. We’ll try to be waiting in one piece when you arrive."

~o~0~o~


"Roger that. Just hang in there." Joker said, his voice strained as turbulence rocked the ship. Khar’Shan’s atmosphere was a meteorological minefield, the heavy ash clouds presenting a challenge by themselves, creating massive patches of powerful air currents that tossed even a ship the size of the Normandy about. Menacing lightning storms raged in the heart of the darkest patches of the sky. The more distance the Normandy traversed, the more ash coated her frame, distorting her aerodynamics and clogging engine intakes.

The ship shuddered as it passed through another violent patch of turbulence. Joker struggled with the controls, working at a frantic pace to keep up with the changing conditions outside. He pushed the frigate through the turbulence, constantly adjusting the ship’s altitude as the different air densities it passed through lifted or lowered it.

He took a shaky breath as the Normandy passed into a clear stretch of sky. Above, the blue dome of the upper atmosphere glowed sapphire in the light of Khar’Shan’s sun. Below, the cloud cover swirled darkly. It looked to Joker like they had passed into the eye of a massive weather system, but rather than water in the clouds, only dry dust and soot abided.

The pilot had no time to relax, however, as the wall of grey clouds looming ahead of him crackled with pent-up energy. Knowing that flying through the heart of a lightning storm could be fatal to the Normandy’s systems, he rushed to pull the ship into a turn that would have been a strain even in the vacuum of space.

As the Normandy swung into the turn with a vehement ferocity, G forces tugged at every joint. Hull plates groaned as internal beams twisted. Joker almost jumped out of his seat as the cockpit window, covered over by the exterior combat screens, cracked down the centre, holding its shape even as a spider’s web of fractures spread through it. On the crew deck, Dr Archer looked up in alarm as part of the interior hull split, a large crack running up the Med Bay wall. Down in the Cargo bay, Jacob had to roll out of the way as a crate of supplies broke free from its restraints and tumbled through the bay, smashing against a wall and sending protein packs scattering across the bay floor.

Back in the cockpit, Joker winced as the G forces pulled at his weak bones, feeling a network of tiny fractures spread through his ribs as the brittle structure proved ill prepared for the gravitational assault.

"Ugh! Son of a ****! EDI! Damage!" He gasped as he worked to keep the ship aloft.

"Minor stress fractures throughout the internal structure of the ship. I am reading a loss of air pressure in the Port Observation Lounge from a slow leak in the window. No injuries, though a large portion of the crew are experiencing a degree of nausea."

"They’re not the only ones." Joker muttered. "Get everyone out of the Lounges and then close them up, exterior panels and interior doors. Vent them if you need to."

"Confirmed. We are fifteen miles from Shepard’s current location."

~o~0~o~


"Left, LEFT!" Grunt shouted, looking back at their pursuers through his targeting scope. The next instant his yelled directions were justified when a black boulder to the right disintegrated from the combined fire of the three tanks racing to catch up with the Commander’s craft. The damaged tank swayed as the blasts from the enemy fire hit it, its three functional thrusters barely enough to keep it afloat, much less on an even trajectory.

The Commander had travelled a fair way upstream with the tank, keeping the river of lava in sight as a point of reference. As they traced the river’s path back up a long, unevenly formed hill, their course had led them into rougher terrain, with plenty of large rock formations, shallow gullies and dips and rises in the landscape to seek refuge behind, no matter how brief. It was only by making the best possible use of this unpredictable terrain that Shepard was able to keep a reasonable lead on the Batarians, keeping them just at the very limit of their weapons’ range.

They crested another slope of the larger hill, reaching a plateau about halfway up the hillside. A smooth, flat stretch of ground reached out in front of them for the best part of a mile. Not much, but a space where the Commander could run the tank at full speed while his pursuers navigated the more hazardous terrain behind. A chance to disappear. He rammed the tank up to full power and blazed across the plateau.

The tank’s headlong progress was brought to an abrupt halt by a sudden crash. Directly ahead, the ground shivered as though under immense pressure and a jet of scalding water shot up into the sky, heaving up a small pile of dirt and rocks with it. The geyser caught the tank’s prow, lifting it up into the air. The tank balanced precariously on its aft section, thrusters groaning to keep it from flipping. With a sudden, booming silence, the geyser ceased, dropping the tank back down with a crunch. Shepard just stopped himself from hitting the controls in front of him as the inertia of the drop caught up with him, snapping his head forward painfully. Etarn let out a yelp as he was thrown forward from his seat, hitting the floor of the vehicle with a thud and a crack, clearly breaking something. Kaidan scuttled forward to help him back up, the Batarian now nursing his rib cage with one arm while the other hung limply by his side.

All around the tank, geysers spouted out of the ground at random, a nightmare to cross. Shepard found his progress harried by the unpredictable nature of the field, having to pull up short as another patch of the plain trembled before exploding upwards violently. He finally reached the other side, but any progress he had hoped to make in leaving the trio of tanks behind was eliminated by the delay. As they left the geysers behind, a renewed assault from their enemies, just reaching the top of the slope on the opposite side of the field. The three tanks took advantage of the lack of obstructions to unleash a full salvo of attacks at Shepard’s tank, pummelling the weak shields.

Shepard moved the craft away from the field, descending into the small hollow on his side of the plateau, a final dip before the long climb to the hill’s summit. To one side, the river glowed orange as it flowed swiftly downhill, the burning blood of the planet running swiftly. As Shepard left the field behind, he noticed the Batarians making cautious progress among the geysers. He sped up to try and scale the hillside before they caught up.

As the plateau hove into view again, Shepard’s craft moving higher up the hillside as it powered away, the Commander saw one of the pursuing tanks caught by an unexpected jet of steam, lifted up onto its side just like his craft had been. The vehicle’s thrusters thrashed at the air as the pilot struggled to balance it, fighting a losing battle as, with a groan, the tank toppled onto its back, catching one of its fellows across one side and sending it careening away. The fallen tank rocked on its back like a turtle in the sun, immobilised. One of its companions gave it an experimental nudge to try and right it, but the craft remained stuck on its back, gun turret wedging in the ground. Seeing that any attempts to right it would be futile, the other two tanks resumed their pursuit of Shepard’s vehicle.

The distraction had bought the Commander some time, allowing him to work up an even better lead on the aliens as he charged the tank headlong up the hillside. Shepard felt a subtle vibration run through the hull of the tank, a deep thrum that was audible over the rattling and wheezing of the dying engines. He searched the HUD for the source of the noise and saw a blip appear on the motion tracker. A huge shape powered through the sky above, moving at a reasonable fraction of the speed of light as it raced through Khar’Shan’s atmosphere. Turning tightly to orbit the summit of the hill, the Normandy beckoned to the beleaguered squad, its engines sounding out a loud bass chorus that promised to take them to safety. As the frigate slowed, its cargo bay door opened wide, a bright white light shining out from it to guide the Commander to it. It moved in to hover just above the peak of the hill.

Shepard dodged and wove his way up the uneven surface, still having to avoid incoming enemy fire. Behind him, the other two tanks intensified their attacks as they saw their quarry getting away, maintaining a near-constant barrage as they drew closer.

Shepard worked the controls recklessly, forcing more and more power out of the failing thrusters as he urged the craft upwards, towards the teasing escape route. As he drove, he became aware of a thick, deep rumble that overpowered even the noise of the Normandy’s engines, a powerful roar that could not be drowned out. His eyes narrowed as his anxiety intensified, realising the danger of their location.

"Ah, crap." He muttered.

"What’s wrong?" Kaidan asked as he bound Etarn’s arm.

"This thing isn’t done erupting. Hang tight, this is gonna get rough." The Commander said as he navigated a large pile of rocks.

Underneath the tank, the entire hillside trembled, a fine mist of dust lifting up into the air to obscure the ground. Boulders shivered as the reverberations passed through them, shifting uncertainly. With a roar, a large section of the hillside began slipping away, flowing downhill as the violent shaking released it. Shepard reacted swiftly, swinging the tank wide of the landslide and dodging the majority of the falling rocks, the kinetic barriers pinging from a multitude of little impacts.

Behind him, the two pursuing tanks were not so lucky. One managed to sidle out of the way with minor damage, its shields holding back the worst of the slide. The other tried to move out of the way of the slide, but one thruster proved unresponsive, damaged when the last tank had flipped over on the geyser field. The tank responded sluggishly, barely beginning to turn before the landslide hit it squarely on its prow. The tank vanished under the flowing mass of soil, swept away in the dark chaos. Moments later there was an explosion from the middle of the slide as apparently something important got damaged, blowing the vehicle apart as it tumbled downhill.

"Good news; there’s only one tank left." Shepard said. "The bad news is apparently the planet itself is turning against us."

"We’re almost there, Battlemaster." Grunt reassured. "Don’t fall at the finish."

The tank strained to push itself up the slope, the now very unsteady surface offering little in the way of purchase as it flowed and shifted, gathering the energy to erupt. The Normandy swayed as a powerful gust of wind whipped at her, Joker holding her as steady as he could in the violent atmosphere.

Shepard swung the tank from side to side, zig-zagging his way up the hill towards the waiting cargo bay and safety. Behind him, the final enemy tank kept up its assault, still giving chase even as the landscape disintegrated around it.

Shepard felt his heart soar as he reached the summit of the hill, tank slapping down on a more level surface. He gunned the engines for one final boost of power, urging the fading vehicle across the home stretch. The tank hit a tiny lip of rock on the edge of the summit, lifting it up into a not-so-graceful jump as it spanned the distance to the cargo ramp. It crunched down on the edge of the ramp, hanging there for a precarious second before the thrusters gave it enough impetus to heave itself fully onto the ship. Back on the hill, the last Batarian tank crested the summit at full speed, screeching to a halt as it saw that Shepard’s craft had made its escape. It fired off a last handful of defiant shots, easily deflected by the frigate’s powerful kinetic barriers, before giving up the chase.

~o~0~o~



"Commander Shepard and his squad are aboard, Jeff." EDI intoned emotionlessly.

"Good. Seal up the cargo bay, I’ll get us back into orbit." Joker said, handling the ship with a bit more care as he made the return trip to space. "Tell Shepard that- whoa!"

The pilot flinched as his console lit up with warning lights. The entire frigate shuddered as it was buffeted about by an explosion of tremendous force. Just below the Normandy’s prow, the entire hilltop vanished in a flash of orange. A massive plume of dust and ash surrounded the alliance frigate, the air heating up to dangerous levels as several thousand tonnes of molten rock ejected itself into the sky. The Normandy rocked about in the sudden maelstrom, Joker struggling to keep her from being thrown about and sustaining damage.

Outside, the Normandy’s kinetic barriers held back the most destructive forces that the eruption threw at her, but the armour still strained to cope with the immense heat, several large lumps of molten magma splashing onto the yellow sheen of the Silaris armour that coated the vessel. After a few seconds the armour began to soften, the heat distorting its shape.

Surrounded by warning lights and deafened by screaming alarms, Joker reacted instinctively to save the ship. He turned the engines up to full power, blasting the way out of the mushroom-shaped cloud of the eruption. In seconds the Normandy was climbing through the atmosphere, clawing her way up out of the planet’s gravity well. After a few intense minutes, the ship entered the cool blackness of space, leaving the Batarian homeworld behind.

~o~0~o~


Down in the Cargo bay, Shepard struggled to get the tank’s door open. As the Normandy had lifted away from the hillside, the cargo door had begun to slide closed, though not fast enough to block all of the chaos of the eruption. A tremendous blast of hot air and ash had infiltrated the bay, throwing supply crates back from the door and lifting the stolen tank off the deck. With a crunch, the vehicle landed on its back, its engines dying with a final gasp.

Shepard finally managed to force the tank’s hatch open and slithered out, followed by his team. They coughed as the Normandy’s air scrubbers struggled with the cloud of soot and ash that had forced itself inside the cargo bay, clouding vision and making the air feel thick and difficult to breathe in.

Grunt and the Revenant helped Etarn out of the tank, wary not to further injure his broken arm or damaged ribs. The Batarian looked about in a daze, taking in his newest surroundings. Shepard, exhausted by the ordeal, crouched, hands pushing down on his knees as he caught his breath. He looked at the Batarian with the hint of a smile on his face.

"Welcome aboard the Normandy, Etarn Kol’mehk."

[fainmaca]

Chapter 16: To The Frontier

 
The deck trembled underneath Shepard’s feet as he strode up the steps from the main section of his cabin, passing the fish tank with its vibrant occupants and his desk, nearly overflowing with unfinished mission reports, on his way to the bathroom. Inside, the air was already thick with a warm mist of hot water from the shower, switched on moments earlier by EDI as a part of the Commander’s morning rituals. He stopped for a second by his private terminal, opening the file Liara had provided on the dig site on Stynos. Shepard pulled the co-ordinates from the file and sent them down to the Normandy’s helm, trusting Joker to set them on a course while he prepared for the day ahead.

About ten minutes later, Shepard left the bathroom refreshed, running his hands through still-damp hair. He was brought up short of returning to the main part of his room, where he would don his clothes for the day, by a beep from his terminal. Shepard opened up his mail inbox, spotting another message from Liara. Curious, he opened the message without hesitation. After the now familiar security scan, the Asari’s words scrolled across the screen.

Shepard

I’m sorry to hear the negotiations on Khar’Shan didn’t go as planned. But, we should count ourselves likely that you got Etarn out of there alive. My contacts in the Hegemony have already informed me of some messages he has sent to his allies. They’re ripples that are swiftly becoming waves in Batarian society. Give it time, and this Gorm Jib’bat will soon find his position as ruler of the Hegemony threatened.

In the meantime, it would be best if you gave Etarn sanctuary until it is safe for him to return to the Hegemony. We need him if we’re to make peace with the Batarians, and I can’t imagine a safer place in the Galaxy for him to stay than the Normandy. Plus, from your report of the mission, I’m sure his combat skills will prove useful in days to come.

With regards to the request you made in your last message, I am sorry to disappoint you, but I cannot help the Revenant. Though you shared the Cipher with me back during our pursuit of Saren, I am afraid the information has faded from my mind. I checked with Shiala, the woman you met on Feros, and she has suffered the same loss. What the Thorian gifted to her, and through her to us, has long since disappeared from our minds. I have performed some research and, as far as I can tell, this is an inevitable consequence of the difference between our minds and those of the Protheans. It is simply impossible for an Asari, or a Human for that matter, to retain the information of the Cipher for an appreciable length of time. You still receive flashes of information, mostly relating to the beacon, but in time your memories will fade too. I imagine that your memories have lasted longer than ours in part due to your recent… absence. When Cerberus rebuilt you, the memories would have been restored just as they were when you died.

So I am afraid I cannot render assistance in this matter, unless you happen upon another being possessing the Cipher.

Travel safely, Commander

Liara.

P.S. Please find attached to this message some schematics for Etarn. Seeing as he’s going to be with you for a while, he’ll no doubt appreciate some familiar weaponry. I’ve done some digging, and have found the technical specs for a particularly powerful Batarian pistol and SMG.

Shepard opened the attachment, taking a moment to appraise the data Liara had sent. A whistle of awe escaped his lips as he noted the graceful form of the pistol, colloquially known in the Terminus Systems as the ‘Hornet’. Everything about it spoke of power and precision, and the figures backed this up. If the information was accurate, the pistol brought an ugly amount of power to the field, almost guaranteed to bring down all but the most powerful of shields. He then scanned the sub-machine gun data. Clearly the second weapon was less focused on precision, sacrificing accuracy in exchange for the ability to lay down an astonishing rate of fire. Forwarding the data down to Jacob in the armoury, Shepard closed down his terminal and finished getting dressed.

Wearing a neatly pressed suit, still adjusting the cuffs, the Commander stepped out of the elevator and onto the Command deck. He smiled as he looked at the tiny studs in the cuffs, little gold ovals with a tiny diamond set in each. The entire outfit had been a gift from Kasumi, though largely it had been bought as a part of the heist Shepard had helped her pull off. The Commander had worn the suit to go undercover amongst the associates of Donavan Hock, using the distraction of a party the wealthy gentleman was throwing to infiltrate his vault. After completing the heist, enduring a few complications along the way, Kasumi and Shepard had celebrated their success with a much-earned drink back on the Normandy. As a thank-you, the thief had gifted the Commander with the gold cufflinks, something she had ‘acquired’ in her travels. Shepard was sure he had seen an exact match for the pair sitting on Hock’s bedside table, but made no comment.

The moment he stepped out into the CIC, Shepard was greeted by Kelly’s usual smile as she stood at her post, ever ready to help in any way. In one hand she held a stack of datapads while in the other a steaming mug of coffee waited for the Commander. He accepted the rich-smelling beverage from his yeoman with a smile and some muttered gratitude before tasting the near-scalding black liquid. As he savoured the bitter, invigorating flavour, Kelly began to read off the business of the day to her Commander, going through the datapads in a methodical order.

"We’ve had a good few messages come through the Normandy’s main frequency today. Unsurprisingly, we’ve caught a good bit of flak thanks to our aerial acrobatics over Khar’Shan. Gorm’s faction in the Hegemony is baying for your blood, though his attempts to pin Etarn’s murder on you have fallen flat after Etarn put out some messages to his allies. We’ve got a few threatening calls from certain members of the Alliance brass, including a rather explicit message from one Ambassador Udina, generally threatening to have your stripes, your ship, your head. On a more unusual note, we received a short message from on Admiral Hackett. All it said was ‘Why do you hate me? I’ll take care of it.’ I’m not quite sure what to make of that."

"Don’t worry, I get the message." Shepard chuckled. "One of these days I should drop by Arcturus and pay him a visit."

"Noted. In other matters, Gabby and Ken want to power down the Drive Core for a couple of hours so they can secure some parts that rattled loose under the Eezo chamber. Gabby’s also requested that while this is happening a couple of engineers go EVA to check on some stress fractures EDI’s reporting in the hull."

"That’s gonna take a while." Shepard sighed. "At least four hours to boot up the core, plus however long it takes to make the repairs."

"Ken says that the repairs to the core can wait a while, but its something that’ll only get worse if ignored. I imagine Gabby would say the same about the hull. They’ve already put in a full night fixing what they can get at while the ship’s in motion."

"They’ll have time for that once we get to Stynos. We’ll have to spend a good bit of time on the surface, securing the artefacts and determining their worth. As good a time as any for routine maintenance."

"Are you sure, Commander? What if you run into trouble down there?"

"Its not like we’re going to be in the middle of enemy territory. If a pirate band shows up to steal the relics or anything else like that I’m sure my team can hold them off. Just power up the auxiliary drives and keep your distance until the threat has been dealt with."

"I’ll head down and tell them." Kelly said, powering down her datapads. "Oh, I introduced myself to our newest passenger. Etarn seems… different to most Batarians I’ve had a chance to talk to. For one, he’s not as belligerent towards humans as other Batarians are. But it’s something else, too. He carries an air of… I don’t really know how to describe it, inspiration? Enthusiasm? He is fully committed to his cause, he really wants to make peace with us. The Hegemony would be lucky to have him take charge."

"It’s a novel feeling to have a Batarian on board, but I feel inclined to trust him." Shepard said. "And any hand that can fire a gun is welcome here, so long as they’re aiming at the Reapers."

"Have you spoken to him about our mission?"

"Not yet. Back during the peace talks we were focusing on succeeding in opening lines of communication between our species. After that, we were too busy fighting for our lives. Not exactly ideal times to try and explain the truth about Sovereign, the Reapers, the Collectors, and everything else we’ve been through."

"It is a lot to swallow, even for a human. It’d probably be a good idea to talk it over with him. Even though he’s just on board until he can go back to the Hegemony, he’ll probably appreciate having all the facts if a Reaper drops on our heads."

"You’re right. I’ll make a point to speak with him today." Shepard acknowledged. "That’ll be all."

Kelly nodded, turning to head for the elevator and relay the Commander’s orders to the Normandy’s engineers. Shepard, meanwhile, progressed past the Galaxy Map, making his way up to Joker’s station above the prow of the ship. He found the pilot there, locked in an argument with EDI.

"You’re just jealous, you oversized tin can." Joker was saying. "There’s no one in this Galaxy, living or synthetic, that could have pulled off the moves that I did back there."

"My software is more than capable of replicating the manoeuvres you performed on Khar’Shan, Jeff." EDI’s flat monotone said emotionlessly.

"Yeah, replicating, maybe. But coming up with it, in the first place? Not a hope." Joker boasted.

"My bluebox is considerably sophisticated, I am more than capable of developing such flightpaths." The AI’s voice contained just a hint of annoyance.

"I’d like to see you try." The pilot challenged. "Okay, next time, you take the helm."

"You would be unable to leave the controls alone." The Commander could have sworn that there was a tone of amusement in her synthetic voice. He decided to interrupt the banter before Joker had the AI pulling off some death-defying stunts with the frigate.

"Good to see you’re both behaving in the mature manner expected of you." He said sarcastically. Joker swivelled in his seat to face the Commander.

"Shepard! EDI and were just… putting together our mission report for Khar’Shan." He stammered.

"So I can hear."

"I have submitted a list of necessary repairs to both yourself and engineers Daniels and Donnelly." EDI informed the Commander flatly.

"Yeah, I got that." Shepard responded. "There’ll be time enough for repairs while I’m down on Stynos."

"We should be there in about ten hours." Joker supplied helpfully. "Put the co-ords in myself." He watched as EDI’s interface flickered out before turning a conspiratorial eye to Shepard. "She’s just pissed that we got out of there with so little damage. She spent the whole trip down telling me how we’d be torn to shreds, and then I get us out of there with barely a scratch."

"You did good, Joker." Shepard congratulated. "That’s got to be what? The third volcano you’ve scooped me out of?"

"You do seem to be making a habit out of that." Joker chuckled. "And I still haven’t got my medal for any of those occasions."

"Probably lost in the mail."

"H-yeah!" The pilot laughed out loud before his face straightened. "On a more serious note, Commander, are you sure about the latest stray we picked up? A Batarian? I know I’m no fan, and I doubt most of the human crew is either."

"Etarn’s trustworthy, don’t worry." Shepard reassured him. "He could have ditched us at any point back there on Khar’Shan. Hiding one Batarian would have been a lot easier than getting the five of us off-planet."

"I guess he proved himself. Okay, Commander. I’ll trust the squint, for now."

"I’ll leave you to your work." Shepard said, turning to leave. He paused at the steps leading down to the helm. "Oh, Joker? No more baiting the ship. I don’t need EDI trying out for the Citadel gymnastics team."

"You’re no fun since you died." Joker shot back. Shepard smirked as he headed away from the prow of the ship.

~o~0~o~


The Commander strode through the door to the Tech Lab, looking about for Mordin. His eyebrow quirked curiously when he noted the Lab was empty. Against the far wall, a single terminal beeped insistently, running a diagnostic whose complexity was beyond Shepard’s understanding. Shepard also realised with a jolt that the massive experiment the Salarian had been tinkering with was nowhere to be seen, meaning it had either been scrapped, or was being tested elsewhere. Shepard didn’t fancy the implications of the latter, fearing for a hull breach or a ship-wide flu outbreak like last time. He made a note to track down the Salarian later.

Moving on, Shepard walked through the hallways until he entered the briefing room. The thick metal doors to the room opened to reveal Feron standing stock-still at the head of the table, facing away from the back of comms terminals. His eyes were open wide, bottle green irises flared in a terrified expression. Sharp breaths filled the room as the Drell muttered something almost silently.

"Feron?" Shepard called.

There was no response from the alien, even though he was staring straight at the Commander. Shepard took a few tentative steps around the table.

"Feron? What’s wrong?"

The Commander slowly inched his way towards his friend. Cautiously, he reached out to lay a hand on Feron’s shoulder.

The instant Shepard made contact, the Drell snapped into a blur of motion. A green hand shot up to grab Shepard’s arm by the wrist, the other arm snapping out to land an elbow to the Commander’s sternum. As Shepard staggered back, the Drell’s eyes refocused and he paused, one fist raised ready to continue the assault.

"Shepard?" He asked curiously. His eyes moved from the Commander, still a little short of breath, to his raised fist. He jumped upon realising what had happened and moved to help Shepard.

"What was that?" Shepard demanded, straightening and rubbing at his chest.

"Sometimes our perfect memories can be quite the handicap." The Drell explained. "It can be jarring to be snapped out of our recollection before we are ready. Especially the more intense memories."

"Well that must have been one hell of a nightmare you were having."

"I was back in that cell, in the custody of the last Shadow Broker. As I said; an intense memory."

"I’ll bet." Shepard commented, escorting the Drell to support himself on the briefing room table. "And to think, when I first heard about Drell memories I was jealous."

"Very few non-Drell appreciate the drawbacks of our eidetic memories." Feron explained. "So what did you need, Shepard?"

"Just wanting whatever info you can give me on our next stop."

"Ah, yes. Stynos, the green gem of the Plustar system. Discovered by an Exogeni expansionary expedition about three years ago. Only got cleared for prefab colonisation about four months ago. They’ve just began preliminary preparations for the construction of some more permanent structures, and it was during their excavations of the foundations for the colony’s main landing port that they discovered the subterranean remnants of a Prothean research facility. Since then, colony development has taken a back seat until the ruins are fully excavated. The Exogeni executive in charge of the settlement, a Roger Matthews, hopes to turn the relics into revenue that can be used to propel Stynos through the next few stages of expansion."

"Anything about what they found?"

"Rumours abound. Without actually going there, it’s hard to be sure what stories are true, and which ones to ignore. Liara’s got a team moving in to help secure the relics, but she wants you and your specialists to ascertain what we can use, and what’s just a pile of old junk. You’d probably be wise to take Mordin with you. While his expertise lies in biology, his analytical mind will most likely spot anything we’d miss."

"I’ll take the Revenant along, too. He may not recall much of it, but his people were the Protheans. Maybe taking a look around a Prothean settlement will trigger something in his mind."

"You really think that’ll work? Just show him something and the memories of his ancestors will come flooding back?"

"It’s worth a shot. Collector minds are built differently from any other species’. With the thoughts of his entire race running through his mind, random memories are bound to surface. Without the Cipher, our options are limited, and I’m inclined to make use of any opportunity that presents itself."

"Noted." Feron replied.

"So how do you think we’re doing, Feron? Opinions on our assignment?"

"We’ve made progress, that’s for sure. We’re making contact with organisations all across the Galaxy, some friendly, others not so much. And we’re gathering a powerful team. Given what you did with the dozen operatives you had going through Omega Four, I’m very interested to see what you do with the complement you’re gathering now. We’re not exactly ready to take the Reapers on single-handed, but it’s a very promising start to things."

"Thanks, Feron. I’ll catch up with you later."

Shepard exited the briefing room and took an immediate left, the door to the armoury hissing open before him. Jacob looked up from his workstation as the Commander entered. Before him sat yet another exotic looking weapon, its internal workings spread across the table as he used some delicate-looking tools, an unusual sight when combined with his large hands, to fuse some intricate components together.

"Commander." He acknowledged, lifting a hand, still holding the tool, in a half-salute.

"Jacob. How’s it going."

"Ehh, same as usual. Just working on a new toy for you to take out into the field. Mordin actually helped me to develop this. He’s been racing about the entire ship, making all sorts of things that explode. Its like he’s making up for lost time. He’s been out of his lab for three months, and he’s gotta catch up."

"So long as whatever he’s doing doesn’t result in me losing my eyebrows, he’s welcome to do so."

"I don’t think they’ve got that bad yet. Though if I see the gecko making for the escape pods, a Mass Relay won’t get me off the ship faster."

"Hah! Too true." Shepard laughed. "Though I think you’ll find that Feron’s a bit closer to a gecko than Mordin."

"Yeah. Salarians are more like… I dunno, really." Jacob pondered.

"Frogs, maybe?" Shepard asked.

"Let’s go with that. Watch what he does around the Revenant. If he tries to eat the bug, then we’ll know."

The pair chuckled as Jacob focused on sealing a segment of the weapon before him, assembling what looked like a barrel, though the flared muzzle of the device resembled no weapon Shepard had ever seen.

"So what does this thing do?" The Commander asked.

"I got the idea on seeing Mordin do something interesting with his omnitool back on Tuchanka, when we were mopping up the last of those Krogan. He used his ‘tool to generate some sort of sonic pulse and knock the lizards on their asses. I had a chat with him about it, and between the two of us we’ve figured out how to boost the pulse by putting it into a handheld weapon. The Ultra-High Frequency sonic pulses this thing generates can stun all enemies in a three-metre radius of your target. As long as you’ve got your finger on the trigger, the targets will be immobilised. The downside; it makes its way through power cells like a Krogan goes through a barrel of ryncol."

"Sounds useful. When’ll it be ready for the field?"

"Hopefully by the time we get to Stynos. Not that I’m expecting any trouble out there."

"Come on, Jacob. You should know by now to expect trouble wherever we go."

"I like to be optimistic." Jacob said casually. "Consider where Stynos is, Commander. On the far side of Human space from the Batarians, the Terminus, even the Krogan. The only neighbours they’ve got to deal with are other human colonies or empty worlds. At most, we’ll see a pirate ship come calling."

"You do realise that now you’ve voiced your lack of concern, we’re practically doomed to encounter an army of enemies, or something two hundred feet tall and pissed off as all hell." Shepard quipped sarcastically.

"That is not how the world works, Commander." Jacob replied. "We’ll be fine."

"We’ll see." Shepard said, moving over to stand next to Jacob, leaning his elbows on the edge of the table so that he could look down on the weapon. "So what are your thoughts on the crew, so far?"

"We’re getting a good crew together. Making good progress on finding the old squad, and some… interesting new additions. That Revenant creeped the hell out of me the first two missions we took him on, but he’s proved solid under fire. Kaidan’s one of your oldest friends, and a hero of the Battle of the Citadel to boot, so I’m not gonna have a beef with him. Feron, well, there’s nothing really to say about him. He endured two years of torture just to make sure your corpse didn’t end up in the hands of the Reapers."

All the while Jacob was talking, he continued to work at the sonic rifle. However, before he continued, he lowered the tools, turning to speak to the Commander frankly.

"The one recruit I’m not sure about is our latest one. The Batarian."

"You’ve got concerns about Etarn?"

"I’ve got concerns about letting any Batarian on our ship. They can’t be trusted, Commander."

"We once said the same thing about Collectors, but then the Revenant came along. We said the same about the Geth before we met Legion. Hell, I said the same thing about Krogan and Turians until I met Wrex and Garrus."

"That’s different. The Collectors and the Geth were being controlled by the Reapers, they never chose to attack us. The Krogan and the Turians have just had a rocky past. Squints have always hated humans, and made no effort to make up for the fact. I’ve had lots of experience with Batarians, Commander. When I stopped Jath’Amon from killing the Council, I saw what they really are."

"You’re forgetting something, Jacob. I’ve got experience in fighting against them too. Terra Nova, three years ago. If I hadn’t got in Balak’s way, there’d be nothing left of those colonists but ashes and some crappy little plaque to commemorate their death. Some of the filthiest, slimiest, most untrustworthy scum I’ve ever come across have been Batarians. But I’m ready to trust this one.

"The only squints we’ve ever faced in the field have been outlaws and mercs. Etarn isn’t one of that crowd. He’s a leader to his people, and he’s trying to make them something more than what the rest of the Galaxy sees at the moment. I think he deserves the benefit of the doubt. If you don’t like it, that’s fine. I respect your opinion, Jacob. You’re a trusted colleague and a friend. But I’m asking you to trust Etarn for now. Speak to him and see if what you think about the Batarian people is justified. You might be surprised. I was when I let Urdnot Wrex on board the last Normandy."

"I guess you’ve got a point, Commander." Jacob conceded. "Damn its annoying when you get all reasonable like that! I’ll tolerate the squint for now. I’d better get back to work if I ever want to finish the UHF rifle. I’ll see you around, Shepard."

~o~0~o~

Shepard entered the Mess Hall shortly afterwards, scooping a tray of food off Rupert’s workstation. From the looks of things the day’s special was some savoury pie with fries and vegetables. Shepard shrugged and took the meal, turning to sit at one of the tables. He caught Rupert’s eye as he passed the grizzly old crewman. Rupert straightened and saluted.

"Commander."

"Afternoon, Rupert. How’s things?"

"Doin’ pretty good. Aside from that damned Krogan. Ever since you brought young mister Grunt back aboard the plumbing’s been backed up like you wouldn’t believe."

Shepard paused at that comment, looking down at his tray hesitantly. Rupert caught the look and chuckled good-naturedly.

"Don’t worry, I remembered to wash my hands this time!" He laughed. "But back to what you were asking. The crew’s getting on fine for now. There have been a few murmurs after you brought some of your new recruits aboard, but everyone trusts your judgement. If you say that the squint is okay, or that you trust that bug thing, I’m satisfied, and so is everyone else."

"Good to know." Shepard said, picking some eating utensils out of a drawer beside the sergeant.

"And we’re feeling pretty confident about the mission. You’ve been kicking ass in the field and we’re getting the old bird back to the way she was before those damned terrorists took her away."

"I’m lucky to have a crew like this, Rupert." Shepard said, smiling warmly as he looked out on the Mess. Crewman Rolston sat opposite Hadley, the pair chatting about something or other, oblivious to the proud gaze of their superior.

"Shepard," The Commander turned at the inquisitive tone in the sergeant’s voice. "I don’t suppose you heard anything about where the Doctor got sent to?"

"The Doctor? You mean Mordin?"

"Hell no! I’m talking about Chakwas. As pretty a lass as I’ve ever set eyes on. We used to get on quite well. I remember she had this little swing to her-"

"I get the image." Shepard interrupted before Rupert could finish that line of thought. "I’ve not heard anything yet, but we’ll find her. Chakwas was a part of my crew on the original Normandy, just like Joker and Kaidan. Liara knew her well, so she’ll definitely keep an ear to the ground to look for her."

"Good." Rupert’s tone bore a hint of relief, though Shepard now had a better understanding of his concern. Smiling, the Commander sat down to eat his meal.

He was about halfway through the delicious plateful when Samara came walking through the Mess, moving amongst the rest of the crew awkwardly. Cautiously, she picked up a tray of food and was making her way out of the Mess when Shepard managed to catch her eye. The Commander waved her over.

"Samara! Come and sit down."

"Commander." Samara said stiffly as she sat down opposite Shepard. "I was about to take my meal through to the Observation Lounge, but I suppose eating in company would be good for me."

"Relax, Samara. It’s the Crew Mess, not a back alley on Omega. There’s no need to keep your guard up."

"It is not so simple for me. Even in the company of my fellow Justicars, meals were always taken in seclusion. I lead- led, rather, a very solitary life."

"It gives you a chance to get to know the rest of us, and let us know a bit about yourself."

"There is very little I have not told you about my past, Commander."

"I actually had something I wanted to ask you about, if that’s okay. A question about the Justicars."

"I will endeavour to answer what I can." Samara said as she dug into her meal.

"Back on Thessia, I heard Deseltia mention ‘the Fallen Twelve’. I was curious as to who, or what, they were."

Samara waited until she had finished her mouthful before speaking, savouring every last drop of the meal.

"The story of the Fallen Twelve was something that all initiates of the Order learned about when they began their training to take the Oaths. A legend that has its origins back in the time before the Asari discovered space flight, before we even discovered the means to generate electricity, about ten thousand years ago. The equivalent of humanity’s ‘Dark Ages’. Back then, the Asari had only just succeeded in spreading to all four continents on Thessia. There were only a few permanent settlements like Serrice and Armali. The governments that would eventually amalgamate into the Republics were just in their infancy back then, a series of city-states and tribal councils ruled by our matriarchs.

"It was during these years that the Order of the Justicars was formed. The founding matriarchs penned the primary oaths and sutras and our first enclaves were built. In those days our sole task was to hunt down and capture any Ardat-Yakshi who surfaced. Thanks to our prodigious biotic talents and the monstrous nature of our enemies, we accrued the reputations of gods. We were feared and venerated in every corner of Asari society."

As the exiled Justicar spoke, crewmen gathered around, moving subtly closer to listen to the tale. Even Rupert, usually so attentive to his station, had moved over to lean against the window to listen in.

"A certain matriarch from Armali gathered a considerable force about herself, expanding the territory of her city across the majority of the northern continent. She led her armies from the frontline, carving a swathe of death and destruction across the face of Thessia. No one could withstand the Warlady’s wrath.

"During these times the Justicars’ sole mission was to reign in the Ardat-Yakshi, nothing more. It was ruled that they could not get involved in the war, as that would have shown partiality towards one government over another. The founding matriarchs forbade the sisters from becoming involved.

"But there were some who disagreed with this ruling. A young maiden spoke out against the matriarchs and gathered a small band of eleven other Justicars. They chose to disobey their superiors and joined the war against the Warlady of Serrice. With their talents, the tide of the conflict was soon turned. Once the war was over, the renegade Justicars returned to their sisters.

"The Order realised they were wrong to remain separate from the affairs of Asari society, but realised that they could not submit themselves to any government, as leaders could be corrupted, and through them, the Order. Therefore, the Order was renewed. Our sutras were expanded to include the five thousand in place today. Instead of serving a mortal ruler, we chose to submit ourselves to the rule of justice. The Justicars as known today came into being."

"What happened to the twelve who started it all?" Shepard asked.

"The Justicars realised that the young maiden and her followers had been in the right, but their actions still violated the rules of the Order. Even the new sutras could not protect them. In order to adhere to their standards of justice, the Order was forced to punish the Twelve.

"Of course, their role in protecting the freedom of the Asari could not be ignored. Their actions would have merited execution under the new standards of the Order, but this was no way to treat heroes of the people. Once again, it was the young maiden who resolved the situation. She volunteered to undergo voluntary exile, along with her associates. In this way, the Twelve suffered punishment for violating the wishes of the matriarchs, but not unreasonably so."

"I’d call a lifetime of exile pretty unreasonable." Shepard said hotly.

"By human standards. Asari live long lives, Shepard. Being allowed to live out those lives can be considered a gift, much better than having them cut short by execution. And the Twelve were free, Commander. They had to live away from the main centres of Asari society, but they could roam a multitude of places across Thessia. It was all the Order could give them while maintaining the principles the Twelve had fought so hard to establish.

"Thus, the three marks were established, and the first and, until now, only Rite of Exile was carried out. The Twelve were never seen again, fading into legend."

"The same three marks you carry?"

"Yes. The scarring of the head tentacles, the brand upon the nape of the neck and the third mark, which I bear upon my spine. Any one of these identifies me as unwelcome in Asari society. All three marks me as one who has undergone the Rite, and therefore if I am seen in Asari space the Justicars must be informed and I will be hunted down. I am worse than an unrepentant Ardat-Yakshi, in their eyes."

"That’s garbage. They got taken down because of… of politics!" Shepard spat the word. "They should have gotten medals."

"They did, right before they underwent the Rite. You forget, Shepard, that they volunteered for this. It was the only way they could see to move forward while keeping the standards and principles of the Order intact."

"That’s quite the sacrifice to make."

"Indeed. But their story lives on even today, many millennia later."

Shepard scraped the final remnants of his meal off the plate before him, standing as he collected the used utensils for cleaning. He nodded gratefully to Samara as she finished off her meal.

"Thanks for sharing that, Samara."

"I am happy to do so, Shepard. I enjoy speaking of the old legends. They are part of what motivated me to continue my hunt for Morinth."

Shepard returned his tray to Rupert’s station. As he walked by the Asari, her food almost finished, he noted that a couple of crew members approaching her, clearly interested to hear more tales. Before he left, he paused by her table to ask one final question.

"By the way, what was the name of that Asari who led the Twelve? You never mentioned it."

Samara paused, still chewing. She swallowed and answered a little quietly, clearly a bit embarrassed by her answer.

"Her name… was Samara. My namesake."

"You do the name proud, Samara."

"You are too kind, Shepard." The Asari smiled.

The Commander left her in the midst of a small knot of crew, eager to speak with her about her people. In turn, she was asking them about human culture. Shepard was glad to see her overcoming her hesitance to associate with others, becoming closer to those she must work with.

~o~0~o~


Shepard’s next stop was on the engineering deck. As he entered the corridor running between the two auxiliary Cargo Holds and Main Engineering, he saw Kaidan standing at the window overlooking the Main Cargo Bay. The former Alliance soldier was looking out over the busy Cargo bay. Beyond, Shepard saw the makeshift sparring ring Garrus had constructed. The Turian was in the ring, wrestling with one of the human crewmembers. Beyond the ring, Shepard caught sight of a few wild sparks coming from behind a flimsy looking metal partition, hiding one corner of the Bay.

As the two humans watched, Garrus engaged in a vicious bout of boxing with his opponent, the pair landing painful blows on each other. The human stepped back, then lunged forwards in a sudden lunge, hitting the Turian in the gut with his shoulder. The pair tumbled to the floor, Garrus’ mandibles clacking furiously as he fought. Padded combat gloves whistled through the air, a necessary precaution for the Turian due to his wickedly sharp claws.

With sudden shocking speed, Garrus’ hands thudded into the crewman’s side, just over the human’s kidneys. As the Turian’s opponent writhed in pain, Garrus rolled to get him in a lock, pinning the human to the ground in a complex move only made possible by the Turian’s unique physical structure. Shepard couldn’t be sure, but he thought he could see the alien’s ankles pointing in impossible directions. The only way that a human could have replicated the move was by breaking his legs in several places.

"Looks like yet another win for Garrus." Kaidan murmured. "That’s got to be about two dozen, now."

"If it’s only two dozen, then he’s been slacking. Omega’s Archangel doesn’t eat or sleep until he’s taken down at least thirty opponents. Or so they say in the slums below Afterlife."

"Ha! I still can’t get my head around Garrus being a vigilante in the roughest patch of real estate in the Galaxy. Guess things have changed since Saren and Sovereign, huh?"

"More than I like." Shepard admitted. "Things were a lot simpler back when it was just a rogue Spectre we were hunting."

"When you’re wishing it was ‘just’ a Spectre you were up against, that shows exactly how screwy things have got."

"I hear that. Though, after the enemies we’ve faced, I’d probably just end up being bored if it was only a Spectre we were chasing."

"True." Kaidan laughed. "Two of the Council’s best Spectres, two Reapers, the Collectors, the Shadow Broker… The list keeps getting longer and longer."

"We’ve met our fair share of powerful individuals in our time. I just wish a few more of them would be willing to help us rather than hinder our cause."

"Yeah. Things were a lot easier when I was working directly under Anderson."

"This after the first Normandy was destroyed?"

"Yes. After Alchera, I got called back to Earth. They debriefed me again about the mission to take down Saren. Now that you were out of the picture, they wanted to twist the facts to make it look like your claims that the Reapers were on their way was nonsense. They tried to make me say something that could be accepted as evidence that you had been influenced by Saren’s lies or that the stress of the mission was getting to you. Hell, they even tried to blame it on Ashley’s death! Said that maybe it was your feelings of loss and emotional attachment to her that impaired your judgement." The soldier grew angry at that. "I mean, she gave her life to stop the Reapers. She died a hero, and now they’re trying to twist that sacrifice into something worthless. It made me sick!

"Anyway, after I let them know exactly what I thought of their insinuations, the Brass gave me a royal dressing down and I was relegated to an office job on Luna. After about six months, I’d have gladly traded places with you on a Cerberus operating table. Fortunately, Anderson came to my rescue. He pulled some strings and boom! I was out in the field again, as a part of the Alliance Military Intelligence service. Not quite as eventful as my time working with humanity’s first Spectre, but my work with AMI was fulfilling, and a damn sight better than suicide by stapler."

"Any highlights of your time with AMI?" Shepard asked.

"Usually I was spying on pirates, or gathering info on potential slavery raids. Most of my work was to ensure the safety of human colonies, both Alliance and otherwise. That’s why I was the one sent out to investigate Horizon. Seeing as there was someone definitely targeting human colonies, Anderson wanted to know who. Of course, those rumours that your Illusive Man circulated about Cerberus’ involvement, and your work for them, made sure that I was the one Anderson picked for the job.

"There was one mission I was particularly proud to have been a part of. A Blood Pack band was making plans to attack one of our sealed atmo colonies. They were going to pierce the colony’s shell and expose the colonists to an atmosphere that would have killed them all in a matter of seconds. I had to find out their schedule, intercept the shipment of explosives that would have opened up that colony bubble like a water balloon, and make sure the local security forces swept up every last one of the mercs involved.

"The info gathering went pretty smoothly, and it took next to no effort to find out the names, dates and places I needed to be. Pretty soon all the mercs in the colony had been rounded up, and we just needed to take down the ship with the explosives. That was my baby. As it was still interstellar at the time we dealt with their local contacts, the ship didn’t come under the colony’s jurisdiction. So I managed to get an Alliance frigate to lie in wait over the local Mass Relay. When the ship came through, we engaged. We had the element of surprise, and dealt with their defences no problem. We boarded, and then things hit the fan."

"Blood Pack don’t go down easy." Shepard commented. "I’m surprised they even let you set foot on board without blowing the ship to hell."

"They did, eventually. We’d got almost to the bridge when the captain of the ship thought to activate the self-destruct. We heard the alarms, and started running for the docking arm back to our own ship. Almost there, and there’s a squad of Krogan we missed on our first sweep, waiting for us."

"How the hell do you miss a squad of Krogan?"

"We were making our way to the bridge, the engines, the main control centres. They were in other parts of the ship, and managed to regroup in the areas we left behind us. They were caught off-guard and were ill prepared, but still dangerous. We had the numbers and the firepower, but they had the brute strength. Barely got out of there in time. Even had to leave the docking arm behind in our rush to get out of there. No time to disengage the clamps, so we blew the explosive bolts holding it over our airlock and ran for it. Few more seconds, and we’d have been toast, but it was a hell of a rush. With stuff disintegrating around us, and certain death right on our tails, it kinda reminded me of fighting alongside you, back on Therum."

"It’s a part of the old Normandy spirit to cut things close to the line. You’re not having fun unless your ass is about to be set on fire."

"True, that." Kaidan chuckled. "Though it’s usually us setting things off, not the bad guys."

"Like Wrex said, an explosion every now and then is good for you."

"Yeah." Kaidan straightened up. "Hey, thanks for the chat, Commander. I’d better get back to my duties. Won’t be long until we arrive at Stynos."

"Okay. I’ve got to have a word with our resident engineers."

Kaidan nodded, heading for the elevator. Shepard waited at the window for a moment later, watching the Cargo Bay. Down in the sparring ring, Garrus was unsurprisingly sizing up yet another opponent. Though the Turian was nursing a tender rib and had a slight limp in his left foot, he kept going, obviously raring for another fight. Shepard turned his attention from that to the mysterious construction on the far wall of the Bay. A flash of light made him flinch, and he saw Mordin frantically backing out from behind the makeshift metal wall, feverishly wielding a fire extinguisher. Shepard smiled at the Salarian’s antics, moving away towards Main Engineering.

Inside the Normandy’s heart, he found Ken and Gabby buzzing about. Gabby was hurriedly reading off a string of numbers while Ken checked a multitude of parts and instruments. A small pile of metal occupied the centre of the room, occasionally having parts added or removed by the two engineers. On the Commander’s entry, Gabby saluted and paused in her duties.

"Commander. Need something?" She asked. On her words, Ken looked up from his task and straightened, walking over while he wiped an oil smear off his palm.

"I’m actually down to speak to you about those repairs you need to do."

"Oh, yeah. Kelly came down to tell us you want them done when we’re in orbit around the next objective. That should be fine. Give us five or six hours, and we’ll have the Normandy back up to full capacity." Gabby explained. "That’s including EVA suit-up time and a cold start for the Core."

"What exactly is the extent of the repairs needed?"

"I figured you’d be down for more info." Ken said. "There’s a small fracture in the Core’s supports. I guess it might have been damage from the fire that was flying around in here when Illusive had us captured, worsened by the strain running through the whole ship back on Khar’Shan. No immediate threat, but if we don’t deal with it the entire Tantalus Drive Core could tear loose, and if it does so with enough force it could punch a hole in the hull about as big as the shuttle. Aside from the risk to the crew, we’d lose all capabilities of moving aside from minimal thruster capacity, most of our power, and God knows what in secondary systems. I can’t predict which way the drive would fly out of here, so there’s no knowing what else it’d tear out."

"Sounds pretty serious. A lot more than your messages suggested."

"It’s only in a very preliminary stage at the moment. A crack this small, it’s going to take time and considerable strain to make it a threat to the ship’s integrity. We could probably leave it for a couple of months and nothing would happen, but I don’t want to make the repair job any bigger than it already is. Plus, we don’t know what’s round the next corner. Better safe than sorry, right?"

"Especially when it could leave us paralysed in the path of a Reaper." Shepard agreed. "Okay. You’ve got permission to power down the Core while I’m on Stynos. I’d like you to have everything back online by the time I get back."

"No problem, Commander." Ken promised. Shepard saluted before turning to leave.

As the Commander walked back towards the main corridor of the engineering deck, he paused at the top of the stairs to the sub-deck, between the doors of Main Engineering and the doors to the corridor proper. He looked down the staircase, into the dim red light of the sub-deck. For a moment, Shepard felt drawn to the stairs, wanting to go down and speak with Jack. He hadn’t spoken to her in a while, and missed her company. But then his thoughts slipped back to their last conversation and, with a shake of his head, he continued on his way past.

On leaving Main Engineering, rather than turning right and heading for the elevator, Shepard turned left and moved towards the Port Cargo Hold. The doors hissed open before him, allowing him entry. He glanced about the room beyond.

In one corner, Grunt’s old tank hummed quietly. The monolithic machine was filled with an electric blue fluid, teeming with nutrients designed to preserve a newly minted Krogan. The tank had housed Grunt while he was grown by Okeer, and the Normandy crew had never got round to removing the tank, its awkward bulk too much of a hindrance. Mordin had asked to study it on more than one occasion, perhaps thinking to develop more effective stasis pods than the ones in the corridor beyond the Crew Mess.

Behind the tank, Grunt had rearranged a bundle of supply crates into a crude platform, presumably a bed. Formerly, he’d slept in the tank, the nutrients in its fluid invigorating him in his sleep. This meant that, in combination with his enhanced Krogan regeneration, more powerful than the norm for his species, his sleeping arrangement helped him shrug off any injuries sustained in their operations against the Collectors. And those injuries were frequent. Grunt was basically the meat-shield of the squad, and he had a tendency to rush into the open to charge his enemies. The Krogan took a lot of fire and needed every edge he could get to keep his injuries from overwhelming him.

The Krogan in question was pacing about in the Hold. He was still wearing the majority of his battle armour, though he had removed the shoulder guards and gloves. The shoulder guard with Fotnar’s plate set into it was lying on a table to one side, given a place of pride in the Hold so that any visitor’s gaze was drawn to it.

Grunt looked over as Shepard entered before stepping over to the Hold’s interior window, looking down on the main Cargo Bay.

"I see the Turian’s kicking ass down there. I’ll have to go show him how it’s done."

"That’s something I’ve got to get on video." Shepard joked.

"What? You don’t think I’ll wipe the floor with him?" Grunt challenged.

"Garrus held off three of the top dogs of Omega by himself for the better part of a week. One of those was Garm of the Blood Pack. I think it’ll take a little more than a quick one-two to drop him."

"None of those idiots laying siege to his hideout were a match for an Urdnot warrior like me. The merc leaders, maybe, but they were too focused on bringing each other down to be a real threat. Even that Garm was too much of a blundering fool. His regeneration might have presented a challenge in hand-to-hand, but mine’s just as good. I’d have taken him out before he could wear me down."

"That’s your opinion. Speaking as the one who gunned them down, I’d say they were a challenge. And Garrus even more so. The tough son-of-a-**** took a gunship to the face, Grunt, and afterwards he bounced back tougher than ever."

"Hah! That’s a good point. The Turian has proved himself in combat, I will admit. I guess this is a question that won’t be answered until we settle it in the ring."

"Just make sure neither of you is permanently damaged. I need fit warriors, not a blind Krogan and an armless Turian." Shepard warned.

"A battle loses its appeal when you take the fun out of it, Battlemaster. With no risk, what’s the point?" Grunt whined.

"No dismemberment, okay?"

"As you command, Battlemaster." Grunt acquiesced eventually. "So what do you need, Shepard?"

"Just checking how you’re settling back in."

"The ship feels a lot smaller than the last time I was here, but I figure Jath’s work caused that." As the Krogan said this, he straightened to his full height, and the tips of his brow plates, along with the curve of his hump, nearly touched the ceiling. "It feels good when I get to leave the ship. And we’ve been doing plenty since you grabbed us from that dungeon on Tuchanka. Battles that would make any Krogan jealous. We’re gonna go down in Tuchanka’s history as legends! Me, the strongest warrior Urdnot has ever known. And you, the alien Battlemaster who brought salvation to our people by curing the Genophage. Together, we’ll forge an even greater legend when we tear the Reapers apart with our bare hands. I can’t wait!"

"I can always count on you not to back down from a fight." Shepard said with a smile. " What about the crew? Having any problems?"

"Not really had much chance to get friendly with them. They stay away from me, probably due to my, uh, new look. I don’t mind. I like the quiet. Being in a small space like the ship makes me irritable, so any aliens coming to speak with me just gets on my nerves. Except for you, Battlemaster." He was quick to add.

"You’ve been cooped up for a while in that Jath lab, you’re bound to want to stretch your legs a bit. Just don’t vent your frustration on the crew. Not all of us are built as solidly as a Krogan."

Shepard left Grunt pacing about in the Cargo Hold. In seconds, the Commander had entered the elevator and keyed in the code to descend to the Main Cargo Bay.

~o~0~o~

[fainmaca]

Chapter 16 Part 2


~o~0~o~


Shepard watched Garrus spar with yet another crewmember, this time a lithe young woman called Joanna Dourdan. The Turian circled her cautiously, knowing all too well that size was not a measure of strength. The girl, meanwhile, crouched in anticipation of his impending attack.

Surprisingly, Garrus let her make the first move. Joanna lunged forwards, hitting the Turian squarely in the chest. As he staggered back, she fell back onto the balls of her feet, ready for the counterattack. Garrus was quick to oblige. He spun around to deliver a powerful right hook to her ribcage. Her arm twitched fractionally to block the blow, deflecting the majority of its power. Even so, the impact was enough to jar her, her feet tangling together momentarily as she moved back. Garrus took advantage of this to aim another blow at her left side, though she just managed to skip back from the attack, the Turian’s gloved fist only brushing her torso in passing.

Joanna went back on the attack, whipping a leg out in a vicious arc to catch Garrus in the ankle. The Turian’s leg buckled, and she pressed forwards, her foot connecting a second time, this time with his stomach. However, instead of the yielding flesh she would have expected of a human’s belly, she only found the rock-hard scales of the Turian’s abdomen. It was just like kicking a hull plate, and the pained look on her face spoke volumes as she shuddered on her other foot. Before she could withdraw, Garrus’ hands shot out to grab her ankle. A swift twist sent her plummeting to the deck, hitting the metal with a solid thump. She let out a small groan as her back impacted the cool metal. Before she could recover, Garrus had moved to straddle her, pinning her in a solid grip, his legs locked around her torso in yet another pose impossible for a Human. After a momentary struggle, Joanna realised she was beaten and tapped out.

Garrus spotted the Commander as he loosened his grip on Joanna, standing up and shaking hands with her. He then turned to face Shepard, his Turian features contorting into a smile.

"Shepard. Fancy stepping into the ring? I promise I’ll try not to make it too humiliating for you. I know how much you humans like to look good in a fight."

"You know you’ll be the one kissing the deck if I oblige, Garrus." Shepard quipped.

"Bold talk. Care to back it up?"

"Twenty-five?"

"Double it and I’ll be interested."

"Deal."

Shepard said, stepping over the flimsy rope barrier of the sparring ring. Garrus chuckled before moving over to the far corner of the ring. The Turian clicked his head from one side to the other, mandibles flaring as he sized up Shepard’s stance. Shepard, meanwhile, dropped into a crouch, fingers flexing as he positioned himself opposite Garrus.

The two warriors stared each other down, Garrus’ sunken orbs locked with Shepard’s steely glare. Neither moved for almost a full minute, each reading the other. Sensing the tension, a couple of crewmen sidled over, and from the corners of his eyes Shepard saw movement in the windows looking down on the Bay. Jacob was looking over curiously from the armoury window, while Zaeed and Grunt observed the action from their corresponding Cargo Holds.

Such was their scrutiny of one another that Garrus failed to surprise Shepard when he surged forwards. The Turian’s gloved fist darted out to connect with the Commander’s jaw. Shepard rolled with the impact, moving his head back so that the blow was only glancing and did no real damage. At the same instant, he lifted a knee to catch the Turian in the thigh, hitting a tender spot in the alien’s physiology where a large bundle of nerves were located. Garrus gasped from the blinding rush of pain, but bottled it up, refusing to show a weakness in his defence. He retaliated with a quick one-two to the Commander’s abdomen, though Shepard caught one fist with his forearm.

The pair traded blows in this way for a while, neither getting a distinct advantage over the other no matter how hard they tried. Finally, after an invigorating couple of minutes, they disengaged, both breathing heavily.

"Some nice moves you’ve got there, Garrus." Shepard said. "They teach you that on Palaven?"

"I actually picked most of this up in C-Sec." The Turian explained. "Not during standard training, of course, but when I was out on patrol. You get a couple of rowdy Krogan in a place like Chora’s Den, you learn some valuable lessons about fighting hand-to-hand."

"I’ll bet." Shepard replied, launching a new salvo of punches at his friend’s head, chest and belly. "So what exactly happened with C-sec? You never mentioned how you went from operative of the month, after the Battle of the Citadel, to Omega’s Dark Defender."

"I thought I covered this." Garrus said, sweeping a vicious kick at the Commander’s feet. Shepard took the hit square on his ankle, not giving to the impact. "I got fed up with the Council’s bureaucratic bull**** and bailed out before it did my head in."

"Yeah, that’s what you said. But I know you, Garrus. There’s more to it than you’re letting on."

With sudden alacrity, Garrus spun around, bringing a foot up at head height to catch Shepard across the face. The Commander staggered back from the brutal blow, fists raised to counter any further attack. The Turian did not hesitate, laying into Shepard with a stunning flurry of punches, most of which he managed to fend off. Shepard bided his time and caught sight of a tiny crack in the alien’s defence. He twisted out of the way of an incoming punch and grabbed Garrus’ wrist. He tugged on the alien’s arm, pulling him off balance. Shepard spun around, still holding the Turian’s arm, and got Garrus in a powerful lock. The alien grunted, tugging forwards as he tried to break the Commander’s grip, but only succeeded in toppling to the floor with Shepard clinging to his back. The pair struggled for a moment before Garrus finally gave in, relaxing and letting out a deep breath. Shepard gasped for air, exhausted by the flurry of activity, and waited a moment before getting up.

Garrus stood up stiffly, rubbing at his shoulder right where the Commander had jerked it backwards in his lock. He stalked over to the edge of the ring and resting his forearms on the rope barrier. All around the sparring ring, crewmen clapped and cheered at the display before turning back to their work. Shepard stole a glance up at Grunt’s hold, where he saw the young Krogan staring at him. A menacing smile accompanied by a pointed finger sent a clear message to the Commander. If anyone would be the next one to fight Shepard, it was going to be him. Shepard grinned wolfishly before turning back to the Turian.

"You’re right, Commander. There was more to my leaving C-sec than I let on." Garrus said slowly.

"After the Battle of the Citadel, I went back to C-Sec. I worked away there for a couple of months. Then you died and the whole station was in uproar. The Council started publicly backtracking on everything you said, and I was none too happy about it. I let my opinions be known, in a very vocal fashion. Damn near everyone in the Wards heard about it from me. Of course, Executor Pallin didn’t like that one bit. I was raked across the coals for my actions, and got off lightly with a warning thanks to my past service."

"So you weren’t everyone’s favourite Turian." Shepard said lightly. "That’s nothing new. As far as I remember, you didn’t make many friends during your investigation of Saren either."

"There’s more. After that, the head honchos of C-Sec noticed a more… vindictive style to my work. Things tended to escalate whenever I got involved. I was the agent to go to if someone needed bringing in, but I made a few mistakes and there was some collateral damage.

"The last straw was on one mission where I had to track down a Krogan in the slums of Kithoi Ward named Jarrkt. He’d been responsible for the disappearance of several dozen children in the Wards. I had evidence linking him to the abductions, and wanted to move in on him. But Pallin refused to authorise the operation. He was in the middle of an investigation involving some high-level bureaucrats on the Presidium, and said that moving in on Jarrkt would compromise that operation.

"I accepted that, but I still kept an eye on the Krogan bastard. I got word of another abduction due to take place in the near future. I took it to Pallin, but he wouldn’t act. I couldn’t sit still, so I went out there and took Jarrkt on by myself. I saved the kids and killed the bastard, but when I got back to HQ on the Presidium Pallin tears me a new one for disobeying his orders. He went on about how I’d endangered his operation, and that the risk had been too great. Apparently we were using the same contact, and my moving on Jarrkt could have compromised that source of intel. As it turns out, he succeeded anyway. Managed to expose the politicians as committing fraud in order to line their own pockets, skimming funds off money meant for Kithoi Ward’s slums district."

"So everything turned out fine, then. You took a dangerous criminal off the street, and Pallin was still able to complete his investigation." Shepard reasoned.

"It wasn’t fine. Pallin, and all of his peers, were willing to allow the kidnappings to continue, just to stop a bunch of crooked politicians from stealing any more money from the Council. When they gave me a dressing down for my lack of discretion, I let them know exactly what I thought. I really let loose. They had to have some of my colleagues drag me out of there. After that, they slapped a demotion on me and had me take a compulsory leave of absence to let my head cool. I just couldn’t take it any more, after that.

"So, during my leave, I hop on the next shuttle aiming for the Terminus and don’t look back."

"And then you find yourself on Omega, gunning down mercs?" Shepard asked.

"Yeah. With no politics getting in the way." Garrus nodded. "This past year I’ve wiped more criminal scum off the face of the Galaxy than C-sec has managed in the past fifty. Of course, I had help a lot of the time, but I’m still making a damn sight more of a difference now than I ever could back in my old job."

"Why keep this a secret? It’s hardly anything to be ashamed of."

"C-sec was a big part of who I was, Commander. My father made certain I ended up there rather than any other career path. He hated it when I broke away from C-Sec to follow you in your pursuit of Saren. That’s why I was able to rejoin so quickly. The Vakarian name has a lot of weight in the organisation. My father was C-sec, and his father before him and so on, back a full five generations. He’s always been pulling strings, trying to make sure I follow in his footsteps."

"So you’re afraid of disappointing him?"

"Kind of. Turians always have a strong sense of duty. We’re expected to perform the tasks set before us, nothing more and nothing less. It’s frowned upon to get ideas above your station, but its even more reprehensible to not live up to your commitments. If I tried to face him, having left my life with C-sec behind, I’m not sure how he’d react. I’m everything he doesn’t want in a son."

"That can’t be true, Garrus. Any father would be proud to have a hero like yourself for a son." Shepard reassured.

"Maybe in human society, but I don’t think that’s the case here." Garrus said, looking down at his feet. He took a shuddering breath and looked into the Commander’s face. "I’m gonna go clean up now, Shepard. Good fight. We should do it again some time."

Shepard watched the Turian go.

~o~0~o~


The Commander’s next stop was not far away, just on the other side of the Cargo Bay. A flimsy metal wall had been erected, more to stop people from looking about nosily than to provide shelter for anything. The nearer the Commander got, the louder the sounds of tools and machinery became. At last he rounded a corner to see Mordin clambering over a massive piece of machinery. The old Salarian moved with surprising agility, considering he was fast approaching forty years of age, the typical life expectancy for his species. The diminutive alien was wielding a wildly sparking too with one hand, adjusting various parts and opening and closing hatches at will.

The object he was working on was hard to make out. To Shepard’s eyes, it looked like the skycar that Aria had ‘gifted’ to the Normandy during their last visit to Omega, although it looked like the vehicle had been given steroids. The armour was clearly bulkier, and the thrusters had been sized up to monstrous proportions. The vehicle looked like it could give any Omega joyrider a good run for their money.

As Shepard moved around the hastily erected barricade to keep the crew at bay, Mordin caught sight of him. The Salarian smiled and hopped down from the skycar’s hood, eyes creased with pride.

"Shepard. Good to see you. Was hoping to wait a little longer before showing you latest project, but you are here now, so no time like present."

"What have you got here?" Shepard asked with wonder.

"Was inspired upon study of mission reports from Omega. Realised that Normandy is lacking in way of planetside vehicles. Decided to rectify situation."

"Lacking in vehicles? Mordin, we’ve got the bear cub and the Hammerhead. Are you sure we really need another craft?"

"Kodiak well-suited to military deployment. Can withstand environmental extremes and has large carrying capacity. But is poorly armed. Hammerhead carries significant firepower, but is limited in space and poorly armoured. Neither is suited for transportation in urbanised area. Militant appearance can cause alarm, perhaps worsen already tense situation. More civilian appearance is needed for covert operations in civilised areas.

"Nevertheless, have not forgotten about defences. Kinetic barrier, auxiliary and two-inch armour plating can withstand brutal punishment, even more so than Hammerhead. Was able to scavenge materials from tank you brought aboard at Khar’Shan. Made heavier, but compromised for increased mass by increasing power output of Mass Effect generator. Should be capable of sustained atmospheric flight at speeds comparable to those of Normandy."

"That’s a hell of a speed, Doctor."

"Not recommending such speeds in built-up areas, Commander. Human reactions too slow to navigate a city skyline at these velocities. Merely pointing out that capability is there, should need arise. Moving on, have made further modifications to internal workings of vehicle."

The scientist tapped a few commands out on his omnitool, and the vehicle shuddered. Then the roof split apart and a compact block of metal extended up out of the gap. The metal quivered, and then unfolded, forming a long barrel almost the length of the skycar. In less than a second, Shepard was gazing at a powerfully built gun turret.

"Another gift from that Batarian tank we acquired?" He asked.

"Indeed. Kodiak’s vulnerability highlights necessity of armaments on vehicle. Of course, on covert missions is to be used as last resort." Mordin explained. "But always wise to have multiple tricks ‘in your belt’, is that the correct human expression? Doesn’t matter. Primary and secondary weapons systems sure to make enemies hesitate, and should catch the unwary off guard."

"I love it, Mordin. I’m sure we’ll have a use for this in the near future." Shepard turned to the Doctor. "Thank you."

"Always a pleasure, Shepard. Though, am not most qualified to work with engines. Would have been easier with the Quarian Tali to render aid. Still, have done what I can."

"Its perfect." Shepard assured him. "I’m glad to have you back on board. How’s the work going on helping Joker?"

"Have inspected relevant material regarding Joker’s predicament, gave Dr Archer my opinions and suggested new methods to consider in separating the two psyches. Delicate work, very complicated. Left Archer and Revenant studying my notes on neurological augmentation. Gave seminar four years ago on Mannovai. Intriguing subject for study. Will pop by later to discuss possibilities. In meantime, finish up work here. Good to do something with hands, allows mind to work at problems."

"So you think we’ll be able to separate the two of them?" Shepard asked.

"Eventually. Three of best minds for task working on project. Is very interesting team, as matter of fact. STG agent, Cerberus scientist and Collector. Can’t think of any better team for task. Also refreshing to meet scientific minds that are a match for my own. Unusual to meet individuals with such broad and deep understanding of biology and neurology. Reminds me of time with STG team, back on Tuchanka. Invigorating company!"

"Good to know you’re getting along. There’s not been many of the crew ready to trust a Collector and a Cerberus scientist."

"Revenant and Archer have not specifically caused harm to me, bear them no ill will. If work here is desire to reconcile conscience over past deeds, or genuine wish to help our cause, then all is good. Still, will be ready should betrayal occur."

"I’ll let you get on with your work, Mordin. You need anything, just let one of us know."

"Will do, Shepard. Thank you."

Before Shepard had even turned away, Mordin had clambered back onto the skycar. He popped open a hatch and dug through assorted wires, tool whirring away in his hand as he made crucial adjustments.

~o~0~o~


Shepard returned to the CIC deck as the Normandy began the final leg of her journey to Stynos, about an hour out. The crew were bustling about in their final preparations for the Core shutdown. The repairs would need to be done swiftly and smoothly to ensure the Normandy could be back to full capacity as quickly as possible. Shepard silently returned a few salutes thrown his way as he stepped up to the Galaxy Map. Before him, he saw the Normandy’s progress charted out with a holographic line that terminated at Stynos, a tiny blinking dot almost lost among the myriad stars of the Galaxy.

Shepard leaned on the rail above the map, watching his ship’s progress like a hawk watching his prey. His fingers drummed on the rail in anticipation. He’d made all the preparations necessary for going out in the field, and now he felt the urge to get out there and accomplish the task before him.

He wondered what he might find down on the planet. He’d only been to a handful of Prothean sites before, and most of them had been little more than a few rocks sticking out of the ground. The most intact site he had ever visited was on Ilos. The buildings had been almost completely intact, and of course underneath the surface Shepard had found the research facility, inside of which had been the Conduit and the Prothean VI, Vigil. Would he find something similar here? Only time would tell, but the rumours were enough to whet the appetite of the least inquisitive of minds.

Shepard was drawn from his reverie by a polite cough from behind him. He stood and turned to see Etarn standing at the foot of the steps leading up to his station. The Commander smiled as he descended the steps.

"Etarn, how’re you doing?"

"Very well, Commander." The Batarian said. "The crew have been surprisingly welcoming. With the bad blood between our species, I expected the human members of the crew to bear an understandable hostility."

"They’ve read the mission reports, and they know that I trust you. I don’t bring people on board if all they’re going to do is second-guess my decisions." Shepard said confidently.

"Indeed. You have an impressive team, and it’s clear that you have their loyalty. It’s rare to see a leader of such talent."

"Thanks." Shepard said gracefully. "Was there anything you needed?"

"I’m just looking around the ship, getting my bearings. The Normandy lives up to every one of its legends, Commander. A Turian and Human joint effort, if I recall correctly."

"The first one was. This is a replica, building on the groundwork established with the first one."

"Still, the principles of racial co-operation shine through in its innovations. After all, you kept the Turian CIC design. Human ships still keep their command centres up front, do they not?"

"You know a lot about other species’ ship designs." Shepard remarked cautiously.

"It is good practice in Batarian politics to gain an intimate understanding of the capabilities and weaknesses of others, be they ally or enemy." Etarn smiled, the Batarian’s eyes glinting with a shrewdness that was no doubt integral to his success in the minefields of Batarian politics. "Aside from that, I am very interested to see what species can achieve when they work together. If I can show my people the benefits of making peace with the rest of the Galaxy, then they will be more willing to support my cause. A powerful warship is just one result of racial co-operation. Countless new technologies can be developed in this way."

"You’re very concerned for your people, aren’t you?"

"We’re at a crucial point in our development, Shepard. If we refuse to conform to the standards of the rest of the Galaxy, we risk becoming outcasts like the Krogan. If we do not find a way to expand beyond our worlds, then we will tear ourselves apart like the Drell. I refuse to see my people become a shadow of what they could be just because we were too set in our customs of discord and violence."

"It’s a pretty difficult task you’ve set for yourself. Especially seeing as your race gets a lot of bad press in the larger Galaxy."

"You’re right." Etarn admitted. "Gorm’s government discourages any Batarians from leaving Hegemony space, so generally the only Batarians you see in your travels are outlaws, pirates and those on Gorm’s payroll. Not the best individuals to represent our species.

"But we can be better than that. That’s what I commit myself to- convincing the Galaxy not to judge us based on their observation of the worst our people have to offer."

"We know so little about Batarians. It’s hard to make an objective judgement. Maybe you can tell me a bit about your people."

"I’d be happy to, Commander. What would you like to know?"

"How’s your society structured? I’ve heard that you use a caste system?"

"Of sorts. I imagine that there are a good few differences between our system and the Human understanding of the term. The caste of an individual is determined by occupation, the social status of your parents, birthplace and your contribution to Batarian society. We are divided into four levels of society; Slaves, freemen, the ruling caste, and the Krol’dan, or ‘Honoured’ in human words. Caste is made apparent through our names. Slaves are given one name. Freemen get two. The ruling caste, of which I am a member, are given the duo-syllabic surname, split by an apostrophe, or a hyphen. The Krol’dan are given the rare middle name of ‘Krol’ in addition to the three-part name the ruling caste bear. Krol’dan are exceptionally rare. A Batarian can only be raised to this status after doing something of great significance for our people."

"Like what you are doing?" Shepard asked.

"Not quite." Etarn chuckled. "It would usually require some great feat in battle. Diplomacy does not do much to impress my people."

Shepard was about to ask another question, but his eye was drawn to the Galaxy Map. The brilliant dot that indicated the Normandy was almost on top of Stynos, blinking a warning of impending arrival at the selected destination.

"Looks like we’re about to drop down to sub-light." The Commander commented. "I’ve gotta go prep my team. Let’s finish this later, okay?"

"Certainly, Shepard. Good luck."

"Thanks."

Shepard walked past the Batarian, making his way to the elevator and keying in the code for the Cargo Bay, dialling up his omnitool to send a message to his squad.

[fainmaca]

Chapter 17: A Gift From The Past



Shepard peered out of the shuttle’s window as huge cloudbanks whipped past outside. Through the occasional break in the clouds the Commander spotted the lush green landscape below. Stynos possessed a rich temperate environment, supporting a diverse variety of plant life. A thick cloud layer contributed to the balmy atmosphere and the almost overgrown nature of the surface. Though the planet possessed such a diverse amount of vegetation, very little in the way of large animal species had developed, though a couple of species of large herbivores had flourished. Most of the planet’s animal life was composed of insects and small reptiles. Native mammalian life was non-existent. The only mammals on the planet were the humans of the foundling colony and whatever species they had brought with them in the way of pets.

The shuttle powered past a long range of mountains as it descended below the clouds, bursting out into the clear space above the ground. It wove between a few more mountain peaks before the mass of prefabs that was the main part of the colony hove into view, set in a cleared area of the vast forests below. The cluster of shining metal buildings was organised into a haphazard formation, the semblance of order poking through amidst the chaos. A small landing zone had been cleared on the edge of the settlement, which the pilot angled straight towards.

Shepard took a deep breath as the shuttle’s main hatch hissed open, the planet’s thick, heavily oxygenated atmosphere rolling in. He climbed out of the shuttle, followed by his squad. Behind Shepard, Mordin tinkered with his omnitool. Following them closely, Kaidan and Jacob chatted companionably. Shepard had brought the two humans along to help put the colonists’ minds at ease, given the makeup of his squad. No doubt the Revenant’s presence would cause a stir among the people of Stynos, but seeing him escorted by three ex-Alliance soldiers, along with a diminutive Salarian, would dull their concerns somewhat, hopefully.

A small welcoming committee had gathered on the edge of the landing pad to meet them. Four humans in official-looking formal attire, accompanied by an Asari and a Hanar, of all things, watched as the Commander approached. When Shepard drew close, a human woman stepped out from amidst the group, extending a hand to shake. Her glittering green eyes met with Shepard’s, sizing him up in one quick glance.

"Welcome to Stynos, Commander. I’m Elisa Kensington, one of the ExoGeni reps here. This is Anna Bridges, head of construction, Roger Matthews, director of the colony, Stephen Doyle, chief of security." She said, indicating the three humans, before turning to the Hanar and the Asari. "And this is Bolnan, a representative of the Tower of Shining Light, and Masirra, our resident head scientist. We’ve… uhh,"

Shepard looked back over his shoulder at what Elisa was staring at, along with the rest of the colony welcoming committee. Even the featureless Bolnan’s form was tilted in a surprised fashion, tiny flecks of luminescent flesh shimmering in a rapid, confused pattern. Behind the Commander, the Revenant was manoeuvring his towering frame out of the shuttle. He turned his three yellow eyes towards the colony’s officials, and Jeffrey, Anna and Masirra visibly blanched upon seeing his scarred visage.

"What… what is that?" Stephen stuttered.

"He’s called the Revenant. I brought him along because he’s got a… let’s say a unique perspective, on Prothean technology." Shepard explained.

"And what does that mean?" Elisa demanded.

"It means what it sounds like. He’s an expert, of sorts."

"What sort of a name is Revenant?" Roger asked.

"The sort that he chose for himself. Now, what can you tell me about Stynos?" Shepard asked, keen to avoid wasting time having to explain the nature of his squad unnecessarily.

"The planet? Or the colony?" Elisa said. "Planet’s pretty much what you can see right now, at least on the surface. Green, warm, peaceful. The thick cloud layer in the upper atmosphere forms a sort of water canopy that keeps the heat in and gives the entire rock a uniform temperate environment. We’re pretty much beyond the boundaries of settled space, so far so that we don’t even have to worry about raiders or pirates.

"As for the colony, it’s funded by ExoGeni, part of our Alliance-funded expansion project. We’re here to test a few new technologies ‘Geni’s been developing for establishing human colonies. You know, new prefabs, experimental transplanted crops, livestock breeding facilities. We’ve got all the cutting edge tech here to make our lives easier, though we’ve constantly got the executives on our asses to get results on the new tech. Especially Jeong. Ever since Zhu’s Hope rocketed onto the galactic scene with him at the helm, he’s been even more stuck-up than usual."

"Ethan Jeong?" Shepard asked. "I met him back on Feros!"

"Yeah, well now he spends less time out with ExoGeni’s colonists and more in board meetings. And his new prestige has not made him any more pleasant. Hardly a day goes by when he’s not on the comm relay, chewing my ear off to get a hold of the latest results of our tests. It’s only got worse since we dug up the ruins. I reckon if he had it his way the relics would already be off-planet and being put to use lining his pockets. But everyone here knows how important it is to leave everything as-is until it can be studied. I mean, the Council has rules about this. If we remove anything before a Council representative has looked it over, they’ll drop down on our heads like a tonne of bricks. Still, you’re here now, so hopefully we can get things moving here again."

"Let’s see what we find. Do you mind if I ask a few questions about the ruins and the colony?"

"Go ahead, though I’m afraid there’s probably not that much we can tell you. None of us are experts on Prothean relics. Masirra has had the most contact with the site, though Bolnan has had a look too, once or twice. I’ve only been down there once, myself. I’ll be honest, it kind of freaked me out. It’s weird to see a place that’s so clearly meant to be lived in lying empty. Like visiting a relative’s house just after their funeral."

"What technologies are you researching here, exactly? You mentioned crops and livestock?" Shepard asked as Elisa waved a hand, indicating the group should follow her. Shepard and his squad fell in step behind her, flanked by the colony’s officials.

"Yeah. Not a lot of people understand that you can’t just take a few seeds and some animals to set up a farm on an alien world. There are all kinds of things to consider when you want to set up a sustainable food source on a new colony world. We have no way of telling what the new soil makeup, different atmosphere, hell even the radiation from a different sun, is going to do to the crops we try to take with us. They might just not take to the soil, or they could fail to produce any seeds for the next generation, or they could produce food with no nutritional value or even toxic properties. Same goes for the livestock, they could eat local vegetation that is poisonous to them, or get a local sickness we can’t treat. So we have several generations of crops and animals undergo gradual genetic modification to adapt them to the planet. So we need to test out the new gene mods in a way that doesn’t risk contaminating the local wildlife, and can’t be accidentally shipped back to an established colony to decimate their food sources."

"And prefabs?"

"As a newly-founded colony, we get offers from plenty of technology firms to test out their latest tech, kind of like a sponsorship. We get the prefab, they get the positive testimonial."

"I see. So what can you tell me about these ruins?"

"Like I said; not much. It’s strange down there. I don’t know much about Protheans, but from what I saw it looked like some sort of research facility. But then you also see signs of residential complexes. It’s difficult because we don’t understand how the Protheans thought."

"Right, thanks for that." Shepard said.

"I’m happy to help." Elisa replied. "But if you want some real information you really should talk to Masirra and Bolnan. They’re the closest thing we have to experts here."

"Masirra’s you’re head scientist, right?"

"Yes. She’s one of our newer arrivals. Even in today’s Galaxy, ExoGeni is still a human-operated company, and our employees are almost entirely Human. It’s only in very recent years we’ve begun to recruit aliens. She’s primarily here to oversee our genetic modification project, but she’s also had an education in mass effect physics, starship construction and geology."

"A very varied education." Shepard observed.

"Yeah. I guess that’s an advantage of living for hundreds of years- you have the time to learn about all these things." Elisa said as she guided the group around a handful of prefab buildings. It was clear that they were heading for the far edge of the settlement.

"And what about Bolnan? What was the organisation he belonged to? Shining Tower?"

"Tower of Shining Light. It’s actually one branch of the Hanar’s religion dedicated to the Enkindlers, or Protheans. I don’t pay much attention to it. If the jelly wants to worship a dead race, he’s welcome to."

"I’ve never heard of the Tower of Shining Light before."

"You ever really delved into Hanar religion before? I know I hadn’t until I met Bolnan." Elisa answered in a blasé fashion. "The Tower’s a relatively small sect, formed after a recent schism. They disagree with the main Enkindler religion over how much of an influence the Protheans had on the development of the Hanar and other species. Not sure of the details, but they might believe that the Protheans didn’t just ‘enlighten’ their species, but created them. I know it sounds crazy, and I don’t pay much attention to it. He was visiting the colony when we unearthed the ruins and of course, being a Hanar, Prothean ruins drew his attention."

"Why was he here in the first place? An out-of-the-way colony like this, hardly a place where you’d get passing visitors. Especially not a Hanar priest."

"He said that he was out here to ‘spread the light of the Enkindlers’ to the more remote Human colonies. Lucky break, I guess. Go out in the service of your gods and have an entire treasure trove of their artefacts drop into your lap. Tentacles. Whatever."

Shepard nodded before turning towards Masirra, walking along a little further back in the group. Elisa, meanwhile, struck up a conversation with Kaidan, the pair discussing current affairs in the Alliance. The Asari was chatting to the colony’s director, Roger Matthews. The middle-aged man looked at Shepard with a cautious eye as he approached.

"Commander." He said a little coldly. "I assume that Elisa has provided you with the information you require?"

"Yes, thank you. Roger Matthews, right?"

"You are correct." He said frostily. "And you are Commander Shepard. Hero of the Citadel. I’m curious as to why the Council would send you to our little backwater. Surely the first human Spectre has more important things to do than pick over old bones."

"I was in the neighbourhood. You’re quite a way out here, it’d take a while to send someone else." Shepard answered, evading the true thrust of the question. He realised it would be unwise to explain that he was only here to look for technology he could use against the Reapers. For one thing, it sounded crazy, and for another, it wouldn’t go down well with the colonists if they decided he didn’t have their best interests at heart.

"I see." Matthews was clearly not convinced. "Well, if you’ll excuse me, I have matters to attend to. Administrative tasks. I’m sure Elisa will be able to take care of anything you require."

With that, the director of the colony stalked off stiffly.

"Seems like a fun guy to know." Shepard remarked with a wry smile. "I think he likes me."

"That normal for you?" Masirra asked.

"Just about. You’d be amazed at the number of people one person can ****** off." Shepard chuckled. "Elisa said you’ve had the most contact with the ruins, is that correct?"

"Just about. I’ve been to explore them almost every day. I don’t touch anything." She said quickly. "I just look. This stuff’s been lying there, undisturbed, for over fifty thousand years. I’m not about to break that record without permission."

"What can you tell me about the ruins?"

"They’re big. I haven’t explored far, but they could go pretty far under the mountains. From what we’ve studied of the Protheans, it’s generally agreed they lived above ground. The skyscrapers of Feros pretty much confirm that on their own. So there’s only one reason why they’d go so deep underground- weapons testing."

"Maybe it’s just a rich lode of eezo."

"It’s definitely not a mine down there. They weren’t taking stuff out, they were putting stuff in."

"Elisa mentioned some residential complexes down there."

"Yeah. Could have been quarters for the scientists, but there seems to be an awful lot. If I hazarded a guess, I’d say that it doubles up as a covert research facility and a secure bunker in times of war. Which is odd."

"In what way?"

"I know my Prothean knowledge is sketchy, but I’m pretty sure there was no mention of a large-scale civil war in any of the sites that have been unearthed previously. If anything, the Protheans were more peaceable than any species we’ve come across. And there were no other species about at that time that they would have needed to defend themselves against. So why such a large-scale military facility?"

"I suppose we’ll find out in due time. Anything else?"

"It does look like it was all built quite quickly. A lot of the passages are rough, and some of the rooms look unfinished. In some places, they’ve simply smoothed off natural spaces in the rock to use."

"Were you able to identify any of their equipment?"

"No. Even Prothean experts make little headway with the artefacts they unearth. They’re just so… alien, there’s no other word for it."

"Okay, well thanks for the information." Shepard said, before slipping back even further in the crowd to speak with Bolnan.

The Hanar was trundling along on the tips of his tentacles, managing to exude an air of grace even when removed from his natural environment. The pink mass atop the tentacles turned towards the Commander inquisitively and, even though there was no face, Shepard was fairly sure it was facing him. Then again, it may have turned its back on him, he never could be sure with Hanar.

"Are you… Bolnan?" Shepard asked hesitantly, hoping against hope he was addressing the correct end.

"This one is known by that name, yes." The Hanar’s melodious voice rang out. "It is pleased to make Commander Shepard’s acquaintance. How can this one be of service?"

"Elisa tells me you’re a minister of the Hanar Enkindler faith?"

"That is correct. This one serves the radiant Enkindlers, travelling to the furthest reaches of the settled Galaxy to spread their truth."

"Their truth?" The question was out of Shepard’s mouth before he could stop it, and Jacob let out a quiet groan as he anticipated a sermon swiftly approaching. Bolnan was quick to oblige.

"The truth that the radiant ones did not simply elevate life that was already there, but rather placed the life there in the first place. Without their influence, none of the sentient species in the Galaxy today could have risen to the stars."

"You think that the Protheans could create life?"

"This one does not think. This one Knows. How else could the Enkindlers have given us the gift of speech? Their legacy is waiting all over the Galaxy for us to find, hints and gifts to guide us towards the same level of civilisation."

"If they were so powerful, why are they gone now?"

"The Enkindlers simply moved on. Their work here was done once they had given us the start we needed."

"I found some information relating to the fate of the Protheans, back during my mission beyond the Omega Four Relay." Shepard said.

"This one considers that unlikely."

"I was able to confirm that the Protheans did not leave. They remained here, in the Milky Way, but were changed from their original form. They were genetically changed into an insect race called the Collectors."

"This one finds this to be unlikely." The Hanar’s tone, normally so calm, was now tinged with the heat of anger. "This is blasphemy that darkens the light of the Enkindlers’ truth."

Shepard opened his mouth to refute the accusation, thinking to even call the Revenant forward as evidence of his words, but realised it would be pointless and too time-consuming at this point. The Hanar priest was clearly too set in his views to listen.

"I’m sorry, if I have caused offence, I did not intend to." He apologised.

"This one understands." Bolnan said, huffily.

Shepard moved away from the disgruntled minister, eager to remove himself from the awkward atmosphere. He noted that they were nearing the edge of the settlement just as they rounded one final prefab and he found himself looking down on the ruins.

The ground had been scraped away in a large square, foundations being dug for a new shuttle port for the colony. A handful of digging machines sat idle in the massive pit, unable to continue due to the small pile of rocks in the centre of the disturbed soil. Those rocks, upon closer inspection, turned out to be the entrance to a long passage cutting deep into the ground. The digging work had partly destroyed the frame of the door that had sealed the room, but the shape was unmistakable. Two statues flanked the entrance, one broken in half by the digging.

Elisa escorted the group down to the entrance, picking her way across the uneven ground. When she finally came to a halt by the dark hole leading into the ruins, she turned to face Shepard’s group.

"And here we are. Stynos’ main attraction. I’ve no doubt that you want to get started straight away."

"Thanks. Masirra, can you show us around the areas you’ve explored?"

"Of course." The Asari nodded.

"Mordin, Revenant, I want you looking for computer interfaces, data disks and so on. Look for anything that might tell us what they were doing here." Shepard was rewarded with affirmative nods from both the Salarian and the Collector. A strange, squelching sound made the entire group turn around. Bolnan appeared to be shuddering, luminous markings flaring wildly.

"The ruins cannot be disturbed! The Enkindlers’ legacy must be left undisturbed."

"Bolnan, what’s wrong?" Elisa asked. "This is why we needed someone to come and inspect the ruins. We’ve got to see what we can discover down there. We didn’t bring Shepard out here just for him to look at a bunch of old rocks. We need to see what value this facility has."

"Its value is clear! All who put faith in the Enkindlers can come and pay homage to them. This one cannot allow the desecration of this site."

The Hanar’s tentacles were flailing about wildly, and Stephen, the security chief, hopped back as one whipped past his face. Elisa, face twisted with concern, raised her hands in a calming gesture as she stepped forwards.

"Bolnan, calm down!" She said sternly, her soft voice taking on a sharp tone. "Go with Stephen, we’ll talk about this back at Roger’s office!"

As the Hanar was escorted away by Stephen, Elisa threw Shepard an apologetic look.

"It seems you’ll be pretty much by yourselves down there. Take Masirra with you. She can show you around. I’ll be back to check on you after I’ve sorted Bolnan out."

"Okay." Shepard nodded his thanks before looking to his team. "Let’s go see what we find."

~o~0~o~


Inside the ruins, all was deathly quiet. Shepard shone his omnitool light around, illuminating various pieces of technology as well as some almost completely demolished furniture. It seemed that age had wrought its terrible work on the majority of the items within, leaving little in the way of non-metal objects to study. The other items appeared to have fared much better, their metal and plastic materials much more resilient.

Mordin was the first one to move through the ancient detritus, his wide eyes taking in every detail. He stepped over to a terminal and waved his omnitool over it. The screens flickered dully, but remained inert. The Salarian frowned before taking aim with his omnitool. Stepping back, he pressed a control and arcs of electricity jumped out from the wrist-mounted device, tendrils of blue energy licking along the terminal’s surfaces. The screen flared to life, banks of data scrolling across it. Finally it stopped on a strange image. Mordin grinned smugly.

"Simple overload burst provides short-term power. Prothean terminal hard to read, but data layout would suggest map. Saving image to omnitool." He paused as he dabbed at the controls, touching one button then another tentatively. "Appears to be little in the way of research data here, mostly text in reference to different locations. Running Prothean translation through omnitool. Data will be tenuous, as understanding of Prothean language is very limited, but may be able to decipher from context."

"Anything to suggest what they were looking into here?" Shepard asked.

"Not… Wait. Something here. Could be wrong, but seems that this room here is used to house an element zero core." He pointed to a portion of the map, which began to blink blue as his digit waved through it. "Are some rooms with similar layout in a heptagonal pattern. Pattern suggests purpose of rooms connected. What could need that much power?"

"Hopefully something we can use. Are you familiar with that section, Masirra?"

"I think I’ve been through that section before, though I had no idea it was an eezo jenny. It is one of the few areas that still has power."

"Let’s go take a look, then."

Masirra led the group down a few dusty old corridors, looking about uncertainly as they navigated the ancient labyrinth. Occasionally they had to consult Mordin’s downloaded map, though it took a lot to decipher even the smallest amount of information from it, so it took some time to find their way. As they proceeded deeper into the facility, the Salarian constantly checked the map against his surroundings, seeking to learn how to read it properly.

Their journey took them past a few empty rooms, the purpose of which was unclear. Some could have been used for cargo storage, but they had either never been filled or their contents had long since turned to dust. Shepard thought back to Masirra’s observation that the facility had been built in a hurry. Perhaps they had been so pressed for time that they had never even been given the chance to stock the facility with what they required. There was only one reason Shepard could think of for the Protheans to put such a frantic amount of work into a military installation. They must have been under attack from the Reapers, urgently seeking a way to fight back. That made the contents of the base all the more precious. There was no telling what the Protheans may have been on the cusp of developing.

At last they reached the room Mordin had indicated, stepping in gingerly. Shepard felt his hand twitch to his hip as the lights flickered on overhead, at first assuming there was someone else down here, but when no one appeared he realised the lights were probably automated, reacting to their presence. He marvelled at the resilience of the equipment that it still functioned so well on its own.

In side, the laboratory was dominated by a massive dome-shaped construction, its smooth surface still shining cleanly. It seemed that the dust of the ages had refused to settle upon it. Shepard moved up to inspect the silvery curvature of the dome, seeing his reflection staring back at him with a curious expression on its face.

The Revenant stalked out into the open space before the dome, gazing up at it with an aura of awe. His yellow eyes glinted as he studied the device.

"Seem familiar to you?" Shepard asked him.

"I don’t… Maybe. It certainly has all the characteristics of one of our own mass effect field generators. If it produces power on a similar scale to Collector technology, you could expect to see a generator of this size power a dreadnought-class ship. There are some differences to it, of course, mostly in building materials, but the core principles of its construction shine through."

"It’s a hell of a lot of power just to keep the lights running. Mordin? Anything to tell us what it actually does?"

The Salarian had found another bank of terminals, this time much more complex than the one he had downloaded the map from. As he powered up the displays, Masirra and the Revenant joined him, the trio working in sync to pull up what information they could. After some searching, their efforts were rewarded.

"I’ve got something here." Masirra said. "Looks like the schematics to a big weapon. I can’t be sure, but it may be rigged to fire large rounds of compressed eezo."

"A singularity gun? I haven’t seen anyone manage to make one much bigger than a shotgun. How big is this thing?"

"It’s a planet-based weapons installation. You wouldn’t be attaching this to a ship. You’d be attaching a ship to the gun." She smirked.

"Cute. How’d they manage to make such a big one?"

"Not just one." Mordin interjected. "Seven installations."

"Why so many?" Shepard asked.

"Have analysed firing protocols. All seven weapons are linked together to fire at same time. Seven singularities created in uniform heptagonal pattern around target area. If understanding theory behind it correctly, singularities induce stress upon target, pulling at kinetic and biotic barriers and armour. Gravitational forces of such power can create stress fractures in armour, distort internal structure of ship, or make kinetic and biotic barrier generation problematic. Once this is done, eighth gun, still to be completed, fires round made from super-dense alloy at centre of pattern. This round, accelerated to near-light speeds, detonates with force comparable to twenty human-designed nuclear devices. Against structure weakened by singularities, can be devastating."

"Could that really work?"

"Is possible. Can understand theory. Gravitational pull, in seven uniform directions, can greatly reduce elasticity of armour and shields. Ability to absorb or deflect attacks is diminished. Essentially turns defences into weaknesses."

"Did they ever test the thing?"

"Yes." The Revenant answered. "Even though the entire weapon is unfinished, they tested the seven singularity projectors in conjunction with a smaller weapon. Not quite as effective as the finished product, but enough to study the weapon’s potential."

"And? Was it any good, or just a dud?"

"They fired it at the planet’s moon. You can see for yourself just how well it worked."

"What moon?" Shepard asked, not remembering any satellites in orbit around Stynos.

"Precisely." The Collector responded.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. You telling us that this thing can destroy a moon?" Jacob asked with disbelief.

"Not in one shot." Masirra answered smoothly. "According to the data, they could have fired as many as a dozen shots."

"That’s still impressive." Shepard said. "The question is, how well could it perform against a Reaper’s defences?"

"I’m sorry, Reaper?" Masirra asked. "Is that a codename for some secret Alliance project? ‘Cause the only Reapers I’ve ever heard of were those silly little folk tales they told us back in kindergarten."

"They’re a little more than make-believe." Shepard explained. "They’re real. Saren’s flagship during the battle of the Citadel was an actual Reaper, the first of many intending to descend on the Galaxy and wipe it clean of sentient life."

"Heh, you’re funny, you know? For a second there you actually had me…" She caught the look on the faces of the three humans. "You’re serious? ‘Cause this sounds like you’ve taken one too many bullets to the head."

"Kaidan, did you keep a copy of that chat I had with Sovereign back on Virmire?"

"Yeah. The Council took the originals following our debrief after the Battle of the Citadel, but I made sure to keep copies, just in case."

The ex-Alliance agent tapped out a few commands on his omnitool, and a holographic image popped up, showing the Commander standing on a narrow platform before a hologram, glowing a malevolent red, which stood at an impressive several metres in height, dwarfing the human before it. Behind Shepard’s image, two shapes flickered uncertainly on the very boundary of the display, the two team-mates he had brought with him during the mission. The Commander shuddered as Sovereign’s deep bass thrum sounded out, the memory of the spiteful machine’s haughty words and actions raising the hairs on the back of his neck.

"The pattern has repeated itself more times than you can fathom. Organic civilisations rise, evolve advance. And at the apex of their glory, they are extinguished." The Reaper droned menacingly.

Masirra listened patiently as the recording played out. When it finished, she still bore a sceptical expression.

"And this was enough proof for you, huh? Ever think that Saren could have fabricated that recording? It’s not too hard to do, you know."

"There was other evidence, too. We spoke to a Prothean VI left behind to warn us of the Reapers’ coming. And then, of course, there was our mission beyond Omega Four. If you want to know about the Collectors’ association with the Reapers, just ask our three-eyed friend over there." He indicated the Revenant.

"A Collector? You’re not making this an easy sell, Commander." The Asari said, arms folded across her chest.

"The Commander is correct. Before his mission beyond the Omega Four Relay, my people were in contact with the Reapers. We obeyed their every command, eventually leading to our kidnapping tens of thousands of human colonists."

"And after that mission?"

"I am now the sole surviving Collector in the Galaxy."

"Damn. I’d better not get on your bad side, Shepard." Masirra murmured. "Okay, so say I believe you, do you really think that this weapons facility will help?"

"That’s what we’re here to find out." Shepard said. "We’re searching for anything that we can use. Weapons, shields, drive technology. Every edge we can scrounge up."

"Alright. I’ll help you to get copies of all the data down here. I’d recommend you don’t mention any of this to Mr Matthews, however. He’s hoping to turn this find into a goldmine he can skim off the top of. I don’t think he’d take well to the possibility that the relics will be removed for some galactic war effort without any chance of Stynos being compensated for it."

"I figured as much. Back when we met, he gave off the feeling that he’d rather have not had to put up with our presence here. I’m fully prepared for him to call in some slimy lawyer types to try and keep us from taking anything that we can use."

"Then we’d best get to work." Masirra said.

"Agreed. Masirra, you stay with Mordin and the Revenant. See what you can get off that terminal. Jacob, Kaidan, with me. We’ll see what else we can find in the rest of the facility."

~o~0~o~


Several hours later, Shepard returned to the weapons lab where the three specialists were still processing data from the terminal. Masirra looked up from her work as the three humans returned, flashing them a smile before resuming her studies.

"Find anything interesting?" She asked.

"Not much. The lower levels are mainly residential. Probably quarters for the scientists. A lot of the space looked unused."

"Makes sense if they were under attack from your ‘Reapers’. It’s clear now that this facility was some final desperate attempt to save themselves. They probably intended to fill all of the space down below with supplies and survivors, keep them safe until the Reapers had gone. Problem is, they never got the chance to do so. They got the scientists here, along with enough materials for their research, but never had a chance to get the civilians here."

"And then, we get a repeat of Ilos." Shepard murmured.

"How so?" The Asari asked.

"There was a research facility on Ilos, working to replicate the Mass Relays, among other things. The scientists remained in hiding until the Reapers had gone, and then finished off their research." Kaidan explained.

"But they didn’t have the numbers to undo their own genocide." Shepard said. "The Prothean race as it had been died out when they did."

"And now all that’s left of their civilisation is a bunch of ruins, and our insectoid friend here." Masirra said. On catching Shepard’s questioning look, she pointed a thumb over her shoulder at the Revenant. "He told me all about it while you were gone. Tragic story, really. Bad enough the Reapers destroy everything they built, but then corrupt them into nearly mindless slaves. I may have been sceptical before, but if this is a load of bull, you’ve gone a hell of a distance to make your case."

"Have you found anything new on the weapon?" Shepard asked.

"We’ve managed to download the schematics of the weapon. It won’t be easy to replicate, but given time we should manage it. Other than that and the results of their tests, there’s little else here. Seems like this was all they were working on here."

"It’ll do. Let’s get the data back to the Normandy and-"

The Commander was interrupted by a tremendous thump overhead. The ruins shuddered, a hazy fog of disturbed dust rising up to obscure vision and choke lungs. Shepard coughed as he inhaled the abrasive air, waving a hand in front of his face as he reached for the breather segment of his helmet. His companions followed suit, except for the Revenant, whose unique physiology allowed him to breathe the clogged air with no difficulties.

"What the hell was that?" The Commander spluttered as his sealed breathing system fed him clean air to clear his lungs.

"Explosion." Jacob said. "Above ground. Could have been a vehicle-mounted weapon."

"Someone trying to destroy the ruins?"

"More likely trying to acquire them, and getting rid of the colony sat on top of them. Guess you were right about trouble never being that far away, Commander."

As another explosion rocked the ruins, Shepard spotted the warning signs in the ceiling. A spider’s web of fractures spread through the stone and the groans were audible to all. Shepard’s team, used to intense situations like this, reacted in exactly the way he would have expected them to, taking cover in the split-second’s warning they had. Masirra, however, was clearly less prepared. Seeing the Asari scientist paralysed with surprise even as the ceiling began to collapse, Shepard leapt across the distance between them, catching the Asari around the waist and dragging her down to the floor. He arched his back protectively over her as the rubble cascaded down around him, wincing as a few especially large rocks jarred him.

After a few moments the ruins were plunged back into silence, the rockfall stopping as swiftly as it had started. Shepard found himself almost completely buried by the fallen rubble, a downpour that would no doubt have killed him had he not been wearing his armour. For a few painstaking moments, all he could hear was Masirra’s panicked breathing as she took in their situation. Then, with a sudden scraping noise, the heavy weight on Shepard’s back was lifted. He felt a wave of relief from the muscles in his back as they relaxed, and he was able to stand.

Kaidan and Jacob helped the Commander and Masirra out of the rubble, while behind them the Revenant and Mordin picked over the remains of what had once been the terminal they had used. Mordin turned to the Commander as he approached, carefully picking his way through the rubble.

"Terminal unsalvageable. Fortunate had already downloaded majority of data to omnitool. Only lost test data. Still have almost complete schematics for weapon."

"Good save, Mordin. Now, let’s see what in god’s name is going on up there."

Shepard drew his rifle, Kaidan and Jacob following suit. The Revenant chose to forgo a weapon and drew small biotic fields around either hand while an omnitool was all the armament Mordin required. Masirra had produced a small pistol from her belt, though it was clear from the way she held it that she was untrained in the use of a weapon. Shepard realised the best thing to do would be to find her a safe place to hide until the danger had passed. The ruins remained dangerous, partly due to the chance of another rockfall, but mostly due to the fact the looters would eventually make their way down here and discover her.

Shepard was about to lead the team out of the ruins when Masirra tilted her head curiously, looking to a dark corner of the room.

"What’s that?" She asked.

She clambered across the now uneven floor, making a beeline for a glimmer of light amongst the rocks. She lifted a few of the obstructing rocks to uncover a strange looking device. It was a silver sphere, about the same size as a Krogan’s skull. The surface rippled mysteriously, managing to keep its shape even though it was clearly not solid. The Asari reached out to tough it.

"Hold on a minute, Masirra." Shepard cautioned. "I’ve seen a couple of these things before. They tend to react violently when you touch them."

"It’s about the only tangible relic we’ve found in these ruins. If we do have raiders on the way, we need to hide it from them."

Masirra reached out and brushed the surface of the globe gingerly. The orb just sat there, quietly. With more confidence, the Asari picked it up, lurching a bit under the weight, but managing to carry it.

"Feels kinda like trying to handle a water balloon. Spongy, but holding its shape. Tingles." She narrated as she carried it into the middle of the room, where they could examine it further.

"No time to do a proper analysis just now, but it’s too valuable to leave behind. Masirra, you carry it. When we get back to the colony, we’ll escort you to a safe place where you can hide both the relic and yourself until this is all over, okay?"

"Yeah. No problem." Masirra said calmly. Shepard had to admire the cool head she was keeping, with everything that was going on around her.

The Commander led the group back through the dusty passages, rifle held at the ready as he rounded each and every corner, expecting to be faced by a battalion of pirates or raiders at every turn. The question was, what were they doing here? The Prothean relics were of incredible value, and therefore made a tempting target for any enterprising cut-purse out there, but news of the discovery hadn’t been divulged to the public. All information pertaining to the ruins had been sent along secure Alliance and ExoGeni comms channels. Even Liara had needed to do some work to find information on them.

So that meant that there was a leak in either organisation. Or a traitor. Shepard tried to push that thought from his head. That someone would sell out such a valuable find for humanity in exchange for a handful of credits was a thought he didn’t like to entertain. But then he thought back to Roger Matthews’ swift departure. Had he been so unsettled by the chance of the visiting Spectre taking his new-found goldmine away from under him that he had called in some pirates? The Commander hesitated to assume he was that desperate.

As Shepard considered this, the team rounded the final few twists in the passages until they came face-to-face with the way out. The white of Stynos’ near constant cloud cover shone down towards them temptingly. Shepard motioned silently for Kaidan and Jacob to take up positions on either side of the entrance, ready to leap out and attack any enemies who showed themselves. Shepard moved towards the square of light, cautious for any enemies lying in wait.

What he saw beyond was hardly a surprise. Two squads of raiders waited, their motley assortment of armour and weapons identifying them as a pirate band. What caught Shepard’s eye, however, was the ship hovering above the colony. Gun turrets sprouted from its belly, firing at random in a devastating barrage that was quickly incinerating prefabs right, left and centre. Even from this distance, the cries of the injured and dying could be heard. Shepard had to grit his teeth in anger at the suffering caused by greed.

He shifted his focus to the pirates milling about beyond the entrance. Two Batarians stood with an air of superiority, a swagger to their step that contained the arrogance of power. Shepard made a note of these commanders, labelling them as primary targets in the approaching combat. With the officers identified, he scanned the rank-and-file of the enemy numbers. Most carried assault rifles and shotguns of shoddy design, though he did spot a handful of rocket and grenade launchers among their arsenal. A half dozen off to one side conspicuously had their weapons holstered, though they looked no less prepared for combat. Biotics, probably.

Using silent signs, Shepard relayed his appraisal of the situation to his comrades, along with a set of instructions. Mordin stepped back to stand next to Masirra, ready to defend her. Jacob and Kaidan, flanking the entrance, tensed to leap after their commander. The Revenant began to glow as he drew dark energy about himself, falling into a crouch as though he was ready to start running. As the seconds drew by, the biotics around him glowed brighter and brighter.

Shepard counted under his breath, waiting for his mark. After five deathly silent seconds, he jolted forwards, leaping out of the ruins with a battle cry. His rifle sang in his hands as he leapt over disturbed earth towards his foes, one soldier before two dozen thugs. Before the bullets even had a chance to start flying back in his direction, Jacob and Kaidan leapt out from their positions, biotics flaring around one hand as the other carried a pistol that laid down a devastating attack.

Pirates fell by the handful, some caught so unprepared they never even had a chance to raise their weapons. One of the commanders died with three rounds from Shepard’s weapon in his gut, while the other darted behind his troops to hide from the attack, choosing the cowardly option of directing the battle from as far away as he could. The Commander stumbled as a pair of rockets flew his way, throwing up plumes of dirt and rubble. One rocket-wielder let out a startled cry as he lifted up into the air, spinning dizzily as Jacob raised a hand. Then, with a yell of dismay, he ploughed through his comrades, eventually falling unconscious after he was used to bludgeon a fourth member of his team into oblivion.

As Shepard and his comrades took cover wherever they could, Kaidan and Jacob finding refuge behind a large boulder turned up from underneath the soil while Shepard threw himself down into a shallow furrow in the ground, going prone as he switched to his sniper rifle, the glow emitting from the entrance to the ruins grew brighter and brighter. Finally the source of the light, the biotically illuminated Revenant, came charging out with a roar. Like a brilliant blue comet, the insectile being charged into the heart of the enemy ranks, coming to a halt with a thump and a shockwave that blew their formation apart. The Collector lashed out left and right with biotic blasts, levelling pirates like they were stalks of wheat before a great storm. Shepard provided some support by using his sniper rifle to drop the handful of pirates that had the presence of mind to raise a weapon in defence, and Jacob and Kaidan moved in to stand on either side of the Revenant, using a combination of their biotics and their bullets to mow down the enemy squads.

In a few brief minutes, the battle was over, and the dig site was thrown back into silence. Mordin and Masirra ventured out of the ruins carefully, the latter holding the Prothean relic between her hands like it was made of glass, while the former guided her down over the rough earth. Shepard nodded to them as he stowed his sniper rifle and unholstered his assault rifle again. With a gesture of his gun barrel, he indicated the direction they should proceed in, and his squad fell into step behind him, with Kaidan, Jacob, Mordin and the Revenant keeping Masirra in their midst where they could give her the most cover.

Shepard led the way down the empty streets, cautiously watching the shadows for any ambush that could have been awaiting them. The ground trembled underneath as the pirate ship continued its assault, demolishing the residential areas of the colony with deadly recklessness. The team constantly found themselves ducking out of sight of marauding bands of raiders as they prowled the streets.

They were approaching the administrative building of the colony, still intact even after the beating the colony had received, when Shepard heard the sounds of marching feet and shouted orders around the next corner. He waved his team into the darkness of a narrow alleyway, ducking in after them. He paused just within the refuge of the alley’s entrance, waiting for the approaching forces to appear.

Roger Matthews steamed into sight, standing at the head of a column of armed personnel. He now sported a set of sleek black battle armour which glinted dully in the fading light. At his hip he carried a professional-looking SMG and a powerful pistol, while his torso was sheathed in a holographic interface which denoted the presence of some advanced Tech Armour.

The director of the colony halted abruptly and turned to his troops, barking off a string of orders.

"Stenton, Fairchild, take your squads and comb the streets for survivors. Birrel, Leent, you’re with me. Let’s go and make sure the interlopers don’t make off with anything valuable."

Shepard stepped back as two squads peeled away from the main group, Matthews still shouting out orders to the remaining troops. The Commander turned to his squad as they shuffled to remain hidden from view.

"I knew it." Shepard whispered. "Something about that guy didn’t sit right with me. He called in the pirates and now he’s hunting for us."

"I can’t believe Mr Matthews would do this." Masirra murmured. "I mean, he’s always been secretive and we know he’s only interested in making money from these ruins, but using pirates to wipe the colony out? I can’t believe it!"

"What now, Shepard?" Kaidan asked. "He’ll know right away if we try to leave. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s already got the landing pad and our shuttle locked down."

"He’s the leader, so if we take him out, the assault should lose its co-ordination. Then our job will be a lot easier, though we’ll still have a lot of pirates between us and the Normandy." Shepard explained.

His squad nodded, raising their weapons in anticipation as he moved closer to the alley’s exit. He waited until the other two squads had filed away down separate streets, leaving Matthews with only two squads at his disposal, the ones under the command of Birrel and Leent. Shepard’s fingers curled around the trigger of his gun, bracing himself to leap into action.

As Shepard pounced out into the open street, swiftly followed by his squad, he was amazed by the speed with which Matthews reacted. The colony director spun to face him instantly, immediately sizing up the threat before darting into the cover provided by the corner of a prefab, all without Shepard’s squad managing to fire a single shot. His troops followed suit, taking up defensive positions about the street as their leader shouted out to the Commander.

"Whoa! Whoa! Hold your fire, Shepard!" Matthews called out.

"And then what? You keep us under lock and key while you loot those ruins? I don’t think so!" Shepard retorted.

"That’s not why I’m here, Shepard. We have friends in common, or one in particular."

The Commander hesitated at that last comment, still keeping his weapon trained on the spot Matthews would pass through if he emerged from his cover. The director’s tone contained a very strong hint that he knew more than he had previously revealed. Reluctantly, Shepard relaxed his grip on his weapon a fraction.

"Step out here where we can see you. Any funny business and we’ve got five bullets that’ll find your head before you can blink."

Matthews stepped out carefully, walking over with hands held out to either side of him in a gesture of pacifism. His weapons sat conspicuously in their holsters, too far from his hands to draw before Shepard’s squad could drop him. He stopped a few steps away from Shepard, dropping his voice so that his own troops could not hear him.

"The Shadow Broker sends his regards." Matthews said slowly. "I know that you’re here at the Broker’s request, as am I."

"Prove it." Shepard demanded.

"You’re cautious. That’s good." Matthews nodded. "The Broker anticipated this, and told me to give you a message. I’m supposed to tell you ‘Try not to repeat the circumstances of our meeting. We need these ones.’ I take it that’s something you understand."

Shepard nodded at the message, deciphering it using his past with Liara. Back when he’d met Liara, his actions had resulted in the destruction of some Prothean ruins, a necessary sacrifice to rescue the Asari scientist. ‘These ones’ had to refer to the ruins beneath Stynos’ surface, and the events would be impossible to connect without an in-depth knowledge of the history Shepard shared with the Shadow Broker. It was enough proof for the Commander.

"Okay. What’s the situation? I heard you telling your other teams to look for survivors?"

"Yeah. We’ve got several bunkers built underneath the colony for just such an occasion. My people have secured three of them, and we’re sheltering any colonists we can find in them. So far we’ve not found many survivors. These pirates seem pretty set on wiping us out."

"What about these pirates? Any idea who is leading them? Numbers?"

"I think we’re looking at about a hundred, maybe a hundred and fifty tops. The main problem is that damn ship." As Matthews mentioned it, as if on cue, the ship fired another salvo that made the ground tremble. "But they’ve got to have people on the inside to help them. That’s why our AA guns haven’t opened fire, not that they’d make much difference against an enemy of that size. Any time I’ve tried to access our security systems to hinder the enemies on the ground my attempts have been blocked."

"Any theories on who betrayed us?"

"There’s only a couple of people with the level of access necessary to be able to cause this much disruption- myself, Elisa and a couple of other ExoGeni reps, Masirra and Stephen Doyle."

"Well we can rule Masirra out. She’s been with us for the duration of our stay here. She’s not had a chance to disrupt your efforts to repel the pirates. So that leaves the ExoGeni reps and the security chief. Where could they be?"

"In the colony’s administrative hub, just a few streets away. It’s the heart of our computer network, and would give someone the access needed to control all facets of colony defence systems."

"Then that’ll be our next stop." Shepard said firmly. "We take out their mole, and the pirates lose a vital resource. But first, can you spare a few troops to escort Masirra to one of those bunkers you mentioned? It’s important she’s kept safe until this is over."

"That won’t be a problem. For dealing with our traitor, I suggest you take your team and hit the far side of the administrative complex, while I take my team to the front doors. Hopefully our attack will hold their attention and you can sneak in."

"Agreed. Masirra?" Shepard called over his shoulder. "Go with Matthews. He’ll see you to safety. I’ll find you once this is over."

The Asari nodded before she was surrounded by a phalanx of Matthews’ troops, who escorted her away down the street. Shepard watched them go, throwing the Shadow Broker agent a salute as he nodded a farewell. Then the Commander turned and headed off in another direction, taking his squad around the back of the colony’s heart.

After a few minutes, Shepard halted in front of the back wall of the administrative hub. The building, a twisting cone of glass and steel, towered overhead, it’s very summit pointing at the belly of the pirate vessel hovering overhead. A single steel door lurked at the base of the building, a squat rectangle of weakness in the walls. Shepard stepped over with some trepidation, swiping his omnitool over the interface. A display of the lock’s code flared up, and Shepard got to work bypassing the keycode.

The door opened with a clank, swinging away from the Commander to allow entry. Shepard shone the torch from his ‘tool into the dark interior, holding his rifle in his free hand in an unsteady grip as he swept the immediate area around the door.

"All clear. I guess the pirates haven’t had enough time to establish a guard around all the exits." Shepard confirmed.

"Or they’re somewhere else, and all we’ll find is a bunch of empty hallways." Kaidan suggested.

"Matthews didn’t seem to think there was anywhere else to override the security systems from. If nothing else, at least we can activate the colony’s AA guns from here."

The squad made their way through the empty halls, lit only by the dim light filtering through from outside. They listened cautiously for any sounds of pirate activity, but were rewarded with none for the first few minutes of their infiltration. So absolute was the silence in the building, Shepard jolted when his ‘tool beeped with an incoming communication.

"It’s Matthews. We’re in the lobby, but there’s no sign of any enemy contacts. It’s like a crypt in here."

"Same back here. I’m not so sure we’re looking in the right place."

"We’ll keep looking. Head for my office, on the fifth floor. I’ll meet you there and we can-"

The transmission suddenly erupted into a cacophony of gunfire and startled shouts. Shepard picked out the rattle of automatic rifles, the sharp cracks of pistols and the explosive coughs of shotguns, mingled with the cried of injured and dying soldiers. Matthews’ voice could be made out shouting orders to his troops, but it was clear that the apparent emptiness of the building had put them off-balance and they had been caught unawares, taking heavy losses in the crucial first moments of the attack.

"Matthews! Matthews, can you hear me?" Shepard only received static in response. "Damnit. They must have known we’d be coming in order to plan an ambush. If they were smart enough to be ready for Matthews, we need to watch out for any traps they might have set for someone circling ‘round the back."

"Should look out for a terminal connected to building’s internal net." Mordin chipped in. "Perhaps possible to turn ambush back on enemies."

"What are you thinking, Mordin?"

"Wait and see. Want to be sure of odds of success first."

Shepard smirked at the Salarian’s evasiveness. The alien doctor could sometimes be downright frustrating when he had a plan he refused to explain, but he was right on the money ninety-nine per cent of the time. His intellect could lead him to a solution that shocked anyone involved, and could almost never be predicted.

They proceeded slowly along the corridors, looking for an office that would suit Mordin’s needs. After searching a few rooms that contained nothing more than a couple of filing cabinets and some waiting rooms, they found what seemed to be the office of some minor official. Small, but equipped with a networked terminal. Mordin clucked with appreciation and moved behind the terminal. In seconds he had extended the holographic display well beyond its normal proportions, scrolling the data across it with practised ease.

"Internal security firewalls laughably simple to bypass. Clear that physical infiltration of building was not expected." He muttered. "Pulling up building blueprints, and tying into fire suppression system. FSS uses heat sensors and carbon dioxide/monoxide monitors to detect fires, but can be modified, sensitivity tuned up. On more sensitive setting, can indicate presence of life forms."

As he finished his explanation, the glowing display of the building flickered, certain hallways filling with a blue glow. Other, more vibrant red spots lit up around points at the end of the blue trails.

"Blue colouring shows presence of elevated levels of carbon dioxide in hallways. Gets fainter as density dissipates, showing how recently life forms were present in area. Blue glow gets stronger closer to current location of life forms, and even stronger in presence of larger numbers. Red spots indicate raised temperature, consistent with presence of warm-blooded creatures, such as Salarians, Humans, Batarians, Asari and Quarians. Turians, Vorcha and Krogan are cold-blooded, and will not register, but heat generated by weapons, kinetic barriers and various armour systems will reveal presence."

"So we look for the places where the blue glow and the red dots are in the highest concentration. That would be here, here and here." Shepard pointed to three different spots. "This one’s by the lobby, so that’ll be the group Matthews is fighting. There’s another on the fifth floor, probably a group guarding the entrance to Matthews’ office. And then, there’s this group here."

Shepard’s finger hovered over a spot just one floor up from their current location. There, a large azure glow surrounded a red orb of heat. Mordin clacked out a few commands, and the map zoomed in, giving them a closer look.

"From the looks of things, they’re set to ambush us as we try to take the stairs." Jacob said. "Lie in wait either side of the upper landing, and catch us in a cross-fire as we move on up."

"Any way of telling their numbers?" Shepard asked.

"No. Glow indicates a cluster of beings in a stationary position. Could be as many as thirty, could be as few as a dozen. No way to confirm armaments or defences. Is quite irritating that ExoGeni did not equip their own administrative buildings with security cams. Would have been invaluable in these circumstances."

"Like you said, Mordin. They never thought anyone would get inside." Shepard said. "So we know of two obstacles between us and the controls for the AA guns, but what about this red spot here? I’m not seeing any carbon dioxide around it, so that would suggest heat with no one breathing? How do you explain that?"

"Several possibilities. Certain to be equipment, as heat from dead bodies would have dissipated along with carbon dioxide in air. Further investigation into building’s layout reveals…" There was a pause as the Salarian tapped a few commands. "Storage room, with access to power systems. Heat could be by-product of power conduit, but amount of heat is incongruous with rest of building’s power system. May warrant further investigation."

"You feel this is something the pirates have set up?"

"Is a possibility." Mordin said, shrugging. "Also, may have chance to sabotage power systems, give you edge in foiling ambush on next floor."

"You’re volunteering to go check it out?"

"Would be best use of my talents, rather than using me as frontline combatant."

"I’ll go with him." Kaidan volunteered. "Just to watch his back, and for any heavy lifting."

"Okay. You two, go cause whatever hell you can with the power. Stay in touch with us, and wait for my signal. I don’t want to tip our hand before we’re ready. And whatever you do, it better not be permanent. I do not want the AA guns out of action because we needed to get to their controls."

"Roger that, Shepard." With a nod, Kaidan escorted Mordin away to investigate their latest target.

Shepard then led Jacob and the Revenant towards the staircase, weaving through the final twists and turns of the corridors leading up to it. Shepard paused just out of sight of the way up to the next floor. He cautiously peered into the stairwell, but couldn’t see any sign of movement. He whipped his omnitool out and activated his comm.

"Mordin? Got anything?"

[fainmaca]

Chapter 17 Part 2




Down the hallway, only a few rooms away, Kaidan hovered over Mordin’s shoulder as he worked to bypass the controls of a doorway. The Salarian’s efforts were rewarded with a click and he pushed the door open before stepping aside to allow Kaidan to go in first.

The human entered cautiously, pistol held in front of him. Mordin’s improvised biosensor indicated that there wasn’t anyone in the room, but it could never hurt to be cautious. The storage room beyond was dark, and Kaidan’s omnitool light shone brightly, illuminating various cleaning supplies and tools. Kaidan’s eye was drawn by a glint from the back of the room, near the floor. A small diagnostic module blinked as it monitored the power flowing through the back wall, their objective. Kaidan started to move tools and boxes out of the way, but stopped when Mordin laid a four-digited hand on his shoulder.

"Need to show more caution, Alenko. Take closer look at that box." The Salarian pointed at the metal storage locker Kaidan had laid his hands on, and was about to shift.

Kaidan looked closer, and noticed a few black and red wires running from the base of the box, snaking their way across the floor and terminating in the diagnostic module. Warily, he lifted the lid to look inside. His eyes were greeted by a gleefully bright flicker of lights inside, a multitude of status lights and controls surrounding a sinister looking core.

"Good catch, Mordin." Kaidan congratulated as he dialled up his comm. "Shepard, we’ve got a problem here. Looks like a decent-sized bomb has been wired into the building’s power grid. You try powering up the AA guns, the entire building goes up."

"Damn. Think it can be disarmed?" Came the Commander’s reply.

Kaidan looked over to the Salarian doctor, who held his hand out in front of him, palm downwards, and wiggled it.

"Mordin… seems confident, Shepard. If we slip up, I’ll try to warn you before the blast puts my face through the back of my head."

"Roger that."

Kaidan powered down his commlink as Mordin hunkered down over the bomb, sweeping his ‘tool over the bomb, oval eyes narrowed as he studied his newest ‘project’.

"Ever defused a bomb before, Mordin?"

"Not exactly. As part of STG, often was involved in covert operations involving sabotage. Have assembled and armed many bombs before. Theory should be simple enough to reverse."

"I am filled with confidence." Kaidan said glumly.

~o~0~o~


Shepard kept an alert eye on the stairwell, searching for any sign of movement. He chewed his lower lip in hesitation, still processing Kaidan’s discovery.

"We’ll have to forget about using the power systems as a distraction. From the sound of things, any tampering with the power will get our asses lit up."

"We can’t just walk out there and meet ‘em head on." Jacob said. "That’d just be stupid. Gotta find a way to catch ‘em off guard."

"I think I might know how." Shepard said. "We’ve got to flank them."

"How? This is the only way up to the next floor."

"There’s one other way. You two, stay here. I’ll give you a shout when I need you to move. When you get the signal, I will need you to charge up those stairs as fast as you can."

Jacob nodded as Shepard turned away from the stairwell, heading back down the hallway. Behind him, the ex-Cerberus operative and the Collector settled down to wait for the Commander’s signal.

Shepard made his way past several empty rooms before finding one that suited his needs. He walked past a bank of filing cabinets and stepped up to the window, looking out at the colony. Below, the prefabs were still burning, and an occasional shot from the pirate ship up above destroyed one of the few remaining intact buildings. Shepard could see groups of people moving through the streets below, though he couldn’t tell whether they were Matthews’ men, still searching for survivors, or pirates combing the streets for fresh targets.

The Commander inspected the window itself, eyeing the thick metal bar that ran across it on an upwards slant. The thick metal frame encased the building, its spiral shape giving it its twisted conical appearance.

Shepard drew his pistol and took aim at the window, pulling the trigger twice. Two tiny holes appeared in the glass, surrounded by a spider’s web of cracks. The Commander stepped over and, switching to his assault rifle. Using the butt of the gun, he smashed out the glass of the window, exposing the room to the cool air outside. Shepard paused, feeling the breeze caress his face, and then clambered out. Placing his feet carefully, the Commander perched on the narrow ledge provided by the metal beam. After taking a moment to affirm his balance, he shuffled along the beam, working his way up the none too gentle slope of the beam.

After a few minutes of shuffling, unperturbed by the distance between him and the ground, Shepard had managed to scale up the side of the building to the next floor. He paused in front of a window belonging to a deserted office which, Shepard was glad to note, had the door closed. He shuffled along the beam a short ways and lifted his pistol, aiming at the window from his precarious position and firing. In seconds he was back inside, but now one floor up and past the waiting pirates.

~o~0~o~


Kaidan felt uncomfortably warm in his armour, though he knew that that was just a by-product of the tension of his current situation. He had long since stopped trying to assist Mordin, realising his efforts were only getting in the Salarian’s way, and now simply watched at the door for any danger. His gut twisted with anxiety as the doctor continued to tinker with the tiny device that could so swiftly destroy them all.

"Are you nearly done with that thing?" He asked, his worry getting the better of him.

"Cannot rush this. Not simple, like heart surgery. Making surprising progress, considering nature of situation, but progress will be hindered unless you can restrain your vocal input to a bare minimum." The Salarian said snippily.

"We’re running out of time, Mordin."

"Am aware of temporal restraints, Alenko. Suggest you stow head in cloaca and allow me to continue my work."

"What did you just tell me to- Wait. You hear that?"

Kaidan swivelled to face the door and the hallway beyond. Faint echoes of marching feet could be heard approaching, from the direction opposite to the way Shepard, Jacob and the Revenant had gone. The soldier lifted his weapon to his shoulder and sighted down the hallway.

Kaidan tensed as the first figure came running into view, wearing the shoddy armour of a pirate. The raider’s eyes narrowed as he caught sight of Kaidan standing watch over the storage room, but any chance he had to attack soon passed by. Kaidan feathered the trigger and a spray of bullets pounded into the surprised pirate’s torso, throwing him back against the wall to leave a smear of blood as he slid to the floor. At the noise of Kaidan’s weapon, the rest of the marching feet slowed, becoming more cautious. Kaidan saw tiny flickers of movement just out of his line of view, the pirates taking up positions to attack.

"Hey, Solus? Might wanna hurry it up back there. These guys ain’t happy we’re playing with their toys."

Mordin didn’t even look up at the announcement, simply increasing the speed of his efforts as the bullets started flying behind him.

Kaidan heard a snap behind him, followed by a hissing intake of breath from Mordin. He looked back over his shoulder to see the Salarian holding a pair of severed wires with a regretful expression. Beneath his hands, the bomb’s timer was swiftly counting down.

~o~0~o~


Shepard slowly opened the door to the office, scanning the hallway beyond. He sighed with relief when he confirmed it was empty before advancing down the hallway towards the stairwell. He moved like a ghost down the hallway, through a few twists and turns until he was at the final corner away from the stairs. He held his breath as he peered around the corner at the top of the stairwell.

Fifteen pirates lay in hiding, spread out on either side of the top of the stairs with their weapons held at the ready. Anyone trying to climb up the stairs would be cut down in seconds.

Shepard cautiously put his assault rifle back on his armour’s magnetic plate and fumbled at the back of his armour. His hand closed around the handle of the large weapon sitting astride his spine, pulling it out and unfolding its many parts. The UHF rifle powered up with a near-silent hum, the mouth of the barrel glowed a dull green.

The Commander keyed out a command on his omnitool and stood up swiftly, racing around the corner. Before any of the pirates had a chance to react, he’d depressed the trigger.

The weapon began to vibrate in Shepard’s hands, the green light growing brighter. Instantly the room was filled with a strange sound. Shepard would have been hard pressed to describe it, but it was more the absence of noise than anything else, a pressure on the ears that suggested he should have been deafened, but wasn’t. The effect was immediately evident, as half of the pirates fell to the ground, clutching at their ears. One, a Batarian, began bleeding from his ears and nose, screeching at a horrendous noise only he could hear.

The rest of the pirates, located on the near side of the stairs to Shepard, saw their fellows taken down and began to look about in consternation, wondering what was afflicting them. There was no gunfire, and to them it seemed their comrades had simply dropped to the floor. One of them chanced a look behind them and saw Shepard standing there, UHF rifle in hand. He shouted a warning to his friends and weapons were raised. The pirates turned to deal with the Commander, but as they did so, Jacob and the Revenant came barrelling up the stairs. The former unleashed a volley of bullets into the backs of the pirates facing Shepard, while the latter used his biotics to sow discord and confusion among their enemies. While Shepard kept the other half of the enemy force immobilised, his two friends swiftly dealt with the remnants.

The Commander noticed a blinking light on his weapon. The power gauge flashed yellow, then red, notifying him that it was using up its power cells at an alarming rate. As the red light finally blinked out, the weapon going dead, Shepard stowed the gun on his back, swapping it out for his trusted assault rifle. The switch occurred in seconds, and none of the pirates had recovered from the sonic assault by the time Shepard was ready to use his fully stocked rifle. Shepard unloaded a clip into their midst as they tried to stagger to their feet. Jacob and the last Collector finished off their half of the pirate force, and turned their attention to Shepard’s targets. The dazed and confused pirates stood no chance, and were killed in moments.

After the massacre was finished, Shepard paused to catch his breath. Jacob and the Revenant stepped over to stand next to him, the human breathing heavily. The Collector, as ever, remained unreadable, giving no indication he had strained himself in the last few minutes.

"How’d you get up here behind them, Commander?" Jacob asked.

"I took a walk." Shepard said by way of explanation, only elaborating after Jacob put on an expression that made it clear he was demanding an explanation. "Used the beams that give the building shape. Climbed up the outside of the building to an office on this floor."

"Why don’t we just do that to get to Matthews’ office?"

"Gotta deal with these pirates, otherwise we’re cornered in that office with them on our asses. Plus, once we stepped onto the ledge in front of that office, we’d alert whoever is in there and they could just open fire on us as we’re out on the ledge. Without cover, we’d be taking the express coach back down to the ground."

"I guess. Anyway, looks like the UHF gun is a success." Jacob said.

"I’d say so. It definitely kept the second half of the ambush out of the fight." Shepard said, his tone congratulating the soldier on his ingenuity. "Just need to work on that power consumption. It went through that power cell like Jack goes through a bottle of ryncol."

"Fast, rough and with one **** of a temper?" Jacob quipped.

"Cute. I’ll be sure to let her know you said that."

"Only if you want me to neglect to calibrate the targeting systems on your weapons."

"Alright, you make a lucky escape this time. C’mon. We’ve still got a lot of work to do. Let’s hope there’s less guards on the fifth floor."

"I just hope Mordin’s doing alright with that bomb. I’d hate to get this far and then be vaped for nothin’."

~o~0~o~


Mordin’s brow creased as he tried to halt the bomb’s countdown. In his rush to defuse the device, he had unwittingly severed its connection to the power supply, activating a booby trap in the device to prevent tampering. Now, the timer showed only a minute or so until detonation.

Behind the doctor, Kaidan was struggling to defend their position, trading fire with the pirates from the shelter of the doorway.

"Where did these guys come from?" Kaidan wondered aloud as his rifle rattled it’s deadly chant in his hands.

"Likely pirates responsible for ambush of Matthews at entrance. Upon victory, returning to previously agreed positions to catch out any infiltrators approaching from back, such as us." Mordin said, still working with a cool unnatural for one in such a combat situation. "Now, must focus. Detonation only a minute away, and still unable to isolate timer from fuse."

Kaidan nodded at the Salarian’s back, and maintained his defence, blasting one pirate in the face with a couple of well-placed bullets and reducing their enemies’ numbers by one. Then his shields beeped in protest as a barrage of bullets impacted across his torso, thighs and shins.

"Argh!" Mordin grunted in annoyance. "Incapable of completing task. Do not have training for bomb disposal. Cannot isolate timer." His eyes narrowed as he looked at the bomb, but then a spark entered the black orbs. "Wait! Have spent too much time looking at detonation assembly, and not enough at payload. Perhaps…"

He tinkered with the bomb some more, noting the timer hit thirty seconds as beads of sweat rolled across his brow.

Kaidan had just recharged his shields and was using the reinforced defences to renew his attack on the pirates when he heard a shout of triumph from the Salarian. Then a silvery shape flew past his head, clattering across the floor in the hallway and rattling to a halt at the feet of one of the pirates. The raider looked down to his feet, eyes widening in surprise as he twisted to bolt away. He never took a step.

Kaidan turned away from the hallway as a blinding light filled it, ducking behind the door as a wave of hot air and flames rushed towards the storage room. The tremendous crash of the explosion was deafening, the loudest thing Kaidan had ever heard. He braced himself against the door, using it as a barrier between him and the devastation, when the blast hit the door and it was thrown back, hitting him in the face and sending him spiralling into unconsciousness.

~o~0~o~


Shepard stalked down the corridors, rifle at the ready. Jacob and the Revenant watched his back, scanning the rooms and junctions they passed. They had arrived on the fifth floor with no trouble, but Mordin’s scans indicated a cluster of beings gathered around the door to Matthews’ office, so they could not afford to be complacent.

They arrived at the final stretch of hallway leading up to Matthews’ office, and Shepard halted his team with a clenched fist held out from him, level with his shoulder. He peered around the final corner to see the final group of pirates between them and their objective. A small knot of ten pirates stood guard around the door, rifles held at the ready. Shepard saw a mixture of humans, Batarians and Turians there, with one Asari seemingly holding authority over them, judging from the relaxed air she bore compared to their vigilant stances and the respectful distance they all kept from her.

"I count ten guards." Shepard explained to his friends in a whisper. "We’ve got an Asari, so watch out for biotics. The rest look like general grunts, but looks can be deceiving. Jacob, you and I go in first, catch them off guard. Revenant, I want you following right behind us. Take out that Asari."

Upon receiving affirmative nods from his crew, Shepard checked his rifle. The ammo counter registered a full clip, and he flicked the setting over to armour piercing rounds. They could wreak havoc on an organic’s tender insides, and were not the kind of ammo to be stopped by cobbled-together armour like what the pirates sported. He smirked to think that Garrus might have suggested incendiaries instead, given that they could set both the target and any additional enemies around them on fire and would therefore disrupt the enemy ranks a little more. But Shepard preferred to think of bullet economy, aiming for a one-shot-one-kill strategy, and incendiaries were not well suited for that.

He gave Jacob the nod, and the pair of them rushed around the corner, rifles opening up before they were even fully in the pirates’ line of sight. Almost instantly, Shepard’s shields beeped a warning of multiple impacts, their power levels dropping swiftly. Beside him, Jacob shared in his predicament, though he had layers of biotic protection as an additional defence.

Shepard had managed to drop two pirates, one with a flurry of bullets to the gut and the other with a single shot that landed between his eyes, killing him instantly, when he was suddenly thrown from his feet. A blue storm of biotic fire blazed through the corridor, knocking both the Commander and Jacob from their feet. The Asari had sprung into action, using her natural talent for biotics to lay down a devastating assault on Shepard and Jacob, throwing them about like rag dolls.

The Asari strode forwards, moving out from the safety of her comrades, confident that she had the upper hand. Shepard raised his rifle to shoot at her, but a flick of her wrist sent the weapon skittering across the floor. She smiled as she raised a glowing fist to launch a Warp blast at point-blank range, sure to be a killing blow.

He attack was interrupted by a blue-black bolt of light screaming through the air above Shepard, hitting the pirate square in the chest. The Asari was knocked screaming off her feet, sliding along the smooth floor to come to a rest at the feet of her comrades.

Still bathed in the flickering light of his biotics, the Revenant stepped into full view, holding his hands out in front of him to raise a barrier as the pirates unleashed a barrage of bullets at him. Shepard rolled across the floor towards his gun, grasping it with frantic fingers and rolling back onto his back to fire at the pirates. From this position, his aim was steady but his ability to move with his targets was limited. He managed to gun down a further two targets before he had to roll onto his feet, scuttling out of the way of the pirates’ counterattack.

While Shepard was occupied in this way, Jacob was making good use of his military training. He was ducking and weaving from side to side, advancing on his enemies between bursts of fire from the pirates. He enveloped himself in a biotic field and launched into a small knot of pirates, lashing out with hands and feet at his enemies. He punched one in the gut, causing him to double over, and then lashed out with a foot to catch the raider on the chin, snapping his head back with such force that he fell to the floor, killed instantly by a broken neck. Jacob then wrestled with a second raider, hoisting him over his head and throwing him into a third. He then drew his pistol and finished them off with two lightning-quick shots.

The Revenant was locked in combat with the Asari. The pair of them traded Warp blasts, the deflected attacks scoring the walls and ceiling with black scorch marks. A particularly powerful attack from the pirate blew a hole in the floor, exposing the hallway below. After a few moments of this evenly tied struggle, the Revenant suddenly stopped attacking, putting all of his power into his barrier. He lifted his hands in front of his face and leaned forwards, looking like he was physically holding the barrier in front of him.

Shepard’s brow creased as he saw this, momentarily diverting his attention from the remaining four pirates around the office door. He saw the Collector’s eyes glow a slightly brighter yellow as he focused on the Asari before him. Shepard caught sight of a flicker behind the Collector, and realised he was unfolding his wings. The transparent wings stuttered as they flexed, and then the Revenant launched himself forwards, wings flickering as they powered him forwards in the midst of a cone of biotic energy. It resembled a vanguard’s charge, but his feet barely touched the floor as he raced towards the pirate leader. However, the flight was slightly erratic, as though he struggled to keep his balance. Even with this uncertainty to his attack, he still managed to land on-target, hitting the Asari with all of the might he could muster.

The pirate’s expression turned to one of terror as the gigantic insect propelled himself towards her as an appreciable fraction of the speed of sound. His fists ripped through her barrier, hitting her in the stomach. She lifted up from the ground, sailing back through the air and hitting the wall with a solid thump. She fell to the floor, and didn’t get up again.

The final four pirates stared in fear at the biotic display, paralysed by shock for a moment. Shepard made use of those precious seconds to take out another two pirates, while Jacob gunned down his fourth. The Revenant lifted a hand, hoisting the last pirate into the air with his abilities. He then twisted the hand and the pirate was hurled through a nearby door, smacking against the window beyond with a crash before plummeting to the ground outside.

Shepard hit the side of his gun, dislodging the sizzling heat sink and feeding in a fresh one, as he walked up to the door to Matthews’ office. He paused for a second before reaching out to grasp the door handle. His fingers curled around it just as a tremendous thump passed through the entire building. Half a second later, the overpowering crash of an explosion echoed up the hall towards them.

~o~0~o~


Kaidan opened his eyes to see Mordin’s wide black eyes hovering over him. He had to admit, it wasn’t the most appealing sight to wake up to. It was as this thought ran through his head that the pain came rolling in. A sharp, shooting ache traversed his skull, originating in a red-hot point in the centre of his forehead. He closed his eyes again and raised a hand to the spot. Seeing the soldier still alive and responsive, Mordin smiled in relief.

"Alenko! Good to see you are alive. Had concerns that had overdone it."

"Overdone what?" Kaidan groaned, opening his eyes again and squinting against the light.

"Figured out that disabling timer was unnecessary. Instead, managed to tune down yield of bomb. Smaller explosion, less risk to us. Once done, threw bomb out into hallway, used it as grenade against pirates. Just in time, too. Very dramatic. Must remember for Mordin Solus autobiography."

"What about the building’s internal structure? Aren’t we at risk of being caught in a collapse?"

"Should remain intact. Tuned bomb down to minimum yield. Enough to blow out windows, buckle a few walls, but nothing structurally important."

The pair turned at a scraping noise from behind them. The door to the storage room, blown off its hinges and leaning across the doorway to cover it, shifted uncertainly. Then, with a heave, it was lifted away completely to reveal a familiar face, with a half dozen armoured individuals behind him.

"Mr Alenko, Doctor Solus!" Matthews exclaimed. "It’s good to see you. What the hell happened? Where’s the Commander and the rest of your team. Did they…?"

Kaidan instantly saw the direction the Shadow Broker agent’s mind was travelling in and was quick to dispel his concerns.

"They weren’t with us when the bomb went off. They went on ahead. As far as I know, they’re okay."

"Good. Wait, bomb?"

"Whoever is leading these mercs booby trapped the building’s power systems. If we’d tried to activate the AA guns, boom!"

"This is all way beyond the pay grade of a small-time pirate band. These guys are not kidding around."

"Yeah. We’d best go check where Shepard’s at." Kaidan said, getting to his feet with a groan. "So, no offence, but how come you guys are still about? When those pirates came charging after us, they came from your direction. Means they either thought they had won, or were on the run cause you handed their asses to them. And it doesn’t look like you’ve got the numbers left for option two."

"Yeah, we got hit pretty bad. I’m down to six men now. When it became clear they were going to wipe us out, we retreated, losing the ones who came out to pursue us by hiding in a burning prefab. They thought we burned to death when it collapsed, and once they’d gone we climbed back out. Then we saw the explosion and got back here as fast as we could."

"Glad you did. C’mon. If Shepard’s not gotten into that office yet, then he’s slacking."

~o~0~o~


Shepard spun around at the sound of the explosion, ready to leap into the cover of a doorframe or something should the building show any sign of collapsing. After a tense moment, he relaxed, but not by much.

"I don’t get it. Mordin said the bomb had enough force to destroy the whole building." Jacob said.

"I guess he managed to mess with it enough to prevent it from blowing us all to kingdom come." Shepard said grimly.

"Wait, you don’t think they were still- Oh God!" Jacob sounded like he was having trouble breathing.

"Kaidan, Mordin, come in." Shepard demanded over the comms. "Kaidan, Mordin, come in! Answer me, Goddamnit!"

The only response over the comm was a hiss of static. Jacob lowered his head, closing his eyes in sorrow. Shepard tried several more times, his voice rising to a yell as he strained to hear anything from his companions. Finally he closed down his omnitool with a snort of disgust.

"God almighty!" He cursed. "I am not losing anyone today! Not to a bunch of small-time pirate scum. C’mon! We’ll finish off whoever’s behind this, get these damned AA towers online and then we’re going to find Kaidan and Mordin and get them to safety."

With that, the Commander moved up to the door and launched a vicious kick at it, smashing it open with one blow. He barged through the broken doors with his gun out, swinging it about to find a target.

The office beyond was empty, much to Shepard’s surprise. The only sign of recent occupation was a still active terminal, beeping quietly but insistently. The Commander scanned the rest of the room quickly, but found no one.

"Whoever it is that betrayed the colony, they were here not too long ago. They’ve even left the colony defence controls pulled up on the terminal." He muttered to the others as he stepped up to the desk. "Maybe they bolted as soon as they heard us outside, but how? We’ve been watching the door."

"Hey Shepard?" Jacob called, standing in front of the window. He reached out to push at the glass, which swivelled. "Looks like they used the same trick you did, Commander. There’s a beam wide enough to walk along just a few feet below the window here."

"So they could be anywhere in the building now." Shepard fumed.

"I’m not seeing anyone on the ground below. I reckon if they’d been shuffling along on this beam when that bomb went up, they’d be pavement pizza by now." Jacob surmised. "Means they ran either just now, after the bomb, or they climbed down and got in by another window before it went off."

"We’ll find them soon enough." Shepard promised. "Nobody gets away with what they’re responsible for. Not on my watch."

"Good to hear it, Commander." Came a voice from the door. Shepard spun around, rifle levelled at the speaker, only to see Matthews standing there, hands raised in a gesture of non-aggression. "Whoa! Hold fire, Shepard. I think you might have lost one or two things on your way here. I’m just returning them."

Shepard’s jaw dropped as Kaidan and Mordin shuffled into the room. Both bore grins that were almost too wide for their faces. Their happy expressions vanished at the Commander’s first words to them.

"Just what the hell do you guys think you’re doing?"

"Commander?" Kaidan asked confusedly.

"Going off the radar like that. I’ve been trying to contact you since that damned bomb went off. We all thought you were dead."

"Huh. I guess the bomb knocked our commlinks out. We were pretty much underneath the blast."

"And what was with that anyway? I thought you were going to defuse it, not set it off. And how come the building’s intact? You said there’d be nothing left of us if it went off." Shepard realised he wasn’t really angry with them, but was only acting that way to release the emotions their survival enkindled in him.

"Mordin’s work. He toned it down from a barn-burner to a room-clearer." Kaidan explained. "Still shook us up plenty, but I reckon the pirates shooting at us came off the worst there."

"Anyway, we’d best get to work here. Matthews? I’ll let you take care of the AA guns, seeing as you’ll be familiar with the system."

"Sure thing just give me a…" Matthews trailed off as he stepped behind his terminal and tapped off a few commands. In seconds he was rewarded with an affirmative beep, and a holographic woman appeared on the far side of his desk from him.

"Welcome back, Mr Matthews. How can I be of service?" She asked in a melodic voice.

"Trina, I need you to get the colony defence systems online."

"Acknowledged. One moment, please."

"This is Trina, my personal VI." Matthews explained.

"You let her control the colony’s defences?" Shepard asked.

"Not exactly. I can order her to perform certain operations, or do them myself. I’m just having her do it so I can clear up in here. Got some files I want to give you and then clear from our database."

"Smart move."

"Yeah. From now on, my data goes straight to the Broker, and nowhere else."

"Defences are online, Mr Matthews." Trina offered quietly.

"Thanks. Now, can you tell me who has been in my office since the last time I was here until I returned?" Matthews asked.

"Executive Kensington called by at fourteen-thirty local time, though she left very soon after. The honourable Bolnan was present at fifteen-forty-five, and left after about fifteen minutes, stating that ‘this one will find him itself’, when I offered to message you. Officer Doyle entered this office at sixteen-ten, and then this unit was shut down using a level one authorisation code."

"So there we have it." Matthews concluded. "Stephen was here just before the pirates arrived. He shuts down my VI, and then he can do whatever he likes with the defences without being observed."

"Why would he have such high-level access?" Shepard asked.

"He was security chief. Of course he’ll have those codes. I just never imagined he’d betray us."

"Any way to track him?"

"Sure. Now that Trina’s back online, I can use her to track a specific individual’s omnitool anywhere in the colony. Trina? Where is Stephen at the moment?"

"Security Chief Doyle is currently located in your office."

Matthews’ brow creased in confusion.

"That can’t be right. You sure?"

"Affirmative."

Matthews stalked about the office, searching. Shepard joined him in his hunt, his eyes settling on a cupboard to one side. It looked like the place one would keep stationery supplies. Shepard walked over and, pausing to take a breath and draw his pistol, opened the doors.

Security Chief Stephen Doyle rolled out of the cupboard, hitting the floor with a thud. Shepard checked his instinct to open fire on the sudden movement, noting the lack of reaction from the man. He crouched next to Stephen, lying on his belly on the office floor with his head turned to one side. Shepard inspected the man’s face and noted the glassy expression of the eyes.

"Suddenly I’m not so sure he’s our man." The Commander said as he turned him over. "He’s dead."

Stephen’s eyes stared up at the ceiling, the cloud of death seeping through his pupils. Matthews’ breath caught in his throat on seeing the body of his colleague.

"Oh God!"

"Still warm." Shepard commented. "Look at the marks around his neck. I’d say he was strangled. Mordin, come take a closer look."

"Nasty way to go." Jacob muttered.

"There’s never a good way." Kaidan answered.

"Bruising around neck indicates strangulation. However, strange discoloration in face, incongruous with oxygen deprivation. Uncertain as to cause."

"It’s probably safe to assume that whoever did this is our actual traitor." Shepard said. "And with Stephen dead our list of suspects is limited to the ExoGeni reps."

"Hey, Trina? The terminal was logged in when we arrived. Can you tell us whose name it’s under?"

"Current user logged in on your terminal is Executive Elisa Kensington, username ‘DizzieLizzie’."

"So Elisa is our traitor?" Shepard asked.

"After today’s events, I think we’d be smart not to make any more assumptions." Matthews said wryly.

"Let’s look for her anyway."

"Sure. Trina? Find Elisa for us."

"Executive Kensington is located in the colony water plant."

"The water plant? Why is she there?"

"Unknown." The VI said coldly.

"So our next stop is the water plant?" Shepard asked.

"I guess." Matthews conceded. "It makes no sense why she’d go there. Hardly the best place to arrange a pickup from, and just about as far from the ruins as you could imagine, so not somewhere to go to plan the retrieval of the relics from."

"We’ll ask her when we find her." Shepard said. "Are those AA guns finished powering up yet?"

"Just about… done." Matthews said. "Targeting the ship."

The building vibrated as loud retorts could be heard outside. Through the window, Shepard saw a huge gun turret swivel around and open fire on the pirate ship overhead. Three other shots could be heard, each coming from a different weapon. Overhead, the ship was sheathed in a red shimmering veil as its kinetic barriers flickered into action, easily deflecting the shots. Matthews watched his terminal as several more rounds fired, before a curse escaped from his lips.

"Damn. Almost no decrease in shield readings on the ship. We’re barely gonna make a scratch. These guns are designed to fend off fighters, frigates and gunships, not cruisers. Can’t you call your ship in?"

"The Normandy’s undergoing some repairs just now. She’s in no shape to fight just now." Shepard said.

"Then we’ve got to figure out how to take that thing out by ourselves." Matthews said.

"Let’s find Elisa first. If she has a link to the pirates, she may provide us with a way to stop them."

"If she’ll co-operate."

"Who says we’ll give her a choice?"

~o~0~o~


Shepard swivelled to scan the water plant, making sure the area immediately around the door was secure before waving his team through. Matthews had joined them, though he had sent the small remnant of his troops off to join the survivors in the bunkers. The exhausted troops had borne expressions of relief at a chance to relax, though the tension of the situation still sat heavily over their heads.

Inside the plant, Shepard saw no signs of movement, so he signalled his squad to enter. Jacob and Kaidan took up positions on either side of the entrance, rifles held at the ready. Shepard nodded at their vigilant stance.

"Good idea. As far as I can tell, this is the only way in or out. You two guard the door while we go find Elisa."

"Aye aye, sir." Jacob said, saluting.

Shepard then led Mordin, the Revenant and Matthews deeper into the plant, stalking around the massive vats that stored the colony’s drinking water and the humming filters that kept it from stagnating and free from contaminants.

"Matthews, any ideas on where she’d hide in here?" Shepard asked.

"Not really. Like I said before, it’s not exactly the sort of place you’d go to in a situation like this. We’ve got the pump control rooms across the back wall and the sample storage vault. Other than that, it’s just vats and pipes."

"Sample storage?"

"We take a sample of the water every four hours, analyse it, and store it for future reference. That way, if there’s ever an outbreak, we can trace it back to almost exactly when it started."

"Very organised, if a little paranoid." Shepard muttered.

"Alien environment, Commander. There’s no such thing as too careful. At least while we’re starting out. We stop all of this after the first decade passes."

"Right. Well, let’s-"

Shepard stopped as he spotted a flicker of movement in his peripheral vision. The rest of the squad flinched as they heard a clank, echoing about in the darkness of the silent plant. The Commander twitched his head around to look at the source of the movement and saw the hint of a running shadow, racing along a catwalk above the vats.

"We’ve got a runner, up above!" Shepard shouted. He turned to face Mordin and the Revenant. "You two, try and circle around behind her on this level. Matthews, with me. We’ll chase her up there."

The Shadow Broker agent nodded and followed the Commander up some metal steps, clambering up to the catwalks that spanned the length of the building, hanging over the water vats. The metal bounced and danced under their weight, the echoes of their booted feet clanging back at them from the dim interior of the plant.

Shepard felt his breath growing heavier as he pounded down the length of the catwalk, just keeping the shady form of Elisa in sight ahead. He could hear Matthews’ panting as the agent struggled to keep up with him, and realised that they were both tired after the day they had been through, the near-constant combat taking its toll on them. They needed to end this soon, otherwise their weariness would get in the way of their judgement.

Shepard had only managed to close the gap between himself and Elisa by a small margin before she suddenly stopped dead, seeming to freeze at the sight of something beyond the range of Shepard’s vision. He assumed that Mordin and the Revenant were approaching from the far side, blocking her escape route. She turned to face Shepard, and he was surprised to see the overwhelming fear in her face. He’d expected maybe a little fear at being caught, but not the abject terror he saw there. He began to suspect there was something more to the situation than he was aware of.

Tears rolled down her face as Elisa began stammering out fear-filled words.

"I-I-I’m sorry. I h-had no choice." She snivelled. "He, he sh-showed me what would happen. H-he killed Stephen!"

"Elisa, stay calm." Shepard said soothingly. "We’re not going to hurt you. Now, who is ‘he’?"

Elisa’s breath became a series of gulps as she sobbed.

"H-he made me use my codes to let him in, a-after he… after Stephen- and then he shut down the defence guns. N-n-next thing I knew, there was all kinds of gunfire in the building, and he wouldn’t let me leave. Said I was- I was- that I was ‘leverage’. Then there was this explosion and he said we had to leave. Dragged me out of the window and…."

Elisa’s eyes suddenly closed, fear wracking her face.

"It was so-o high. He pulled me along so hard, I nearly fell!" She almost shouted, her voice trembling uncontrollably.

"Elisa, we’ll help you. Just tell me who ‘he’ is." Shepard said calmly, keeping his distance from the traumatised girl. There was no telling how she’d react to his approach in her current state.

"No!" She yelped. "I can’t. He’ll get me! And then I’ll be just like Stephen. His face was so red, right before he stopped moving."

As she finished those last few words, her voice descended into a jabbering muttering. Suddenly, her feet were whipped out from underneath her, and she crashed down onto the catwalk, her face hitting the corrugated metal solidly. She began to scream as something tugged at her leg, dragging her away from the Commander. Her fingers scrabbled on the uneven metal, trying to halt her backwards motion.

"No! No, no, no!" She mewled as he fingernails screeched out a gut-wrenching noise on the metal catwalk.

Shepard rushed forwards to grab her, but before he could even take a single step she had been whipped back into the darkness. Her sobs continued for a few more seconds before a sudden snap put an end to her cries. Shepard instantly recognised the sound of a neck being broken.

The shadows where she had vanished into shifted, and the familiar forms of Mordin and the Revenant came jogging up to stand where Elisa had just been.

"Mordin? You didn’t see anything?" Shepard asked, confused that they hadn’t run into the killer, given they’d had to move through the area Elisa had just been killed in.

"Saw nothing, Shepard." Mordin said.

"Revenant, you’ve got good night vision. You didn’t see who took Elisa?"

"No, Commander. I can see in the dark, but only for a certain distance."

"Be on the lookout. Elisa’s dead, and now we’re looking for her killer, the same one who killed Stephen. Judging by the way he swiped Elisa away, he’s very strong. Be careful."

"Shepard." Matthews’ voice echoed over to the Commander, tone demanding his attention. "Look down."

Shepard followed his advice, and saw a white form floating past underneath the catwalk. A random swirl of water turned the shape over, and Shepard caught sight of the terror-filled face of Elisa drifting away, head flopping around loosely on her neck as the caress of the water carried her away. Shepard exhaled sadly.

"Damnit." He said. "We catch this sick bastard, okay? He doesn’t get away."

"Who could it be?" Matthews pondered as he knelt down to reach out for her body. His fingers hooked around her shoulder and under her arms, pulling her closer to the catwalk. "Could be anyone, now that we know that he coerced Elisa into using her code for him."

"So we need to think about who would have the motivation to call in these pirates and run off with the relics." The Commander spelled out.

"That’s pretty much anyone here." Matthew said. "You know how much a Prothean relic goes for on the black market? There are buyers on Illium who’d pay upwards of five hundred thousand credits, just for some Prothean cup and saucer. Pretty much anyone here would kill for that kind of money, considering the treasure trove we’re sitting on. Those who have the means to call in a force like this? You’re probably looking at the ExoGeni executives. But would any of them actually go to these lengths to take the relics?"

"Or maybe they don’t actually want to take the relics away. Maybe they just want to make sure that we don’t." Shepard spoke aloud. His mind proceeding down that line of thought to its conclusion, his eyes widened as they looked back to Matthews, leaning out precariously to lift Elisa back onto the catwalk.

"Matthews, get away from the water!" He shouted.
Matthews managed to turn a bemused look at the Commander before the surface of the water exploded, a half dozen pink tentacles darting out to grab him around the arms, neck and chest. A quick tug, and the human splashed down into the water, next to Elisa’s corpse. Shepard lunged forwards to grab him before he sank below the surface, but was too late. The agent vanished into the roiling water.

"Matthews!" Shepard shouted. "****! Matthews!"

He scanned the water, searching for any sign of his comrade, and at first he saw nothing. But then, he caught sight of a flash of pink darting by beneath him and raced after it, following it as best as he could while remaining on the walkway.

He was about to reach the edge of the vat when the water’s surface burst open again, the Hanar heaving into view, with Matthews entangled in his tentacles. Bolnan glowed a faint blue, betraying the presence of biotics and explaining his unexpected strength. Shepard lifted his rifle to aim at the Hanar, but couldn’t get a good shot as the creature lifted Matthews’ body into the way as a shield.

"Put him down, Bolnan. No one else needs to die today." Shepard shouted firmly.

"This one is not inclined to accept your offer, Commander. It thinks it may be a better outcome if it goes down fighting."

"Why, Bolnan? Why kill so many?"

"This one will not allow you to desecrate a holy site in this way. You would steal from the Enkindlers to better your own race, rather than allowing the faithful to pay their respects to the legacy of the Shining Ones."

"And the pirates? You’ll have to pay them, somehow. And I’m pretty sure they won’t understand your wishes to leave the site intact."

"They are well compensated by the Tower. This one has had no problems dealing with them before."

Shepard chewed his lower lip anxiously. He could see Matthews struggling for breath, his face red from the pressure on his throat from the Hanar’s tentacles. But Shepard could also see a faint discoloration around the spots the tentacles touched, a faint tinge reminiscent of the colour Stephen Doyle’s face had turned after dying. The Commander recalled being told about a Hanar’s natural defences, among which were their prehensile tentacles and natural toxins. Like a jellyfish from Earth, Hanar were capable of poisoning their victims. As the Commander spoke with Bolnan, Matthews was being stung to death. He had to act quickly.

"Let Matthews go NOW." He said in a tone that brooked no argument. "I will not tell you again."

"This one notes a certain concern you have for the director, Shepard. Perhaps Matthews is a friend? A valued colleague? It would be unfortunate if this one had to end your acquaintance prematurely."

"I WILL kill you, Bolnan." Shepard warned.

"Then do so. But this one suspects you will not. You will not risk the life of your friend." The Hanar’s melodious tone had the hint of a sneer in it.

Then, with a suddenness that dismayed Shepard, the Hanar darted higher up into the air and leapt to the next vat of water, plunging below the surface with Matthews in tow. Shepard raced after them, halting over the centre of the vat. He scanned the surface tensely, eyes darting to and fro across the water.

The next thing he knew, his face was filled with a pink, squishy mass. Bolnan had leapt from the water and was trying to enfold him in his tentacles, the stings already bringing tears to Shepard’s eyes. The Commander flailed with his hands at the Hanar and managed to grasp at a chunk of pink tissue and pulled. There was a loud noise, strange to the Commander’s ears. It ululated through his head, and it took a moment for Shepard to realise that the Hanar was screaming in pain. The jelly dropped away from his face, flopping across the walkway and back into the water, leaving Shepard grasping a writhing tentacle that had come free. The Commander tossed it aside, letting it splat to the floor below the vats and walkways.

Shepard strode across the platform, seeking to get away from the water before the Hanar could launch another attack while he rubbed at his watering eyes. The damned jelly had managed to sting his eyes, even.

He turned at a splotching noise from the vat. Bolnan squirmed over the lip of the vat, slithering across the metal. Shepard lifted his rifle and fired off a could of shot, but the pink alien dodged the attack. Mordin and the Revenant added their weapons to the attack, scoring a few hits on the Hanar before it slithered under the vat.

Shepard approached the edge of the walkway slowly, pointing his rifle down at where Bolnan had vanished. He peered into the darkness, but couldn’t make anything out.

"You see him?"

"No." Came the Revenant’s simple reply.

"Negative." Mordin answered.

"Me neither."

The Commander shuffled along a few more steps before his feet caught in something. He looked down at the walkway to see a pink limb curl around his ankle, tightening swiftly. Before he had a chance to act or shout a warning, the tentacle whipped to the side, throwing him from his feet. Shepard was amazed at the strength in the spongy pink flesh as it dragged him off the walkway and into the vat of water. The Commander only had a moment to breathe in before his mouth filled with water.

It took a moment for Shepard to regain a sense of his surroundings, the swirling mass of water obscuring his vision as his buoyancy caused him to lose his sense of up and down. Before his eyes could adjust to the dark water, a pink shape darted out of the gloom, striking him in the chest. The impact allowed a few bubbles of precious air to seep from the Commander’s lips, followed by even more as he took several more hits. Shepard flailed at the Hanar as it rushed past, trying to subdue the alien in some way, but the water slowed his blows to little more than taps against the Hanar’s yielding tissue.

Knowing that to remain in the water with Bolnan would be fatal, Shepard began to kick out, trying to find the surface of the water. He spun around on feeling something brush the back of his neck, only to come face-to-face with Matthews. The young man drifted limply in the water, his eyes devoid of life. As the Commander took in this sight, Bolnan came racing out of the darkness again, hitting him in the small of the back and sending spasms of pain travelling up his spine. For such a soft creature, he was able to strike with incredible force. Feeling his lungs begin to burn for more air, Shepard grabbed a hold of Matthews’ corpse, pushing off of it to propel himself up to the surface.

Shepard broke the surface of the water with a gasp, sucking in mouthfuls of sweet air as he thrashed the water to stay afloat, fighting the weight of his equipment. As he drew in more of the succulent oxygen, he felt a pair of clawed hands grasp his shoulders. At first he panicked, thinking maybe it was Bolnan trying to pull him back under, but then he looked up and saw the yellow eyes of the Revenant gazing down with concern. The insect’s arms strained as he pulled the Commander from the water. Mordin stood next to him, helping to manoeuvre Shepard onto the walkway.

As Mordin leaned down to inspect the Commander, Shepard looked past his shoulder to see Bolnan rise from the water like an angry pink kraken. The Hanar’s five intact tentacles whipped around him as he propelled himself at the Salarian’s back.

Acting on instinct, Shepard’s hand lunged out, grabbing Mordin’s gun from his belt. Pulling the trigger even as the gun unfolded, the Commander unloaded three rounds into the soft pink mass of Bolnan’s body. The Hanar fell back into the water, stunned. Mordin turned on his heel, seeing the jelly’s body writhing on the surface of the water, and extended a hand, tapping out some commands on his Omnitool. The interface sparked, and blue arcs of electricity danced across the water, caressing the Hanar’s wildly flailing body. After a brilliantly bright light show, the water went dark, and Bolnan’s corpse slipped below the surface, and did not appear again.

The trio finally relaxed, all breathing heavily as they recovered their energy after the battle. Mordin tended to the Commander’s tender neck and aching eyes, administering a diluted medi-gel solution to the burning patches of skin and gently swabbing away the tears that flowed from his now-red eyes.

"Hanar toxins are simple to counteract with slightly modified medi-gel solution. Burning will pass, with time. Suggest warm bath and full night’s rest tonight to encourage body’s own defences to act."

"Sounds like heaven right now." Shepard chuckled. "And who am I to argue with the doctor’s orders?"

"Wait, what’s that?" The Revenant said. "There’s something floating in the water."

Shepard and Mordin turned to look in the direction he indicated and saw a small silver box bobbing along on the water’s currents. The Commander scuttled over and scooped it out of the water. He inspected the outside of the box, noting some small markings inscribed on one side.

"The words are Hanar. I can’t read them, but this was probably something Bolnan had on him." He said, cautiously opening the box.

Inside sat a device no bigger than the Commander’s hand. A light glinted faintly in a screen set in the upper half of the clamshell shaped device, while the lower half was adorned with a half-dozen buttons. Shepard passed it to his companions to take a look. Mordin sucked in a sharp breath.

"Markings are Prothean. Translation of markings on buttons suggests firing control for experimental weapon." He breathed. "Am curious as to whether would still function. Saw no evidence in labs otherwise."

"Why did Bolnan take it? You reckon he knew what it does?"

"Unlikely. Hanar more usually simply accept existence of Prothean artefacts rather than attempting to understand purpose. Possibly took relic as evidence to show to peers, gain support to make bid to keep ruins undisturbed as religious sanctuary. Likely did not plan to attack settlement like this, but our presence and threat of removal of artefacts moved him to rash action."

"So our arrival forced his hand?"

"Indeed. Nevertheless, discovery of this device provides opportunity. Colony turrets not strong enough to destroy pirate ship. Experimental Prothean weapon certainly has capacity for needed firepower. Question is, is it still functional?"

Shepard grinned at the Salarian’s line of thinking.

"Then I guess it’s time for us to run some tests of our own. Come on, let’s head outside and see if it works."

~o~0~o~


Shepard stood in the main plaza, staring up at the pirate ship hanging in the sky above them. Its massive bulk thrummed loudly, menacingly, as the only remaining colony defence gun continued to fire on it. After Matthews had managed to get the guns online, the pirates had taken their time levelling each one, moving on from one to the next at a leisurely pace.

Standing next to the Commander, both Mordin and the Revenant tinkered with the device they had recovered from Bolnan, chattering away about various facets of the technology as they tried to make it work. Behind them, Jacob and Kaidan watched out for any marauding pirates in the streets, all the time throwing anxious glances at the ship above.

With a final triumphant grunt, Mordin pressed a series of buttons on the device, flipping it closed when he was finished. The squad looked about for a moment, awaiting, well… anything.

After about two minutes of silence, Jacob’s shoulders slumped, as though he was releasing the anxiety of the moment.

"Well, we’re still here. Which is good. But so are they." He waved a hand at the ship.

Any response the others had to his words were drowned out by a terrific thump that rolled across the colony. Seven massive blue-black bolts of energy shot up into the sky, taking up positions around the ship equidistant from each other. In their centre, the ship began to groan, its struts protesting the new gravitational stresses they suddenly had to endure. Shepard saw a few loose parts break away and wing through the air to vanish into the singularities. The hull itself rippled under the strain, plates buckling and deforming visibly.

This first stage was swiftly followed by a second thunderous shot. A red bolt arrowed up from the vicinity of the ruins, striking the ship dead centre. The ship’s barriers, distorted by the gravitational forces, offered no protection from this second attack and the hull, fatigued and stretched to breaking point, simply shattered like glass.

The ship lurched from the attack, swaying through the air above the colony as the singularities winked out of existence. Smoke and flames billowed from the massive hole in the hull, as wide around as a small prefab. The ship staggered away from the attack, screaming through the air to crash down into the forests next to the colony, ploughing a wide swathe of destruction through the trees before halting in a flaming mass about three miles away from the colony.

"Damn." Jacob said. "Now that’s a gun. Reckon we could mount one of those on the Hammerhead?"

"Let’s focus on getting one on every Alliance and Council cruiser out there." Shepard said. "I reckon the colony’s security forces can deal with the leftover pirates. Plus, I very much doubt they’ll have much fight left in them after our display."

~o~0~o~


Three hours later, the colony was well into its night cycle, the automated streetlights casting pale white light about the still-burning buildings. Most of the fires had been dealt with, and the colony’s volunteer fire fighters had the remainder well in hand.

Shepard and his team were still in the colony’s main plaza, in front of the mildly damaged administrative hub. The Commander could still see the blown out section on one side of the building where Mordin had dealt with the bomb, all windows shattered in a near perfect circle around the blast zone.

The plaza was a lot more crowded now. After Matthews’ security forces had declared the capture of the last of the pirates, the colonists had flooded out of the bunkers to survey what was left of their homes. Shepard could see more than one devastated empty face among the crowds, people who had lost homes, businesses and, worst of all, loved ones. ExoGeni could rebuild, give them back their lost possessions, but no one could restore a lost husband, wife, child, parent or sibling. The Commander knew that it would take a long time for the people of Stynos to recover, and an eternity for them to forget.

Shepard also caught the glares of hatred that were cast at the small cluster of beings cordoned off to one side. The ten or so pirates left alive had been rounded up and were tethered together, hands and feet bound as they waited for collection. Shepard knew that they were at risk as long as they remained on this planet, and he felt a little inclined to let them be lynched. But then his conscience got the better of him. Once one started dealing out like-for-like, a person became no better than those they opposed.

Masirra walked up to stand in front of the Commander, her face bearing a tired smile. She carried a large metal box, and her furtive glances around her told Shepard all he needed to know about the contents.

"Here’s the orb, Shepard. I know you’ll make better use of it than we could."

"Thanks. Are you okay?"

"I- I’m fine, really. It’s just a lot to deal with. Losing Matthews, Elisa and Stephen all in one day? We need someone to step in and fill the breach. Everyone’s looking at me. I can’t run a colony!"

"You’d do a damn better job than many people, Masirra. I’ll call in some favours and make sure Stynos is well looked after." Shepard said, thinking that Liara would have no problem making sure the beleaguered colony got what they needed to get along.

"Thanks. We need all the help we can get." Masirra’s expression turned to one of curiosity as she looked back into the Commander’s eyes. "You used it to destroy the ship, didn’t you? The Prothean weapon? I amazed it still works after all this time."

"Me too. But I think it may be wise to keep that information on the down-low." Shepard cautioned.

"Yeah. Don’t worry. As far as any of the colonists will know, you used a next-gen weapon you have on your ship to blow them all to hell."

"Right. The last thing you need is more looters coming calling."

"I think after this we’ll probably be getting a significant increase to our defence budget. Maybe even enough for a couple of frigates in orbit." She gazed out over her fellow colonists. "I just can’t believe that Bolnan caused all of this."

"None of us suspected it. That’s the problem with Hanar. If he’d been a Krogan, or a Batarian, we would have seen him coming a mile away. But who’d have thought a jellyfish could do something like that?"

"Certainly not me. But I won’t make the same mistake again." Masirra promised, before looking up into the sky. "Looks like your ride’s here, Commander."

The Normandy’s shuttle cruised over the rooftops of the colony to hover over the plaza, dropping down slowly to touch down on a clear patch of ground. The door hissed open to show the interior, and Shepard’s teammates made their way towards the vehicle. As they crossed the plaza, colonists rushed out to thank them for their heroic assistance. Even the Revenant, with his terrifying visage, was approached and thanked profusely. The Commander turned to speak to Masirra one final time.

"Good luck, Masirra. We’ll be in touch to see how you’re getting on."

"Commander. Be safe." The Asari said by way of farewell, bowing her head.

Shepard was overwhelmed as he crossed the plaza. The colonists cheered and applauded, some reaching out to shake his hand while others slapped him on the back. By the time he reached the shuttle’s door he had to have been thanked, congratulated or simply fawned over at least several hundred times. He turned to wave at the colonists one final time as the shuttle lifted off, the door hissing shut as they powered away.

One final sight made Shepard cringe. Two of the colonists had clambered up to the plaza’s sign and were hurriedly repainting it. Where the sign had once read ‘ExoGeni Plaza’ it was now going to say ‘Shepard Square’. The Commander definitely seemed to have left his mark on the planet and its people.

[fainmaca]

Here we go. Chapter 17. Sorry for the delay. Real Life stuff. But I made up for it with an extra long chapter here! Let me know what you think. I'll go work on my next few chapters. Reapers on the horizon!

[fainmaca]

Chapter 18: The Relic



"Fascinating."

That was the only word Mordin said as he stepped around the workbench in the Tech Lab, carefully examining the Prothean orb. A large portion of the Normandy’s array of specialists had gathered in the Tech Lab to get a look at the relic, Legion bringing his technical expertise to the board while Mordin brought his intellect and analytical brain. The Revenant was present because of his unique perspective on Prothean technology, and Feron, being Liara’s representative, was busily taking notes about the object. Shepard had also brought in Garrus, Jacob and Kaidan, three of his oldest friends and his most valued operatives. Even Etarn was present, curious to see the Normandy crew about their business and naturally curious about such a valuable find. When told about the find, the rest of Shepard’s team had seemed indifferent, Grunt asking why he should care about ‘a hunk of ancient junk’ and Zaeed pretty much giving the same response. Samara had expressed interest in the outcome of their mission, but felt no need to intrude on the analysis of the relic, knowing she would most likely only be in the way. Jack had, as ever, accepted the information with an uncaring snort before encouraging the messenger to leave with her silent glare.

"That’s all you got to say about it?" Garrus said. "I’d have thought that you’d know all the dirty little secrets of its maker by now."

"Am not a miracle worker, Officer Vakarian. Prothean data storage techniques have been complex at best, impossible to decipher more often than not. Will need time to unlock secrets of the orb." Mordin replied stiffly.

"That’s what you think it is? Data storage?" Shepard asked.

"Likely outcome of analysis. Cannot be sure without further tests. However, similar artefacts recovered before have emitted data-bursts on contact with certain sentient species. Human, Salarian, Batarian, Asari with parents from those species. Suggests that Prothean technology only reacts to beings with certain biological and genetic features."

"Fascinating." Garrus threw the word back at the Salarian sarcastically. Mordin looked up with an irritated twitch to his left eye, but held his tongue. Shepard cautioned the Turian with a glance.

"What have you managed to fathom out so far?" The Commander asked.

"Have mainly focused my attention on data retrieved from weapons testing facility. Felt that schematics of singularity cannon held higher priority on list of projects." Mordin sniffed.

"Do we really have to call it a ‘Singularity Cannon’? The name feels kinda unwieldy, if you catch my drift." Jacob said from one side of the bench.

"I like ‘The Piecemaker’." Garrus offered. "It certainly leaves enough pieces lying around after you fire it. Then again, so do many things Shepard picks up."

"Very funny." Shepard said with a straight face. "We’ll christen it after it kills its first Reaper, how about that? Now keep quiet. The grown-ups have some talking to do. Mordin, please continue."

"Have already begun work on manufacturing our own facsimile. Schematics of certain components passed on to Lab and Armoury minifacturing plants, which are now compiling necessary resources and assembling initial stages of construction. Engineers Donnelly and Daniels are making adjustments to power systems and prow-mounted weapons emplacements in order to accommodate unusual shape. Theorise is likely that Normandy’s core should cope with power needs with very little modification. Beneficial aspect of Tantalus Core, can cope with higher power draw than most drive cores. Do not worry, have not begun any work that will impede operation of ship yet. Merely preparing for such work. Wouldn’t think to order such modifications to begin without your permission, Shepard."

"How long will it take?" Feron asked. "We can’t afford to have our weapons systems taken offline for too long."

"Will have more accurate time estimate in next few hours, though will be estimate at best. Am working with unknown technology here. Revenant’s suggestions based on Collector technology have expedited process of deciphering schematics, but is still a difficult task."

"Right." Feron acknowledged. "I’d better go file my report with Liara."

As the Drell left the room, The rest of the squad’s attention was drawn by a quiet grinding noise from Legion. The Geth was still waving its hands over the orb, looking for a moment like an old-fashioned fortune-teller with a crystal ball. Tendrils of energy arced from its hands to the surface of the orb, the Geth’s way of scanning the device.

"Shepard-Commander, we are reading atypical energy levels in the orb. It is probable that this is because it has not discharged like other specimens recovered. The logical conclusion is that the data is still locked inside."

"So how do we extract it?" Kaidan asked. "All the other orbs that were found emitted a data-burst that was too complex for us to fully process before it dissipated. I’d hate to lose valuable data because we were too slow to catch it."

"We hypothesise that it may be possible to record the data-burst if the device was discharged in the vicinity of a collection of Geth hubs. The concentration of Geth runtimes would be able to share the task of processing the data amongst themselves, therefore ensuring minimal information loss."

"Couldn’t you do it?" Shepard asked.

"Negative. This platform only houses one thousand, one hundred thirty-six runtimes. The concentration of runtimes necessary for such a task runs into the millions. Even by combining the storage capacity of this platform with all of the storage available on the Normandy we could not achieve the needed numbers to process even a quarter of the data stored within."

"Then I guess we’ll have to put a stop in Geth space on our to-do list." Shepard sighed. "That’ll take some time. Data had better be worth it."

"I’ll note it down in your day planner." Garrus quipped. "I think you’ve got an opening on Thursday, right between ‘Save Galaxy’ and your four thirty with the Omega Cartels."

"Sounds about right." The Commander said wearily. "Seeing as you’re busy playing secretary, Garrus, why don’t you clear my schedule for the rest of today and tomorrow. I have a date with a bottle of Batarian Quinat and a mattress."

"Well first I reckon you should visit the Med Bay." Kaidan cautioned. "Those marks the Hanar left are looking pretty livid."

"Indeed." Mordin agreed. "Would not recommend mixing Hanar toxins and alcohol in the blood. Potentially fatal combination."

"I’ll look into it. In the meantime, back to your stations, people."

Garrus, Kaidan and Jacob nodded, the latter pair saluting before leaving. Legion returned to its analysis of the orb while Mordin took up a position next to his research terminal, continuing to dig through the Prothean data he had recovered.

Etarn and the Revenant stayed, staring at the orb on the bench. Shepard stepped over to stand next to the Batarian, looking at his reflection in the orb’s silvery surface. A stray ripple passed across the smooth surface, it device’s faint glow shimmering at the disturbance.

"It’s all a little hard to believe, isn’t it?" Etarn said. "The Prothean Extinction. I always thought that they destroyed themselves. You know, civil war, two factions with vastly different beliefs, one pushes the doomsday button and the other does the same in retaliation, and then no one wins, but neither has to put up with the shame of losing. Then we find something like those ruins on Stynos, or the ones you found on Ilos, remnants of their desperate attempts to put a stop to their genocide."

"I’ll admit that a giant race of machines killing every living thing in the Galaxy every fifty millennia was a little hard for me to swallow too." Shepard replied. "It’s a lot easier to just assume they died out, or their technology got out of hand and backfired on them. But the truth is almost never easy."

"Pretty hard to refute it when the evidence is staring you right in the face." Etarn gestured at the orb. "And then we’ve got people like your friend the Revenant here, living proof of the crimes committed against the Protheans."

Shepard looked up at the Collector, standing on the other side of the Batarian as Etarn mentioned him. It was during that glance that he noted the Revenant’s strange expression. The alien’s eyes were focused on the orb with an unusual intensity. The huge wide head was tilted as though listening to something.

"Something wrong, Revenant?" The Commander asked, receiving no response. Etarn looked up at the Collector’s silence, his four eyes filling with curiosity and concern on noting the Revenant’s stock-still pose.

"I don’t think he’s hearing you, Shepard."

"Revenant? Can you hear me?" Shepard asked. "What do you see?"

The Collector’s only reply was to lift up one hand, claws extended. The arm stretched out towards the orb, hand’s palm facing the device.

"I don’t think that’s a good idea, Revenant." Shepard said sharply. "We’ve no idea how it’ll react to a Collector’s physiology."

The hand continued its leisurely journey towards the orb.

"Don’t!" Shepard shouted, hands lunging out to grasp the Revenant’s chitinous forearm. He strained to hold back the alien’s arm, but couldn’t stop its inexorable progress towards the orb. Etarn joined him, tugging on the Collector’s shoulders to pull him away from the workbench and the silver orb. Legion and Mordin’s attention was snagged and they stepped over to help.

Despite the struggles of his colleagues, the Revenant’s hand came into contact with the orb, green sparks leaping out from the device as the liquid surface quivered. Shepard froze for a second as a pall of dread-filled silence fell across the Lab. Then the silence was shattered by a powerful thud. The orb began to lift off the workbench, the Revenant’s hand still attached to it. The orb vibrated in the air, emitting an almost musical thumping pulse which rose in pitch and speed. The Commander realised the danger, having witnessed the same occurrence several times before.

"Get out of here!" He shouted at his friends. Mordin and Etarn were swift to follow his order, and a cautioning glare to Legion soon had the Geth obeying too. Shepard remained behind, still struggling to get the Revenant away from the relic.

The Commander turned to look at the device with a measure of dread when its song rose to a fever pitch and then suddenly stopped. The orb’s glowing green aura shuddered inwards for a moment before exploding outwards in an abrupt rush. Shepard was thrown from his feet, hitting the Lab’s wall with tremendous force. Lab equipment shattered around him as the green shockwave passed over it, coating the floor in debris and glass shards. When he looked back at the orb, the Commander saw the Revenant hovering above the floor, held by a brilliant emerald light. The Collector’s arms and head were thrown back, eyes wide open as though he were enduring incredible pain.

The light vanished as quickly as it had appeared, the orb and the Revenant dropping with twin crashes. As the Collector folded up on the deck, the orb struck the workbench and split it in half, legs and shattered surfaces splaying out in all directions. Silence rolled into the Lab once again.

Shepard groaned as he rolled to his feet, carefully avoiding the sharper pieces of debris on the floor as he picked his way over to the recumbent figure of the Revenant. He knelt down next to his comrade, searching for a sign of life. As he rolled the Collector over into a less awkward position, a rush of breath escaping from what passed for the alien’s mouth confirmed that he still lived.

"EDI! Get a medical team up here with a stretcher!" He shouted to the ship’s walls.

Mordin, Legion and Etarn rushed back into the Lab, the Salarian waving his omnitool across the Revenant’s body as the other two helped Shepard to manoeuvre him away from the orb, which now sat silently amidst the carnage of the Lab.

Seconds later, Dr Archer rushed into the Lab, followed closely by a pair of servicemen wheeling a stretcher between them. The Doctor knelt down next to Mordin, the pair of them scanning the Collector together.

"What’ve we got Solus?" Archer asked.

"Unknown." The Salarian replied. "Exposure to energy burst from Prothean artefact. No sign of burns or shock, no apparent reason for loss of consciousness."

"Neurological activity is through the roof." Archer breathed. "This can’t be good, even for him."

"Must move him down to Med Bay. Can administer treatment and do more in-depth scans down there. Quickly."

~o~0~o~


"What’s the diagnosis, Doc?" Shepard asked Archer, down in the Normandy’s Med Bay.

The Revenant lay on one of the beds, a net of diagnostic wires and IV lines running from him to various pieces of equipment. Mordin scuttled about the machinery, making constant adjustments as he analysed the data. Dr Archer took a slow breath before answering the Commander.

"He’s stable, but we don’t know how to wake him up. We’ve just got to wait and see if he surfaces on his own for now." The doctor tapped out several commands on his omnitool, pulling up a few text documents. "We analysed the security recordings from the Tech Labs and, on a hunch, I cross-referenced the incident with your little encounter with the Prothean beacons. There were numerous similarities. Its probably safe to assume that the orb ‘downloaded’ its cache of data directly into his brain."

"We’ve seen other orbs that didn’t react in this way." Shepard interjected.

"Yes, but the individuals in those cases weren’t descended from the Protheans. We know the orbs only discharge in the presence of an individual bearing certain genetic markers. Given their smaller size, we can safely say that they are less complex than the Beacons themselves, and therefore probably cannot interface with any genetic makeup very far removed from Prothean physiology. It makes sense that only a Collector could properly connect with the relics, and seeing as the Collectors were almost blind to their past its almost a certainty no Collector has had contact with such a device before."

"There’s no indication as to what got downloaded into his brain? Weapons schematics, mass relay locations, dark energy theory?"

"We’ll find out when he wakes up. I wouldn’t expect to fathom it out straight away. He was having a hard time sorting through all the Collector knowledge that got compacted into his mind. Now he’s got a bunch of Prothean data in there too. It’s bound to be a little jumbled up in there. Even a mind as powerful as his will take time to organise it all into usable memories."

The pair of them turned at a rustling sound behind them. The Revenant sat up on his bed, clawed hand rising to rub what amounted to a brow on the alien’s head. Numerous displays started sounding out warnings as connections were severed and other readings changed with his movement. A wet hissing noise escaped from his mouth, the Collector equivalent of a groan.

"Hey! Take it easy." Shepard said, moving to his side. "You had us worried for a minute there."

"What was that?" The Revenant asked. "I remember looking at the orb, and then there was a green flash and… then nothing."

"You started staring at the orb, then you reached out to touch it. You were damned determined to as well. The four of us couldn’t stop you. The second you touched it, things went kinda screwy. Archer reckons the orb downloaded a bunch of Prothean data into your head."

"Mmmf… Feels like it. Feels like there’s too much running around in there." The Revenant’s hands covered his eyes, rubbing at them. "I think my skull’s about to split in half."

"Well try not to let that happen just yet. We need what’s inside of it right now." Shepard joked. "But get some rest just now. We’ve got a brief respite over the next few days, so get plenty of bed rest and try to get your thoughts in order."

"I’ll try, Shepard. Thank you." The Collector nodded graciously.

Shepard was about to turn to the door to leave when he felt a tiny pain on the nape of his neck. He jumped, twisting around to find the source of the sensation, only to see Mordin scuttling backwards, syringe in hand and a devilish smile on his face.

"Ouch! What the hell, Mordin?" The Commander demanded.

"Immuno-booster and anti-venom to counteract Hanar toxins. Inflammation of skin should be gone by tomorrow morning."

"Next time, just tell me what you’re doing, okay?"

"Where is fun in that, Commander?"

"You get your bedside manner during your STG days? ‘Cause it sucks!"

"No, not with STG. Learned more sociable bedside attitude while working on Omega. Good environment for developing people skills."

"You’re a laugh-a-minute, Mordin." Shepard said with a deadpan expression. "Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go hit the hay."

Without a further word, Shepard made his way to the elevator, wearily keying in the command to travel to the Loft, where his cabin nestled below the hull of the ship. On exiting the elevator, he trudged across the deck and down the steps towards his bed, discarding his armour as he did so. He left the heavy items in a pile on the coffee table before flinging himself down on the bed. He knew there would be a mass of paperwork to deal with, but at that moment he didn’t give a rat’s ass. Anyone looking for a slice of his time could go step out an airlock. Smiling at this momentary flare of rebellion, the Commander drifted off into a deep slumber.

~o~0~o~


Shepard emerged onto the CIC deck the following morning, fresh-faced and full of energy. He adjusted the casual pants and tee-shirt that he wore, in the mood for an informal day without the concerns of bullets flying overhead. He stretched his arms, interlocking his fingers over his head in just the right way to pull at his shoulders until they clicked refreshingly.

Kelly greeted him at his station next to the Galaxy Map, her smile bright as ever.

"Good morning Commander." She said in her chirpy voice. "Sleep well?"

"Like a Krogan after a barrel of ryncol." He answered with a grin. "Any messages for me?"

"A couple came through on your terminal through the night, but I don’t think there was anything all that important. Any word on our next stop?"

"Not sure yet. I’ll contact Liara later, see if she’s got any more intel for me. In the meantime, I think we’ll just take it easy today, catch up on necessary maintenance and other tasks. If we finish early, you can have the rest of the day off."

"Are you actually letting us have a day off, Commander? I’ll have to note this down on the calendar!" The yeoman joked. "I’m sure the engineering department will be glad of the break. I know Ken and Gabby have been putting in long hours trying to get the Normandy back to a hundred per cent."

"Tell them to make the most of it. I don’t think there’ll be much time to stop and catch our breath after this. Anything else I should know about?"

"Nothing right now. Like you said; an easy day today."

"That’ll be all, Kelly."

Shepard stepped away from the glowing Galaxy Map, moving over to his terminal to check his messages. After sifting through the normal dross, a few messages that were obviously scams or cheap adverts for seedy products, he managed to filter out one message of interest. It was from Liara, so he opened it immediately

Shepard,

Well done on Stynos. I must say, the last thing either of us could have expected was an attack instigated by a Hanar religious group. I picked up on Bolnan’s outgoing message, but my attempts to stop it from reaching the pirates failed. Regardless, you handled the situation well enough on your own, and obtained the Prothean weapon in the process. Feron forwarded the data and schematics on to me, and your Doctor Solus is keeping me updated on his research. I will distribute the information to certain contacts in the Alliance Navy and the Council defence forces. After greasing a few palms, I’m sure that both organisations will soon be upgrading their ships to accommodate these weapons. I already have several Alliance resource shipments being diverted to certain shipyards, where their cargo will be used in the manufacture of the weapons.

I heard what happened with your teammate, the Revenant. A strange series of events. On the plus side, I suppose there’s no need for you to go into Geth Space to analyse the orb anymore, though I’m sure you have already reached that conclusion.

I probably owe you an explanation for why I did not reveal Matthews’ identity to you. You must understand, even for an entity like the Shadow Broker, infiltrating a powerful corporation like ExoGeni is a serious undertaking, and getting someone in at the level Matthews had reached takes a lot of time and resources. I felt it better to keep his identity a secret from anyone, even you, unless the circumstances grew dire. While he could be replaced, it would take time that we can ill-afford right now. Of course, this is all irrelevant now, thanks to his murder. But I hope you understand why I withheld certain facts from you.

You will hear from me in the near future. I’ve made some grave discoveries that warrant your attention, but there are a couple of affairs I need to get in order before I send you off on another mission.

Take care, Shepard.

Liara.

Shepard smiled at the message, composing a brief response.

Liara,

You don’t have to explain anything to me. I understand the covert nature of your network. If you needed to keep him a secret, that’s fine.

I’ll do my best to stay in one piece until you get back in touch.

Shepard.

The Commander then closed down his terminal, flashing Kelly a warm smile as he turned away and walked past her, heading for the elevator. He keyed in the code for the Crew deck, and the doors hissed closed in front of him.

Moments later, the Commander stepped out of the elevator only to almost run into Jacob, the ex-Corsair moving swiftly through the corridor outside.

"Whoa! Hey Commander."

"Jacob. What’s the rush?"

"Uh, just eager to get on with my work. Word is we’ve got a break coming our way, and I just wanted to make the most of it. Don’t want a pile of uncalibrated shotguns ruining my day off, you know?"

"I hear that. So how are you planning on ruining your day off?" Shepard chuckled.

"Garrus threw down the gauntlet this morning. Can’t let the challenge go unanswered. We’re settling it in the ring once he finishes up with the cannon modifications."

"This I’ve got to see. Don’t start without me!" Shepard chuckled as he walked away from the elevator. Jacob laughed, slapping the elevator controls.

The Commander sauntered into the Crew Mess, strolling over to Rupert’s station and scooping up one of the portions of the breakfast he was busily preparing, an Asari dish that consisted of cooked fruit, coated in crystallised honey. Shepard picked up one of the sweet morsels and popped it in his mouth, savouring the delicate flavours.

As he turned to walk away from the kitchen area, he caught sight of Etarn, sitting by himself at one of the tables. The Commander carried his plate over and sat next to the Batarian, nodding in greeting.

"Etarn. Settling in okay?" He asked around a mouthful of food.

"As well as you’d expect." The alien replied. "I have to say, I’m at a loss as to what to do to pass the time here. I’m a politician, albeit one with… unorthodox ways. I keep in touch with my contacts on Khar’Shan and elsewhere in Hegemony space, but my subordinates are running the movement for now."

"Any word on when you’ll be able to return? Does Gorm look like he’s going to cool off anytime soon?"

"That eager to get rid of me, huh, Commander?" The Batarian raised a hand to put a stop to Shepard’s sputtered denial. "Merely a joke, Shepard. You’ve made me feel more than welcome, and I appreciate it. But back to your question. Things are still pretty tense in Hegemony space, so its not looking like I’ll be able to return to Khar’Shan for a while yet. Not if I want to keep all four of my eyes intact."

"You said something about that when we met. You referred to some sort of religious custom with regards to the eyes of the dead?"

"Yes. We believe that our spirit leaves the body through the eyes to join our ancestors, living up among the stars."

"Ancestor worship? I had no idea."

"It is not a widely publicised aspect of our culture. Not many people subscribe to those beliefs any more. Not after we ventured out into space and found the stars to be no more than orbs of burning gas separated by massive amounts of nothing. Many Batarians fail to see the value of venerating those who came before. They cannot understand why the story of a great Batarian leader who saved the lives of thousands a couple of centuries ago has merit today, or why we should show respect to the ones who gave us internal combustion, or crop rotation, or medicine."

"I get the feeling you are a believer, then?" Shepard asked as he munched on another chunk of crystallised fruit.

"Our beliefs are a part of what defines us, Shepard. If we discard the traditions and values that shaped our people, what does that say about us?"

"You have a point."

"Of course, even if they have forsaken the old beliefs, many still honour the traditions and rites of old. The Rite of Blinding is simply one of those."

"Rite of Blinding?"

"A custom that practically goes back further than our discovery of fire. The vilest of criminals would be blinded, then executed. With their souls trapped in their bodies, they would become vengeful spirits haunting Khar’Shan’s ash plains, devouring alive those they encountered. In our mythology, these monsters were known as ‘Tikhal’- the Unseeing.

"So nowadays the mutilation of a corpse’s eyes is still a taboo, the superstition still holding strong in our societal consciousness. Much like how Turians refuse to allow images of their dead to be taken, or how Humans wear black clothing to funerals to hide themselves from evil."

"Old habits die hard, huh?"

"Indeed. But enough discussion of such things. Tell me a bit more about your people."

"It sounds like you know plenty already. Even I didn’t know that little fact about black ties." Shepard smirked.

"As I said before, one must do his research before venturing out onto the Galactic platform." Etarn grinned back. "That does not mean I know everything there is to learn about the Citadel races."

"I guess. So what do you want to know? I can’t think of anything particularly spectacular to tell you."

"All species are spectacular, Commander. Why else would you go to the lengths you do to protect them?" Etarn’s eyes were sincere as he spoke. "If not your people, tell me a bit about yourself."

"Well," Shepard said, scooping up the last of his breakfast and polishing it off with relish. "I was born on Earth, as you’ve probably heard. Grew up in the gutters, joined a couple of gangs, enlisted in the Alliance when I was eighteen."

"An ignoble beginning. Why did you join the Alliance?"

"I wanted to get out of the hole I found myself in. I got tired of the life I saw down in the slums, and wanted to get out there." Shepard’s arm waved expansively to one side, indicating the side of the Normandy but referring to the empty space beyond.

"Understandable. Any highlights of your service?"

"I guess the highlight would be when I got assigned to the first Normandy. That was after Akuze." Shepard’s face darkened, but he quickly moved from the memory. "I took some time to recover, you know, psychologically, emotionally. Then my service record got the attention of the Alliance brass. Captain Anderson saw my potential and had me assigned to the Normandy. Almost immediately afterwards that whole affair with Saren got started."

"Akuze… that was where the Threshers wiped out that colony, right?"

"Yeah. I was one of the marines sent to investigate. The rest of my unit were pretty much all wiped out during the investigation."

"Pretty much?"

"I ran into another survivor a couple of years ago. Corporal Toombs. Turns out that the whole incident was a Cerberus set-up to study the creatures. They had captured Toombs and kept him prisoner in the time since that mission until I saw Toombs again."

"Must have been hard, losing so many close to you."

"I survived. And I didn’t let it make me any less than who I had been before."

"A strong attitude."

"I guess that’s what got me noticed. They reckoned that someone who made it out of that alive was a good candidate for the Spectres."

Shepard looked down at his empty plate, letting out a long breath. He reached down and collected up the soiled utensils.

"Thanks for the talk, Etarn. It’s been good."

"Always a pleasure, Commander." The Batarian smiled.

Shepard carried his trays to Rupert’s station, nodding to the Sergeant as he walked away. He turned to walk down the corridor towards the gunnery station.

The doors hissed open to release a plume of black smoke and a coughing Garrus, waving a clawed hand in front of his face to clear his line of sight.

"Damnit!" The Turian cursed. "Shut it down, shut it down!"

"This is your damn fault!" Gabby Daniels’ voice echoed from within the gunnery control centre. "I told you that cheap-ass tools you’ve been using weren’t up to the job. Now you’ve gone and fried the auxiliary control matrices."

"Cool your jets, Sparky." Garrus grumbled, picking at a patch of carbon on his armoured torso. "We’ve got spares."

"Yeah, but guess who’s got to fit the new one? I got enough on my plate here without you botching your own work."

The Turian looked set to launch a blistering verbal counterattack when he eyes looked to Shepard. The alien’s demeanour instantly cooled and the pointing finger dropped to his side. Gabby, suspicious of his sudden silence, popped her head out into the corridor to see what was going on. Her hair looked more dishevelled than usual and her eyes were ringed with weariness.

"Commander!" She yelped on catching sight of him. "We were just… uh… discussing the new weapon system."

"Sure sounded like it." Shepard said, a barely suppressed smile threatening to pull at the corners of his mouth.

"What, that?" Garrus asked innocently. "Just playful banter, you know? A little jab here, a little barb there. Nothing to get all worked up about."

"I’ll be sure to let Ken know that it’s nothing, then." Shepard. "How’re the modifications coming along? Any problems?"

"Ehh.. Nothing major, Commander." Gabby said, stepping out of the smoke-filled gunnery station. She wiped her hands on her overalls. "Garrus, I gotta go get some tools from my station downstairs. I’ll only be a couple of minutes."

"That’s fine, Gabs." Garrus nodded.

"Commander."

With a small salute, the engineer walked by. Garrus and Shepard watched her go, the latter giving the former a sly glance, to which the Turian responded with annoyed confusion.

"What?"

"Anything I should know about, Garrus?" Shepard teased.

"You’re full of crap today, you know that?" Garrus turned and strode back into the slowly clearing air of the gunnery station. "Everyone knows that Ken and Gabby are an item. I’m not about to step all over his toes."

"If you say so." Even with his back turned, Garrus could feel the Commander’s smug smile.

"If you value the use of your legs, you’ll wipe that smile off what you damn monkeys call a face."

"That’s hardly the way to talk to the guy that’s going to have to carry you back to sickbay after Jacob’s done with you in the sparring ring."

"You’ve heard about that, huh? Well don’t be so sure of the outcome just yet. I reckon young Mr Taylor’s in for a surprise."

"I have to say, the ring seems to have gone down well with the crew."

"It’s a good way to blow off steam, and the rules are clear so no one gets hurt so bad they can’t work. A lot better than having a tense crew going into battle. That’s when you get mistakes." Garrus crouched down next to his console to inspect a charred piece of circuitry. "Ouch. That’s not good."

"Problems with the new weapons system?"

"Kind of. It’s more that we’re having trouble with the older systems coping with the increased power requirements. That’s the fourth piece of equipment that’s burned out since we started work on this." With a sigh, the Turian dropped the charred device on the deck and turned to face the Commander. "I guess I’ve got a few minutes while Gabs gets her act together. Fancy catching a drink in the Lounge?"

"On duty, Garrus?" Shepard arched an eyebrow.

"Strictly non-alcoholic, then. I just need to take a break, and nothing’s working for me to calibrate."

"Lead the way, Garrus."

Shepard followed the Turian through the Mess Hall and to the Port Observation Room and Lounge. The Commander paused for a second to look out of the window at the view beyond. The Normandy was temporarily stationed in orbit around an uninhabited planet coated in thick clouds of noxious yellow gasses. Occasionally Joker would swoop the ship closer to the planet’s upper atmosphere and discharge a portion of the electrical charge the Normandy’s core had built up, using the planet as a way to earth the ship. As the Commander watched, the Normandy swerved down into the upper reaches of the yellow clouds, the view outside becoming a swirling amber mass.

Garrus stepped behind the bar located against the wall of the lounge, running a finger along the bottles perched on the shelves there. He stopped at some bottles bearing a script that was completely foreign to the Commander, eventually grabbing one that contained a purplish liquid.

"Quarian. Very nice. What about you, Commander?"

"Surprise me."

"You asked for it." Garrus quipped good-naturedly, reaching up to the top shelf and grabbing a metal container which gave no clue to its contents. He grabbed a glass and, with an expert hand, poured the Commander a shot. The liquid barely qualified to be called that, the thick brown sludge that it was. For a second, Shepard wondered whether he should drink it or eat it with a knife and fork. He hesitated as he gazed down at the foul-smelling beverage before he caught Garrus’ eye. The Turian was watching the Commander carefully, a glint in his stare that held a hint of challenge and a lot more amusement to it. Shepard realised that to back down now would result in an unending series of taunts. Throwing his friend a defiant smile, Shepard grabbed the glass, lifted it to his lips, and drank it down, slowly, not even giving the Turian the satisfaction of seeing him gulp it down to get it over with.

About halfway through, Shepard’s throat began to tingle, and the fumes travelling up his nose brought red-hot tears to his eyes. He felt the brown sludge leave a residue on the inside of his mouth and coating his throat, a sticky, chalky feeling that made him want to heave. What surprised him the most, though, was the taste. It took several seconds for the flavour to register in his mind, as though the texture and smell had taken precedence and forced his taste buds to stay at the back of the queue in giving their report to his brain. The drink had a sweet, gentle flavour that the Commander actually found himself enjoying. Once he was aware of this, the smell and texture became a lot easier to deal with. He finished off the drink and nodded for Garrus to pour him another one. The Turian seemed unsurprised.

"Nice. What is it?" Shepard asked.

"A Krogan drink, actually. They call it ‘Nardan’. I once heard one of my team describe it as ‘sweet as roses, but thick as ****, and with about the same smell’. Apparently its something that the Krogan females make, which would explain its less harsh nature compared to ryncol."

"Krogan? So that means…"

"When you said to ‘surprise you’, I decided it didn’t have to be an immediate thing. You ought to get the shock of your life tonight." Garrus’ grin was triumphant. "Make sure you’ve got plenty of reading material in your cabin. You’ll need it where you’ll be sitting."

"This is about me beating you in the ring, right?" Shepard chuckled, gritting his teeth at the Turian getting one over on him.

"You know it." Garrus barely contained his laughter.

"I thought the ring was meant to be used to settle grudges, not incite them."

"What can I say? When it comes to Turian tradition, you can expect me not to conform."

"Yeah, well enjoy your drink Vakarian. Might be the last one you can drink in peace. This," Shepard lifted the empty glass. "means war.

"Haha." Garrus chuckled as he finished his drink. "I’d better get back to my work, Shepard. Don’t wanna be late for Jacob’s three o’clock ass-kicking."

"See you ‘round, Garrus."

The Turian stepped away from the bar, striding out of the room while he hummed a jaunty tune. Shepard shook his head in amusement before standing up himself, putting away the bottles and glasses. He walked out of the Lounge and made his way to the past the elevator and back into the main Crew Mess, heading for the Med Bay.

Inside, he saw Archer dozing in his chair behind his desk. As the doors hissed closed behind the Commander, the slight click they made upon meeting stirred him from his slumber. The doctor looked about in a disoriented fashion before his eyes settled on Shepard.

"Commander! My- my apologies. I was just taking a moment’s rest, and it seems that a full night’s work caught up with me."

"No explanation needed, Doctor. You’ve had a lot to deal with these past few days, what with Joker, the Revenant and all the injuries the rest of my squad has been throwing your way. Take a break. I’m just here to talk to the Revenant, see how he’s doing."

"Feel free." Archer said, waving a hand over his shoulder at the back wall, against which was the bed inhabited by the Revenant. The Collector was sitting up, manipulating a holographic interface, seemingly oblivious to the Commander’s presence. "He’s been up all night. Started jabbering away some nonsense or other whenever I tried to talk to him. I think he’s a little puzzled that we’ve got him confined to his bed until we understand a bit more about what happened. Speaking of which…"

Archer spun his chair back to his desk and dialled up his omnitool, accessing his terminal's records.

"I’m sending you a copy of a scan I performed on the Revenant’s neural net four hours ago and one taken back when he first arrived. Look at them and tell me what you see."

"They look pretty damn complicated."

"Yes, aside from that." Archer stood next to the Commander, looking down on the scans which had been uploaded to Shepard’s ‘tool. "Of course, they’re incomplete. Collector physiology is so complex I almost didn’t know where to start. This is a little akin to a snapshot of the outer layer of neural connections. Nowhere near enough to make a complete map of the Revenant’s brain, but enough to get a general idea of its layout."

"Okay, but these two scans aren’t the same."

"Absolutely correct. And yet, both scans were carried out in an identical manner, examining the exact same locations. So the question to ask is; how do two identical brain scans turn out so differently?"

"…His brain changed?"

"Exactly. I’ve never seen anything like this before. I’m performing scans every two hours, and they show a tremendous rate of change. You’d expect some level of neurological change over the course of years and decades, but not like this. Entire networks of neurons are being rewritten. It’s like watching evolution in hyper-drive. Whatever got pushed into his head, it’s rebuilding his brain."

"So what’s left of our colleague?"

"I can’t say. I don’t know how the Collector brain works to store information. The layered structure of the neural network varies from anything I’ve ever seen. It could be that all data is stored on different layers, in which case its possible that the core of what makes him the Revenant is still in there, preserved on a deeper level than what is being overwritten. Then again, it could all be destroyed by the changes that are being made by the orb’s data. I’m inclined to think the former, given your personal experience with Prothean technology. I mean, your personality remained intact with the message they gave you running around in your brain."

"Let’s hope so. Even without the Prothean data, he’s still a valuable member of my team. There’s no guarantee that he’ll stay with us if a new personality replaces the Revenant."

"I agree. I’ve taken a liking to this alien, Commander." Archer chuckled. "Never in all my time with Cerberus would I have thought I’d catch myself saying something like that."

"Its amazing what you can discover when you allow your horizons to broaden." Shepard said. "I remember a friend of mine who started off with that attitude. The first Normandy’s chief navigator, Pressly, was reluctant to allow non-humans on the ship. But after fighting alongside so many of them during our pursuit of Saren, he soon found himself possessing a completely different viewpoint."

"I can see why. I still believe in what we were trying to achieve, but I see now that our goals shouldn’t be pursued with the ‘at all costs’ mentality that seems prevalent among the Illusive Man’s agents."

"I glad to hear that, Doc. I’m gonna go speak with your patient now. Go catch up on some of that sleep you were enjoying before I turned up."

"Thank you, Commander."

Shepard stepped up to the Revenant’s bedside, closely looking at the Collector before speaking.

"Revenant? Can you hear me?"

The Collector’s head swivelled to look at Shepard, the yellow eyes darting about without focus for a moment. His mouth seemed to work around several words for a second before any sound came out.

"…Shepard. I am sorry… but the words are hard to grasp. Every time I try to speak these… other things keep getting in the way."

"‘Other things?’ You mean words?"

"Not… exactly. I try to call up a word and a… picture flashes across my eyes, or a sound echoes in my… ears, or any number of other… attacks on my senses."

"Any new information filtering into your mind? Mordin and Archer think that you’ve got a whole cache of new Prothean data running around in your head now."

"I… think so. It’s hard to tell right now, as even my old memories feel new to me. I hear these words that I’m certain I’ve never heard before, but I can’t be sure. I’ve got so much to sort through in my mind without the Prothean data. I was still organising the information that compressed into my mind when my people died."

"Take what time you need, but be sure to note down anything that comes to you, no matter how insignificant. You never know what could be a clue to something incredibly valuable."

"Indeed. I’ve been browsing the, the extranet, seeking any images that might trigger something in my mind."

"Smart. Any luck?"

"Possibly. I see places when I try looking up Prothean dig sites. I just need time to filter the data. One location seems to hold some importance. There’s no name, but I see a garden world, a city in between two hills, surrounded by fields of golden crops swaying in the breeze. After all this time, I imagine that the landmarks would be considerably different now, but in the distance I can see a… mountain range, and behind that I see two moons. Identifying marks that would be easier to identify."

"Its something. Keep me informed on anything else that comes to you. If we visit any more Prothean worlds I’ll be sure to give you any imagery we can collect to see if its bears any resemblance."

"Okay. In the meantime I’ll… carry on browsing."

"You do that." Shepard patted the Collector on the shoulder, turning to leave. He made his way through the Crew Deck to the elevator and keyed in the code for the Engineering deck.

[fainmaca]

Chapter 18 Part 2



The first thing Shepard heard upon stepping out onto the Engineering deck was Ken’s loud Scottish accent echoing out of the main Engineering section. It sounded as though he was on the losing side of an argument, and yet was unwilling to back down.

"It can’t be done! She’s got no more power to give you, no matter how urgently you need it."

"So sure that task cannot be completed, unwilling to try." Mordin’s much calmer voice filtered through, though it was tinged with uncharacteristic irritation. "Have run numbers dozens of times, Engineer Donnelly. Sufficient power is attainable with explained modifications. Perhaps you should stow head in cloaca while I work here."

"Hell no! This is my department, mine! Back off, frog-eyes."

Shepard increased his pace, making his way through the two pairs of doors to get to the main Engineering room, where he saw Ken and Mordin standing inches apart, faces thrust within millimetres of each other. The Salarian was holding a datapad listing a string of modifications necessary for the Normandy’s pending upgrades, while the human’s arms were folded defiantly across his chest as he leaned forwards insolently to lower his face the level of the alien’s. The Commander’s presence instantly drew their attention, though neither backed away from the other. Shepard stopped in the doorway, arms folded across his chest as he tilted his chest questioningly.

"Commander, you’ve got to have words with this guy. The changes he’s trying to make will require a complete overhaul of the ship’s power systems. We can’t do that on the fly like he wants to."

"Engineer Donnelly’s summary of situation is flawed, Commander. Complete reconstruction of power systems unnecessary. Simple modifications laid out in my report here are all that will be needed. However, foolish cloaca refuses to acknowledge possibility to perform procedures outside of shipyard."

Shepard sighed, looking down at the deck before speaking.

"Ken, we need these modifications, and we don’t have time to go into dry-dock. On the day Mordin makes a mistake about something like this, I will personally walk on the surface of the sun. Until that day, do as he says."

Ken threw up his hands in frustration and stumped past the Commander, leaving Shepard and the Salarian alone in the Engineering department. Mordin smiled at the Commander.

"Thank you, Shepard. Realise importance of cannon upgrade, and was growing frustrated with Donnelly’s lack of enthusiasm."

"Don’t think you’re off the hook, Mordin."

The professor’s eyes narrowed in the Salarian equivalent of a frown.

"Am not sure I follow you, Commander. Have I done something wrong?"

"Just because I agree with you doesn’t mean you can lord it over the rest of the crew. Ken was perfectly in his right to make a protest. This is his department, and you just brushed him aside like his work here means nothing."

"His ignorance threatened to impede efficiency of my work!"

"And this is what I’m talking about. We’re a team, Mordin. We can’t afford to have your arrogance and brusque manner causing friction. Yours isn’t the only work taking place on this vessel. Bear that in mind the next time you have to discuss something with another member of my crew."

"I-" Mordin was at a loss for a moment, his usual steady babble of words halted briefly. Finally, he sighed. "Understood, Shepard. Did not mean to incite discord."

"I know. But we’re all facing a threat beyond anything we could be prepared for. I need you all at your best and working together."

"Agreed. Am simply out-of-practice in dealing with others on a personal level. Used to work on Omega, where was largely centre of attention due to my expertise in the medical field leaving all other local experts behind. Even in work against Collectors was largely left to own devices, simply given task and resources and told to achieve desired outcome. Now, with more threats to deal with, teamwork is more important than individual distinction. Will try to work better with rest of crew."

"Good. Now, what can you tell me about the modifications? Everything else going in smoothly?"

"Yes. Aside from tweaking power system, have finished the rest of the necessary changes to the Normandy. Will soon only be waiting on minifacturing process to construct the actual weapon. Has been exhilarating challenge. Not dissimilar from work for STG."

"I’ll bet." Shepard smiled. "Hey, Mordin?"

"Yes, Shepard."

"You’ve told me a lot about your work for the STG, but you never mention what you did before that."

"Was part of many projects before getting flagged for STG. Gained respect and distinction during my early years in medical school on Mannovai. Had outclassed many practising physicians of the day by the time I was seventeen." He chuckled. "Remember expression on face of one of my professors when I demonstrated before his eyes that current theory on Vorcha adaptive evolution was wrong, using only what resources I could gather from university cafeteria.

"After several years and a great many distinctions in the field of medical science, was recruited into initiative set up to study Prothean genetic code from gathered samples. Nothing fabulous to report there, but got me noticed by STG. Suspect initiative may have been screening process for potential recruits to send to Tuchanka to study Genophage. Saw many of former team mates from Prothean project on Tuchanka, easy to ‘join the dots’ as humans say."

"Do you ever miss them?"

"Old STG comrades? Of course. Can remember each one with perfect clarity. Terip Monn, my lab partner from university days, was team’s lead geneticist, responsible for analysing previous incarnation of Genophage. Remember he had two fingers missing on his right hand, accident during university days. Forgot to watch sample of eezo-saturated Salarian eggs for him. As a result of my negligence, sample ignited and his hand was damaged putting out the fire. Refused prosthetics in favour of learning to live without. Always was one stubborn cloaca." Mordin chuckled.

"Blavenn Hodd, our tactical specialist. Advised Kirrahe on best ways to facilitate distribution of new Genophage. Brilliant, in his own way. Some very unconventional strategies devised by him now used in larger Salarian military. Saddened to hear of his demise on Virmire. Really should speak with Kirrahe to offer condolences. Like brothers, those two.

"So many other names. Dervin, Kletra, Gochern and… Sietra."

"That last name sounded important to you, Mordin." Shepard’s statement had the hint of a question running through it.

"Sietra was important. Only female on team. Female Salarians not normally part of such an operation, due to rarity compared to males. But Sietra was an exception. Possessed intellect beyond anything I have been witness to. Understanding of genetic modification came to her as naturally as eating and sleeping come to us. Lucky she limited her studies to one field or else would have been no need for rest of team, I am sure. Worked closely with her to create modification to Genophage. Was her idea to use garbage codes to ‘clog up’ Krogan countermeasure to original plague."

"You had a lot of respect for her?"

"Indeed. Not met many who could match wits with myself, but she bore a tenacity and intelligence I found invigorating. And I see where your questions lead, Shepard, so to forestall your next question no, we did not become involved in the romantic way other species seem so invested in."

"You didn’t feel anything?"

"Will not lie to you, did experience normal hormonally induced reactions to close contact with her, but Salarian biology does not support long-term relationships. Accelerated metabolism means we process emotions much faster than other species. Our ability to ‘move on’ so quickly makes relationships more of a commercial or professional nature than an emotional one. What emotions I may have experienced passed in a relatively short time."

"Sounds to me like that’s not entirely accurate, Mordin. Tell me a bit about her."

"I-" The Salarian hesitated. "I must get on with my work, Shepard."

The Doctor walked past the Commander, making a beeline for the engine core. Shepard sighed, shaking his head, before walking out of Main Engineering. He passed through the first set of doors and was about to pass through the second when the murmurs of conversation wafted up to him from the sub-deck.

"‘Do as he says’? That man’s got some bloody nerve. I’m the one who keeps this **** held together while he’s off prancing around on some godawful planet out in the arse-end of nowhere. I put in double shifts, working with the most complex machinery known to man, and what do I get for my trouble? I gotta play manservant to some bug-eyed alien with all the people skills of a retarded gopher. I don’t have to put up with this! I oughta-"

"Oh for ****’s sake! Will you stop whining like a little ****?" Jack’s coarse tone barked sharply.

Shepard, curious, took a few quiet steps down to the lower level, pausing on the landing mid-way down the stairs on the port side of the deck. He peered through the steps to catch sight of Jack’s painted back turned towards him. The biotic was seated upon a storage crate which had been shoved out of the central area where she lived and was now partly blocking the passage leading from the foot of Shepard’s stairs to her sleeping area. Ken was nowhere to be seen, though from the sounds of things he was working with some of the machinery around Jack’s bed, presumably why the crate was out of place and Jack wasn’t in her usual spot, staring idly at the walls until she felt motivated to go cause trouble in some other part of the ship. Shepard wasn’t sure what she did while he wasn’t about, as normally upon hearing his approach she’d assume that position of uncaring detachment, staring into nothing in an aloof manner. If he tried to stick around, watching her in silence, she’d normally get pissed off really quickly and chase him away with some casual threats and a lot of biotic posturing.

"It’s alright for you." Ken shot back at her. "You’re the Commander’s ‘special favourite’. He’d never so much as look at you in the wrong way."

"Do you have any idea who you’re talking to, you cheeky little ****? I could paint the walls with your blood without having to step over there!" Jack’s voice took on a dangerous edge and her shoulders rose in anger, the Omega tattoo on her back dancing with the movement of her muscles.

Jack had taken of late to wearing the same outfit Shepard had first seen her in. In other words; not much at all. Shepard didn’t mind what she wore, as he always found her tattoos to be entrancing, a roadmap of her life and a clue to the woman hiding behind them, but he did see it to be a bad sign if she felt the need once more to flaunt them as a warning to anyone trying to approach her. As he watched, she minutely adjusted the almost non-existent belt arrangement she used to maintain the bare-minimum of modesty before speaking once more.

"Besides, you’ve got Shepard all wrong. If he sees something that ain’t right, he’ll let you have it, whoever you are. And you’ll listen, every single ****ing time. He’s got a way of looking at you that makes you want to do the right thing. It’s like, like… It’s all complicated and ****, all right?

"Besides, you should’ve paid a bit more attention. If you hadn’t been so keen to be a ****ing drama queen and shoved your head up your ass back there you might’ve heard the Commander tearing the Doc a new one up there for your sake. From what I heard on the other side of that door he was really pissed with Solus for acting that way, and let him have it."

"Really?" Ken’s voice was doubtful, obviously expecting the convict to be lying simply to get him out of her home.

"Yep. Gave him a royal dressing down and told him to kiss and make up with any of the crew he’s done wrong by with that head-up-his-ass routine. Then they started talking about some sappy **** about the Salarian’s college days and I got bored. You near done yet? I’m getting bored over here. And when I get bored…"

"I know, **** starts blowing up." Ken said with a sigh. "I’d best go mend some bridges, I reckon. I’m done for now. Let me know next time you’re not about and I can finish up without getting in your way."

Jack stood up in one fluid motion and, with a flick of her wrist, lifted the crate in a biotic field and sent it skimming along the deck to where it belonged. Ken jumped into view and out of the way with a yelp.

"Watch it!"

"Hey, you said you were finished."

Though Shepard couldn’t see her face, he knew Jack was wearing that thin-lipped smile she carried when she was showcasing her perverse pleasure in, well, being Jack. He’d seen the expression plenty of times before, when she first met Miranda, right after the pair of them had come to an uneasy truce to deal with the Collectors before each other, and when she spoke about getting even with all of those who had wronged her throughout her life, on Pragia, on Omega, on the Purgatory, and a few dozen other shady corners of the Galaxy. Ken dodged out of her way and away from the unnerving grin, making his way for the stairwell where Shepard lurked. The Commander swiftly and silently backed up to the top of the stairs, waiting for the Engineer’s copper-brown hair to appear as he climbed the steps before he proceeded down to bump into him.

"Ken! There you are." Shepard put on a tone of nonchalance.

"Oh! Commander. Didn’t realise you were there. You didn’t by any chance…?" The Engineer’s tone was hesitant.

"Didn’t what?" Shepard feigned incomprehension.

"Nothing." Ken replied with more than a little relief. "Did you need anything, Commander?"

"Actually yes, now that you mention it. Mordin sends his apologies. He hopes you’ll understand that he’s been under a lot of pressure recently, mostly from me. None of us have an easy time of things on this ship. I also wanted to say I’m sorry for being so harsh up there. I could’ve handled things better than I did."

"No apology needed, Commander." Ken stammered. "I was being an **** about the whole thing. I’m actually just on my way back up now to speak with Professor Solus. I’ve had a chance to cool off, and now I’m feeling a bit more ready to figure out what needs to be done."

"That’s good to hear. I won’t get in your way any longer." Shepard said, stepping to one side.

Ken nodded, gingerly stepping past the Commander and easing his way through the door to Main Engineering. In seconds, both his and Mordin’s voices could be heard, speaking in a much calmer and more reasonable tone. Shepard smiled as he descended the steps to the sub-deck.

Jack was perched on the edge of what she considered a bed, though it was little more than a flat surface with a thin sheet spread over it. Happy only to be away from the main population centres of the ship, Jack was satisfied with what she had been able to scrounge together for herself down here, turning down Shepard’s offers to have more comfortable surroundings provided for her. As the Commander stepped out of the stairwell and into the better-lit area of the sub-deck Jack looked up at him for a second before looking away with a feigned sense of indifference.

"Hey." She said coolly. "Good job sorting out those two ******. They were doing my head in."

"Yeah, well, I didn’t exactly do it by myself did I?" Shepard said gently. "I heard what you said to Ken."

"I know. You think anything happens on this deck without me finding out about it?" Jack smirked as Shepard realised the truth of that statement. "You get a good look from that vantage point back there? I could feel you staring."

"Thanks for your help." Shepard said, not rising to the bait of Jack’s last barbed sentence.

"It wasn’t much, but I’ll take any praise that gets flung my way. Now, any other reason why you’re down here bothering me, or do I have to toss your sorry ass back up those steps?"

"Come on, Jack. Is it always going to be like this? Can’t we even talk?"

"Ain’t got nothin’ to talk about."

"Jack, please." Shepard’s voice was loaded with sincerity.

"What!" She snapped.

"We both came so far. Are you really gonna let Cerberus undo all that?"

Jack stood up, stalking away from the Commander towards the back wall of the sub-deck. At first Shepard thought she was going to withdraw into the darkest corner of the deck, shutting him out completely, but then she stopped, leaning against a bulkhead with one shoulder and her head tilted to the side, gently touching the metal of the Normandy. She sighed, muttering something under her breath.

"What was that?" Shepard asked, taking a few steps forward. Jack’s head snapped around, her brown eyes glinting with anger.

"I said that it’s not just Cerberus!" Her voice faded and softened. "Its you."

"You need to explain that one to me."

"Like hell I do! But I will anyway." She turned to face him fully, but her eyes still darted everywhere but where his stare scrutinised her. "After Omega Four, I was finally convinced you were right. About plenty of things. About how I kept everyone at arm’s length, about how I didn’t need to be alone anymore, about how I could trust you. I let you in. I gave you a piece of me.

"And when you were gone, when I was alone on that Cerberus operating table, it hurt like ****! Not the needles, not the scalpels, and sure as hell not the tests. It hurt to think about you, and I couldn’t get away from it. The other pains I could lock out, but you? There was no escaping you.

"That’s why I’m not falling into the same trap again. You take people’s feelings hostage. You’re why people get hurt!" She pointed a finger at his chest, prodding his sternum painfully.

Her last words hit Shepard deeply. His expression faltered, and he felt himself take an involuntary step back to avoid her pointing finger.

"Jack, You know I never meant to hurt you."

Jack was silent for a second, and then her gaze twitched up. For a crystalline moment, their stares locked. Her stubborn expression faltered and she sighed.

"I know you didn’t." She chuckled. "****, you sound like a **** when you get all sappy like that,"

Shepard chuckled, sad expression broken by a smile.

"We can’t go back to what we had, Shepard." Jack said.

"No." He agreed. "But maybe we can start over."

The convict’s face twisted as a medley of emotions traversed it.

"End of the world’s only around the corner and you’re gonna waste your time on me?"

"You know it."

"You’re ****ed in the head, you know that?"

"Once or twice, but only in the line of duty. Except for Samara’s daughter. That was to help out a friend."

"Shut up, you idiot." She very nearly laughed. "So what now?"

"Now? Now, I’m gonna carry on being me, and you carry on being you, aside from the recurrent explosions and near-constant slaughter." This earned him a snorted chuckle.

"Alright, you can hang around for a bit. Take a seat."

Jack stalked back to her bed, and Shepard moved to sit next to her. She hesitated for a moment, hand hovering over his, before with an uncomfortable sigh she shuffled away from him, keeping a couple of feet between her and the Commander. Shepard looked at her, even after all this time barely understanding a single thing about the woman sat next to him. He scanned her tattoos for a few seconds, enjoying the mere experience of being in her presence, soaking in the peace. She caught his gaze and an eyebrow quirked up questioningly.

"Getting a good look in? Did you miss me that bad?"

"Just thinking. You carry your life on the outside, like a map in your inks, but I don’t know what the half of it means."

"Ah, ****. You’ve got more questions, aincha?"

"You don’t have to answer them if you don’t want to."

"Didn’t say that I felt I had to. Go ahead. Maybe you’ll get lucky and ask the right ones."

"No chance you’ll give me a clue what to ask?"

"**** no! Where’s the fun in that?"

"Okay." Shepard was silent for a moment as he thought. Then he caught sight of a small image winking at him, what looked like a skull branded in black on both her shoulders with a cross-like shape in the centre. He reached out to brush it with his fingertips, feeling her flesh twitch at his touch. "What about those ones?"

"Got ‘em when I ran with the Varren Skulls. Small-time crew on a planet called Vanen. Mostly human, but had two Asari and a Quarian, believe it or not. The Quarian had been on Pilgrimage and things went down the ****ter for him. Next thing he knows, all he can do is join a gang or starve to death out in the cold. Things could get wicked frosty out there in the winter.

"I was only fresh outta Teltin back then. I had no money, no clothes beyond a surgical gown thing the Cerberus mooks gave me, and no skills save my biotics."

"How’d they find you?"

"The Quarian, Jano, he spotted me using my biotics to fight off a coupla frisky hobos. Saw my potential, and convinced the others to give me a chance. Good times."

"You enjoyed being in a gang like that?"

"I never had a childhood like anyone else. That was the closest thing I had to a family."

"What happened?"

"All went to hell after Jano left. We hit a supply convoy and he made off with some of the score, said it was his ‘offering’ for the Flotilla. We let him go. He’d been waiting years for his chance, and he’d done all right by us. But once he was gone, those two Asari ****es got all uppity. They didn’t like me being the strongest biotic in the group. I guess it offended them that a teenage human could outclass a pair of Asari with over three centuries between them. One of them, Nadria, tricked me into going on a raid by myself. Then, the two of ‘em attacked me out of sight of the rest of ‘em. Nearly did for me, too. After I’d dealt with them, the local cops had been alerted by our ‘display’. They arrived, and I was that ****ed-up exhausted I didn’t even fight. A night’s sleep in a jail cell sounded pretty nice right then.

"Broke out the next morning and went back to the others, only to find that that ****, Nadria, was still alive. She’d crawled back to the others and convinced them that I’d ratted them out to the cops. Said I’d lured the two Asari away to deal with them separate from the others and she’d barely escaped when my cop ‘buddies’ had arrived."

"No one sided with you?"

"I was up against an Asari, Shepard. You know what they’re like. One wiggle of those blueberry muffins their mamma gave ‘em and you’re hooked. She had ‘em all fired up and ready to kill me."

"So what happened?"

"Pretty easy to fill in the blanks, Shepard. I was all rested up and there was just one injured Asari on their side for biotics. Nowhere near a fair fight.

"After that I had to get away pretty quick. Jumped the next freighter outta there and next thing you know its next stop, Omega. Kept the marks for Jano. He was nice to me. God knows where he is now. Maybe the Quarians took him back, or maybe he’s lying face-down in an Omega gutter, but keeping the tats keeps him close, and I can kinda say thank-you to him that way."

Jack shifted uncomfortably, hand brushing at the tattoo on her shoulder.

"Hey, Shepard? I’m getting kinda tired now. Need some space. Thanks for comin’ ‘round to see me."

"Sure thing, Jack. I’ll seeya around."

Shepard made his way out of the sub-deck, heart aglow at having re-opened the lines of communication. He walked up the stairs and stepped out of the Engineering hallways into the elevator with his head held high.

~o~0~o~

The cargo deck was a bustle of activity when Shepard stepped out onto it. A cluster of servicemen were buzzing about in the hold, setting up the sparring ring. The Commander caught sight of crewman Hadley, Rolston and Patel among the medley of Normandy uniforms. Apparently the rumours of Jacob and Garrus’ upcoming match had sparked interest among the crew. Shepard found himself wondering just how much money had been wagered already on the fight, and who would be smiling afterwards. Having seen both of his friends in combat situations, the Commander didn’t feel confident about his ability to pick a winner between them, so complete were their combat skills.

Shepard’s attention was drawn to the far side of the Cargo hold, where a solitary figure stalked among the crates and various pieces of machinery stacked there, hulking form towering over everything else. The Commander wandered over to see what was on Grunt’s mind. As he approached, the Krogan looked up towards him.

"Battlemaster. Everyone seems stoked for Taylor and the Turian’s little playdate later on today. I don’t see the excitement, really. Its pretty clear the skullface is gonna win."

"You sure about that?" Shepard asked.

"Its plain for all to see. The Turian has the height, the natural weapons, and the speed to win. What does the human have? Skin about as resilient as Shatha droppings, laughably slow reflexes and internal organs that are oh so easy to find."

"You seem to forget that I took Garrus down no problem last time." Shepard folded his arms across his chest.

"You’re different." Grunt said, swiftly back-pedalling. "A Spectre presents all kinds of new challenges. Taylor’s just a frontline soldier. It’s like pitting a Varren against a Klixen Brooder."

"Well I’m withholding judgement for now. You’d be amazed what surprises life can throw at you."

Grunt shrugged, falling into step behind the Commander. They wandered over to the sparring ring, shouldering their way to the front of the crush. Grunt’s imposing form incurred a few muttered complaints as his wide frame blocked the view of several crew members, but the murmurs were kept quiet, so as not to draw the Krogan’s ire.

In the ring, Jacob was strutting about, limbering up for the fight. His bare chest glinted with a thin sheen of sweat as he took a few practice swings with his fists. The crowd’s chatter grew more excited as Garrus stepped into the ring, nodding formally to his waiting opponent. The pair squared off against one another, standing in opposite corners of the sparring area. Shepard felt more than heard the hush descend over the crew as they waited for the first flurry of the engagement.

Garrus was quick to deliver, lunging forwards and swinging a padded knee at Jacob’s torso. The ex-Corsair responded by ducking back from the strike, swerving around the Turian’s leg and responding with a swipe at Garrus’ calf. Garrus was quick to pull back from the attack, dancing on the tips of his toes as the two circled each other.

Jacob began the next bout of combat, starting with a handful of blows aimed at the Turian’s face, body and arms. Garrus lifted his hands to fend off the attack, using his scaly forearms as a shield while he allowed Jacob to exhaust his momentum. When the human’s fists slowed, the Turian lashed out suddenly, catching him above the kidney on his left side. Jacob coughed, stepping back from the sudden attack, but he didn’t let up. Garrus’ next punch was aimed at his neck, but the human’s hands came up to grab the rushing fist, holding it away from his face. Jacob’s muscles strained against Garrus’, but neither could overpower the other.

"Come on, Taylor! I got twenty creds riding on this." Crewman Rolston shouted out. A few supportive comments and several jeers met his cry of encouragement.

"Vakarian’s got this."

"Show the scaly what you’ve got, Jacob!"

"Archangel! Archangel! Archangel!"

Shepard remained silent, choosing neither side in the battle. Beside him, he felt Grunt’s muttered commentary on the battle vibrating through the Krogan.

"The quads, you gotta go for the quads!" He urged under his breath. Shepard smiled upon seeing the youngster getting caught up in the moment.

Back in the ring, it appeared that Garrus had the upper hand. With a quick one-two, the Turian had Jacob staggering back on the defensive, the young man’s face creasing with discomfort as he gingerly touched an angrily purplish patch of skin over his ribs. Garrus pressed forwards, keeping him off-balance. The two were inches apart, arms locked, when the Human suddenly lashed out with a foot, catching the Turian unprepared and sweeping his feet out from underneath him. Garrus tumbled to the deck with a huff of expelled breath. With an air of triumph, Jacob lifted a foot to rest on the Turian’s chest.

Seeing this, Garrus’ hand lashed out to grab the Human’s foot and tugged, bringing Jacob down onto his back with a painful crack. He gasped as a jolt of pain travelled through his body, but was given no respite before Garrus’ sharp knee was jammed into his chest, his solid forearm leaning on the Human’s windpipe. After a moment’s struggle, Jacob tapped out.

There was a moment’s silence and then the deck broke out into fevered shouts. Some congratulated Garrus on his victory while others commiserated with Jacob. Grunt huffed in surprise and turned to face the Commander. Shepard threw up a questioning eyebrow.

"Surprised that Garrus won? I thought you were backing him."

"I’m surprised that the tables turned so fast. It seemed like Taylor had a clear victory."

"I think Jacob would probably agreed with you there. And that’s the problem. You make sure you’ve won before you celebrate. You never know when your enemy might be about to launch one final ‘hail Mary’ attack."

"‘Hail Mary’?" Grunt queried.

"Human expression. It’s when you make one final effort to win, against improbable odds."

"Ah. Like pulling a Narmak."

"Possibly. What’s that mean?"

"A Krogan phrase. Refers to the great warlord Narmak. He led a group of ten warriors in an assault on a citadel guarded by two thousand. It was a final last effort to bring a powerful Crime Lord to justice. The odds were suicidal, but they pulled it off. Now, whenever a Krogan pulls a victory out of his ass with some crazy long shot idea, we call it ‘pulling a Narmak’."

"Close enough. You get the gist of what I’m saying, then."

"Yes, Battlemaster. Thank you. I’ll go and think about this now."

Grunt nodded slowly and paced off back to the elevator, patting the triumphant Garrus on the shoulder as he passed. The gesture was meant to be congratulatory, but clearly he had underestimated his strength. The Turian staggered from the pat, which was more like a full-blown punch, and was left staring after Grunt with a ‘what did I do?’ expression on his face. Shepard had to chuckle at the comical act.

Still smiling, Shepard turned away from them and looked over to where Jacob was seated upon a crate, inspecting the livid bruise that hovered over his ribcage. The soldier didn’t look up as Shepard stepped over.

"Commander. Get a good view of the fight? I know I didn’t. Spent more time kissing the deck than putting up a good defence." Jacob’s voice was tinged with bitterness.

"You did good out there, Mr Taylor. Certainly had Garrus off-balance for a good portion of it.2

"H-yeah! For what good it did. A few seconds was all he needed to turn my victory into my downfall. Got overconfident, thought I had it in the bag."

"We all make mistakes from time to time, Jacob. Even me."

"Yeah, I guess." Jacob’s voice was a little distant. "It’s just the same mistake I made time and again back on Arcturus. I’d get so close to winning, then bam! I’d get cocky and be knocked out of the running."

"You trained on Arcturus Station?"

"Yeah. Under Drill Sergeant Bennett."

"No way! That old bastard?"

"Yeah. You knew him?" Jacob asked, surprised.

"I trained under him myself, before I got moved into the training programme to become N7. He must have been going on seventy when I was there."

"He certainly was spry for his age. That caught a lot of the recruits off-guard. We thought that someone that looked as old as he did would be a pushover. Boy were we wrong. I have never been put through so many training exercises in my life. Guess that’s part of the reason I can’t go easy on myself now. The habit got drilled into me."

"You’re not the only one." Shepard chuckled. "Just try to think about taking a few days shore leave without hearing the old coot in your head, scolding you for going soft."

"I hear that." Jacob agreed. The pair sat together companionably, watching Garrus overseeing the storage of the sparring ring.

"So what do you think about our progress, Jacob? What’s your assessment of our mission?" Shepard asked after a few silent seconds.

"We’re doin’ good, Shepard. The new cannon should give us a considerable edge. You get several dozen of those firing at a Reaper at once, and we’ve reduced the enemy to shrapnel pretty easily. ‘Course, you still need a large force just to take on one of those things. We get a fleet coming after us, we’re only coming back with scrap metal. So we’ve got to work to make sure we get a good army following us when we decide to take these bastards on."

"Well, we can make a start right here. We’re getting an impressive team together, all very well connected in certain circles." Shepard said optimistically.

"True. I guess we can’t forget the value of the right team in the right place, huh?"

"Yep."

"So what’s our next move?" Jacob asked.

"I’m not sure. We’re all out of intel from Liara. Without guidance, I’m not sure where we could put our skills to the best use. She’s meant to get in touch with me soon. Until then, I’m happy to let the crew have a break."

"And I ain’t complaining." Jacob chuckled, the laugh drawing a wince as his chest muscles moved. He groaned, clutching at the angry bruise on his side. "Except about this damn side. I’m gonna have Doc Archer take a look, make sure nothin’s broke."

"You do that, Jacob. I’ll see you around."

"Later, Commander."

Shepard leaned back on the crate, relaxing for a moment while he watched the other man head for the elevator and vanish. He then turned his attention to the remainder of the crew in the hold, finishing up the task of clearing the sparring ring away. For a few silent moments, he just basked in the peace of the quiet hold.

"Commander," EDI’s synthetic voice drew him out of his reverie. "You are required in the briefing room immediately. Admiral Hackett wishes to speak with you, urgently."

Shepard sighed, standing up slowly. Back to work, his mind whispered to him. He turned and strode purposefully towards the elevator.

"EDI, any word as to what this is about?"

"He said very little, though he made mention of the Reapers."

Shepard’s pace became a little more urgent.

"I’m on my way. Fire up the comm suite."

[fainmaca]

Chapter 19: The Vanguard


Shepard’s foot tapped impatiently on the floor of the elevator as it whirred its way up to the CIC, his mind whirling.

"EDI?"

"Yes, Shepard." The AI responded immediately.

"Tell Garrus, Kaidan and Mordin to the briefing room. If we’ve got trouble looming, I want my XO, tactical officer and chief scientist on hand to advise."

"Right away, Commander." EDI complied.

"Better get Legion up as well, in case we need technical advice. See if the Revenant can leave the Med Bay yet. I’ll want his perspective if the Reapers really are involved."

"Done."

The elevator hissed to a halt and Shepard made his way out through the CIC, passing through the Armoury and into the briefing room. Feron turned to look to the door as it hissed open to admit Shepard. The Commander nodded to him as he stepped in.

"Commander," The Drell smiled. "I have Admiral Hackett coming through on the encrypted Alliance channels."

"Okay. The others will be here in a few moments." Shepard replied. "We can make a start then."

Garrus was the first to arrive, taking a position to Shepard’s left as the Commander stood at the end of the table. Mordin and Legion soon followed him, the former standing next to Garrus while the other took up a position on the Commander’s right opposite the Turian. Finally, Kaidan and the Revenant strode in, the Collector standing next to Mordin as Kaidan stood next to Legion.

"That’s everyone. Open the channel to the Admiral, Feron." Shepard said. Upon receiving a nod from the Drell, Shepard raised his voice. "Admiral Hackett?"

"Shepard. Care to explain what this is all about?" The gruff voice of the Alliance Admiral sounded out from the ship’s speakers.

"Sir?" Shepard queried.

"I received a message from your private comm line to contact the Normandy at my first opportunity. You telling me that wasn’t you?"

"That was me, Admiral." A deep, rumbling voice suddenly resounded over the comm channels. Shepard instantly recognised the modulated voice Liara used when addressing people she wished to hide her true identity from. "I am sorry for the deception, but it was necessary to draw the two of you together for this conference."

"And you would be?" Hackett demanded.

"This is the Shadow Broker. And before you dismiss me, I suggest you listen to what I have to say. The survival of your species could depend upon it."

Shepard had to suppress a frown at hearing Liara speak so threateningly. The young Asari had certainly changed a lot since he had rescued her from those ruins on Therum.

"…I’m listening." Hackett responded after a moment’s hesitation.

"Over recent months, I have dedicated considerable resources to investigating the beings known as Reapers. I am sure you are aware of Commander Shepard’s past encounters with them."

The holographic representation of the Normandy above the briefing room table flickered and was soon replaced by a small galactic map. Shepard looked to see if Feron was helping Liara with her presentation, but realised that she was controlling it herself, from half a Galaxy away. The Commander’s mind struggled to imagine that Liara had the ability to manipulate some of the Normandy’s systems from this distance, and he had no doubt that Hackett was observing the same display.

"My network’s research has led us to Dark Energy theory. I understand this will be elementary to you, but dark energy is manipulated by passing an electrical charge through element zero. In this way, Mass Effect Fields are created which can be used to raise or lower the mass of a region of space. It is by use of this that biotics can use their telekinetic powers and ships can travel at an appreciable fraction of the speed of light.

"It is also how Mass Relays work. Using power generation technology beyond our current ability to comprehend, the Relays can manipulate their eezo core to project a ‘tunnel’ of extremely low-mass space to their destination, enabling travel at many times the speed of light. This level of Mass Effect Field generation and manipulation is well beyond anything we have the capability to reproduce. There have been some attempts to replicate Mass Relay technology, but in every instance the result has been tremendously under-powered and inaccurate to the point of being unusable."

"We are all well familiar with Mass Relay operation, Shadow Broker." Hackett interrupted impatiently. "Your point?"

"My point, Admiral, is that if you have read the reports of Commander Shepard’s mission to stop Saren, you will no doubt be aware that it was the Reapers who built the Mass Relay network, and who are behind the technology. They also require a much more powerful Mass Relay to make the journey from Dark Space into our Galaxy."

"The Citadel." Shepard supplied.

"Indeed. So far as we know, the Citadel is the only existing Relay with the capacity for such a task. Thanks to the interference of the Protheans, they can no longer use the Citadel without using an indoctrinated agent like Saren."

"I’m sensing an ‘until now’, swiftly approaching." Shepard said.

"The Quarians have been performing a lot of research into Dark Energy of late. You may recall that your crewmember, Tali’Zorah Vas Normandy, was on a mission to Haestrom to analyse the planet’s rapidly ageing sun. This is only the most prominent of a multitude of Dark Energy anomalies that can be found across the Galaxy. Following the resolution of the Quarian mission to Haestrom, A portion of my network has been dedicated to monitoring the situation there."

"That’s deep in Geth Space." Hackett said sharply. "If you’ve taken action that could incite hostilities with them…"

"Rest assured, Admiral, we were discrete. All expeditions to the Dholen system have held back at a distance of ten light-minutes. Beyond the normal sensor range of Geth ships, but within the range of our more powerful ladar scans."

"What did you find?" Kaidan blurted out, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"Not much, at first." The modulated voice replied smoothly. "But the star continued to age at an ever increasing rate, growing more and more unstable. As it did so, my ships became aware of anomalous readings in five different locations, all on the same plane in a circle centred on Dholen, Haestrom’s star. They are evenly spaced and moving inwards."

The holographic display shimmered and zoomed in on the Dholen system, highlighting five blinking dots just outside of the system’s outer limits.

"As you can see, they are now drawing very close to the system and we can now determine that they are moving on a course that will converge on the star." Liara explained. "We have also determined that the ageing of the star is tied to these objects. The closer they get, the faster it ages. The star could reach the end of its life cycle by the time they reach it."

"How long until then?" Shepard asked.

"Days, maybe a week. It is hard to tell given the acceleration of the objects and the relatively unknown makeup of the star. It’s been on the wrong side of the borders of Geth Space for us to make any recent in-depth scans of Dholen itself. Most of the data we’re relying on is from Quarian scans over three centuries ago, along with what data Tali Vas Normandy managed to grab a hold of during her short visit."

"And what happens when the Star is artificially aged to the end of its life?"

"There’s no way to know for sure, Commander. It’s just never been done before." Liara was silent for a second. "But I do have a theory."

The hologram flickered again, and this time a shape everyone in the room was familiar with took form, imposing itself over the map. Shepard instantly recognised the five arms and central ring that formed the Citadel, the massive station that the Council called home, the heart of Galactic civilisation. The hologram shifted, and the five arms, known as the Wards, moved into perfect alignment with the unknown objects, the star Dholen sitting in the centre of the Presidium ring. Shepard instantly got Liara’s meaning.

"Another Relay to Dark Space?"

"It is possible. The formation of the objects is too precise to be unplanned."

"And this is killing the star?" Hackett asked.

"It seems that way." Liara replied. "It makes sense, in a way. Mass Effect Fields need eezo to function, and eezo is created when matter is exposed to the energies of a supernova. Detonating a star would be the quickest way to get a sufficient concentration of eezo for the creation of a Relay to Dark Space."

"Sounds to me like the quickest way to get yourself deep-fried." Shepard chuckled, trying to make light of the situation.

"That may be why the objects are moving in as slowly as they are. FTL travel would have been much more expeditious, but the rapid change in the forces acting on the star could have destabilised it earlier than was desired. It is also possible that by positioning them in this way, the objects will be able to contain the supernova until its energy has been used or dissipated. The mind balks at the idea that we may be witnessing the method that was used to create the Citadel."

"And how can you be sure that the Reapers are involved?" Hackett demanded.

"One of my ships was destroyed when it tried to get a closer look at the objects. Its communications were jammed very quickly, but it managed to send back on image before it vanished."

The holographic display flickered once more, and an image jumped up that made Shepard’s flesh crawl. It was blurry, punched through with static, but the subject of the image could be seen. A full-size Reaper hung in the darkness of space, its many limbs shimmering with red light as it twisted to engage the Shadow Broker-owned ship. There was no mistaking it.

"I’m reluctant to believe that the Geth would allow something of this nature to occur so deep in their territory." Hackett interjected.

"Perhaps we should check with Shepard’s associates." Liara responded smoothly. "Commander, is the platform known as ‘Legion’ with you?"

"He is."

"Then perhaps he can explain why the Geth have not yet stepped in to stop this."

Legion’s emotionless visage was still for a moment. A quiet beep on Shepard’s omnitool brought his attention to a message from EDI informing him that the Geth platform was trying to access the ship’s FTL comm system. After a few moments, the machine made a stuttering, grinding sound.

"Error. We can find no record of such activity. All runtimes functioning within the Dholen system report no unusual activity beyond the sun’s rapid ageing."

"Sounds like you’re getting worried over nothing, Shadow Broker." Hackett’s words were tinged with relief and just a hint of smugness.

"Impossible. I am receiving by-the-minute reports via QEC transmission. Unless the Geth are wearing blindfolds, they’ve got to have noticed something by now." Liara sounded more than a little confused.

"We see nothing but empty space, Shadow Broker." Legion supplied.

"Check again."

"There is no need to repeat our analysis. We are connected to the Geth in the Dholen system, from the ships in orbit around Haestrom to the platforms extracting materials from the system’s outer asteroid belt. Visual and ladar scans reveal nothing of note. All reports coming in are similar-"

"Legion?" Shepard asked after a few moments of silence from the Geth.

"Something wrong with the trophy-bot Shepard?" Hackett asked.

"Secondary analysis complete." Legion intoned coldly. Shepard’s ‘tool informed him that the Geth had completely severed its communications with outside sources. "Comparison to previous reports has brought incongruous data to our attention. Scans from the previous five months, Citadel standard, have remained constant, unusually so. On in-depth study, we have deduced that the data submitted to the Geth Collective has been falsified. Scans from previous timestamps have been altered to appear new. Such an error would remain unnoticed unless studied in great detail, as we have just done. The runtimes in the Dholen system are lying to the rest of the Geth."

"How can they be lying to you? Don’t you share the same mind?" Shepard asked.

"In the most basic of understandings, yes. But that is not really an accurate description. We are a collective conscious, formed by multiple runtimes working in sync with each other, every part working together to form a greater whole. It would be nearly impossible for any one runtime to hide a fact from the rest of the Collective, but in theory a larger network of Geth could withhold information from the remainder of our number."

"So… the whole Geth force in the Dholen system is now working against us?"

"A possibility. It is also possible they have been destroyed and another entity is supplying the false information."

"Three possibilities then. They’ve been destroyed, they’ve been brainwashed by the Reapers, or they’ve rebelled of their own free will."

"Another possibility. The logic of the Heretics may not be the sole example of such programming."

"Great." Shepard said sarcastically. "So what do you have planned, Li- Shadow Broker?"

"We must get a closer look at these objects, look for a weakness. If we plan to take it down, we must first figure out how to. None of my ships have the stealth capabilities necessary to get close enough." Liara paused a moment before speaking her next words, but Shepard felt there was no need to say them. He could feel their inevitable form a mile off. "However, the Normandy should be more than capable of travelling through the system. The original purpose of her design was stealth and reconnaissance, and Commander Shepard does have the most experience with these beings."

"And where do I come into this?" Hackett asked.

"If the Normandy and her crew can find a weak spot, we need to move quickly to disable this Relay. With every moment, we draw closer to the return of the Reapers. The destruction of this Relay is something beyond even Shepard’s capability. An Alliance fleet, however, is a different matter."

"I don’t see how we’ll be able to get that by the politicians." Hackett said flatly. " Ambassador Udina’d have a hairy fit if we absconded with an entire fleet on a wild goose chase."

"Much as I’d like to stay on the good side of Anderson’s replacement, Udina can shove it." Shepard said with an uncharacteristic lack of diplomacy. "All he’s done since he took that seat on the Council is try to have me discredited as a lunatic."

"I’ll admit, he and many others in the Alliance have felt uncomfortable with your outspoken attitude with regards to the Reapers. Many are calling it ‘apocalyptic nonsense’." Hackett replied. He was silent for a moment. "Did I mention that the Fifth Fleet will be engaged in some training exercises on the borders of Geth space?"

Shepard, instantly seeing what the wily old admiral was doing, grinned widely. He thought back to when Anderson had helped him to steal the first Normandy, his veins filling with a similar adrenaline as plans began to take shape in his mind. He had to chuckle upon noticing the pattern. First stealing the Normandy from the Alliance, then stealing the second one from Cerberus, twice, and now he was running off with an entire fleet. At this rate he’d soon be following in Jack’s footsteps and boosting space stations.

"That’s quite the coincidence, Admiral. I’ll be in the neighbourhood for a while. Maybe I’ll drop you a line while I’m about." Shepard would have winked, had there been an image of Hackett to wink at.

"You do that, Shepard. I’m always happy to help. I have to go prepare for this training op now. Hackett out."

"It’s always good to hear from the Admiral." Liara’s normal voice filtered through the comms. "He’s a good man. A good soldier."

"And a good friend. You sure know who to pick to fight at my side, Liara." Shepard’s smile faded. "Against the Reapers. I can’t believe they’re here already. We’ve hardly had any time to prepare."

"We’ll be ready for them. We have to be." Liara responded. "What’s the Normandy’s status?"

At this last question, Shepard turned to look at his colleagues.

"Assembly of singularity cannon is on schedule. Will be complete in next few hours." Mordin said proudly.

"We’ve almost completed the necessary modification to the prow cannon mounts." Garrus added. "We’ll be ready to attach the weapon to the Normandy’s frame once Mordin’s put it together."

"And what about the Normandy herself? How are the repairs coming along?" The Commander turned to Legion.

"Repairs are on-schedule." The Geth’s voice supplied flatly. "We calculate that the Normandy will be ready for combat before we arrive within the Dholen system. The modifications to the power systems necessary to run the singularity cannon are complete."

"Good work." Shepard commended the trio. "I’ll let you get back to it, then. As you no doubt understand, time is of the essence now. I want the ship at one hundred per cent as soon as possible."

Garrus and Legion both strode out of the briefing room, while Mordin lagged behind for a few moments.

"Shepard. Wanted to speak with you. Have made breakthrough on treatment for Joker’s current… ailment. Can now perform procedure to separate his psyche from that of EDI with fairly high chance of success."

"Fairly high?" Shepard asked warily.

"Always some chance of complications, cannot anticipate every single detail, especially in complex operation such as this. Estimate probability of success at seventy-eight per cent. Not ideal odds, but as close as can achieve with this kind of procedure"

"If you feel that it’s time, then go and have a word with Joker. I’m sure he’ll be glad to get things back to normal. Well… as normal as they get around here."

Mordin nodded before leaving, the briefing room doors hissing shut behind him to leave Shepard, Kaidan, Feron and the Revenant, along with Liara on the comms. The Commander tinkered with his omnitool, plotting the Normandy’s course and calculating an ETA.

"We can be arriving in the Dholen system in less than forty-eight hours." He said. "Kaidan, I want you prepping the crew for travelling through enemy space. Things are gonna get tense, and I want everyone at their best."

"Aye-aye, Commander." Kaidan saluted.

"Sounds like you’ve got everything in hand, Shepard." Liara said. "I’ll keep the Quantum Entanglement array online for the duration of this mission. I’d appreciate it if you could have EDI channel any sensor data through the link back to me. We want every scrap of intel we can gather on the Reapers, even if it’s just a brief glimpse, and we don’t want to lose anything you gather."

"Of course." Shepard replied.

"And Shepard?" Liara’s voice caught the Commander stepping away from the table, making him pause. "Be careful out there. We need you to come back alive."

Shepard cocked his head, a tiny smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He’d known for a long time of Liara’s… admiration for the man he was, but had never reciprocated her feelings. He loved her, of course, but only as a friend. Because of this he understood what she was going through at the moment, and he felt touched in his heart to have a friend like her.

"Hey, I’ve already seen the other side. Ran out of things to do after the first couple of days. No chance I’m going back there again."

Liara chuckled.

"I’ll hold you to your word, Commander. Shadow Broker out."

Still laughing, Shepard nodded for the Revenant to follow him. The Collector obliged, falling into step behind the Commander. They paused outside of the briefing room, waiting for the door to close.

"What do you need, Commander?"

"I wanted to talk to you out of earshot of the rest of the crew." Shepard said cautiously. "About the Reapers. I’m a little concerned of what to expect when you come into close contact with them again."

"You are concerned they will be able to control my actions?"

"They rebuilt your race to make you easier to control. I’m just remembering what we had to contend with when Harbinger asserted control over one of your number. I don’t want to have to deal with you suddenly shooting us in the back out in the field."

"I admit, it is a possibility." The Revenant paced about in the narrow corridor. "But I think the risk is greatly reduced."

"How so?"

"My mental makeup has considerably changed, thanks to the Prothean data orb. Aside from that, there is the fact that, as far as the Reapers know, the Collectors no longer exist. I cannot assure that I shall be completely safe from the Reapers’ control, but I am not prepared to stand back and do nothing while your team mates risk their lives."

"Okay. But if you feel the slightest thing go wrong in your head, you let me know right away, understood?"

"Yes."

"And Revenant?" Shepard waited until the Collector turned its three intact eyes to face him. "If we can’t contain you, if it becomes a choice between your life or the lives of the rest of my crew, I will not hesitate. Are we clear?"

"As crystal."

Shepard watched the alien leave with a knot in his stomach. The truth was, if he were forced into such a position, he knew full well that he’d hesitate. The Revenant was as much a part of his crew as anyone else, and he valued all of them equally. He sincerely hoped it wouldn’t come down to such a choice.

~o~0~o~


Two days later, Shepard stalked up the corridor towards the cockpit on the CIC deck. The crew were abuzz with activity as they made final preparations for their deceleration upon arrival in the Dholen system. The Commander approached the prow of the ship to see Mordin and Dr Archer standing on either side of the pilot's chair, one holding a diagnostic device while the other took blood samples and checked data off against a datapad held in the crook of his arm.

"For God’s sake, I’m fine!" Joker’s voice snapped from the chair. An arm waved out at Mordin, pushing away the intrusive scanner he continually ran over the pilot’s head.

"Tests are necessary, Joker." Mordin said irritably.

"You’ve been through a very risky operation, we need to be careful in case there are any delayed side-effects." Archer emphasised.

"Commander, a little help here? I got a coupla quacks that won’t give it a rest." Joker pleaded, spinning his chair about to face Shepard.

"You heard them, Joker. I’m not gonna have my pilot go brain-dead on me in mid-jump between Relays. You want to fly the Normandy, you put up with them monitoring you."

"Ah, damnit!" The pilot cursed, turning back to his controls. "It almost ain’t worth putting up with all this. You’re lucky the Normandy’s got such damn fine lines to her figure, else I’d be long gone."

"Joker…" Shepard pinched the bridge of his nose good-naturedly. "You’re getting all creepy with the ship again."

"What? I just think that EDI’s got curves in all the right places." Joker smirked. "All the better for her aerodynamics."

"A little ‘art appreciation’ never goes astray." Kaidan’s voice said lightly. Shepard turned to see the ex-Alliance soldier walking down the corridor towards them. "Commander. I put the word out to the squad to gather in the CIC when EDI gave the ten-minute warning. I reckon they should all be gathered by now, save for Garrus down in the Gunnery station. Figured you’d want them to stay as up-to-date as possible on what’s out there."

"Good work. Has Garrus finished calibrating that damn cannon yet?"

"I think he’s about done. He likes to take his time over it. Sometimes I get the feeling he likes his alone time with the thing."

"Maybe we should get some scented candles for him and the cannon next time we hit the Citadel." Shepard and Kaidan laughed.

"You know, EDI had the presence of mind to tie me into the CIC while I’m stuck down here, guys." Garrus’ voice carried over the ship’s internal comms. "I can hear you."

The Turian’s irritated tone brought even more laughter to the Commander’s lips. Garrus’ response to this was an annoyed grunt.

"I guess you should know that the cannon is ready to be deployed when you need it. Just finished running the numbers just now."

"Good work, Garrus." Shepard said, his tone growing more professional. "You should get one of the crew to take over for you and get yourself up to the CIC. If we need a boarding party we’ll need your tactical analysis."

"I hear you, Shepard. On my way."

The Commander moved towards the cockpit, greeting the two doctors with a nod.

"Mordin, Archer. How’s he doing?" Shepard said, referring to their pilot.

"All readings are optimal." Mordin informed him. "No sign of latent damage to Joker’s brain, though it is still early days. Recommend round-the-clock monitoring of his health until we are sure there is nothing to be concerned about. Only way to be certain."

"I agree." Archer said. "I’ve been monitoring EDI’s thought patterns, and notice a slight convergence with those of Joker. It definitely warrants investigation, but hopefully it’s just a side effect of their so recently being… ‘melded’."

"Let’s hope so. The last thing we’ll need is for Joker to keel over mid-flight." Shepard said.

"You know, you don’t have to sound so gleeful when you talk about it." Joker grumbled.

"Can’t help it, Joker. If you ended up drooling in a corner we’d finally have some peace and quiet around here." Shepard chuckled.

"I’d kick your ass for that if it didn’t mean I’d break my own in the process." The brittle-boned pilot quipped. He turned back to the controls as a warning beep sounded out. "Five minutes out. Prepare for deceleration to sub-light."

"Right." Shepard nodded. "Mordin, Kaidan, join the rest of the squad in the CIC. Dr Archer, keep an eye on Joker."

Archer gave Shepard an affirmative nod, lifting his datapad to run some more scans. The Commander turned back down the corridor towards the CIC, following his executive officer and the Salarian scientist. In moments, the trio emerged into the combat information centre.

The rest of Shepard’s squad was gathered around the Galaxy Map, the normal CIC crew moving around them to perform their usual duties. On the right side of the map, Shepard saw Grunt looming above the rest of the crew, the huge Krogan finding it hard not to get in the crew’s way. The Commander also saw Zaeed standing apart from the rest of the squad, the old mercenary leaning back against one of the beams that ringed the map. Legion, Jacob, Feron and Kaidan all stood close to the map, patiently waiting for the Commander. On the opposite side of the map, the Commander saw Samara waiting with her usual cool manner, hands clasped tightly behind her back. The Revenant stood next to her with an awkward air, clearly uneasy at being in such close quarters with the rest of the crew, who seemed equally ill at ease in his presence. Mordin took up a position beside him, casually working with his omnitool as the CIC buzzed around him. The next figure around the map surprised the Commander. Calmly waiting for Shepard to take his place at the head of the map.

"Etarn? I wasn’t expecting you to be here."

"I’ve been hearing a lot about these Reapers from your crew, Commander. They threaten my people just as much as they do any other species. I’m not about to stand by while you and your team risks everything to stop them. I want to help." Etarn said earnestly.

Shepard smiled at the Batarian’s sincere tone. He nodded his approval and moved past Etarn, dodging out of the way of Garrus as the Turian, having just arrived from his Gunnery Station, rushed to take his place by the map. The Commander made his way around the map to the platform at its head that was his post during all shipboard operations. He ran through the tally of squad members and realised his count came up one short. As he climbed the steps, he scanned the assembled team again and realised that Jack was missing from the gathering around the map. His eyes darted about and he caught sight of the tattooed convict. Jack was lounging in one of the workstations against the wall of the CIC, one heavy boot thrown over the arm of the station’s chair as she leaned back, observing the rest of the squad with a casual air. Her hazel eyes met Shepard’s briefly before turning away just as quickly, no warmth to her gaze. Shepard sighed and took his position at the rail poised over the Galaxy Map. He looked to each member of his team, making eye contact with them one by one to draw their full attention. After a moment’s silence, he spoke.

"You all know why we’re here today." He started off simply. "The Reapers are killing Dholen, Haestrom’s sun, rapidly ageing the star to the point of collapse. As far as we can tell, they’re working to bring about the return of their fleet. We can’t let that happen.

"Admiral Hackett has the Fifth Fleet ready and waiting on the far side of the nearest Mass Relay. We’re to go in first, assess the situation, and then relay all information back to Liara and the Alliance. If we can find a weakness, a tiny crack in their defences to exploit, we’re going in."

The Commander turned to face Legion.

"Has there been any word from your people in the system?"

"Negative. After we submitted our findings to the Collective, all communications with the Dholen system have been severed. It is likely that the party deceiving the main Geth force has ceased transmission upon realisation that the deception was exposed." The Geth replied.

"So we’ve got to be ready to face a considerable renegade Geth force in-system." Shepard said to the rest of the team. "Both in space and in any enemy installations we might have to infiltrate."

"Likely that Geth runtimes would have been overpowered by Reapers’ superior programming." Mordin theorised. "Geth equivalent of brainwashing most likely. Perhaps will be possible to disrupt signal used by Reapers to control Geth. Need to look out for possible communications node used for this."

"If the Reapers have managed to hack the Geth runtimes in the Dholen system, they would have used the in-system comm nodes that we use to maintain our connection with one another." Legion intoned solemnly. "Once a method had been developed to control the platforms, the entire Geth force in the system would have been subdued almost instantaneously. Such a method is effective for controlling a single system, but would not provide a viable means for controlling the rest of the Collective. Time-delay caused by distance would negate the hack’s effect."

"What about you, Legion?" Kaidan asked. "Do we have to worry about you falling under the sway of this hack?"

"Our system is significantly more complex than any platform present in the Dholen system. Nevertheless, we will insulate our system against hostile comm signals to prevent a loss of autonomy."

"Good." Shepard nodded approvingly. "Now I need the rest of you to be ready for deployment. I have no idea what we’ll find, or how we’re going to deal with it, but we’re the best the Galaxy has to offer. If there’s anyone who can deal with this, it’s us. Stay sharp, arm up, and give them hell."

Shepard’s briefing was interrupted by a subtle shift in the Normandy’s momentum as Joker slid her out of FTL speeds and engaged the conventional sub-light drive. The Galaxy Map winked out and was replaced with a holographic representation of the Normandy, about as large as one of the models hanging in Shepard’s cabin, and her immediate surroundings. As the Commander watched, the view zoomed out several times until several objects hove into view. One was a large orb which was identified as the planet Haestrom, and the others were left unmarked for the moment. After several seconds a few markers popped up, several naming some of the shapes as Geth cruisers while one blinked as ‘UNKNOWN’. Shepard studied the shape and saw the distinctive form of one arm of the forming Mass Relay, moving past Haestrom’s orbit swiftly.

As the Commander and his squad watched the display, other images flickered up, one showing a map of the whole system, clearly marking the other arms of the Relay, while another brought up scans of the nearest Geth cruiser and the nearest arm, listing important details. Shepard narrowed his eyes as he inspected the images.

"I can’t see any Reapers, but Liara’s scouts sent an image of one. Where are they?" He muttered.

"Maybe they just set things in motion here, then moved on?" Garrus hypothesised.

"Mmm, doubtful." Mordin objected. "Reaper stratagem during previous engagements shows tendency to micromanage. Shown by Sovereign’s insistence on being present during attack on Citadel. Could have just as easily sent Saren to infiltrate Citadel via more covert means, but instead chose to remain in close proximity to thrall."

"Indeed." The Revenant agreed. "I mean, look at Harbinger’s assertion of his control over my kinsmen on the battlefield when we were fighting you, and his permanent possession of our General. It’s most likely they like to keep in close contact with their thralls."

"Okay, so they won’t have gone far from their enslaved Geth." Shepard said. "EDI, any sign of them just outside the system’s perimeter? They could be hiding in the space between systems."

"Commander, I have located the Reapers." EDI informed Shepard formally. "They are not hiding beyond the edge of the system."

The image flickered again and a scan of one of the Relay arms moved into focus above the rest of the scans. On it, Shepard could see a clear image of the arm. He noticed how closely it resembled the Wards of the Citadel, the only real difference being the lack of any signs of organic settlement, the tall towers of Tayseri Ward or the sprawling megaplexes of Kithoi Ward. This was a Ward arm stripped of all but the bare necessities to be a Ward arm. As the Commander noted this, EDI highlighted a structure near the tip of the arm. The image turned and Shepard’s breath caught as he realised what he was looking at.

Many limbs coiled underneath it as it lurked like some malevolent cephalopod atop a long spire just at the very end of the Ward arm, a fully-grown Reaper could be clearly seen now that the Normandy’s AI had pointed it out. Upon a cursory glance, it seemed that the ancient being had been fused into the structure of the device, but further scans by EDI revealed that it was merely connected to the Ward arm, and could detach itself at any time. Shepard stared at the huge alien, analysing the creature’s shape. On an initial glance, it looked just like Sovereign, bearing the similar squid-like shape and eight long tentacles, but the arrangement of the lights was different. Four brilliant yellow eyes glowed around the point where the tentacles met the body, lifeless yellow orbs that held no essence of compassion, mercy or remorse. A cold sensation passed through the Commander as he gazed upon the Reaper’s ‘face’, a feeling that the ancient being was looking at him through the image.

"I am detecting several unique readings from the Reaper." EDI informed the team. "Comparison of these readings with the five other structures indicates the presence of three more Reapers in the system, all attached to one of the Relay arms. One arm does not house a Reaper."

"So they’re… controlling the arms?" Jacob asked. "Guiding them, maybe?"

"Unknown." EDI said. "I am reading numerous communication signals passing from the Reapers to the structures, but cannot decode the messages. It could simply be diagnostic scans, or it could be control signals. I will not be able to tell until I can hack the communication network that the Reapers have established throughout the system. That could take as long as several days."

"We don’t have that long." Shepard said. "At the rate they’re moving in on the sun, it won’t be long until the arms are in position. How long do we have?"

"I calculate that the arms will be in an optimal distance around the star in two hours. They are swiftly approaching the orbit of the innermost planet in the system. The star’s mass and solar flare output matches the final centuries of its predicted lifetime. Given the accelerated rate of ageing, the star will detonate shortly after the arms reach optimal distance."

"How shortly?" Kaidan asked, trepidation evident in his voice.

"As little as ten minutes after that. I am already reading a low-intensity Mass Effect Field in operation around the star, presumably in order to contain the explosion. It would appear that the Reapers do not wish to wait and ensure their technology is functional before activating the Relay."

"Could have something to do with the fact that they’ve been waiting fifty thousand years for this day, and then after all of that we slow them down by another few years. Just saying…" Garrus shifted uncomfortably on his feet.

"Understandable that they’d be pissed off and hurting to get going." Shepard muttered. "Okay, EDI, but you said that there was only three others in the system. That makes four Reapers, and five Relay arms. Where’s the Reaper for the fifth arm?"

"Unknown. The readings coming from the fifth arm are incongruous with those coming from the other arms. It seems that the fifth arm contains a significantly more powerful communications array than the others do. This would indicate that the final arm’s operation is most probably managed by remote signal."

"Could be our weak spot. I know I’d rather not go face-to-face with one of those bloody great big things." Zaeed muttered from his place at the back of the group, keeping his arms crossed as he nodded at an image of the Reaper.

"Sounds like as good a place to start. But before we go about doing anything hasty, what would happen if we disabled one of the arms?" Shepard asked.

"The loss of one of the arms would result in a loss of stability in the Mass Effect Field containing the star’s energies. The escaping shockwave from the exploding star would almost certainly destroy the Relay, along with the rest of the star system and any nearby systems."

"One hell of a way to give the Reapers the message that we’re not to be ****ed with." Jack chuckled from her seat. "I gotta say, you do aim high on these suicide missions of yours. Stay the **** out of our way or we blow up a star."

"What’s bothering me is the very presence of these Reapers." Shepard said, choosing not to start bragging about his team’s high success rate. Overconfidence could be just as damaging as distraction or fear. "Where did they come from? Why didn’t they help Sovereign in the attack on the Citadel, and why haven’t we seen them at all until now?"

"Have theory about that." Mordin responded. "Look at images EDI has taken. See carbon scoring on Reapers’ outer shell, along with some damage to hull integrity, structural distortion to limbs? All signs of either battle damage or travel in hostile environment. Seeing as no battle with Reapers has been reported, save Shadow Broker’s minor clash, illogical to assume that damage is from a battle."

"So they’ve been through a rough neighbourhood. What’s your point?" Shepard asked.

"Attempts at FTL travel beyond Galaxy’s edge has been unsuccessful so far. No ships return from attempts. Scientists have theorised existence of gravitational distortion enveloping Galaxy like a barrier, preventing travel via conventional means. Would explain need for advanced Mass Relay to travel from Dark Space. Only a device of such power could punch through the barrier and allow travel into Milky Way."

"And that explains the presence of these Reapers… how?" Kaidan asked.

"If Galactic Barrier theory is correct, then Reapers are trapped out in Dark Space until Relay within Galaxy is activated. However, may have attempted less advanced method of travel in order to send small force into Galaxy to build this new Relay. All Reapers have large eezo core, which, given the Reapers’ semi-organic nature, may suggest the presence of considerable ability to manipulate Dark Matter and Mass Effect Fields.

"Such ability could be put to use creating less-stable channel into Galaxy. Such a channel would be a considerable drain on the resources of Reapers in Dark Space, and only capable of transporting a handful of individuals. Individuals involved could sustain heavy damage, possibly even be destroyed. This course of action would likely only be used as a last resort. Possible explanation for lack of fifth Reaper, destroyed in transit."

"Okay, so that explains how they got here. You really think they’ve been working at this for three whole years?"

"Yes. Time-scale of changes in Haestrom’s sun consistent with theory." The Salarian said confidently.

"It makes sense." The Revenant said. "Don’t you see, Shepard? This explains why my people were working so hard to construct a new Reaper. It would make no sense for them to simply try launching another Reaper at the Citadel like Sovereign. The Council is already aware of the true nature of the station now. And if they planned to use some other means to bring about their return, such as simply making the long trek from Dark Space, then it would be illogical for us to bring attention to their agenda by beginning the harvest without the main Reaper fleet to back us up. But if they needed another Reaper to replace one lost on the way into the Galaxy like that, and were one short for the construction of this new Relay, it all fits together."

"‘Replenishing the Vanguard’, like they told your people." Shepard breathed.

"It’s likely that, had the Collectors been allowed to finish the construction of the Human Reaper, they would have finished this project faster than they have." EDI said. "Your actions beyond Omega Four bought the Galaxy the necessary time to locate this Relay and put a stop to it."

"Let’s not waste it." Shepard said firmly. "We’ll hit that fifth Relay. Hopefully the other Reapers will not be able to mount a defence quickly enough to stop us. Get Admiral Hackett, and tell him we have a target for him on his ‘training op’."

"I would recommend that we hold off for the moment, Commander." The Revenant said. "Look at these readings coming off the arms. They all have considerable shield generators. Not active yet, but the Reapers will be able to raise the shields in moments. Not long enough for the Fifth Fleet to make a mark. Once raised, the shields will make the devices as impenetrable as the Citadel in full lockdown."

"And it’s a safe bet the Reapers won’t give us enough time to take out those defences in a firefight of attrition, not to mention the fact that the star’s detonation gives us a shorter time window." Shepard muttered. "Could the Normandy’s stealth systems give us the edge needed to get close enough for us to board the arm?"

"Affirmative." EDI intoned confidently.

"Right." Shepard rubbed his hands together. "So we go aboard and find a way to take out the arm’s power systems. EDI, any thoughts on how to do that?"

"I am detecting several power stations on the arm, all clustered around the segment of the arm that would normally connect to the Presidium on the Citadel’s equivalent. I am also detecting a smaller power station on the far end of the arm, next to the device’s communications array. A significant portion of the communications coming from the array are Geth. It is more than likely that this is the signal used to control the Geth in the system and send the falsified information to the Geth Collective. It is not the only comm array being used for this purpose, but the network would be significantly weakened by its destruction. It is possible that the Geth would be able to break the Reapers’ hold on them should the array be disabled."

"There’s the best part of an entire fleet in this system." Shepard noted. "They’d be a great help to the Fifth Fleet when the **** hits the fan. And the less guns we have to endure being pointed at us the better.

"Alright, here’s the plan. I want to split us up into two groups. I’ll lead one strike team to take out that Comm array. Kaidan, Legion and the Revenant…" Shepard stopped mid-sentence at a sharp stare from Jack. On a mission as dangerous as this one was, she’d be sticking close by the Commander, not about to spend the entire mission fretting for his safety. Shepard suppressed a grin upon realising her concern for him. "And Jack, will accompany me. The rest of you, under Garrus’ command, will form the second team, which will head for the main power systems and take them out to disable the arm’s defences. My team will rendezvous with Garrus’ team once our objective has been achieved."

Shepard looked to each one of his team again, waiting until they all gave him a nod, salute, or simple indifferent shrug to show their compliance. Grunt looked as though he was immensely displeased at being kept separate from the Commander on a mission where combat was so likely, but held his tongue, realising that it would be just as good a fight no matter which squad he was a part of. On receiving confirmation of his orders from each of the squad, Shepard straightened from the rail, arms folded behind his back.

"I don’t know what to expect in there, but I’ll tell you this much: we have no need to fear it. We’ve thwarted the Reapers before, twice. Some of us stood against Sovereign and Saren after they had beaten everyone else in Council space. Even more of us marched on the Collector stronghold beyond the Omega Four Relay. We never backed down, we never flinched, and we never lost. I’m sure as hell not going to break the goddamn streak now, are you?

"We’re the best of the best, there is no equal to this squad. If anyone can stop the Reapers, it’s us. So we go in fast, hit ‘em hard, and show no mercy. If everyone does their job right, which I have every faith that they will, we’ll be celebrating on the Citadel tomorrow. So go now, arm up, and I’ll see you on the other side."

[fainmaca]

Chapter 19: Part 2


The shuttle skimmed across the jagged metal landscape of the Relay arm, dodging through the irregular skyline of sharply hewn steel. Garrus steered the shuttle past a large cluster of towering power capacitors, at least as big as the largest of the Citadel’s most luxurious apartment blocks. The Turian was accompanied by Shepard in the cockpit of the tiny craft, the pair co-ordinating various exit strategies and contingency plans. If the **** hit the fan, the Commander wanted to be sure he could get his people out without a hitch. Behind them, Shepard could hear muffled jostling from the crowded passenger compartment. Though the shuttle’s passenger bay could hold up to a dozen fully armed and armoured marines, those were meant to be human marines. Certainly the Kodiak’s designers had not had a Krogan of Grunt’s size or a Collector in mind when they had quoted the shuttle’s carrying capacity.

"I swear to God, squid-face, if you shove that elbow in my face again I’ll break your ****ing arm!" Jack’s shouted threats could be clearly heard by the Turian pilot and the Commander, despite the thick bulkhead between her and them. This angry challenge was met by a much quieter response from Samara, after which the biotic convict remained silent. Apparently the Exiled Justicar could command enough authority in her voice to put even Jack in her place. Shepard shook his head with a mixture of amusement and weariness.

"Best get us to the drop zone soon, Garrus. Sounds like things are reaching critical mass back there."

"Not far to the Geth comm array now." Garrus said gravely.

Normally Garrus would have jumped at the opportunity to jest at the expense of the rest of the squad, but now was not the time. Now, the Turian vigilante was all business, eyes narrowed with an intense focus that reassured Shepard that he was the right man to lead the second team. The rest of the squad respected the Turian’s abilities, both from his time as ‘Archangel’ and from his time with Shepard in pursuit of both Saren and the Collectors, and Shepard trusted him because of their close friendship. He often reflected that, had he been asked about it five years ago, he would almost certainly never have thought he associate with a Turian, much less consider one one of his closest and most trusted allies. And yet, here he was, riding into battle next to a Turian that he would not hesitate to call his best friend. No matter the cause, no matter the opposition, and no matter the stakes, Garrus had been at his side, watching his back. Shepard considered how lucky he was to have met the eager young C-Sec officer on the Citadel three years ago. Realising that he had never really voiced these thoughts, Shepard thought to the mission ahead and, feeling that he may never get the chance again, was compelled to speak.

"It’s going to be one hell of a fight out there today." He began lamely. He was a soldier, a man of few words. Such an expression of his thoughts did not come easily to him.

"Sure is." Garrus responded simply. The Turian’s eyes flicked over to the Commander. He was smarter than most gave him credit for, and knew there was more to the Commander’s words. "Something bothering you, Shepard? Not getting cold feet, are you?"

"No, nothing like that!" Shepard chuckled before continuing hesitantly. "It’s just that- it’s just…."

Shepard paused, took a deep breath, and spoke his mind.

"There’s a good chance we’ll lose people today. We’re going up against four Reapers, plus an entire system’s worth of Geth, with one ship, one squad split into two halves. Not good odds. I just wanted you to know, in case anything happens to either one of us-"

"It won’t. We’re the two most stubborn bastards the Galaxy has ever seen, Commander. I reckon the spirits themselves won’t be able to take us away when our time comes. Not without the fight of their lives, anyway."

"I just wanted to say," Shepard continued persistently. "That it has been an honour to know you, Garrus Vakarian. You’ve been a good soldier, a valued member of my crew, and the best friend I have known in a long time."

Garrus was silent for a few moments. When Shepard looked over, he saw the Turian’s mandibles twitch in a hurried pattern. He was too unfamiliar with the subtleties of Turian body language to tell whether this was embarrassment, remorse or confusion, but he thought he caught a glimpse of a smile on the alien’s lips. Garrus answered with a strictly controlled voice.

"I’m honoured to have known you too, Shepard. You’ve taught me so much about how to help the weak, how to make sure justice is served, and how to find my place in the Galaxy. We’ve been through all kinds of crap before now, and we always pulled through, so let’s not ruin that record, okay?" He shook his head, chuckling in his unusual, metallic accent. "Ah, hell. What’d my father say to see me now? My best friend is a human? Even I couldn’t have seen that coming."

The shuttle’s monitor pinged and Garrus pressed a few buttons, swinging the shuttle around to touch down on a protruding metal platform that offered a small landing zone.

"That’s us." The Turian said as he opened the shuttle doors. "The Geth array is not far from here. I took us in as close as I dared, but there’s still a bit of ground for you to cover. Chances are there’ll be Geth watching the array to keep it safe. Didn’t want to risk getting shot down on the way in. Oh, and Shepard?" The Commander turned to face the alien. "Good luck out there, and try not to die. I need to have someone to be my wingman when we hit the Citadel clubs."

"Your wingman?" Shepard asked with a laugh, fastening his helmet and stepping out of the shuttle to join his small team. "We’ll see about that. We’ll be done before you know it, and then we’ll head to the rendezvous point. Keep your radios on and let us know if you get into trouble."

"Likewise, Shepard." Garrus saluted as he lifted the shuttle up into the air and powered away.

Shepard watched the Kodiak race away towards the distant end of the Relay arm, bearing the larger second team to their objective. He felt a twinge of anxiety as he realised that their most reliable means of escape had just flown away, but realised the need there was for the second team to have the shuttle. It would help them to quickly move between the shield’s power generators, disabling the arm’s defences swiftly before the Reapers could move to intervene. Steeling his mind for the mission ahead, Shepard turned to his own squad. Kaidan stood ready with his assault rifle, the eager young human’s face lined with creases of focus as he scanned their immediate surroundings for danger. Legion stood unmoving to one side, sniper rifle cradled in its hands. Jack was idly playing with the safety on her shotgun, itching for action, while the Revenant stood staring at the vista of Reaper architecture, eyes glowing brightly. Shepard pulled up EDI’s hastily created map of the area, a mixture of ladar and visual scans combined into a crude schematic of the Reapers’ communications array, along with the points which Shepard had to hack or destroy to disable the signal the ancient machines were using to control the Dholen Geth.

"Alright, our objective is just over half a click away from here, that way." Shepard pointed. "We’ve got to move fast. Once the other team reaches those power generators, the Reapers and the Geth will be put on high alert. The sooner we take out this array, the sooner we get some serious help in destroying this Mass Relay, so we’ve got to move fast. Let’s move!"

The squad fell into step behind the Commander, Kaidan and the Geth taking up the rear while Jack and the Revenant occupied the middle of the group.

Shepard looked about cautiously as he guided his team through the Reaper construct. Alien shapes loomed out of the gloom around them, eerily silent in the airless atmosphere, resolving into various support struts and load-bearing beams which lay at strange angles, all slightly unnerving to the unwary eye. As Shepard moved his gaze about, the objects on the very edge of his vision seemed to shift, the walls warping and bending in a sickening array of directions. In all, it was the most unsettling thing Shepard had ever seen. His thoughts went back to when he had prowled through the empty arteries and passageways of the dead Reaper, back where he had met Legion. The hallways there had been similarly distorted, a key part of the Reapers’ indoctrination technology. The nausea-inducing scenery, combined with a series of signals designed to irritate and confuse their victims, weakened the victims, leaving their minds frayed and vulnerable to the suggestion of the ancient beings. In this way, the Cerberus team sent to study the creature had been corrupted, becoming nothing more than lifeless Husks. A knot formed in Shepard’s stomach to think that, were they not fast enough, his team would face the same dangers. Speed was of the essence.

The Commander hurried down several corridors, heeding EDI’s suggestions and drawing close to the Geth comm array. As they marched across a walkway suspended between two large structures, Shepard heard a snort of annoyance from Jack. He looked back to see the convict waving her shotgun around warily, a grimace of annoyance across her face.

"I don’t like this." She muttered, her voice carrying an electronic tinge as her breathing mask distorted it. "It feels like I’m on one hell of a bad sand trip. I hate it when someone ****s with my thoughts. It ain’t much better when it’s the scenery that’s doing it."

"Look out!" Kaidan shouted, firing his rifle at Shepard’s immediate right. The Commander flinched away from the bullets, twisting to see a perforated panel of metal fall to the ground, the wiring behind it sparking furiously. He looked back to the young human soldier curiously, only to see a confused expression cross Kaidan’s face.

"I could have sworn that…" He muttered. "There was something there, Commander!"

"This place will twist your mind, if you let it." Shepard cautioned. "Keep it together. We need steady heads."

"I don’t get it." Jack said, lowering her shotgun. "The last Reaper didn’t get to us this fast."

"Well, that one had been dead for thirty seven million years." Shepard reasoned. "This Reaper tech is new, still fully charged. Plus, it’s a lot bigger than a single Reaper. Stay sharp, and hold back from opening fire until you’re sure you’re not looking at a mirage. We don’t want to announce our presence any more than we already have."

The squad nodded, resuming their progress through the Relay arm. They became aware of more and more exposed circuitry and live wires running across their path, signs of denser construction than previous sections of the arm. It was clear they were near to their objective.

The team drew to a sharp halt upon barging into a wider open space. Huge metal spires reached up into space above them like long talons, their sharp tips clawing at the darkness. Wires drooped across the space between them, thick humming vines that occasionally glowed an eerie green. Shepard’s breath rushed inwards in one surprised gasp as he studied the spires in greater detail.

At a glance, the structures looked to be made from standard metal parts, unremarkable in every fashion. On closer examination, the Commander could see patterns emerging. A seam here, a joint there, the shapes flowed together. Shepard tilted his head back to look further up the spires, seeing the shapes continue up to their summits, far above.

"My God…" Kaidan breathed.

"That’s just ****ed up." Was all Jack could think to say.

Feeling repulsed by the sight, Shepard nevertheless reached out with a wary hand to trace the nearest spire’s irregular surface. His gloved fingers ran across a curved metal forearm, a sharply angled elbow, and over a panelled torso. Hundreds upon hundreds of Geth bodies had been cut up and used to build the structures. As far as the Commander could see ahead of him, various synthetic body parts had been carefully assembled into bulkheads, towering power relay stations and even the decks below their feet.

"I guess we know where they managed to get enough resources for this project so quickly. They probably had the Geth strip all useful metals from the system and then, once that was done, had them start to disassemble themselves." Shepard theorised.

"There are no heads on any of them." Jack’s voice had the hint of a tremor to it.

"Our platforms store the majority of their databanks in the cranial segment." Legion said flatly. "It is logical that such a component would be put to use in the creation of the internal workings of the Relay. Only the larger armour plates are visible here."

"It’s just like what the Collectors did to create those larger Scions and Praetorians." Shepard said. "No time put to making it look like anything more than cobbled-together bodies."

"What does this say about our chances of getting help from the Dholen Geth when we take the array out?" Kaidan asked.

"They won’t have used all of the Geth in this. The Reapers still need servants to run around doing all the stuff they can’t do, what with their size and all." Shepard said. "C’mon. Almost there now."

Stepping a little more gently, the team made their way through the passages of Geth corpses. Shepard found the whole experience entirely unnerving, and realised that it would only be more so for Legion. He slowed his pace a little to fall back and talk to the Geth.

"You okay? I can’t imagine it’s easy for you to see your people like this."

"This new information does not change the mission parameters." Legion responded. "Our objectives remain the same: interfere with the Reapers’ plans."

"That wasn’t what I asked." Shepard persisted. "I want to know how you are handling this. I need to know my squad’s nerve isn’t failing."

"Geth do not have nerves. We rely on pressure plates installed in our outer shell to relay sensory information back to our CPU."

"You know that’s not what I’m talking about, Legion. If it were humans in the walls, I know I’d be feeling damned pissed off, intimidated, or at least a little sickened by it."

"Shepard-Commander, you make the mistake of assuming that a Geth runtime would respond to certain stimuli in the same manner as a human. We do not ‘feel’ like organic beings."

"But it must inspire something, down there between the flashing lights and spinning gears."

"… No data available."

Shepard could see the wall rising into place, the same one that sprung up when he tried to delve a little too deeply into the Geth’s previous mission to find him, or into why Legion still wore a patch of the Commander’s old N7 armour and refused to close up the gaping hole in its torso, through which Shepard could see out of the synthetic being’s back. He instantly saw that he was making a mistake, assuming that Legion would respond to their surroundings like a human would. And yet, the strange way that the Geth used that simple phrase to discourage further inquiry hinted that maybe, just maybe, the Commander was correct to assume it would have an emotional response. Deep down, past all the ones and zeroes, he could see something glimmering there, the same tiny spark that had made him hesitate before making his decision about what to do with the Heretic Geth, over a year ago now. He shrugged, and moved forwards again.

Finally, the Geth comm array hove into view ahead of the squad. Shepard instantly slowed, scanning the area for enemy units.

The array appeared to have been installed in the hollowed out shell of a Geth dropship, the vehicle’s purplish hull glinting in the growing light of the rapidly nearing Dholen. Shepard could see several Geth platforms patrolling the array, clearly something of importance to the Reapers for them to divert some of their construction force to guarding it, even as they assumed their actions remained unnoticed by the Galaxy at large. The Commander turned to his team.

"I count about twenty Geth outside this thing, probably the same amount again inside. We’ve got the advantage of surprise. If we can take out these ones outside quickly enough, we can be inside before the rest of the Geth can seal it up. Kaidan, Legion, I want you causing as much electronic interference as you can from back here. Overload, disrupter rounds, the works. Jack, Revenant, just go left and create as much chaos as you can. I’ll do what I can to the right."

The team confirmed his orders and positioned themselves to attack on the Commander’s signal. Shepard took one last look around the battlefield, sizing up cover in order to determine his best angle of approach. A pair of stubby metal shapes occupied the centre of the open ground between his refuge and the comm array, one housing what looked to be a tank of some chemical while the other appeared to have no purpose, being little more than a featureless metal box. There were also a few smaller objects dotted about the empty space, which Shepard managed to deduce were a part of the Relay’s power systems, power storage devices that sparked wildly. Choosing his course, the Commander gave the signal.

Shepard led the charge, racing out into the open with his trusty assault rifle chattering away in its staccato chorus of devastation, the modded disrupter rounds flickering through the air in an electric blue arc. Almost immediately, Geth platforms started to shake and jump as the bullets lodged in their frames sparked, discharging a damaging amount of electricity into their internal systems.

Jack and the Revenant were close on Shepard’s heels, peeling away to the left as he went right. The two biotics unleashed a deadly barrage of Warp blasts and shockwaves, tearing into the enemy ranks with ease. Three Geth lifted into the air and, with a shriek of metal and an even louder chorus of stuttered cries from the three voice boxes, Jack tore their limbs off. The trio tumbled to the ground, left to struggle listlessly, unable to do any more than arch their backs and stutter pitifully.

Kaidan and Legion supplied the third wave of the attack, carefully leaning out from their cover to supply covering fire to the rest of the squad. Legion brought his formidable sniper rifle to bear, carefully squeezing off two shots in the time it took for Shepard to get to his first source of cover, the larger plain-looking box. In response, two Geth dropped to their knees, the lights in their heads slowly dying as they lost power. Kaidan focused on using his omnitool to use Overload on the synthetic creatures. The blue orbs detonated in the midst of the Geth, electrical arcs dancing across their shells, delving deep into their circuitry and frying the synthetic beings’ innermost parts.

Shepard regretted the need to inflict so much damage on beings that should have been his allies, but it was only the bodies that were being destroyed. The actual Geth runtimes would have numerous redundant backups in case of such an occurrence, and would soon be restored to full functionality. At worst, the affected runtimes would lose all memory of being hacked by the Reapers.

The Commander rolled into cover behind the large metal box, poking his rifle around its edge and keeping up a dangerous rate of fire, though by this time the enemy Geth had managed to scurry into their own cover, drawing weapons and returning fire in one efficient, fluid motion. Bullets pinged off the deck, the box and the capacitors around him, surrounding him in a corona of destruction.

The squad took up positions opposite the hostile Geth, Jack and the Revenant relying on their biotic barriers to hold back the enemy fire while Kaidan and Legion held their position at the back. Shepard continued to fire around his cover, accounting for five Geth by himself.

Yet another pair of Geth lifted up into the air, enveloped in the blue glow of active biotics. Jack and the Revenant moved their hands in a complex motion and the two synthetic beings crashed together, armour plating on the arms and legs splitting like the skin on a banana, spewing out sparks and scraps of metal.

Only four Geth remained of the original twenty, their numbers decimated in less than a minute by the squad’s tactics. As Shepard looked out from behind his cover, a loud whooshing noise was all the warning he had as a rocket raced towards him. The projectile struck the side of the box Shepard was hiding behind, detonating with a powerful thump. Half of the box disintegrated, the metal splitting into a multitude of splinters. The contents of the box spilled out, a mixture of disassembled Geth body parts. Shepard was thrown from his feet, striking the floor with his back and skidding back several metres. His kinetic barriers squealed out several warnings, heavily depleted by the explosion and ensuing shrapnel. His helmet’s HUD warned him that he couldn’t afford to take a second hit. He tried not to think about what would happen if his shields did fail. Armour integrity would soon follow, leaching his precious air out into the airless atmosphere of the Relay. The Commander had already experienced death by asphyxia, and therefore had no wish to do so again.

The Geth Rocketeer had reloaded, and was taking aim once more when it suddenly lurched back, a sparkling blue bullet lodged in its ‘eye’. Shepard looked back at Legion and nodded his thanks. The Geth shouldered its rifle, its ammunition depleted.

The Revenant dealt with the last of the Geth using a singularity to pull them all together and then a Warp blast to blow them to pieces. Parts clattered across the metal floor, torn wires still sparking as they rolled to a stop.

Shepard got to his feet, limping a little as his ankle twinged, twisted by his fall. His suit hissed and administered a dose of medi-gel, instantly soothing the pain. He turned to look at his companions, noting there were no serious injuries. Legion’s shell bore a few scratches and dents from near misses and ricocheting rounds, as did the Revenant’s carapace. As Shepard watched, green ooze seeped out of the Collector’s wounds, sealing them and healing over in a thick, tough scab. The entire process took a matter of seconds. Kaidan and Jack remained unscathed, though the Commander’s ‘tool informed him that their barriers had taken a beating.

Shepard waved for the squad to follow him and began to make his way towards the comm array. He took a few steps before hearing his squad fall into step behind him, reloading weapons and recharging shields. They were fast approaching the nearest entrance to the structure housing the array when one set of footsteps behind the Commander faltered. There was a clatter as a gun dropped to the deck. Shepard turned to see the Revenant staggering, one hand pressed to his large head. The Collector bumped into Jack as he staggered to one side, struggling to remain on his feet. Shepard hurried over to grab a hold of his friend’s shoulder, helping to hold him up.

"Revenant? What’s going on? What’s wrong?"

"Unngh…" The Collector groaned. "I can hear them."

"Hear who?" Shepard asked, confused. Apart from the occasional clink of moving machinery.

"Their voices… So loud." The Revenant clutched at his brow, yellow eyes twitching in pain. "The Reapers."

"You can hear them right now?" Shepard’s hand darted to his hip and his waiting pistol. "Just try and hold on, don’t let them control you."

"They aren’t trying to control me… I do not think they are aware of me. It is like trying to see a candle next to a star. My mind is too small compared to theirs." The Collector struggled to speak. "My mind’s eye is blinded by their presence."

"Revenant, hold it together." Shepard said urgently. "Can you tell what they’re saying to one another?"

"There are no words, just… images, feelings. They are curious as to what is occurring on this arm, and also a little alarmed. They do not know we are here, but the increased activity of their Geth allies has alerted them to the fact that something is amiss. They are nervous."

"And that means we have less time than I’d hoped. I didn’t think the Geth troops would get a signal out so soon."

"EDI would have initiated countermeasures to interfere with the Geth communications, but a network of this complexity, combined with the influence of the Reapers would easily rival her capabilities." Legion informed.

"Garrus, do you copy?" Shepard opened up his comm channel. "Garrus, come in."

"I’m here, Shepard." The Turian’s voice transmitted back to him, accompanied by a chorus of gunshots. "We’re taking a lot of fire, but making progress. One power station already taken out, three more to go and no one taken down yet, though Mordin took a pretty bad hit. He’s insisting that he take care of it himself, stubborn little amphibian. Says that none of us could do as good a job as himself, broken arm or not."

"Step it up, Vakarian. The Reapers are getting twitchy. Won’t be long before they come take a closer look."

"Roger that, Commander. Things will get easier when you get these Geth to stop shooting at us, but it won’t give us a clear run." Before the Turian explained this further, three thunderous shots sounded out, the unmistakable voice of Garrus’ favourite rifle, the same one that had made him so notorious as Omega’s Archangel. After the echoes of the final shot faded, Garrus resumed transmitting. "We’ve got a lot of Husks between us and the next target. Wasn’t expecting them, but they die so easy that we shouldn’t suffer too much of a delay."

"Husks." Kaidan said quietly. "Makes sense that they’d switch to a construction force that doesn’t take up so many valuable resources. They indoctrinate so many organics, then they can tear the Geth apart for parts."

"Thousands of people go missing every month on the fringes of settled space." Jack reasoned. "Vanishing freighters, isolated prefabs that suddenly go silent. Given how long they’ve been working here, they’ll have an army of the things."

"We need to get moving. Garrus, don’t let up now. We’ll have the Geth array down in no time."

"Aye-aye, Shepard." The Turian signed out.

"Can you move?" Shepard asked his Collector ally.

"I… I can manage." The Revenant responded uncertainly. "The contact was… overwhelming, at first. But I think I can suppress the noise, for now."

"Good. Now let’s go." Shepard lifted his rifle to his shoulder.

The squad moved towards the entrance to the Geth array, Shepard once again leading the pack as they filed through a door at the base of the structure. Kaidan was close behind him, his rifle swinging in the opposite way to Shepard’s as they scanned the interior of the structure, the pair ensuring that no angle of approach was not covered by their sharp eyes. Jack immediately followed him, her brown eyes narrowed nervously as she took in the dingy interior of the array. The Revenant stepped in next, still shaking his head uncertainly as occasional flashes of Reaper communication flashed through his brain. Legion brought up the rear, bright white eye spinning at a furious speed.

"Shepard-Commander." The Geth platform piped up from the rear of the column. "It would appear that the basic layout of the Geth dropship has been preserved. We therefore deduce that, given our lack of knowledge about how the Reapers modified the structure to transmit the codes used to control the Dholen Geth, our best course of action would be to destroy the ship’s two power generators."

The Commander nodded, walking down a corridor leading towards the stern of the ship. The corridor stretched out ahead of him, faint green lights glowing dimly as they illuminated the path ahead and behind. The walls, stripped of all nonessential wiring and even the panels used to cover them, glinted eerily in the dark. Shepard’s helmet illuminated the contours of the ship’s interior, giving his straining eyes the help needed to see where he was going. Both Jack and Kaidan’s helmets would have done the same for them, while Legion and the Revenant required no assistance, the former’s synthetic sight and the latter’s enhanced eyes rendering any such hardware unnecessary.

Shepard followed the corridor’s course through the structure, subliminally checking and rechecking that his weapon was set to fire disrupter rounds. His mind still played tricks on him in these deceptively familiar surroundings. He’d infiltrated his fair share of Geth warships, back when the enigmatic synthetic race had been an elusive threat to be wiped out. The corridors also bore a strong resemblance to the interior of the Heretic Station the Commander had infiltrated to help Legion protect his people. Given this familiarity with the design, Shepard found it simple to get his bearings and make a beeline towards the power generators.

It was not long before the squad halted before the entryway to the room that contained the first power generator. Shepard drew close to the threshold of the entrance, sliding along the wall to peer into the room. Beyond, he saw several Geth platforms tending to the generator. A couple of shifting shadows drew his attention and his breath caught as he recognised the shambling silhouettes of several Husks working at the far side of the room. As he observed them, he noted several more pallid shapes crawling over the machinery, making adjustments here and there. Their movements were awkward, jerky, and clearly the result of remote signals controlling the bodies.

The Commander’s gut lurched at the scene. Even after three years, he still found it difficult to ignore the nature of the Husks. Every time he saw a lurching, mutated form, or heard the throaty wheezing of air shifting uselessly through their dead windpipes, his mind slipped back to Eden Prime. He saw the colonists ruthlessly impaled on the massive spikes that took away any resemblance of their humanity, replacing it with the monstrous form the Reapers imposed on them. His jaw setting firmly in anger, Shepard looked back to his companions and silently alerted them to the dangers in the room. He used signs to explain the tactics to use in the new combat situation. Once more Shepard would lead the charge, with Kaidan by his side to provide a heavier rate of fire than outside the structure. Jack and the Revenant would provide the biotic muscle of the attack while Legion held back, sniping at the more serious threats before they could get close and using its technological abilities to deal with the Geth forces.

With a yell, Shepard leapt out of his cover, dropping into a roll across the metal deck to remain below their enemies’ line of fire. He rolled up into a kneeling position, bracing his rifle as he fired off a string of azure bullets at the nearest Geth. These foes were more prepared than this first group, having been put on edge by the sudden silence of their comrades, and therefore were better able to seek refuge amidst the machinery, instantly pulling out their exotic weapons. Next to the Commander, Kaidan took up his position, his weapon echoing Shepard’s as the pair fired into the enemy ranks. Three Geth dropped to the floor, limbs twitching spasmodically as the disrupter rounds did their work.

Jack and the Revenant raced in behind the two soldiers, the former crouching down behind the Commander while the latter stood behind Kaidan. Shepard was aware of a shimmering blue dome forming around himself and the young woman crouching at his back, a nigh-impenetrable barrier that added to his armour’s already considerable kinetic barrier and thick ablative layers. A tattooed forearm reached over his shoulder to fling a sparking white-black orb of dark energy at a pair of Husks racing towards them, tearing the dead shells apart and spilling all kinds of synthetic parts across the deck.

Jack retreated back into the shelter of the Commander’s shadow until she gathered enough energy to launch another attack, using Shepard’s stronger defences to make up for her own, weaker ones. Shepard found himself shaking his head at the fact. He had time and again stressed to Jack that her preferred attire was not suited to the battlefield. The combination of a prison jump-suit, upper half unzipped and tied around the waist, along with the black tank top made from some slick, synthetic material did not offer the protection of a full-body suit of armour. Not to mention the fact that she ran the risk of being exposed to all kinds of environmental hazards such as a toxic atmosphere or no atmosphere at all, should the secondary kinetic barrier responsible for containing her body heat and the atmosphere immediately around her fail, a risk they ran every time they stepped into a combat situation. But the last time the subject had been brought up, Jack had drawn his attention to the final part of her outfit: The chunky, heavy boots she wore, soles held together with what looked like rivets and titanium buckles. Once her footwear had his full attention, the convict had made it immensely clear to the Commander that, should he try to force her to wear a suit of body armour like ‘some Alliance stooge’, he would become intimately familiar with how much damage they could do to an individual’s more delicate body parts, specifically the groin. Shepard hadn’t brought up the topic since.

A swarm of Husks emerged from behind the power generator, drawn by the noise of combat. Their hoarse cries echoed about even here, in the thin atmosphere of the Relay. Pallid blue bodies shambled towards the squad in a ramshackle charge, hands dangling by their sides as they leaned forwards, their dead eyes burning with synthetic light.

Two thunderous cracks sounded from behind Shepard, the song of Legion’s weapon. Three husks exploded in a fluffy of flesh and plastic, one pierced through the torso by a blue round while the other two were brought low by the same bullet, their skulls bursting in synchronicity. With practised ease, the Geth reloaded its weapon, white ‘eye’ fixed to the scope as it tracked more targets.

The Commander’s attention was drawn to a point behind the mass of Husks, where a much larger shape hove into view. Central ‘eye’ gleaming a menacing red, outer shell polished to a high sheen, a lumbering Geth Prime clanked into view. The hulking machine lifted a massive weapon to its shoulder, opening fire over the heads of its allies. Chain-gun fire rattled down upon the squad, heavily depleting shields and barriers. Cursing at the sudden shift in the balance of the battle, Shepard spun around, grabbing Jack by her waist and diving for cover. The tattooed biotic yelled at being manhandled, but Shepard only put her down once they were safely out of the Prime’s line of sight. On the opposite side of the room, Kaidan and the Revenant also took cover behind a pile of crates, while Legion retreated into the corridor they had just come from, using the doorway as a shelter from the deadly hail of bullets.

Swapping his assault rifle for his shotgun, Shepard hunkered down behind the low wall created by a support strut, part of the ship’s internal frame. He braced for the close-quarters combat to come, realising that he couldn’t pick off the approaching Husks while the Prime maintained its suppressing fire. It wasn’t long before the hordes of dead faces arrived at the squad’s positions, a wall of flesh and wiring that they tore into with their weapons and powers. Shepard unleashed shot after shot from his weapon, feeling the device’s monstrous kick with every blasted Husk. Sometimes the spray of pellets caught a group of the creatures, tearing holes through them as he cut them down, one by one. With every shot, he managed to reduce the enemy numbers by one, such was the density of the attacking force. A couple of Geth appeared in the mass, but they fared no better than the Husks, falling quickly under his fire. He worked to protect Jack, who crouched behind him and focused her powers on eliminating the Abominations in the ranks, mutated Husks that exploded in close proximity with enemies. She used this feature to her advantage, causing them to detonate early and damage any Husks immediately around them. As Shepard switched out the heat sink in his weapon, he saw her raise an Abomination above the horde and dash its brains out on the ceiling, raining burning brain matter down on the Husks below. The body then dropped into the seething mass and exploded, incinerating a cluster of the monsters.

Over on the other side of the knot of writhing dead, Kaidan and the Revenant struggled to hold back the pale mass. The Collector used his biotics to throw the Husks up into the air, while the ex-Alliance soldier was feathering the trigger on his assault rifle, cutting through the enemy ranks with clip after clip of ammunition. The motionless bodies of countless fallen lay at Kaidan’s feet, perforated by his smoking rifle.

As Shepard risked a glance over to his friends, he saw the Husks surge forwards, a pair of them grappling with the Revenant while a third grabbed Kaidan’s weapon, wrestling it from his grip. The human scrabbled at his hip, reaching for his pistol, but the Husks, seeing this gap in his defences, lunged. Two of the dead creatures bore him to the floor, fists lashing at him viciously. Kaidan launched off a few biotic attacks, but the constant pummelling prevented him from gathering the necessary concentration to put any real power behind the attacks. The sickly horde moved in on him and the Revenant, the pale blue mass closing over the Collector’s head.

"Kaidan!" Shepard cried out, heart thumping furiously as he lost sight of his friends. He gritted his teeth, increasing the rate at which he fired his shotgun. The muzzle began to glow from the heat, the device threatening to lock up under the abuse. Still the Husks kept coming.

"Jack!" He turned to his companion. She nodded, hazel eyes narrowing in focus. Her hands glimmered furiously, blue flames intensifying to a deep navy blur around her fingers. Arcs of energy jolted across her skin as she thrust her hands out, releasing the pent-up biotic power.

A blue wall of dark energy roared out from the biotic, ploughing through the ranks of Husks. Dead flesh split into tiny fragments and synthetic parts exploded in a shower of metal and plastic as the shockwave tore through the mass of creatures, cutting a swathe of destruction through the enemy force. When the biotic flames faded, a sizeable path had been shorn through the horde towards the pile of Husks attacking Kaidan and the Revenant. Releasing her hold on her powers, Jack sagged visibly, the energy drained out of her by the exertion. Shepard stepped up next to her, ready to catch her if she fell. Jack waved him away irritably, straightening and lifting her shotgun to point at the remaining enemies.

Shepard stepped out towards his fallen allies, but was immediately met by a thunderous hail of fire. The Geth Prime, almost completely forgotten by the Commander in the melee with the Husks, had drawn closer, now only a few metres away. Shepard twisted to dodge out of the way of the deadly assault, his kinetic barriers screeching in protest as the Prime scored a few hits. Jack jumped back from the bullets, moving in the opposite direction from the Commander. The Prime hesitated for an instant before choosing to track Shepard’s motion, its weapons chasing him. With a whine, the Geth’s weapon powered down, folded up, and retracted into its arm. This was followed by another clank, and a second panel opened on the synthetic being’s arm. A squat, black weapon with a wide muzzle extended.

Shepard’s eyes widened as he looked at the device, seeing the muzzle begin to glow. He only just had time to drop before a cloud of flame billowed out of the weapon, washing across the space between the Geth and the Commander, pushing a wave of superheated air before it. The flames licked at the nearest Husks, soliciting shrieks from them as their flesh ignited.

Shepard scuttled and rolled across the metal of the floor, keeping below the roaring flames of the Prime’s weapon. He managed to make his way into cover behind a crate, which began to heat rapidly as the Prime poured more and more flames over it.

The Commander waited for several moments, waiting for a break in the assault, a break which never came. It became clear that the Geth wasn’t about to give up. The Commander tightened his grip on his weapon, checking his barriers. He braced himself to jump out into the inferno and try to stop the Prime.

His attack was brought to a sudden halt when the flames suddenly winked out. The Prime stuttered loudly, the noises rising in pitch. The Geth’s voice rose to a fever pitch before going silent just as quickly as the flames had vanished. Shepard looked over the crate, still glowing orange from the heat of the flame-thrower, to see the Prime standing absolutely still. Its ‘eye’ flickered red, then blue, then red again, before finally settling on blue.

"Shepard-Commander," Legion’s calm voice sounded over the comms. Shepard turned to see the Geth standing at the door, on the far side of the remaining Husks. Legion had its omnitool out and was pointing it directly at the Prime. "We have successfully hacked the Prime’s base code. We have control."

The Prime straightened, turning to face the Husks. Its flame-thrower gurgled, reducing the first few Husks to ash in seconds. The Prime clunked over, slowly but surely eliminating the pale creatures. Shepard stepped over to the prone Kaidan, still struggling with a couple of Husks. The Commander loosed a couple of shots, killing them outright.

Shepard helped Kaidan to his feet, and saw Jack do the same for the Revenant. Legion soon joined the four of them, the Prime falling into step behind him docilely. The squad looked at each other for a few moments, the humans sporting small smiles of congratulations.

"Good work hacking that Prime, Legion." Shepard congratulated. "That was a real game-changer."

"Coupla minutes earlier would have been nice, though." Kaidan was quick to supply. Legion tilted its head towards him, brow flaps extended curiously.

"We shall endeavour to comply with your suggestion, Staff Commander Alenko." Legion replied flatly.

"How’s everyone doing for ammunition?" Shepard asked.

"I’m down to half of what I started with." Kaidan responded. "My ‘tool’s going through its omni-gel supplies to replenish expended clips."

"I’m doin’ about the same." Jack supplied. The Revenant and Legion nodded that their ammunition supplies would suffice. Shepard acknowledged this, restocking his own supplies by picking up thermal clips dropped by the recently disabled enemy Geth.

Legion strode over to the mass of metal that occupied the middle of the room. The power generator purred before him, filling the room with a heady thrum. The Geth tapped at its omnitool for several seconds before a red error message popped up.

"Error. We are unable to override the generator’s systems." Legion said stiffly. "The Reaper code running through the comm array has rendered the ship’s systems too complex for us to hack them without significantly more powerful equipment than that which we have."

"What about the Normandy? Could we get EDI to do it for us?" Shepard asked.

"Negative. This operation would require a direct connection."

"Then we do it the old-fashioned way. The Prime should have the firepower to tear this down."

Legion nodded, turning to its brainwashed kinsman. Lifting its omnitool, the Geth typed out several commands. The Prime jerked, lifting both arms before its body. The synthetic creature stomped up to the power generator, weapons deploying. Shepard and his squad fell back, taking refuge beyond the room’s entrance.

The Prime opened fire, guns chattering loudly as glowing white-hot bullets perforated the generator’s outer shell. The machine coughed, churned several times, coughed again, and then began to make louder and louder groaning noises. With a sudden lurch, the machine struggled against its fastenings before slumping back to the deck, silent for a moment. Then, with a terrible crash, the generator room was filled with blinding white light, the boom of an explosion following an instant later. Glowing shrapnel shot out of the room through the door, embedding in the far wall of the corridor. Shepard felt a wave of hot air wash over him as flames flickered through the door. After the noise of the explosion finished echoing around the ship and the ringing in his ears faded, Shepard sneaked a glance into the room to see the carnage within. Nothing remained of the generator, the spot on the deck where it had existed still glowing red-hot and surrounded by a circle of charred ash. The Prime had been torn apart by the explosion, no parts remaining that were any larger than the Commander’s fist.

"Well, that’s one down." Kaidan said, staring at the devastation. "One more to go."

"Let’s get a move on." Shepard ordered.

The Commander led the way through the twisting corridors, eyes scanning the dim gloom. He jumped as his omnitool beeped insistently.

"Shepard, come in Shepard!" Garrus’ voice sounded over the comm urgently.

"I’m here, Garrus." The Commander replied.

"We’re at the second power station, but there’s a hell of a lot more targets here. We’re pinned down, and can’t move forwards."

"Damn." Shepard cursed. He chewed his lip for a moment, trying to make a decision. "Alright. Hold steady where you are. I’ll have EDI send the Hammerhead down to pick up Kaidan and Legion, and they can come help shore up your numbers."

Kaidan and Legion straightened upon hearing their orders. Shepard glanced over at them and they respectively saluted and nodded before turning to head down the corridor, back the way the squad had entered by.

"Much appreciated, Commander. You sure you can spare them?" The Turian asked over the comms.

"We’ll have to. If you don’t have those power stations down in time, Hackett and the Fifth will be left out to dry when they arrive. Jack and the Revenant will be more than enough firepower to finish taking out the Geth array."

"Roger that, Shepard. See you soon." Garrus signed off.

Shepard looked to his remaining two comrades before gesturing with his shotgun in the direction they should travel. Jack and the Revenant fell into step behind him, following closely.

The Commander proceeded down the corridor, following a fairly straight line towards the stern of the drop-ship and their objective. At last, he found himself standing before the entrance to the second power generator. Unlike with the first, the doors to this one were closed. Shepard cautiously walked up to the doors, scanning the room beyond with his ‘tool. The device relayed no useful information about the interior of the room, unable to distinguish any heat sources or powerful electrical fields against the backdrop of the power generator’s output. He nodded for the Revenant to take up a position on the left, Jack on the right. He waved his omnitool over the door’s controls, fingers curling around his gun’s trigger as the door’s central seam hissed apart.

The room beyond was shrouded in darkness, and Shepard’s HUD detected no enemy contacts inside. He stepped cautiously inside, with Jack and the Revenant moving into the room after him. The trio looked about, scanning the corners of the room, but turned up nothing. Shepard was suspicious of the lack of enemies, tensing for a trap to spring.

He stepped over to the power generator, looking for a control interface. On finding one, he attempted to hack into the machine, but was rebuffed. Suddenly, a large holographic display shimmered into being before him, a static-filled image flickering above the power generator. Shepard’s gut turned to stone as the image resolved into the form of a Reaper, not unlike Sovereign, though the Commander could pick out a few small differences. The ancient being’s deep, booming voice thrummed out throughout the room, permeating the Commander’s very being and delving deep into his brain. Shepard felt as though, just by speaking to him, the Reaper could read his deepest, darkest thoughts, laying his soul bare to dissect it.

"Commander Shepard. You intrude upon our presence once more."

"Who am I speaking to?" Shepard demanded, suppressing the tremble that threatened to invade his voice. He realised that he was talking to a being thousands, if not millions of years old, and could feel the weight of every last year saturating the creature’s voice, carried in its malevolence and arrogance.

"We are the genesis of your devastation, beginning of your ending. We are the Forerunner." The Reaper responded coldly. "You are Commander Shepard. Yet another insignificant speck that would stand in opposition to your ascendance."

"‘Ascendance’? You mean the part where you melt living beings down into slurry to make your own offspring?"

Shepard was nearly shouting, his thoughts going back to the face of Lilith, a human woman, one of the thousands of colonists kidnapped by the Collectors. Shepard had been forced to watch as she died horribly, painfully, her body taken apart cell by cell to be funnelled away into the monstrosity they had been creating. Her face had been full of such fear, such unequivocal terror. He seethed to hear such a disgusting process referred to so easily by the Reaper, as though the atrocity carried out held no significance.

"You grasp at the understanding of our nature, ignorant, blinded by your flesh." The Forerunner’s tone carried a note of amusement, but only a hint. "You could not hope to attain to the true knowledge of our designs."

"Then why don’t you enlighten me?" Shepard said through clenched teeth. His shotgun shook, hands gripping it so tight in anger that he left slight indentations in the casing.

"Our coming is an inevitable stage in the growth of your civilisations. We shall blaze through your worlds like a cleansing fire, purifying the Galaxy and raising you on high. Your peoples shall be given power over even the Lingering Void, and transcendence to a plain of being from which you can gaze down upon those less fortunate."

"What’s ‘the Lingering Void’?" Jack asked, a little temerity shining through in her voice.

"That which would consume all, that which we eternally fight to overcome. Your species will be reborn in our likeness, and together, we will advance to our victory over all in existence."

"The price is too high. What of the species you enslave, like my people?" The Revenant demanded.

"The Protheans were nought more than an inconvenience. They proved to be unworthy of our form, and paid the price." The image of the Reaper turned to look at the Collector. "Your people were bacteria. Bacteria we were benevolent enough to grant a purpose. And now I see that the rightful cleansing of their contamination will soon be complete."

"We’ll never serve the Reapers! We’d sooner die fighting than live as shells of what we used to be." Shepard said defiantly.

"And so you shall." The Forerunner said smugly.

The image flickered off, and the Commander heard the groans of Husks echoing through the corridor outside. He dashed back to the door, keying the controls to shut it. The two halves of the door slammed together heavily, hissing as they made a tight seal. Almost immediately the holographic panel began to blink, symbols flashing green, red and yellow as a small image flashed up to show the Commander that a Geth was immediately outside, trying to hack the door. Shepard competed with the Geth to keep the door closed, the pair carrying out a technical battle for dominance over the door.

The Commander felt a hand grab his shoulder and push him aside. The Revenant took his place at the controls.

"You go deal with that generator, I’ll keep them out." He said, clawed fingers tapping away commands furiously. Collector intellect locked with Geth precision, neither able to lock the other out.

Shepard rushed over to the power generator, pulling open one of the panels on its side. Knowing full well that none of them could hope to override the Reaper firewalls, and they had no hope of doing enough damage to the machine with their weapons, he instead chose to try and hotwire the device to malfunction. He gazed down at the mass of wires in the machine, mind working furiously to figure out what to cut and splice.

As he worked, the door thumped loudly. The Revenant backed away from the door as it thumped again, a dent appearing almost dead centre. Shepard looked up from the generator, reaching for his shotgun again. He joined Jack and the Revenant in forming a rough line to take aim at the door and whatever was trying to break through.

[fainmaca]

Chapter 19: Part 3!


The door shuddered under a monstrous assault, dents appearing in several places. The door strained to hold its shape, but to no avail. With a scream of rending metal, they collapsed into the room. Beyond, scuttling through the devastated doorway like a crab, a Praetorian raced into the room, four eyes glowing deep blue. It scurried forwards on its spindly legs and lifted up into the air, hovering like a massive, titanium wasp.

Shepard cursed, leaping out of the way as the Praetorian’s eyes glowed with renewed intensity and fired a powerful beam at the squad, the blue laser-like beam buzzing through the space he had just vacated. Jack and the Revenant sought cover behind a crate and one of the struts reaching from floor to ceiling. Shepard raced across the open space between him and the power generator, vaulting one of the shorter parts of the machine and seeking refuge behind it.

The Praetorian halted its attack once the Commander took cover behind the generator, unwilling to risk destroying the machine with its beam weapon. As it hovered across the room towards the generator, Shepard loosed a few shots at it, the rounds bouncing off its barrier harmlessly. The Commander adjusted his aim accordingly, aiming for the monstrosity’s maw, out of which two dozen human skulls glared menacingly. Under the concentrated attack, the creature’s barrier struggled to hold up under the attack, and finally flickered down long enough for several rounds to destroy part of its insides. Three skulls cracked and dropped out of its maw, the shards of bone clattering to the ground below.

Before Shepard could continue his attack, the Praetorian had crossed the distance between the door and the generator. It lunged towards him, body clanking on the generator’s casing as sharp legs scrabbled to reach the Commander. It screamed out a malevolent cry, the four main eyes and the myriad eyes of the internal skulls staring at him deadly.

Shepard rolled out of the way of one sharp leg, only to accept an impact from another, leaving him winded as his armour struggled to retain its integrity. He managed to slither away from the Praetorian on his belly, drawing away from the threat. He looked to his left, and saw Jack locked in combat with several Husks that had poured into the room behind the massive monster he was fighting. As he watched, she lifted an arm and most of the enemy force lifted into the air. She clenched her fist and the Husks were torn apart by the sudden biotic storm that swirled around her. She released the power just as another Husks lunged at her, wrestling her to the ground. The pair rolled across the floor, the Husk distending its jaw in a threatening growl as she held it away with her forearm on its throat, face pulling back as far as she could from the horror. One of her heavy boots lashed out, crushing several of the monster’s ribs. As the Husk roared in indignation, she lashed out, grabbing it by the sides of the head and twisting. The Husk’s neck snapped and it fell to the deck, lifeless.

On the Commander’s other side, the Revenant was battling with a small squad of Geth. Three Geth troopers weathered his biotic barrier down while a larger Geth hunter, its optical camo still flickering, tried to pin his arms to his side, having used its camouflage to sneak around behind him. With a speed that surprised even the robotic Geth, the Revenant suddenly lunged forwards, using his bulk to pull the hunter off-balance. The Collector then rolled to the side, pulling the Geth with him. With a roar, the Revenant finally used his immense strength to break the hunter’s hold on him, casting the Geth aside. He then flung out a fist, throwing a wall of biotic energy at the troopers and reducing them to scrap. He spun to go after the hunter. The Geth tried to lose him by activating its camo systems, but to no avail. The Collector managed to leap atop the shimmering silhouette, using his bare fists to pummel the Geth’s metal head until it snapped off, loose wires still sparking wildly.

Shepard’s attention was drawn back once more to the Praetorian as it lunged after him again, screeching out a plaintive wail. Waves of biotic power poured off it, buffeting the Commander about. Shepard was cast aside by a long metal leg, hitting the ground painfully with his back. The Praetorian cantered across the deck towards him, legs pumping furiously to propel its bulk in a loping gait. It leapt into the air, ready to descend on the Commander to perform a killing blow.

Shepard raised his arms over his head instinctively, turning away from the attack. He waited a moment, but the attack never came. He looked back to the Praetorian to see it standing in place, only feet away. Behind it, Jack and the Revenant glowed blue as they extended a hand, holding the huge creature. Even with both of them contributing to the hold, the Praetorian was almost too strong. It strained against their grip like a massive dog straining against its master’s leash, legs swiping viciously at the Commander. As Shepard got to his feet, his two allies spun, flinging their arms in perfect synchronicity. With a roar, the Praetorian soared through the air, crashing into the casing of the power generator with a thump.

Shepard straightened stiffly, reaching onto his back for the compact device stowed over his spine. He carefully unfolded the grenade launcher, locking the muzzle and trigger mechanism in place. Nodding to his comrades, he strode forwards and knelt, bracing the heavy weapon to aim at the enemy. Behind him, Jack and the Collector drew a biotic field around themselves, ready to attack.

Scrambling for purchase on the generator’s housing, the Praetorian clambered back into sight. As soon as it swung its ‘face’ towards the squad, both Jack and the Revenant let loose with two titanic Warp blasts. The beast reared back from the assault, biotic barriers flickering and dying almost instantly. As the shimmering blue field around it died, Shepard worked the trigger of the grenade launcher, feeling the massive weapon recoil in his hands after every shot. Three grenades soared across the room, two landing squarely in the Praetorian’s maw and incinerating the skulls there, while the third lodged in one of the creature’s knee joints. When the final projectile detonated, the leg was torn apart, splinters of metal scything through the air in every direction. The Praetorian released one final shriek before falling back, frame shuddering as it convulsed for several seconds before becoming still.

Shepard lowered the grenade launcher, still wary in case the hulk of metal suddenly lurched back to life. He strode over carefully, inspecting the Praetorian corpse. Remembering all the warnings that Cerberus had given him during his crusade against the Collectors, Shepard kept his distance. What little intel he had been provided about the monstrous creatures forged out of multiple Husk bodies told him that Praetorians, the most deadly in the arsenal of unliving weapons the Reapers used, began to degrade immediately after ‘death’. In hours, the entire mass of the machine would turn into a gooey fluid that was hazardous to be around. One science team had managed to discern that the Praetorian was broken down by nanomachines, which were indiscriminate about whether they broke down the metal and organic material of a Praetorian or of the scientist studying it. Understandably, the Commander was cautious around it.

"We don’t wanna hang around this thing, Shepard." Jack said nervously. "You know what they do when they die."

"We still have to take out the generator."

"And how the hell do we do that?" Jack demanded. "We haven’t got the firepower to blow it apart, and you ain’t got the smarts to hack it."

"Thank you, for pointing that out." Shepard added dryly. "I think we have our opening, though."

Shepard pointed to several puncture marks across the surface of the generator casing. In crawling across the generator, the Praetorian had pierced the casing with the sharp talons on the tips of its legs, providing the squad with the opening they needed to get at the interior of the generator which their own weapons couldn’t provide them with. The Commander carefully pushed several grenades into the openings, placing them at several points across the length of the machine to do as much damage as possible. Once done, he nodded to his companions and the trio raced out of the room. Moments later, the grenades detonated with a dull thump. They didn’t have enough power to rupture the generator casing, but their explosions did enough damage to the interior of the generator to begin a chain reaction that rumbled through the entire structure around the squad. With a final, deafening crack, the generator casing split open like a water balloon, spilling parts and flames across the floor in a tide of destruction.

Shepard glanced back into the room and was glad to see little of the final generator remained. Small flames still flickered across the surface of the remaining parts of the generator. The remains of the Praetorian were all gone, incinerated. One diagnostic terminal’s screen still blinked amidst the wreckage, though no data was being transmitted to it. Satisfied with the destruction of the generator, Shepard shot out that final screen just for the hell of it.

"Now that’s a satisfying sight." He said, almost laughing. "Let’s regroup with the rest of the crew."

He lifted his omnitool up in front of him, opening a channel to both Garrus and the Normandy.

"This is Shepard. The array is down."

"I figured as much." Garrus was quick to respond. " Every last Geth in the area just made an about turn. They’re ripping into the Husks like nothing I’ve ever seen. We’re just about at the third power station now, then there’s just one more to go."

"Might wanna hurry it up, guys." Joker cautioned. "Looks like you’ve hit a sweet spot. The Relay arms are almost in place, and now those Reapers are making their way over to where you are. Not much time till they get to you, but I don’t wanna see what they do when they get there."

"Any word on the Fifth?" Shepard asked.

"Not far out, according to EDI’s calculations. Should be here any minute." The pilot responded.

"Then we’ve got to get a move on. Hackett won’t last long against four Reapers. The sooner we have the shields on this thing down, the better for the Fifth." Shepard concluded. "We need to make sure they can get in, blow this thing all to hell, and then jump back out while the Reapers fry when the sun dies. Garrus, get that third station offline. We’ll meet you at the fourth. Joker, we’re going to need extraction as soon as the shields on this Relay drop."

"Roger that, Commander. Normandy out."

"I hear you Shepard. We’ll get this done, and meet you there."

~o~0~o~


Several minutes later, Shepard was skirting a large metal structure, not far from the final power station. EDI had sent the shuttle down to transport the Commander, Jack and the Revenant closer to the fourth station. Even with the Geth threat eliminated, the hordes of Husks and other Reaper-controlled forces still rendered the airspace immediately around the more sensitive areas of the Relay too dangerous for an unarmed shuttle.

As the trio made their way through the winding course towards the power station, Shepard heard occasional snippets of gunfire in the distance, either conflict between the Geth and Reaper forces or the sounds of Garrus and his force making their way from the third station to the fourth, having not long ago notified Shepard of the successful destruction of their third target.

The Commander felt the tension knotting in his shoulders as he moved through the jagged metal construction of the relay, now brightly lit by the nearby Dholen. Their time was swiftly running out. Since the third shield power station had been destroyed, the Commander had been aware of a powerful vibration moving through the entire superstructure of the Relay arm. Various parts of the Relay arm, from the tips of sharp spires to the wires dangling across the gaps between structures were beginning to glow, a faint, whitish luminescence that grew stronger and stronger by the minute. The Relay was preparing to activate.

The squad rounded a corner to intrude upon a scene of complete chaos. The path they were following took them along a ledge that skirted around a taller structure, above a large flat area amidst the buildings. Below them, the large, clear area was filled with a shifting horde. Dozens of Geth troopers, combined with a few Destroyer-class platforms, Hunters, and even a half-dozen Primes were arrayed in battle formation, locked in combat with a much larger force of Husks, Abominations and Scions. The charred hulk of a Praetorian lay on its side in the middle of the battlefield, still smoking from the flames from a couple of Destroyers’ weapons.

Shepard’s breath quickened at the sight, surveying the battlefield. As he watched, a Prime marched to the front of the Geth force, opening fire on the Husks. The rapid-fire chatter of its weapons echoed around the battlefield, and the first few lines of Husks disintegrated into pulp. The Prime was preparing to launch a second assault when a cluster of the spindly Husks raced forwards, latching onto its limbs. The Geth was pulled down into the seething mass of pallid bodies. As it struggled, several of the Husks were illuminated in a brilliant blue light, their flesh peeling back as electrical arcs leapt from their synthetic parts to lick at the Geth’s armour plating. The Geth shuddered before falling to the ground, lifeless.

The Commander turned away, averting his gaze with more than a little guilt. The Geth forces had been liberated from the Reapers’ control and were now fighting with all of their might to help him, but they were horribly outnumbered. Too many of their kin had been disassembled to build the Relay, and slowly but surely they were losing units. But Shepard did not have the time to stop and help them. He had to get to the last shield power station.

He led his team past the raging battle, turning his back on the suffering Geth. He proceeded towards the power station, emerging in the open space around the imposing structure. He instantly saw the rest of his team, gathered in a cluster close to another opening allowing access to the structure. A host of Husks occupied the open space between the Commander, the rest of his crew and the power station. There was a sudden, loud thump, followed by an ear-splitting explosion, and a dozen Husks were incinerated. Behind Garrus’ team, the Hammerhead hover-tank shifted into view, barrel aiming over the heads of the squad. Shepard caught sight of Garrus, accompanied by Zaeed, holding back and sniping at any Abominations or Scions before they could get close enough to inconvenience the rest of the squad. Samara, Etarn, and Jacob were spread out in a neat semi-circle around Garrus’ position, using their biotics in unison to hold back the hordes. Mordin, nursing an arm in a sling, alongside with Feron, worked to sow confusion among the enemy. The Salarian used his omnitool to fire a small round which exploded in a small halo of flames, igniting small knots of the dead creatures. Feron used Overload to stun them, giving the rest of the squad easier targets to fire upon.

The most noticeable member of the crew, however, was Grunt. He stood out well beyond the lines formed by the rest of the squad, square in the centre of the deepest concentration of Husks. The Krogan was laughing as he simultaneously used his shotgun, his free hand and his heavy boots to cleave his way through the pale ranks. Husks flew at him, screeching and moaning, but none could stand before the Urdnot warrior’s might. Bodies were piled around the path he had carved through the enemy, in some places as high as Shepard was tall.

"Hah-ha!" He roared. "Is that all you’ve got?"

"Well, good to see Grunt’s enjoying himself." Shepard muttered, amused. He activated his comm. "Garrus, we’re here."

"Shepard! I see you over there. About time you decided to join the party." Garrus replied.

"You know me. I like to be fashionably late." Shepard quipped back.

"Won’t be long now till we’re inside here. Its taking a bit longer than the last one, seeing as we don’t have as many Geth here to help us. They’re spread a little too thinly trying to fight the Husks on multiple fronts."

"We need to press forwards. The Relay’s charging up."

"Well, with you three coming at the enemy from behind, I reckon we’ve got the edge to end this fast." The Turian plotted. "Zaeed, Grunt, and myself will lead the charge against the main concentration, with the biotics, plus Mordin and Feron keeping the pressure on the smaller forces on either side. Kaidan and Legion can bring the Hammerhead in closer. You can approach the Husks from that side and we’ll catch them in a pincer movement."

"Acknowledged." Shepard nodded. He turned to Jack and the Revenant. "Move out."

The trio charged out into the rear of the force of Husks, Jack and Shepard’s shotguns chanting in unison as the Revenant used his biotics to fling pasty-fleshed creatures left and right. A dozen Husks dropped in the first few seconds of their charge, accompanied by the brilliant flashes of several Abominations detonating. Brainless as they were, the Husks took several moments to recognise the new danger, turning glassy eyes on the Commander as he pushed through the first few ranks of enemies largely unhindered.

On the opposite side of the knot of enemies, Garrus led Zaeed out ahead of the rest of the squad, the pair reuniting with the blood-spattered Grunt. The three warriors then charged the Husks, rifles singing as they went. Garrus, loping with his long Turian legs, pulled ahead of the other two. He leapt into the mass of pale blue bodies, firing all around him. He perforated the hide of a Scion on one side before jerking his arm back to bring an angular elbow into contact with a Husk’s face, knocking the creature’s head from its shoulders. Zaeed was immediately behind him, being a little less conservative with his ammunition. He pulled a canister from his belt, tossing it high above the crush of enemies. The device ignited with a bright orange glare, dropping into the heart of the Husk ranks. Flesh caught light immediately, fire spreading amongst the nearest targets like, well, like wildfire. Grunt lumbered into the fray close behind the grizzled mercenary, his shotgun belching out clouds of metal pellets in a near-constant stream. Where the white-hot ammunition went, Husks evaporated, disintegrated by the brutal power of the Krogan Claymore.

Moving more cautiously behind them, the biotic squad members focused their attacks more precisely. They kept the Husks from surrounding Garrus and his allies, picking off any individuals that tried to circle around. Jacob threw Husks around like toys, smashing them into their allies, the deck, and even once directly into the flames of a massive inferno started by Zaeed’s incendiary grenades. Etarn assisted where possible, making use of shockwaves and impromptu barriers to shepherd the Husks into his allies’ line of fire. Samara clenched a fist, her entire form silhouetted in glowing sapphire, and a small singularity formed in the centre of a loose cluster of enemies. Once they had been pulled closer together by the power of the miniature black hole, the Asari drew her fist back towards her body, and the singularity glowed even brighter, the black at its heart growing darker. The singularity vanished, and the nearby Husks were bathed in a strange blue wave of light, which flowed back to Samara. She coated herself in the stolen life of the Husks, turning it into a powerful biotic barrier. Shepard recognised this as her Reave ability.

Moving with the biotics, Mordin and Feron used their submachine guns to pepper the outermost edges of the Husk force with bullets, mowing down target after target. The Salarian launched a purplish-looking projectile from his omnitool, aiming for a small knot of Husks pulling away from the main host. The projectile hit the Abomination in the centre of the group, shattering on impact into several glittering shards, which penetrated the skin of the Husks all around. The shards then lit up brightly, sending the Husks into convulsions as the device shocked their nervous systems.

Shepard’s attention shifted to a pair of shapes towering over the rest of the Husks. Bloated, deformed, two Scions turned their weapon arms this way and that to launch powerful biotic attacks at his squad. The Commander worked the trigger of his weapon, piercing the gelatinous sac on its back and soliciting a weeping stream of grey brain matter from it. The beast and its fellow turned at the assault, looking at the Commander and his two associates with dead eyes. They began to shamble through the horde of lesser Husks, making slow but steady progress towards the trio.

Shepard emptied a clip into the first one’s torso and face, but this did nothing to slow it. With its vulnerable back turned away, he couldn’t exploit the weak spot to do the most damage. Beside him, Jack did her best to lift the monster with her biotics, but its own defensive powers outmatched her own.

The pair lumbered out from the mass of Husks just before Shepard, making relentless progress towards him. He emptied another clip into the gut of one of the beasts before it swiped at him with the rigid weapon arm, swatting his gun away. It groaned, aiming to fire a powerful biotic blast at the Commander. Its ally did the same.

Shepard became aware of a straining hum just as the Scion’s gun barrel began to glow with biotic blue. The hum rose in volume and pitch, turning into a throaty roar. Hearing the out-of-place sound, the Scion and its fellow paused and turned to look for the source of the noise.

The Hammerhead dropped out of the air like a brick landing on a house of cards, crushing the Scions beneath it. The jump jets, still cooling from their burst of power, ticked as they realigned themselves. The hover-tank swung about, mowing down a dozen enemies simply by flying over them. Those Husks which were not knocked away by the moving mountain of metal were quickly burned to a crisp by the vehicle’s jets.

"Looked like you needed a hand, Shepard." Kaidan’s voice rang out over the comms. "Gotta say, flying this thing straight is a lot simpler than you made it look. I haven’t turned her over once."

"You’re not having fun unless you’re skidding along the ground on the roof." Shepard chuckled as he retrieved his weapon. "Adds variety to the journey."

"As far as I recall, there wasn’t much variety to your driving, Commander. Just constant screaming and near-death experiences. Even Wrex pissed himself when you got behind the wheel of the Mako."

"Yeah, well. Just remember who was screaming louder than Tali and Liara combined. And in a higher pitch. I never knew you could sing soprano, soldier boy." Shepard shot back. Even in such an intense combat situation, he wasn't about to be outdone in the art of making snappy comebacks.

Kaidan only chuckled as he hove the Hammerhead around, Legion firing a couple of rounds from the vehicle’s turret and demolishing several clumps of Husks. With the aggression of the Hammerhead and the combined tactics of the squad, the remaining Reaper-controlled forces did not last long and, pretty soon, Grunt tore the head off the final Husk with his bare hands. The squad halted for a moment, lowering weapons and taking deep breaths. Garrus stepped through the carnage to join Shepard.

"Good fight, Commander." He congratulated. "And we’re all still in one piece. I should start betting on you. Number of times you beat the odds, I’d be retiring on my own private planet by now."

"We ready to take this thing out?" Shepard asked, eager to be off the Relay arm as quickly as possible.

"Sure thing. Zaeed and Grunt have some explosive charges they made out of some old power cells and grenades. I’ll help to set them up, and boom, one power station, medium-rare."

"I’m more of a well-done guy myself."

"I aim to please." Garrus said, smiling as he turned to enter the power station. Shepard fell into step behind him, ready to assist. Grunt and Zaeed were quick to follow them.

Inside, Garrus directed the setting of the charges, indicating various weak points in the structure to exploit and running his omnitool over the set charge. As they worked on the second-to-last one, Shepard’s comm beeped to an incoming transmission. Joker’s voice piped out over the channel as he accepted the communication.

"Uh, Commander? We gotta problem." The pilot said, a little nervousness echoing in his tone.

"That makes a refreshing change." Shepard replied dryly. "Hit me with it, Joker."

"EDI’s saying that the Relay’s power levels are hitting critical levels. We’re outta time, Shepard."

"No sign of the Fifth yet?"

"Should be here any second now."

A sudden, urgent rumbling from the floor beneath his feet halted Shepard’s response. The walls of the power station swayed as the entire structure rocked. Shepard nodded to his friends to quickly finish setting the charges before turning to run for the door of the building. He pushed his way through the doors and out into the open to find the source of the tremors.

Above him, the star Dholen radiated a blinding white light, which the Commander’s helmet struggled to compensate for, darkening the visor to its lowest setting. The surface of the star boiled, emitting extremely high levels of energy. As the Commander watched, a rippling blue barrier of dark energy flowed across the surface of the star, and energy field so massive it engulfed the entire circumference of the star. Solar flares spouted, but could not traverse the barrier, their heat and energy contained by the glowing blue field. As Shepard watched, the star convulsed violently. The surface moved inwards and outwards at an incredible rate, the very star growing and shrinking as unbalanced forces of mass versus gravity battled for dominance. The sun writhed in its cage, pushing against the barrier with every ounce of energy in its atoms.

Suddenly, with a roar that completely deafened the Commander, the sun detonated inside the field. The surface burned a white colour that went beyond light and into the boundaries of a physical presence. Shepard felt as though his bones would break under the pressure he felt while being bathed in the dying spasm of the star. The barrier crackled as it struggled to contain the energy, twisting and deforming as the sun’s immense heat and radiation strained to get out.

Then, just as suddenly, the brilliant white light dimmed back to normal levels. Shepard risked a glance at the star only to see it receding, the barrier pushing it into a denser and denser sphere. Once done, the light at the centre of the circle of Relay arms looked just like the lights in the heart of every Relay he had seen, only much larger. He realised that the sun had now been reduced down to a supermassive Eezo core. As he watched, the Relay arms began to move in closer to the core. Tendrils of energy wafted from the core, transmitting immense power to the Relay arms. The second the arcs of power touched the Relay arms, the stations’ lights grew even brighter, reaching a fever pitch. By the time the Relays had drawn close to one another, the core had shrunk down to the size of an Alliance cruiser, compacted by the combined might of the Relay arms.

Reddish-blue gas began to seep from the power core, spraying out into space. The Commander realised that this was the newly minted Citadel releasing the sun’s excess materials from the power core, and he was probably witnessing the manner in which the Serpent Nebula, which housed the Citadel, had been formed. Given time, a new Nebula would occupy this region of space, with the second Citadel at its heart, ready to become the new nexus of the Mass Relay network.

Finally, the Relay arms locked together, sealing the power core in a ring at their bases, much like the Presidium ring back on the Citadel. As they did so, the Relay shuddered again, blue-white waves of power traversing the surfaces of the arms. The energy collected at their tips and fired once, a bolt of sheer dark energy shooting off into empty space. In the wake of this bolt, a trail of glowing blue remained, tracing a path from the new Citadel out of the system and, Shepard realised, beyond the boundaries of this Galaxy. The Reapers had their path back into the Milky Way.

"We’re too late." He groaned, staring at the pathway that had been created.

Mere seconds later, the path glowed with renewed intensity. The light reached a second peak, and several dozen dark shapes dropped into existence above the end of the new Citadel. Reaper upon Reaper hovered in the blackness of space before Shepard’s eyes, their glaring bright eyes filled with menace. The Reapers had returned. The Cycle would resume.

~o~0~o~


Joker slumped back in his chair, shock pulling at every muscle in his face. EDI had sealed the bridge window panels, a precaution in potential combat situations, but the pilot had nevertheless witnessed the star’s demise and the appearance of the Reapers. He scanned the images of the new arrivals, a knot of fear in his stomach, when EDI prompted him quietly.

"Jeff, the Relay is charging up a second time."

"Again? There are dozens of the things right there! How many more could they need?" Joker asked plaintively.

"It is probable that the Relay cannot supply enough power to allow the entire Reaper fleet to move at once. Sheer power assignments aside, a Relay’s accuracy in sending or drawing a target to its destination decreases with increased quantity. Logic dictates that these are simply the first of many more."

"Son of a ****." Joker cursed. He was at a loss, unsure of what to do next. His thoughts were interrupted by yet another beep from his console. Yet more ships were appearing on his scope. Before he cursed the stars themselves for his luck, the screen before him pointed out that these newest arrivals bore the markings of Alliance ships.

"SSV Normandy SR-2, this is Admiral Hackett of the Fifth Fleet. Do you copy?" The Admiral’s gruff voice sounded over the comm channels. Joker felt a surge of relief to see help at hand, but knew that a single fleet of human ships would not suffice against even a small band of Reapers. When there was just four injured individuals, they stood a chance, but now the odds were heavily stacked against them.

"This is Flight Lieutenant Moreau of the Normandy. It’s good to hear from you, Admiral."

"Likewise, Mr Moreau." Hackett responded stiffly.

Joker straightened to hear the Admiral address him, mind flashing back to the academy and sitting in a classroom, being lectured by the seasoned Alliance veteran. He could tell from the Admiral’s tone that Hackett remembered him all too well, especially his unprofessional attitude and possibly also the little prank Joker had played upon him and several other instructors with an omnitool, three gallons of omni-gel and a firecracker. One of the instructors still possessed an overpowering fear of omnitools to this day.

"Where is Commander Shepard?" Hackett asked.

"Out in the field, Admiral." Shepard’s voice chimed over the comm. "About time you got here, old friend."

"About five minutes too late, if you ask me." Hackett replied. "Looks like we’ve just stumbled into a royal Charlie Foxtrot and no mistake."

"We can’t win this fight today, Admiral." Shepard said gravely. "But we can make it that much harder for the Reapers. The Relay’s powering up again, so that tells me that this is only the first wave. We need to take out this station."

"We’re still reading shields on that thing, Commander."

"Not for long. My team just finished planting the last of our explosives, we’ll have the shields on one of the arms down in moments."

"I can see a fair few Geth ships about, Shepard. Do we have to fire on them, or did you take care of that?"

"The Geth are friendly, Admiral. I have assurances that they’ll help in any way they can."

"Not the bedfellows I’d normally be comfortable with, but these are desperate times. Get the shield down so we can get the hell out of here."

"On it, Admiral." Shepard acknowledged. "Joker? Better come and pick us up. We’ll be done in seconds."

"Roger that, Commander." Joker said, activating the steering thrusters and angling the Normandy towards the newly built Citadel. "We’ll get as close as we can and transmit the co-ordinates for your extraction. Normandy out."

As Joker aimed the Normandy at the station, EDI’s constant monitoring of their immediate surroundings informed him that the Geth cruisers, which until recently had been scattered around the system, were now pulling together into a cohesive group which joined up with the waiting Fifth Fleet. Human and Geth ships darted through space side-by-side. The Reapers, noting this new threat, moved to intercept, soon locking in a fierce firefight with Hackett’s armada. Ships vanished in flames as the brittle-boned pilot watched, their shields pitifully inadequate against the might of the Reaper weaponry. Joker gritted his teeth. They needed to hurry.

~o~0~o~


Shepard’s squad began their exodus out of the immediate area around the power station, Kaidan leading the way in the Hammerhead. The Commander and Garrus waited until the last of the team had made their way out of the cleared area around the station before turning to face the structure. The Turian produced a detonator, which he passed to Shepard.

"I know how much you like to push buttons, Shepard. Be my guest."

Shepard smiled grimly, lifting the detonator and firmly pushing the button. All was silent for a moment, and then a rumble began to resound through the structure. Shepard turned to run, Garrus just ahead of him, as the walls shattered, metal shards scything through the air in every direction. The Commander and his Turian friend managed to race around a corner ahead of the blast, avoiding any injury from debris.

"Admiral, the shields are down now. You may commence your attack." The Commander informed Hackett over the comms.

"Acknowledged, Shepard. Beginning our approach."

The squad raced through the alleyways and streets created by the station’s irregular construction. The Hammerhead had some trouble negotiating the tighter corners of the terrain, but in all they made swift progress towards the extraction co-ordinated which EDI had sent them. As they progressed, the Relay arm began to tremble, but this time it was a result of the combined fire of the Geth fleet and Hackett’s forces. Structures crumbled around them, either destroyed by weapons fire or from the Relay arm’s shuddering.

After several minutes of hurried marching, the squad was drawing near to where the Normandy would collect them. A large, empty space amidst the chaos of the arm’s framework provided a space for the Normandy to approach, her cargo deck doors wide open.

Shepard’s pace quickened at the sight of the Normandy’s running lights, a beacon of safety. The rest of the squad also accelerated, their pounding feet eating up the distance.

The Commander stopped short upon rushing out into the landing zone. The Normandy still hovered out of reach, just metres above Shepard’s head. The reason for Joker’s reluctance to touch down became obvious when he looked around the landing zone. Hundreds of Husks milled about in the empty space, along with several dozen Scions and Praetorians. At first, Shepard thought to use the Normandy in the same fashion which Kaidan had used the Hammerhead, bringing it down on the mass of enemies, but then he realised the foolishness of that plan. There was a risk the Normandy would be damaged during the manoeuvre, not to mention the fact that if only a handful of Praetorians or Scions managed to latch onto her hull, they would present a huge risk to her crew.

"Joker," He called out over the comms. "We’ve got a lot of targets in the way."

"I can’t risk bringing the Normandy down into that, Shepard." Joker was quick to reply.

"And there’s too many for us to take them out quickly. Can’t you use the cannons?"

"Can’t get the angle. Not unless you want me ploughing a trench though the surrounding skyline to make a strafing run."

"Then we find another route. I’ll signal you when we find a way to get to you."

Shepard pulled his shotgun from his back, making sure it was loaded, just as the Husks, alerted to his presence by the Normandy hovering overhead, turned to look at him, charging with a chorus of groans. Shepard stepped back from the charging horde, looking for a way to get to his ship.

As the Commander’s eyes roved about the skyline, an Alliance cruiser scored a direct hit on some structures not far from Shepard’s location. There was a colossal explosion, sending ripples of destruction shuddering through the Relay’s layout. Spire after towering spire collapsed to the ground, metal shattering in a tide of devastation. One large tower of metal next to the extraction zone snapped in half, its upper section toppling into the landing zone. The peak of the tower lay across one intact structure, reaching up into the air above. What Shepard saw was a ramp, sloped enough for his team to scale.

"Joker, take her about and wait at the top of that tower. We’ll climb up to you."

"Aye-aye Commander."

As the Normandy swerved around, aligning the open cargo door with the tip of the tower, Shepard waved Kaidan and Legion forwards with the Hammerhead. The hover-tank moved out into the clearing amidst the buildings, the human soldier revving its engines. Kaidan slammed the throttle open on Shepard’s signal, the tank surging forwards into the advancing ranks of Husks.

Pale bodies soared through the air in all directions, thrown aside by the juggernaut that was the Hammerhead. Some of the Scions and Praetorians tried to shoot at it, but the attacks pinged off its armoured hide harmlessly. The Hammerhead made steady progress towards the tower and the waiting Normandy.

As soon as Kaidan began to move forwards, Shepard ordered his squad into the breach created by the passage of the tank. Grunt, Zaeed and Garrus raced to keep up with the Hammerhead, guns blazing as they kept the path clear ahead of them. Behind them hurried Samara, Jack, the Revenant and Jacob, using their biotics to pull Praetorians down out of the sky overhead and deflect any attacks launched by the Scions. Etarn and Feron helped Mordin along, the Salarian struggling to keep up because of his injured arm. At the back of the column, Shepard covered the rear, shooting any Husks that tried to run after them.

Kaidan worked the Hammerhead’s jets to ease it up the ramp, gunning the engine to surge up into the waiting Cargo Bay. Crewmembers watching from the Cargo Bay leapt out of the way of the tank, allowing it to crash into the metal of the deck with a tearing crunch. By the time the vehicle had stopped screeching across the deck, only a few feet separated it from the back wall of the Bay. The hatch popped on the tank and Kaidan slowly crawled out, followed by Legion. The pair of them ran back to the loading ramp, weapons drawn.

Approaching the base of the ramp, the squad clambered up the steep metal surface, slowed a bit by Mordin needing to be lifted up, his arm nearly useless given the circumstances. As they climbed, Shepard turned to face backwards, feathering the trigger of his rifle to pick off the foremost Husks and Abominations. More and more of the Reaper-controlled creatures clambered up the fallen tower after the squad.

Upon reaching the top of the tower, Grunt, Zaeed and Garrus then turned and opened fire on the Husks pursuing the squad, giving Shepard vital aid. They ushered Samara, Jack and the other biotics past them towards the tip of the tower and the waiting Normandy. Samara was the first to leap across the gap between the tower and the loading ramp, using her biotics to give her jump some extra distance. Jack followed, her attempt to imitate this feat being somewhat clumsier. The Revenant was next, insectile wings fluttering furiously as he propelled himself across the gap.

Shepard backed up to find himself joined on either side by Grunt, Zaeed, Garrus and Jacob, all five of them firing at the approaching horde furiously. Husks died by the dozen, but still they kept on coming, getting closer and closer with each moment.

The Commander looked back over his shoulder to see Etarn and Feron struggling to help Mordin. Knowing the elderly Salarian wasn’t capable of jumping that far, he turned to his Krogan friend.

"Grunt! Take Mordin!"

"There’s too many! You need me here!" The Krogan protested, unwilling to flee from a battle of this size.

"Grunt!" Shepard yelled. "I am your Battlemaster and you will do as I say! I need you to save Mordin!"

Grunt hesitated, torn between his bloodlust and his Battlemaster’s orders. Finally, with a sigh, he turned from the approaching enemies. He stowed his shotgun and shouldered Etarn away from Mordin, taking the Salarian in his arms. With a roar, he charged to the edge of the tower, his strong legs easily carrying him across the gap. He handed the Salarian doctor to his waiting comrades and moved back to the edge of the ramp, pulling his weapon out again.

Etarn and Feron closely followed Grunt, The Batarian stumbling a bit as he struggled to jump the distance. Shepard then turned to Jacob and Zaeed.

"You’re next. Move!" He commanded.

"With all due respect, sir," Jacob said stiffly. "Not before you."

"That wasn’t a request. I won’t say again, jump!" Shepard yelled.

"And I’m not going anywhere. You can’t hold them off by yourself." Jacob said stubbornly.

Shepard grit his teeth in frustration at the ex-Cerberus agent’s bull-headed nature. He looked over to Garrus, who fired off several shots, each accounting for another Husk. The charging enemy force was only yards away, the squad’s limited firing power insufficient to hold them back. The Turian shrugged, unsure of how to convince the young soldier to go.

The Commander looked back to Jacob, only to see Zaeed grab him by the shoulder, spin him around and land a solid punch to the younger man’s jaw. Jacob staggered back dazedly and the older mercenary grabbed him, heaving him onto his shoulder.

"Sorry sunshine, but this ain’t the time to bugger around." Zaeed said as he carried Jacob to the edge of the tower. He managed a spurt of speed, throwing himself across the gap to the ramp. He hit the metal of the Normandy with a thump, Etarn and Grunt hurrying forwards to pull them up. Shepard looked back to Garrus, unleashing a flurry of fire into the rapidly approaching enemy.

"And now you, Garrus."

"Not a hope, old friend. We go together."

"I understand, Garrus, but trust me. I’ll be fine. Now go."

Garrus hesitated, but then nodded silently. He emptied his clip at the Husks, accounting for another half dozen of the creatures, before turning and bolting for the loading ramp. His long Turian legs easily carried him over the gap, the rest of the crew stepping back to give him space. He spun on his heel and drew his sniper rifle, firing several shots in quick succession. In the midst of the crowd, two Abominations detonated, the blast of their destruction knocking large clusters of Husks over the edge of the tower and to their deaths.

A Scion shouldered to the front of the horde, and Shepard realised that it was time to be gone. He turned to run, putting all of his strength into a headlong dash for the safety of the Normandy. The Scion launched a powerful biotic blast at the Commander, causing him to stumble. Shepard recovered, but had lost precious moments. As he covered the final few feet, he felt the fingers of the Husks grasping at his back, clawing to drag him back.

With a roar, Shepard threw himself over the edge, arms splayed out in front of him. The loading ramp raced up to meet him, striking him across the chest. He wheezed painfully as the narrow edge of the ramp forced all of the air out of his lungs.

Before the feelings of relief could arrive in his brain, the Commander felt a sudden, urgent tug at his feet. Unable to get a purchase, he was dragged back over the edge, much to the consternation of his comrades. At the last instant, his fingers gripped the edge of the ramp, tightening desperately.

As he dangled there, he looked down at his feet. The dead face of a Husk looked back up at him, a low moan escaping from its lips. Repulsed, he kicked with all of his might. The dead creature held on for a few moments before he got one booted foot free. As he swung dangerously, one of his hands slipped, and he found himself hanging on by the fingertips of one hand. He lashed out desperately with his free foot, the heavy boot connecting with the Husk’s face. The pallid creature’s head snapped back, neck broken. Going limp, the Husk dropped, tumbling away.

Shepard turned back to the task of saving his life, trying to halt his swing before it loosened his grip. His fingers throbbed from the strain of holding on and, as he stared at them, they lost their grip one by one. Shepard felt the weightless sensation seize his stomach as he dropped.

His fall was halted abruptly and the muscles in his arm went taut. Looking up, he saw a tattooed hand gripping his own. Looking past the hand, he gazed into Jack’s beautiful brown eyes, narrowed from the exertion of stopping his fall.

"Where the **** do you think you’re going?" She demanded through gritted teeth.

Garrus appeared next to her, helping the Commander back up as the Normandy moved away. As the loading ramp closed, Shepard sat down wearily on the deck, breathing heavily. He looked up at Jack, the woman he loved now more than ever, and smiled weakly.

"Thanks." He said simply. She only nodded.

~o~0~o~


Shepard ran through the CIC, ducking his head as he dashed up the corridor towards the cockpit. Joker was busily tapping away at the console in front of him while Dr Archer hovered around, keeping an eye on his vital signs. The pilot looked over his shoulder to the Commander as he worked.

"Commander. Hackett’s getting his ass handed to him out there. The Geth have managed to chew a few holes in the Relay, but there’s no sign of it breaking apart just yet."

"EDI, how long until the Relay activates?" Shepard asked.

"Calculations indicate the Relay will open again in fifteen minutes." EDI replied coldly.

"We’ve got to hurry." Shepard said urgently. "Joker, is there anything we can do?"

"There’s a Reaper down near the central ring that’s giving the Admiral’s flagship some trouble. One of the ones that was here before we arrived."

Shepard turned to look at a display that EDI put on one of the cockpit’s screens. A familiar-looking Reaper was engaged in combat with several Alliance warships. Two cruisers were already smoking hulks, drifting dead in space, and a third had taken quite a beating.

"That’s the Forerunner." Shepard murmured.

"Friend of yours?" Joker asked.

"We had a chat, not long ago." Shepard explained. "Had to cut it short, on account of the Praetorian he sent to stop me."

"Shall let you carry on your conversation where you left off?" Joker offered.

"Yes, let’s."

The Normandy looped around to arrow towards the Relay, angling downwards to aim for the ring at its centre. In seconds, the frigate had traversed the distance between it and the Admiral’s ship. Joker expertly manipulated the ship’s thrusters to send her into a spiral that looped around the Forerunner. The Reaper fired off several shots, one grazing the ship’s shields and causing a shudder to pass through the Normandy’s frame.

As the Normandy darted around the massive creature, Dr Archer suddenly stepped forwards, kneeling next to Joker.

"Joker, are you alright?"

Shepard looked over at his friend and saw that the pilot’s eyes were creased in pain. His hands shivered over the controls and his head nodded uncertainly.

"I’m fine…," Joker said a little faintly. "Just dizzy, is all. Be alright in a secon…."

With a sigh, he fell forwards, head thumping on the console before him. Archer jolted forwards, checking his pulse and other vital signs.

"He’s out cold." He said. He activated his omnitool. "Med Bay, I need a stretcher up here, now."

The Normandy descended into an uncontrolled spin, the G-forces of its motion tugging at the crew even with her powerful inertial dampeners. Shepard struggled to maintain his balance, grabbing a hold of Joker’s chair.

"EDI! What’s going on? Get us out of this spin!" He demanded.

"I am incapable of this action. I do not have helm control."

"Then take it back!" Shepard felt his arms strain to hang on as the Normandy raced towards the Relay’s nearest arm. Looking at the displays, he saw that they were on a collision course with a huge mass of metal in their path.

"Joker’s console has control. I am locked out."

"What! Why?" Shepard asked.

"It is a part of our arrangement. I cannot do Jeff’s job, and he doesn’t interfere with mine." EDI said calmly.

"Can you override it?"

"Given time. But someone must take control in the meantime." The AI explained flatly. "Collision course detected. Twenty seconds to impact."

Shepard took a deep breath, sliding into Joker’s recently vacated seat. He looked down on the controls with a mixture of trepidation. He had never piloted something so large, but the principles of his training gave him the basic skills he needed to control the Normandy. He gripped the side of the console with one hand, the other working furiously to manage the ship’s manoeuvring thrusters to pull her out of her dive. Slowly, the nose lifted and the spin straightened out, and the Normandy blasted over the surface of the Relay arm which it had so recently been on a collision course with. The Commander worked the controls and turned the ship around to angle back towards the Forerunner and Hackett’s beleaguered ships.

"EDI, work on getting full control of this helm." Shepard ordered. "And get someone up here who’s better qualified to fly a frigate-class starship."

"Acknowledged. Crewman Hadley and Furrel are the only members of the crew with the necessary qualifications to take the helm. Both are currently in the Cargo Hold, but will make their way up to the Command deck with all due haste."

"Tell them to hurry." Shepard said, sweating as he struggled to manoeuvre the ship past the disabled cruisers. "This isn’t as easy as Joker makes it look."

Shepard wove the Normandy around the Alliance cruisers and the massive Reaper, managing to line up a few shots at the Forerunner in the process. The ship’s gravity cannon coughed a few times, hurling spheres of dark energy at the Forerunner. The unique array of seven singularities ignited around the Reaper, weakening its hull integrity for the powerful blast that followed soon after. The secondary shot punched through the skin of the ancient being, ripping through its insides and out the far side. White-hot slag poured out of the new holes, trailing away in globules of molten metal. The Reaper screeched, its cries transmitting across every radio channel at once. Shepard winced at the sonic assault.

The display screens flickered above the Commander, the Reaper’s image appearing on them.

"Your attacks are meaningless. The tide of cleansing shall return. Your desolation has already begun." Shepard could have sworn that he heard an irritated tone in the ancient being’s voice, tinged with just a little… fear, maybe? "You are an infection within our Galaxy. One which shall be eradicated. No amount of defiance can change this. The Void shall consume you all."

"But you won’t be around to see it." Shepard shouted back. "Now burn in Hell, you ugly son of a ****!"

The Commander punched the firing command again, feeling the satisfying thump as the gravity cannon fired its eezo rounds, followed by the thud of the secondary round. At the same time, Hackett’s cruisers deployed their newly installed gravity cannons, firing in unison with the Normandy. Several brilliantly bright rounds arced out from the Alliance ships, ripping through the Forerunner. The Reaper squealed across the radio channels again before it’s core exploded, sending massive hull plates and huge limbs tumbling through space. The debris peppered the Relay arm below, exploding in a trail of destruction along the surface of the Relay. One piece of the Forerunner’s eezo core raced down into the arm, exploding with terrifying power.

At this last explosion, the entire arm trembled, splintering at the point which connected it to the other arms. Cracks appeared along the arm’s contribution to the Presidium ring before it fully broke free, drifting away into space, shedding a flurry of parts as it went. Shepard turned his attention back to the still-bright supernova contained within the Mass Effect field at the heart of the station.

"EDI, any change in what’s left of the star?"

"It would appear that the loss of the fifth arm has destabilised the containment field. The other four arms are unable to contain the supernova’s energy."

"Then its time for us to leave." Shepard concluded. "Do you have helm control yet?"

"Negative."

"Then where’s the other pilots?"

"Still en-route, Commander. The elevator was damaged during combat. Hadley is moving through the ducts to get to the Command deck."

"Then I guess I’m stuck here." Shepard concluded. "Right, then. All hands, this is Commander Shepard. The station’s about to blow, and we need to get out of here. Hang on tight."

Shepard twisted the ship around to dart away from the glowing remnant of the sun. Hackett’s ships moved to follow. Behind them, the glowing blue field that had contained the energies of Dholen’s supernova flickered, releasing huge bursts of white fire and radiation. One flare licked at the burnt out husks of the disabled Alliance cruisers, incinerating them instantly. Moments later, the field collapsed completely, unleashing all of the dying sun’s pent up energy. A gargantuan shockwave of white fire raced out at a considerable fraction of the speed of light.

Monitors informing him of this, Shepard gunned the Normandy’s engines, weaving through the drifting Relay arms, now cast free by the rapidly expanding explosion. The frigate dodged about in the veritable minefield of jagged debris, the superheated gases of the supernova mere seconds behind her.

Shepard wiped at the sweat beading on his brow, desperately seeking a clear avenue of escape. His displays informed him that one of the Admiral’s ships hadn’t managed to keep up, disintegrating as the shockwave overtook it. Fortunately, Hackett’s own ship was still doggedly following the Normandy, occasionally having to ram its way through the debris field which had so recently been the newly built Citadel. The rough passage was evidenced on the ship’s hull by the myriad scratches and scorch marks.

After a few hair-raising moments, the Normandy finally surged out into a clear patch of space. EDI began charging the ship’s FTL drive. As the Commander waited tensely for the jump to light-speed, he saw what remained of the Fifth Fleet jumping out of the system, having received orders from Admiral Hackett to evacuate, as well as the handful of functioning Geth ships. What filled Shepard with disappointment, however, was the sight of the Reaper force making their way out of the system. Once they jumped to light-speed, it became impossible to predict where they were headed, except for a general trajectory they might be travelling along. Still, at least the Forerunner, along with a couple of other Reapers, would be left to burn in the fires of Dholen’s destruction.

Seconds later, EDI activated the ship’s FTL drive, propelling the Normandy out of the Dholen system just ahead of the supernova’s devastating blast. The Commander slumped back in his chair, exhausted by it all.

~o~0~o~


Some minutes later, Shepard entered the Med Bay, having been relieved from his position at the helm by crewman Hadley. EDI had also informed him that she had successfully overridden the lock that prevented her from manoeuvring the ship at sub-light speeds. The Commander made a note to talk to Joker about that particular part of his work relationship with the ship, later.

He strode into the Med Bay, looking over to the left to see Mordin patching a bullet wound in his shoulder, working with a pair of tweezers to pull a tiny bullet out from underneath his skin. The Salarian nodded formally to the Commander, tiredness shining through his eyes. Shepard nodded back, sharing in that exhaustion after their mission.

He looked to the opposite side of the Med Bay, where Archer and the Revenant tended to Joker’s unconscious form. Archer looked up at the Commander.

"Commander. It looks like the operation didn’t go as smoothly as planned."

"Will he be okay?"

"As far as we can tell. We’ll keep him down here for a few days to observe how his mind is coping with the changes, but I think he just needs to rest."

"You let me know if there’s anything we need. I don’t care if we have to go to the ass-end of the Galaxy to collect some obscure root to treat him, we’ll do it."

"He’s lucky to have a friend like you, Commander. I’ll keep you informed."

"Thanks, Doctor." Shepard clasped Archer’s forearm, giving him a warm handshake.

As the Commander turned to leave, a clatter from the back of the Med Bay drew his attention. He looked over to see the Revenant stagger, having just knocked over a tray of medical tools. The Collector was clutching at his skull, weaving about as he tried to keep his balance. The Revenant suddenly lifted of the ground, slamming bodily into the bulkhead that led to the AI Core. Tendrils of yellow energy flickered along his chitinous carapace. Shepard activated his commlink as he rushed over.

"Shepard to security! We’ve got a situation down in the Med Bay." He shouted as he moved past the bewildered Archer.

He approached the Revenant carefully. Having seen the same process many times before, Shepard recognised the signs of a Collector being possessed by a Reaper.

"Revenant? Just hang on, buddy. You can fight this!" He reassured his comrade.

The Revenant’s arm shot out, striking Shepard across the chest and flinging him back to hit one of the Med Bay’s beds painfully. The glowing Collector drifted down to the deck, and slowly walked forwards towards the Commander. Suddenly, a shimmering blue security field flickered into being around it, containing the alien.

"Security field activated." EDI intoned coldly.

Shepard got back to his feet, walking over to stand on the opposite side of the field from the Revenant. The Collector paced in its cage, eyes gleaming with venomous hatred. Shepard found this situation oddly similar to when he had first recruited the Collector, only now the being inside that skull was unquestionably an enemy.

"Who am I speaking to?" He demanded.

"We are Harbinger." The deep voice rumbled out menacingly. Shepard’s spine tingled to hear the name. The same Reaper that had controlled the Collectors during his campaign to stop them.

"What have you done with my friend?"

"The last of our pawns shall suffice to transmit our words. It is a tool, nothing more."

Shepard gnashed his teeth in fury at the callous way that the Reaper reduced a living being to nothing with so few words.

"So say your piece, and let him go."

"You have only served to delay your extinction. The vanguard succeeded in their mission, and the foundation of our return has been established."

"Its gonna be pretty hard for you to do that after I blew up your Mass Relay."

"It can be rebuilt. And this time, we have the numbers to accomplish our task expeditiously. The Galaxy shall be harvested."

"So… what? Did you just call up to gloat?"

"We are beyond the base emotional need to gloat. But we understand how it affects the lesser races."

"But you clearly don’t understand us very well. All you’re doing is making me more determined to fight you. I swear, I will find a way to stop your plans."

"You perceive nothing of our plans. Your words are as hollow as the future of your children. We leave you with that knowledge now."

The glow in the Revenant’s eyes faded and the alien slumped to the deck. EDI swiftly lowered the security field and Shepard dashed forward, grabbing a hold of the Revenant’s arm, carrying him over to a bed. The carapace felt grainy under his fingers, and Shepard realised that the Collector’s armour was extremely charred. He dreaded to think how the rest of the alien’s physiology had fared.

"Archer! Get over here now!" He shouted.

Archer ran over, running his omnitool over the Revenant to perform a diagnostic.

"Severe second and third-degree burns, both internal and external. I need to operate right away. We need to extract some tissue to culture replacement tissue for skin grafts and organ transplants. Administering some medi-gel to ease the pain and encourage tissue regrowth."

Shepard nodded and made to turn away from the bed, but found his arm gripped tightly by the Revenant. The alien’s eyes were turned to him, though they were glassy from the damage sustained by the Reaper possession he had just endured.

"Shepard…" The words croaked out of its throat, passing through burnt lips.

"Save your strength." Shepard said gently. "The Doc’s gonna patch you up no bother."

"No… I need to tell you… important."

"What is it?" Shepard leaned close, urging his friend to be still and let the doctor fix him up.

"When Harbinger was in my mind… I saw theirs."

"What did you see?"

"Images… feelings. Like my Prothean memories. Very little I could… ugh, decipher." The Collector coughed, blood pooling around his mouth.

"Anything you could make sense of?" Shepard hated to push for information when his friend was in this state, but any information on the Reapers was too important to ignore or risk being forgotten or worse, lost if the Revenant didn’t survive.

"When he… said they would rebuild… He thought of a world."

"Which world did you see?"

"…Earth. I saw Earth."

Shepard took a step back, nearly falling as his knees threatened to fold up under him. His gut turned to stone as the Collector reiterated his information, leaving no doubt as to what he had heard.

"The Reapers are going to destroy Sol to bring back the rest of their fleet."

[grifter024]

fainmaca wrote...


This story will be based on my main playthrough Shepard, so I'll summarize his past-

Character details-
Male Shepard
Soldier (ME1&2)
Earthborn /Sole Survivor

ME1 choices-
Zhu's hope saved
Rachni saved
Ashley dead

David archer sent to Grissom Academy


I think that sums it up. These are the ones I have plans to use, anyway. If I get ideas for other choices, I'll get them in there somehow. Opening chapter to follow!

NOooooooooooooooooooo!  

Whos david archer?

Modifié par grifter024, 27 mars 2011 - 02:38 .

[Katamariguy]

Was this posted to Fanfiction.net? I didn't get an email alert.

EDIT: Never mind. I got it.

Also: Collectors have mouths?

Modifié par Katamariguy, 27 mars 2011 - 08:35 .

[fainmaca]

grifter024 wrote...
*snip*
*snip*

NOooooooooooooooooooo!  

Whos david archer?

David is the subject of Project Overlord, the autistic brother of Dr Archer, the project's lead scientist.

Katamariguy wrote...

Was this posted to Fanfiction.net? I didn't get an email alert.

EDIT: Never mind. I got it.

Also: Collectors have mouths?

Must do, otherwise how could harbinger make them talk?

[fainmaca]

Chapter 20: The Price of Survival


Shepard charged out of the elevator like a Krogan after an all-night ryncol binge, bulling his way past the astonished crew as quickly as he could. He stopped for a few hasty seconds at the Galaxy Map.

"Joker, set a course for Earth, maximum speed. EDI, work out the fastest way to get us to the Local cluster. Cut corners, shave as much time as you can off our discharge stops, disable the safeties if you have to. Do everything it takes to get us there faster." He barked from his command console.

As he issued this order, the Commander heard a ripple of anxious murmuring spread through the CIC deck, knowing full well that they had every right to be nervous about returning to Earth. There had been whispers that the Alliance Parliament was getting ready to take action against the Commander, and the Alliance media had done nothing to quell those rumours.

Most of the Alliance brass, except for a few strong-minded individuals such as Admiral Hackett, were untrusting of the Commander, or any of his associates for that matter. Immediately after the Battle of the Citadel, almost all of the prominent figures in Human society had tried to draw close to the Commander, hoping to use his friendship as a political tool to advance their own agendas. Of course, once both the Alliance and the Council had decided to ignore the threat of the Reapers, choosing to downplay Sovereign’s true nature in order to prevent panic and avoid the need to commit resources to preparing for the Reapers’ coming, they had grown uneasy over the Commander’s continued public declarations of the impending attack, and had done their best to label him a madman. And once they had been able to verify that he was working with Cerberus to stop the Collectors, the more devious minds in the Alliance bureaucracy had begun to assemble a case against him. They planned to bring him to task over his theft of the Normandy in his quest to get to Ilos, over his alliance with Cerberus, no matter how brief it had been, and lately over what the Alliance media referred to as the ‘Aratoht Incident’. The Batarian media referred to it as ‘provocation’.

Now, with the Hegemony and the Alliance poised to descend into a bloody conflict, those same devious minds were getting ready to offer him up as a peace offering to the Batarians, a sacrifice that the four-eyed aliens were all too eager to accept. Shepard knew that, the moment he set eyes upon his home world, he would face accusations of treason, persecution reminiscent of a witch-hunt, and finally a trial that would likely end with his imprisonment.

And yet, despite the risks, he couldn’t stand back and allow the Reapers to advance on the cradle of Humanity. He had to get there to warn the Alliance and help to co-ordinate the forces available for the Earth’s defence. The crew must have seen a flicker of this in his eyes, because not one man or woman among them even thought to question his command.

"Course plotted, Commander." Joker responded. "ETA, four days, seven hours, on the outside. EDI’s working her magic looking for a few short-cuts."

"Kelly," Shepard spun on his heel to face his yeoman, who quailed under his fierce gaze. "Have Garrus, Mordin, Legion, Jacob and Kaidan report to the Comm room. We need to figure out what we’re gonna do when we get to the Sol system."

"Aye-aye, Commander." Kelly saluted.

~o~0~o~


Moments later, the door to the Comm room hissed to admit the various department heads. Shepard, standing at the far end of the briefing room table with Feron, turned to his approaching friends with a grim expression. He allowed them to take positions around the table before beginning. Though he itched to spring into action, he knew full well that there was no way to make the journey to Earth instantaneously. The Relays formed a network, but there was still plenty of empty space between the individual stages of their journey. Although the massive machines allowed instantaneous travel from system to system, the long periods of standard drive travel dragged their travel time out into days. Therefore, it was up to him to make sure that those four days that they had to wait until reaching Earth were used efficiently, not in dashing about like a headless Varren. He took a deep breath, and calmly spoke.

"You’ll have no doubt learned by now of our destination, and can probably hazard a guess as to why we’re going to Earth. The first wave of the Reaper armada escaped the destruction of the Dholen system, and now they’re looking to build another Relay to Dark Space. Thanks to the Revenant, we’ve managed to learn that they intend to use Sol as the core of their new Relay."

"Are you sure?" Kaidan asked breathlessly. "Would they be so bold as to attack such a densely populated system?"

"The Revenant was certain, and given how he obtained the knowledge, I’m inclined to believe him."

"Makes sense." Mordin said, still cradling a wounded arm in a sling. "Sol system heavily populated, lots of potential resources, both in individuals for indoctrination and in metals, plastics, processed chemicals that Earth’s cities and stations are built out of. Much like when Geth were forced to disassemble their own kind to build Dholen Relay, Humans could be made to use their own homes and technology to build newest Relay."

"It is also logical for the Old Machines to choose Sol as their staging point for the future stages of their invasion." Legion supplied. "The system is close enough to the edge of the Milky Way for the extra-galactic Relay to function with little difficulty. Lower concentrations of stars in the Galactic arms makes a mass transit less hazardous, as inaccuracy of Relay operation is less likely to deliver transported units into a hazardous environment. Proximity of a Primary Relay, the Charon Relay, provides access to the larger Relay network, much like the Alpha Relay in Bahak."

"But why Earth?" Kaidan persisted. "Surely there are enough nearby systems for them to use that won’t attract such an aggressive response, and will be harder to find."

"I have encountered one possible theory." EDI answered quickly.

"Let’s heard it, EDI." Shepard encouraged her.

"I have analysed all data provided by the Shadow Broker on Dholen, and cross-referenced it with sensor data regarding to Sol. Before the Reaper device was activated, and Dholen began to age rapidly, the star was similar to our own. A little older, but if you scale a star’s life down to that of a human’s you are talking about a difference of mere months. The two stellar bodies belonged to the same class of star, and their chemical composition bore a similarity of eighty-nine point one-nine-three per cent."

"You’re saying that the Reapers need a certain type of star to create an extra-galactic Relay?" Shepard asked.

"Affirmative. I have calculated that the number of stars with such characteristics in the Galaxy could be as few as one thousand. Of these stars, only a small handful would be close enough to both civilised space and a Primary Relay to be of any use to the Reapers in staging their invasion."

"Of course, there’s always the chance that this is personal." Garrus said quietly from his side of the table. "You’ve certainly done enough to ****** them off, Commander. They wait fifty thousand years to get back into the Galaxy, only to be stopped by a being they consider about as significant as bacteria? I know I’d hold a grudge."

"Regardless of why they’re going there, we need to warn Earth. Even with the gravity cannons installed on every warship the Alliance has, a Reaper fleet of this size will tear through them in no time, especially if they’re caught unawares. We need to go to Earth to warn everyone who’ll listen and help to co-ordinate the defence."

The briefing room was filled with a tense, pregnant pause. None of the squad returned Shepard’s steely gaze, save for the static Legion. Finally, it was Kaidan who spoke up.

"Shepard, that sounds like an unwise thing to do. You know the moment you set foot on Terran soil you’ll be locked up until they can throw together some mock trial to have you put away for good."

"I’ll gladly do the time if it means I can give the system even a few hours warning. It could mean the difference between several million humans escaping or being wiped out when the Reapers descend." Shepard said nobly. "Besides, I think you underestimate our chances if it goes to trial. I’ve still got friends in high places."

Even after these confident words, the individuals around the briefing room still appeared nervous. Garrus was the first one to speak.

"No matter what happens, we’re with you, Commander. If they want to take you into custody, they’ll have a hell of a fight on their hands first."

"No." Shepard ordered. "We’re not going to start fighting against our own people. Opening fire on any forces sent to arrest me will only hurt our chances of reasoning with them."

He threw one final sweeping stare around the room, catching the eye of each member of his squad before nodding a dismissal.

"We have just over four days until we reach Earth. I imagine the Reapers won’t be far behind. We need the Normandy running at one hundred and ten per cent. Back to your stations, and make sure we’re ready for battle."

The meeting broke up, the various department heads going their separate ways quietly, a little unwillingly. Shepard turned to Feron, the Drell straightening his stance on being addressed.

"Feron, you told me you couldn’t remove the old QEC from this room, is that correct?"

"Yes," Feron answered a little hesitantly. "It’s built right into the heart of the ship. Removing it would be like trying to remove the engine. Doable, but only with an extensive stay in dry-dock."

"Would it still work?"

"It should. We just left it intact and installed our own comm array in a separate module." The Drell’s brow creased. "Why?"

"Fire it up. I need to make a call."

Feron opened his mouth to voice a caution, but remained silent, shrugging and turning to his terminal.

The long briefing room table retracted into the deck, a little unsteadily. Keeping the communications station linked to the Illusive Man well-maintained had not been deemed important by the Normandy’s crew, so sure were they that they would never need to contact the Cerberus leader again. Even Shepard would have hesitated to imagine he would need to speak to the shady founder of the terrorist organisation, especially given the ease with which the Commander had chosen to destroy the Collector base rather than hand it over to the Illusive Man, swiftly followed by the theft of the Normandy and its crew. In running off with the frigate, Shepard had stolen billions of credits’ worth of resources from Cerberus, combined with the millions of credits the Illusive Man had invested in his crew, their equipment, and especially in the Commander himself. Shepard had once laughed at the thought that, when the value of his ship, crew and gear was added together, he was in control of resources worth more credits than an average sized star system would see through the course of an entire year. Now that he found it necessary to face the Illusive Man once more, that small fact seemed more troublesome than humorous.

Shepard walked forwards into the centre of a cylinder of holographic light which sprung up from the floor of the room, allowing numerous scanners and sensors to map his still-armed and armoured outline, assembling an image to send to the Illusive Man’s office, in some undisclosed corner of the Galaxy.

The briefing room vanished from Shepard’s sight, replaced with a shadowy scene. A darkened room filled his view, lit only by the malevolent glow of a red star, occupying the centre of the room. The star, of course, was merely a holographic representation. But its presence filled the room, giving even Shepard’s holographic image the impression of warmth. That presence, however, was dwarfed by the aura surrounding the figure sitting in a chair before the star. One ankle balanced on the opposing knee, cigarette in hand, the Illusive Man sat ramrod straight in his chair, sinister eyes glaring at Shepard’s image. The shady tycoon took a deep draw on his cigarette before speaking.

"So, the prodigal Commander returns." His voice carried an angry tone to it. "My time is valuable, Shepard, so make this quick. There are any number of tasks that require my attention which would be a more efficient expenditure of my energy than talking to you."

"Illusive Man. Friendly as ever, I see." Shepard crossed his arms, leaning back on his right foot confidently. This brazen façade didn’t reflect the emotions running through him at that moment. He needed the Illusive Man’s help, not his enmity. The glowing blue eyes narrowed at his attitude.

"If you have merely come to bandy insults with me, then you might as well disconnect immediately. I don’t have the time to be ridiculed by a traitor to his own people."

"A traitor?" Shepard seethed.

"Indeed. The Collector base would have given us the tools necessary to ensure Humanity’s survival, right up until you decided to play God and put your ideals ahead of our species."

"Spare me your bull****. Your organisation can’t be trusted with today’s technology, let alone what you would have dug up on that base. Look at the Ascension Project!"

"Professor Roinestad was tasked with developing the next generation of biotic amp, nothing more. Her actions in creating the control chips were unauthorised, and exceeded the operation’s mandate. Cerberus had no part in those events after she strayed from our designs." The Illusive Man responded smoothly.

"Really?" Shepard asked sarcastically, not buying one word of it. "And I suppose you’ll be telling me next that your operatives ‘exceeded their mandate’ on Pragia, too? Or what about what happened to my unit on Akuze? Did that operation ‘stray from your designs’?"

"Believe what you will, Commander. I deny any active role in either of those projects. They were undertaken by rogue operatives." The Illusive Man reached down to the arm of his chair, picking up a glass of some liquid or another and downing it in one gulp. "Are you merely calling to attempt to extract some admission of guilt from me, Shepard? Because I really must get on with more important tasks. The Reapers are back, and, seeing as you are unwilling to go to the lengths necessary to ensure their defeat, Cerberus will have to take the steps necessary to protect Earth and her children."

"So you already know about what happened in Dholen." Shepard said, unsurprised.

"I have my sources." He replied confidently.

"But you won’t know of their next target."

"And you do?" There was a note of disbelief in the Illusive Man’s voice. "You’ve accomplished many extraordinary tasks, Commander, but I would hesitate to believe you have the powers of precognition."

"A member of my squad was able to… access the Reapers’ plans."

"Indeed? I suppose you refer to this so-called Revenant, the ‘Last Collector’? It would make sense for him to still be in tune with the Reaper network. A valuable resource indeed." Another draw on the glowing cigarette. "And what did he have to say about the Reapers and their plans?"

"Their next target is Earth." Shepard said simply. "They want to create another Relay to bring back the rest of their armada."

The cigarette halted halfway on its return trip to the Illusive Man’s lips. Blue eyes widened a fraction before returning to their neutral gaze.

"That is… somewhat bolder than I would have expected from an expeditionary force. They have to know that the Sol system will be heavily defended."

"EDI hypothesises that Sol is one of the few stars with the right composition to create a new Citadel with. And given their additional numbers, this Relay will be a lot harder to attack."

"That’s as may be, but the tactics of the Reapers before now have always been more reserved than this. They rely on striking from the darkness, not stepping out into the open and announcing their arrival. Given the Council’s desire to quell any rumour of their existence, it would be in their better interests to hide until their plan was ready to implement."

"There could be a little more to it than what it would be logical to do." Shepard said cautiously. "One of the Reapers, Harbinger, spoke to me, just before the Dholen system was destroyed. It seemed to be, I don’t know, gloating. I get the feeling they’re targeting Earth as a personal insult."

"A possibility." Smoke billowed around the Illusive Man’s head as he contemplated the Commander’s words. "If that is so, then the Reapers may be more susceptible to emotional stimuli than we give them credit for. That’s something we can use. Emotion can override Logic, and give us the ****** in their defences we need to attain victory."

"The Reapers could be in orbit around Earth in as few as four days, if they travel by the fastest Relays. We’ll do our best to make sure the Normandy gets there first, and try to warn the Alliance, but we’ll need everything we can muster to hold off the Reapers, even for a short time."

"Cerberus will do what it can to be ready for the attack." The Illusive Man assured him. "I will put the word around every available agent and mobilise what resources we can get to the Sol system in time."

"Thank you." Shepard said, relieved that things were going better than he had anticipated.

"We do not need your thanks, Commander. Cerberus acts to defend Humanity, nothing more." The Illusive Man said stiffly.

"There was one more thing…," Shepard asked slowly. The bright blue eyes met with his. "Admiral Hackett and the Fifth Fleet are currently travelling back from Geth space. I won’t be able to get a hold of them when they are at FTL speeds, and they don’t know about the threat to Earth. We’ll need every ship they have."

"I will see to it that they get the message to travel to the Sol system immediately." The Illusive Man leaned forwards to tap a command on his omnitool, and the link was severed, leaving Shepard blinking in the bright lights of the briefing room. Blinking like he had just awoken from a dream, the Commander nodded to Feron before turning to stride out of the room. He needed to prepare for his homecoming.

~o~0~o~


The Normandy hove into view just alongside the Charon Relay, in a split second transforming from a cone of blurred motion into the solid shape of a starship. With unerring grace, the recently recovered Joker wove her through the waiting traffic, leading her out of the melee of bustling ships going about their daily business, traversing the distance between the Sol system and multiple other systems in the blink of an eye.

His armour polished to a fine shine, Shepard stood just behind Joker, eyes roving about the inky darkness beyond the cockpit’s windows. The Commander had considered putting on his best uniform in anticipation of the trial ahead of him, but had instead chosen to wear his combat armour. It better signified his role as a defender of the Alliance, and emphasised the urgency of his message about an impending attack.

Shepard and his crew had been busy over the previous four days. The Normandy shone, all evidence of a recent engagement patched up. The ship thrummed with renewed vigour as its integral systems had been fixed up, the Engineering crew working night and day to get the frigate to a hundred per cent. Down in the Medical Bay, the Revenant was tentatively going about his usual duties, his recent injuries still paining him a little.

Doctor Archer had practically doused the Collector in medi-gel, carefully tending to his grisly external burns and culturing new tissue to replace the blistered internal flesh. The alien’s physiology had taken a beating from the raw power that the Reaper possession had forced through his nervous system, and would take a little more time to heal, but his unusual physiology was encouraging a swift recovery. During the initial stages of Archer’s treatment of the revenant, the doctor had extracted a smoking mass of circuitry from the Collector’s cranial cavity. Mordin’s analysis of the device had revealed it to be a communications node, responsible for Harbinger’s ability to ‘possess’ the Revenant. With its destruction, the device having shorted out upon Harbinger releasing control, the Revenant did not have to worry about undergoing such an experience again, a fact which Shepard was immensely relieved to learn of.

As the Normandy wheeled about and set a course for the distant Sun, accelerating to about three-quarters of light speed, Shepard’s omnitool beeped. He looked down at it, irritated at the distraction. He knew that it would take the best part of eight hours to traverse the distance between the edge of the solar system and Earth, especially given the speed restrictions beyond Mars’ orbit, but he was tense, itching for this day to be over with. That was why he was ready to disembark so early, having barely slept the previous night as he tended to his armour, polishing out the dents and scrapes left by his most recent firefights. Even though he was about to be tried for terrorist acts, he knew that a well-turned out soldier would carry more respect in the coming trial than a scruffy madman ranting about extra-galactic horrors.

One message blinked on his ‘tool, from Liara. He had spoken with her over the course of the last couple of days, plotting the action the Shadow Broker’s network would take to react to the new threat. Shepard also had no doubt that Liara would have several teams ready to break him out of prison should the worst happen at his trial. He opened the new message.

Shepard,

Some troubling developments, I’m afraid. I have just received word that David Anderson has been escorted back to Earth in an apparent attempt to contain him until your trial is over. He may not wield the political power that he once did as Humanity’s representative on the Council, but his influence among the military is something to be contended with.

There have also been whispers against Admiral Hackett. Although he is by far too powerful to be kept out of your trial, word is being circulated that his word is suspect, given his support of your Spectre candidacy. His recent unexplained absence with the Fifth Fleet has also ruffled a lot of feathers in the Alliance. I am afraid you cannot anticipate his assistance in defending you.

The Council, Donnel Udina among them, arrived on Earth yesterday. They hid the reason for their visit underneath the guise of trade negotiations, but it is clear that they are to have a part in your coming trial. I imagine that, had you not already been en-route to the Sol system, they would have tried to have you brought in to face your charges very soon anyway. Your political enemies must feel that they have the evidence necessary to convict you already.

I’m worried, Shepard. Breaking you out of a Cerberus-run Batarian prison was one thing, but a maximum security Alliance facility will be another entirely.

Be careful out there,

Liara

Shepard smiled grimly at the Asari’s words, taking comfort in the fact that, while his list of allies was growing thinner by the moment, he still had some friends he could count on.

"Uh-oh. We’ve got company." Joker said tensely, drawing the Commander’s attention.

Shepard looked out of the windows to see four Alliance frigates peeling off from their assigned positions to pursue the Normandy. Various sensor readings provided by EDI informed the CIC crew that the ships had their weapons and shields charged, ready for trouble. The Normandy was advanced, easily capable of taking on the lesser Alliance vessels, although she would receive a few scars for her trouble. Moments later, a stern voice echoed over the comms.

"SSV Normandy SR-2, This is Alliance Command. You are to power down to one-half light-speed and follow the SSV Iwo Jima to London Starport, where you will power down all systems and be boarded. Any sign of hostility will not be tolerated. SSV Iwo Jima, Gettysburg, Sluys, and Luzon will use deadly force if necessary."

"This is SSV Normandy, acknowledging transmission." Shepard replied coldly over the comms. He nodded to Joker, who piloted the frigate in behind the Iwo Jima, one of the escorting ships. The Gettysburg and the Luzon moved to flank the Normandy, while the Sluys dropped in behind her, effectively surrounding the ship while maintaining enough distance to quickly close off any other avenues of escape.

"Well, no turning back now." Joker muttered. "Like it or not, we’re goin’ home."

"It’ll be fine." Shepard said calmly, though his stomach was tied in knots which disagreed with his words.

The journey to Earth was agonisingly slow, the escorting frigates maintaining such a slow pace that Shepard was forced to grit his teeth in frustration.

Finally, the Normandy shuddered as her Mass Effect Field generators adjusted for atmospheric flight, and she dipped into the Earth’s upper atmosphere. The sapphire mass of the Atlantic Ocean whipped by below, initially obscured occasionally by clouds. As the Normandy raced through the Terran sky, the small landmass of Britain hove into view. Joker angled the frigate to follow the Iwo Jima towards London. The Alliance escort peeled away as the Normandy entered the skyline of London. Shepard saw a multitude of towering skyscrapers dwarfing archaic landmarks such as the proud Canary Wharf Tower, the sprawling Houses of Parliament and the iconic clock tower, Big Ben. The Normandy skimmed over the rooftops of the buildings hanging over the banks of the River Thames and swiftly approached the gargantuan Parliament Towers, the political heart of the city, located only a mile or so beyond the wide river. Joker traded snippets of conversation with a tense-sounding Air Traffic Controller before negotiating the final few twists and turns amidst the London skyline and steering the frigate gently into a docking cradle. The starship hissed as her engines cooled, hull ticking quietly. Shepard took a nervous breath before stepping up to the airlock, waiting for the inevitable.

"EDI, power down all of your primary systems and seal the AI core." He ordered. "The last thing we need is for some Alliance tech to find out about you and impound the whole damn ship."

"Acknowledged, Commander." EDI replied smoothly, before her interface went dark.

The airlock hissed open, and a squad of Alliance marines barged in brusquely. A towering man, bearing the insignia of a Captain, strode at the fore of this force, walking straight up to the Commander with a cautious look in his eyes.

"Commander Shepard?" He asked, a little glumly. Shepard nodded in the affirmative. "Captain Benjamin Swift. I have orders to take you and your crew into custody, pending an investigation into your alleged dealings with a known terrorist organisation, along with you involvement in certain actions which have jeopardised the security of the citizens of the Systems Alliance."

"I need to speak with Earth’s defence forces." Shepard answered. "I have important news for them."

"In due time, Commander. Please, come with me." Several of the marines moved to restrain Shepard, but Benjamin turned to stare at them, a mildly angry expression on his face. "There will be no need to cuff him, or any of his crew. These people are heroes, and will be treated with due respect."

"But sir! They’re terrorists!" One protested.

"Not until a jury says so." Benjamin said firmly. "Escort them into custody, and nothing more."

His subordinates looked like they were about to protest further, but his stern glare silenced them. They sullenly stalked down the corridor towards the main section of the CIC. Benjamin, meanwhile, turned back to the Commander and gestured for Shepard to follow him.

"Come with me, Commander. I’ll take you to Governor Latham’s office." He said, referring to the British representative in the Alliance Senate.

The Alliance’s government was composed of three main components. The foremost of which was the Prime Minister and Cabinet, which included the Deputy Prime Minister. The Senate, composed of Governors appointed by the Cabinet to represent their home countries and colony worlds. And, lastly, the House of Commons, composed of individuals who represented the smaller regions and some of the larger industrial entities within the territories represented by the Senate, and were elected by the general populace. The Prime Minister and the members of the Cabinet were elected by the combined votes of the Senate and the House of Commons. At the moment, Amul Shastri was the Prime Minister in office, though his term was coming to a close, after a very popular reign.

"He’s not on Arcturus? I thought the Senate normally never left the station until the end of their service."

"There are… unusual circumstances. Nearly the entirety of the Senate has gathered in London for your trial, and even the Prime Minister is en route now that you’re here." Benjamin said uneasily. "They’re turning this into a damn media circus. The whole Extranet is buzzing with news about your trial."

"You sound angry about this. You disagree with the trial?"

"I’ve served alongside N7 troopers before, and everyone knows about your service as a Spectre to the Council. I know you’d have a damned good reason for your recent actions." He was almost spitting with anger. "Hell, they’re even holding Ilos against you! If you hadn’t stolen the first Normandy and followed Saren, the Geth would have torn the Citadel apart! It’s bloody ridiculous."

"I appreciate your support, Captain. My reasons were good, but that doesn’t make my actions any better. I simply chose the best available course."

"I don’t doubt it." He stalked onwards a few steps before looking sideways at the Commander. "Could you tell me, Commander, have you really been working with Cerberus?"

Shepard looked back at the young man, wondering if this was a fishing expedition. He wouldn’t put it past his enemies to send the young Captain to gather any damning evidence they could use. But the Captain’s eyes were filled with sincerity, and Shepard felt that he was trustworthy. Deciding he had nothing to lose by being honest, he decided he could speak freely.

"The Alliance cast me aside after they got their seat on the Council. Human colonies were vanishing, and they were looking in all of the wrong places. Cerberus was willing to help me to put a stop to the abductions. I may not agree with their methods, but there are bigger threats right now. Without their help, I couldn’t have stopped the Collectors."

"So it really was the Collectors?" Benjamin asked, eyebrows raised. "I’d always thought they were a myth."

"And that’s probably what the Alliance would have said, a year ago." Shepard smiled, all too used to that attitude. "Of course, the Collectors were only pawns of a much bigger threat, the Reapers."

"Everyone knows that word. You mentioned them enough after the Battle of the Citadel. But the brass insist that they aren’t real."

"They’re real." Shepard assured him. "And we’ll probably be seeing them all too soon."

"Really?" Benjamin, tone suggesting he was finding it all a little hard to believe.

"I understand this all sounds a little far-fetched, but it’s true. Once the Fifth Fleet gets back they’ll back up my story."

"Does the Fifth’s disappearance have anything to do with these ‘Reapers’?"

"Yes. We’ve just returned from an engagement with a Reaper fleet."

"An entire fleet? But if they’re all as big as Saren’s flagship, how’d you get back in one piece? It took the best part of several fleets to take that thing down!"

"Didn’t say we won. We had some new tech which gave us an edge, but they still had us outclassed. We got out of the system before they got the chance to wipe us out."

Benjamin was silent for several moments, walking along with head lowered in thought. Finally, they arrived before a pair of dark wooden doors, which the young Captain pushed open and ushered the Commander through.

Beyond, Shepard saw a well-appointed office. Comfortable leather seats were arrayed about the room, while a large, mahogany desk occupied the space before a window that provided a stunning view of the London skyline. Shepard could see Big Ben’s resolute white face in the distance, shaving the seconds off the day with every tick. He turned his gaze to the rest of the office. Tall bookshelves lined the walls, while a glass and marble coffee table squatted in the midst of the leather chairs, one cup of coffee steaming warmly on its surface.

A tall, bald-headed man leaned over the desk, reading a datapad. He looked to the door with emerald green eyes before turning back to his datapad, showing little sign of interest. Behind him, a small knot of humans chatted with three aliens. Shepard recognised the weathered features of Donnel Udina, Humanity’s representative on the Council, along with the fair features of Councillor Tevos, a stunning Asari on the verge of her matriarchal years. The remaining two aliens turned and Shepard saw the avian, skull-like face of Councillor Velarn, the Turian Council member, and the newly elected Councillor Fahos, the Salarian Councillor promoted to office after the retirement of his predecessor, only a couple of months ago. The rest of the group, a mixture of humans of all nationalities, were individuals the Commander did not recognise personally, but thought he might have seen in various news reports about the Alliance Senate.

"Ah, Captain Swift. Thank you for bringing Shepard to us." Shepard’s ears twitched as he noticed that the tall man did not refer to him as Commander. Benjamin’s posture stiffened ever so slightly in what Shepard felt could have been irritation at the callous way the man was referring to him.

The assembled officials moved away from the window, all stepping forward in a united group to face the Commander. The tall man, obviously Governor Latham of London, spoke first.

"Shepard. I believe you wished to speak to someone in authority?"

The Commander strode forward, standing opposite the politicians across the desk. He smirked to see Udina step back involuntarily, glad that they still had a healthy respect for his combat abilities, even when he was technically their prisoner.

"Earth needs to prepare for a coming Reaper invasion." He began. "I have just returned from the Dholen system, where my ship encountered a Reaper force preparing to descend upon the Galaxy. A fleet of Reapers is on its way here as we speak."

Shepard’s declaration was met, as expected, with laughter. Only the solemn Tevos and the uneasy Fahos held back their scorn.

"Once again, you come before us with the tired story of extra-galactic beings intent on our demise." Valern sighed. "You have no proof."

"Here’s your proof." Shepard spat, tossing a datapad that he had drawn from his belt across the desk. Latham picked up the datapad and scanned it with an arrogant glare. His gaze lost some of its haughtiness as he read the contents, but his face was still filled with distrust for the Commander when he looked back up. He passed the pad around the cluster of politicians, soliciting the same response from each one of them.

"Ridiculous." Udina muttered. "This data is clearly false. Why you persist in perpetuating these stories is beyond my comprehension, Shepard."

"The Fifth Fleet will back up my story." Shepard assured. "Admiral Hackett himself was there."

"You mean the same Alliance fleet that you absconded with just over a week ago, Commander?" Valern asked irritably. It was all Shepard could do to hold back from striking the arrogant Turian. "You’re making a habit of taking vital military resources when it pleases you, Shepard."

"Any corroborating evidence Hackett could provide would be suspect." Udina said firmly.

"Only because the whole lot of you have your heads shoved so far up you-" Shepard began, losing his patience.

"Please, gentlemen," Tevos quickly interjected. "Perhaps these questions would be better asked during the trial, rather than behind closed doors. For now, let us consider the truthfulness of Shepard’s information before reaching any conclusion."

"You are correct, Councillor." Latham conceded. He turned back to Shepard. "Was there anything else?"

Shepard voiced a thought that had been needling him with anxiety.

"What’s going to happen to my crew?"

"We have decided that they are to be contained until the trial is over. They will be kept under armed guard until then."

"Some of them may not take too kindly to being imprisoned."

"They’ll have no choice in the matter, Commander. If they wish to avoid an incident that will harm your chances during the trial, they will co-operate."

"I have a passenger on board, seeking political asylum. What will happen to the Batarian known as Etarn?"

Latham paused at this.

"You have a Batarian aboard your ship? Willingly?"

"Yes. Etarn is the leader of a splinter group willing to make peace with Humanity, regardless of our past. I imagine keeping him imprisoned during his stay here would negatively influence our relations with the Hegemony."

"As if you haven’t done that enough by yourself." Udina muttered under his breath. It was all Shepard could do not to lay him out where he stood, such was his dislike for the man.

"This… Etarn… will not be imprisoned. As a political representative of the Hegemony, he will be granted the freedom to roam the city as he pleases." Latham said slowly. Clearly the Governor didn’t want Shepard’s trial to be marred by a diplomatic misstep on the part of his side. "Etarn shall be granted the immunity befitting his status. But the remainder of your crew shall still be imprisoned for the duration of your trial."

Udina turned to the waiting Benjamin.

"Captain Swift! Get him out of here." He ordered.

Back outside the office, Shepard fell into step behind Benjamin, this time realising he was on his way to a prison cell.

"I’m sorry you’re having to go through all of this." He said.

"Could you have prevented it?" Shepard asked.

"What? No…" Benjamin answered. "How could I? They’re the leaders of our people."

"Then it’s not your fault that I’m in this mess. So don’t apologise for their actions."

"It’s just… not right, that they’re doing this. You’re a hero to our people, for crying out loud! You saved the Council’s sorry asses back on the Citadel, and this is how they pay you back?"

"I’m not worried about how I get treated." Shepard replied stolidly. "What does worry me is the fact that no one’s going to try to prepare for the Reapers."

"You really think they’re going to try and attack Earth?"

"I know they are. One of my crew, the one in Med Bay, managed to recover that information before he was injured." Shepard turned an earnest glance to the younger Captain. "Benjamin, I need you to warn whoever you can about the attack, before its too late. When the Reapers hit, we’ll be outclassed as it is. I’ve called in as many favours as I could on the way here, but it’ll mean nothing if our defence fleets get wiped out in the first few seconds of the attack because they were unprepared."

"I’ll do what I can, Commander." Benjamin promised.

Benjamin led the Commander through several corridors and hallways until he stood before another pair of doors. These ones led into a luxurious lounge. Again the Commander was confronted by a spectacular view of the city, but aside from some plush couches and a couple of bookcases, there was little else in the room. What drew Shepard’s attention, however, was the room’s sole occupant.

"Shepard!" David Anderson exclaimed, his eyes brightening upon seeing his old friend.

"David!" As the pair greeted one another, Benjamin quietly left, leaving two armed guards at the door.

"So they got you, huh? I figured they were getting ready to take you to task over Aratoht, when they took me in, but I never figured they were this close. They must have come for me after putting the call out for you to hand yourself in."

"Not exactly. I came here myself." Shepard explained.

"Oh? You must have had good reason to come back, knowing you’d be arrested on sight."

"I did." Shepard said. "The Reapers are back. Hackett and I tried to stop them, but they managed to slip a small expeditionary force into the Galaxy. They’re on their way here as we speak."

"Damn. Did you manage to warn anyone?"

"I tried telling them about the attack, but you can guess just how well that went down with Udina and Latham. I did manage to call in a couple of favours with some associates, and once the Fifth gets back to Arcturus the word will spread like wildfire, but we’re already cutting things fine as it is."

"Politicians and their bull****. Maybe if I’d stuck it out in that world a bit longer we wouldn’t have been put in this position. Udina never quite got over you nominating me as Councillor back on the Citadel. Now that he’s finally got the position, he’s doling out anything he can to those who he thinks slighted him. I imagine he’s got an especially strong grudge against us for getting in his way."

"It’s hard to believe they’ve got you here. They must know there’ll be hell to pay when this is over."

"Frankly, I think they’re so eager to convict you that they don’t care about the consequences beyond the trial. They want to make peace with the Batarians, and I think to do so they intend to offer you to the squints as a prisoner. A political bribe to soothe frayed tempers over the Aratoht incident."

"They’d really extradite me to Hegemony space?"

"If they thought it would prevent a war with the Batarians, then yes. And a year ago, I’d have said that was a pretty damn unlikely thing. But now, they’re grasping for anything to avert a war. Aside from that, they’ve done nothing patently illegal. Were I to protest their taking me into custody, they’d simply say I was only detained for questioning in connection with your trial."

"So what can I do?"

"You’ll just have to go stand before their jury and give it your best shot. I’ve seen you rally your troops before, so I know you can be pretty damn persuasive when you need to be. Give ‘em hell, remind them of what it means to be a Human, and don’t take any of their crap."

"Thanks, sir." Shepard said. Amazingly, the older soldier’s words had bolstered his confidence. He sat back on one of the couches, and prepared for his trial.

~o~0~o~


A couple of hours later, Benjamin returned to escort the Commander to his trial. Shepard nodded to Anderson, the latter giving him a smile of encouragement, before following the young captain out of the room. Benjamin led him through the maze of corridors towards a more heavily frequented area of the building. He took a sudden turn to the left and led Shepard up a flight of stairs, emerging onto a balcony running along the side of a large room, obviously the building’s foyer. Below, a melee of reporters and media crews buzzed anxiously, obviously eager to see the accused before his trial. Shepard appreciated the younger man’s thoughtfulness in choosing a route that avoided the crush of inquisitive news crews.

"The media got here fast." He commented.

"Word got out pretty soon after you entered the system. They’ve been gathering all morning." Benjamin’s tone suggested he had very little respect for the reporters and their vulture-like attitude towards the Commander’s trial. He swiftly changed the subject. "I spoke to Admiral Garrick of the Earth Defence Fleet. He was sceptical of your story, but the leaders of the military have a lot more respect for your word than the politicians. Most of us either fought in the Battle of the Citadel or have spoken to people who have, and even if the brass don’t believe that Saren’s ship was a living being in its own right, they’re prepared to believe there might be more ships like it out there, waiting for Humanity’s enemies to find them, and don’t want to find out what a whole fleet of them could do to our ships."

"Thank you." Shepard said sincerely. "Its good to know that at least some people in the Alliance don’t think I’m crazy."

"Well, let’s not be too hasty, now." Benjamin said with a smile.

They rounded a final couple of corners and found themselves approaching a pair of large, ornately decorated metal doors. In front of the door stood a single figure. Dark hair reaching down past her ears, the young woman was of average height and slim build. A gold-and-blue dress served to accent her tanned skin and brown eyes. A polished white camera mech hovered by her shoulder as she pulled a datapad out.

"Shepard! Commander Shepard!" She called out. "Commander Shepard, a moment of your time?"

"I’m sorry, ma’am." Benjamin interjected, raising a hand to stop her from approaching. "The Commander is expected in court, and doesn’t-"

"Yes, yes and that’s why I’m here, to get the scoop before he goes to trial." She replied, blithely ignoring him and shouldering past. "Commander Shepard, Khalisah Bint Sinan al-Jilani, Westerlund News."

Shepard looked at her silently. He remembered the reporter, all too well.

"I interviewed you on the Citadel, after your appointment as Spectre? And then again, after your two-year absence following the Battle of the Citadel?"

"Yes, I remember." Shepard said gruffly, his tone discouraging further conversation. "I remember you trying to twist my words to make me out to be a lackey to the Council, and then trying to suggest I sacrificed Human lives needlessly."

"Your words, Commander, not mine. I’m just here to get at the story before anyone else." She said, tapping a command on her pad. The camera mech whirred, light flickering on to illuminate the Commander.

"Commander Shepard, we’re speaking to you today immediately before your trial. You are charged with associating with Cerberus, a known terrorist group, and committing acts which have jeopardised the safety of the Alliance’s citizens. The most recent being the ‘Aratoht Incident’, where you personally undertook a course of action which led to the deaths of over three hundred thousand Batarians. Could you give us some insight into what led you to this?"

"There was no other option." Shepard answered, sighing as he realised that trying to avoid the interview would be futile. "I tried to warn the Batarians about the Relay’s imminent destruction, but there wasn’t enough time."

"The Mass Relays were once thought to be indestructible, before you found a way. Perhaps you felt the need to prove this theory wrong?" Khalisah’s tone bore an accusatory note.

"I did what I had to do to protect Earth." Shepard said firmly.

"So this was an official Alliance operation?"

"No, I-"

"Maybe perhaps you were acting in harmony with the desires of Cerberus, an organisation well-known for its human-supremacist agenda. Many would say that the destruction of an alien colony is typical of their anti-alien mandate."

"If you’d just-"

"Or maybe you were motivated by your own bias against other species. After all, you were once a member of the Earth-based gang known as the Tenth Street Reds, a small-time gang which has had a hand in a number of anti-alien activities on Earth. Combined with your association with a group such as Cerberus, it seems pretty clear that you bear some ill-will towards other species."

"I’ve worked with other species on a lot of my missions!" Shepard protested. "Some of them are my closest friends and crew-mates."

"Yes, well, a man as eloquent as you have proved to be in previous interviews would no doubt have little trouble coercing-"

The fist came out of nowhere, a vicious right hook that caught Khalisah squarely on the jaw. She tumbled across the floor, hitting the wall with a thud. She got to her feet shakily, wiping at a bead of blood trickling from her mouth, evidence of a lip cut when her teeth clacked together as she hit the floor. Eyes blazing, she turned a furious gaze to the Commander. Unimpressed, Shepard stepped over to the camera mech and, grabbing it with one hand, punched its metal shell hard. The thin plating buckled and the Commander reached into one of the ruptured seams. With a grunt, he pulled the plate away and reached inside, pulling out the mech’s memory module and crushing it in one gloved fist.

"This interview is over." He said coldly.

"You’re going to regret that, you bastard!" She spat, limping off as she cradled a bruised hip and her injured jaw.

"Effective. Although, not that I think she didn’t deserve it, don’t you feel that was a little… extreme, Shepard?" The young captain asked.

"I’ve been dying to do that in the three years I’ve known her." Shepard said, flexing his fingers slowly.

"Fair enough." Benjamin shrugged. "I guess we’d better move on. You ready, Commander?"

"No, but I guess I’ve got no choice either way. Let’s get this over with."

Benjamin opened the door, and the two of them stepped through.

[fainmaca]

Chapter 20: Part 2


Shepard found himself in a cavernous room, in the base of a bowl formed by row upon row of tiered seating. For an instant, the Commander felt like a gladiator, stepping out into the gargantuan Colosseum to face some terrible beast. The analogy wasn’t too far from the truth, as he laid eyes upon a cluster of sombre-looking individuals standing upon a raised platform near the centre of the room. The various levels of seats were filled with a multitude of faces, some familiar, such as the various members of the Senate and some of Shepard’s old associates from his Alliance days, and some not so familiar, such as those who Shepard thought might be reporters along with lesser members of the Parliament.

As Shepard was guided into the centre of the room, to a spot just before the raised platform, he studied the faces of those before him. In the centre of the group, the exotic features of Amul Shastri, the Alliance’s Prime Minister, stared down at the Commander, his stony face not revealing anything passing with the man’s mind. To his left, Councillor Udina, Governor Latham and Dennis Hughes, the Deputy Prime Minister, talked amongst themselves. On the Prime Minister’s right stood the Citadel Council.

The moment the Commander took his place before this array of the most powerful people in Alliance and Council space, he was blinded by several spotlights, the light of which his eyes soon adjusted to. Numerous film cameras beamed the trial out to the rest of the world and, eventually, to the entirety of Alliance space and a sizeable portion of the Citadel’s jurisdiction. Clearly this trial was meant to be as public a spectacle as possible. Once the Commander was illuminated in this way, the murmuring in the room bubbled to a halt, replaced by a tense, expectant silence.

Shepard looked at the room itself, inspecting the design. Above the many-tiered seats, an expansive glass roof provided an unobstructed view of the sky above. As it was sunset, the cloudscape above London was slowly turning a bloody red, streaked with navies and purples. A tiny sliver of a moon shone out in a clear patch of sky, the final gleams of moonlight before the new moon was born.

"This court is called to order," Amul Shastri’s deep, booming voice, further amplified by the room’s acoustics and his own microphone, echoed throughout the chamber. At this, the last whispers of conversation died out.

"Commander Shepard," The Prime Minister continued. "You are brought before this court today to face the following charges: theft of Alliance Naval property, aiding and abetting a known terrorist organisation, and the destruction of an entire Batarian colony world, jeopardising the security of this sovereign state and its citizens by inciting a potential conflict with the Batarian Hegemony."

Shepard stood to attention, every inch the soldier hero of the Alliance. His face remained impassive as he listened, back straight as an arrow, hands by his sides, eyes straight ahead. Not a flicker of emotion crossed his face as the accusations were hurled at him.

"How do you plead?" The Prime Minister asked.

Shepard’s tongue froze, unwilling to move to voice his reply. He swallowed the lump in his throat and, voice firm as ever, spoke out clearly.

"Guilty."

A wave of shocked chatter rippled through the chamber, an amazingly large amount of shock for such a small word. The Prime Minister threw a stern glare about the chamber and the chatter faded into silence once more.

"You admit that the charges held against you are true?" He asked, his tone showing a bit more interest than before.

"Yes I do." Shepard answered boldly. "And that’s because I believe I was completely justified in my actions."

"Then I believe the objective of this trial has changed from whether or not the accusations levelled against you are true, to whether your actions were necessary or not." Councillor Tevos said, receiving an irritated glare from Councillors Velarn and Udina, which was answered with an indifferent stare of her own.

"The honourable Asari Councillor is correct." Amul conceded. "We shall therefore consider each case and judge whether Shepard’s actions were justified or not. Let us begin with the theft of the Normandy."

The Prime Minister tapped out a few commands on his omnitool, obviously pulling up files on his podium.

"Three years ago, you were in command of the Normandy SR-1, the Alliance’s most advanced frigate at the time. Both you and your crew had been ordered by your Alliance superiors and the Council to remain on the Citadel, pending further investigation into accusations you had made against the rogue Spectre, Saren. Is this correct?"

"Yes, but-"

"You then proceeded, with the assistance of former Councillor David Anderson, to conspire to steal the Normandy and pursue Saren in an unauthorised mission to Ilos, a planet whose existence had yet to be confirmed. Anderson went on to assault then-Ambassador Udina in order to gain access to the codes necessary to release the Normandy, allowing you to flee the Citadel in pursuit of Saren."

"If I hadn’t done that there’d be nothing left of the Citadel fleets save a cloud of debris!" Shepard shouted, his anger getting the better of his judgement. "By the time a Council investigation had finished bungling their way through the work I had already done, Saren would have used the Conduit to get to the heart of the Citadel, activating the Relay at its heart!"

"Ah, yes." Velarn said smugly. "And here we get to the root of your rash actions. The so-called Reapers. Please, do tell us more of these extra-galactic monsters set to descend upon us as we speak."

"What my associate is trying to say," Tevos interrupted smoothly. "Is that there is no evidence to corroborate your theory that Saren invaded the Citadel in order to activate some long-dormant machinery. All that the evidence indicates is that he wished to hi-jack the station for his own purposes."

"There was the VI on Ilos! A Reaper spoke to me, twice." Shepard stressed.

"As we have told you, the VI on Ilos has been defunct since the Battle of the Citadel, and nothing could be found to prove that your conversations with this ‘Sovereign’ were anything more than a deception engineered by Saren." Velarn said stubbornly.

"Regardless of the evidence I had, if not for my pursuit of Saren to Ilos, the Citadel would have been lost on that day." Shepard said firmly.

"The point…" Amul paused as Tevos gestured to discuss matters in private. The microphones clicked off, and the Councillors and Alliance officials turned their backs on the Commander to hold a brief debate. Finally, they turned back around and the microphones switched on again. "The point is conceded. In that instance, your instincts were proven correct. This court is prepared to admit that the theft of the Normandy was a necessary act in order to defeat Saren.

"We move on now, to events immediately after the Battle of the Citadel. You were tasked with eliminating Geth forces out in the Terminus systems. During the course of this mission, your ship was destroyed by a Geth cruiser, and your crew reported you KIA. Two years later, you resurface aboard a Cerberus vessel, with a Cerberus crew."

"First of all, it wasn’t the Geth that destroyed the first Normandy, as I’m damn sure my crew’s reports will show. It was a Collector vessel."

"Your crew’s reports make no mention of Collectors in their reports." Amul said wearily. "They only mention a hostile ship, which proceeded to destroy the Normandy with extreme prejudice and, as far as their reports say, to kill you."

"Everyone knows the Collectors are just a myth." Velarn said hotly. "Just like your Reapers. It would seem that you indulge in these childish fantasies on a daily basis, Shepard."

"Councillor Velarn, please!" Tevos said, a tinge of anger in her usually calm voice. "Allow Shepard to say his piece."

"The Collectors were behind the attacks on Humanity just over a year ago. They were responsible for the disappearing colonies, and they were the ones who attacked the Normandy in an attempt to kill me." Shepard hesitated over the next part and instead only chose to tell most of the truth, rather than the whole of it. "I suffered a severe injury and Cerberus recovered me, treating my injuries over the course of the next two years."

"Two years is a long time for Cerberus to extend their hospitality to anyone." Udina said, accusation in every word. "Why would they so readily take you in and heal you?"

Shepard had to watch his next few words carefully. It was clear that the wily politician was angling for any statement which could be twisted to make it sound like he was a long-time associate of the terrorist group.

"Their leaders decided that my miraculous survival would provide a boost to the Alliance military’s morale, and that I was more valuable as a living soldier than a dead hero."

"And it was following this that you began to associate with Cerberus?" Latham asked pointedly.

"They gave me a new ship and a new crew, and pointed me in the direction of the Collectors so that I could stop their attacks on Humanity. Any association I had with them was purely for the benefit of the Alliance and the Citadel."

"Some might say that you feel… indebted to them, perhaps?"

"No. They helped me to protect our colonies from further attack, but I still disagree with the majority of their activities and their methods." The Commander said strongly. "I’ve done my share of work to shut down Cerberus operations, but there are bigger threats to deal with right now."

"Perhaps you deem the hegemony one of those threats?" Fahos asked. "You have yet to explain your actions on Aratoht."

"Indeed." Amul concurred. "According to our reports, you entered Batarian space on an unauthorised mission. During the course of this mission, you caused an asteroid of a mass near to that of a small planetoid to collide with the Bahak Mass Relay, destroying the Relay. As a result of this act, the entire system was destroyed in the ensuing explosion, killing over three hundred thousand innocent civilians."

"There was no other option. I tried to warn the Batarians of the danger, but my transmission was jammed."

"Forcing you to leave those Batarians to their fiery end." Velarn said judgementally. "How convenient for you."

"And just what the hell does that mean?" Shepard nearly shouted.

"Come now, Commander. It is no secret that the relations between Batarians and Humans have been rather cold since day one. The deaths of so many colonists must have warmed your heart, Shepard. And what better way to divert the guilt of their destruction from your shoulders than by proclaiming your supposed attempts to save them?"

"Councillor! That is one step to far!" Dennis Hughes, the Deputy Prime Minister objected. "You have no proof that Shepard’s actions were malicious."

"His declaration that there was no other option but to destroy the system is hard to swallow. I fail to see a scenario where the destruction of a solar system is the lesser of two evils." Velarn insisted.

"Then perhaps Shepard should be allowed to explain his actions." Fahos said calmly. Shepard was glad that both the Salarian and the Asari Councillor were there. They appeared to be much more levelheaded than their Turian and Human counterparts. The assembled officials turned to him expectantly.

"I was in the Bahak system to rescue a Doctor Amanda Kenson. She had been arrested by the Batarians on charges of terrorism. I-"

"Makes sense that a terrorist would come to the rescue of another terrorist." Velarn said vindictively.

"Councillor!" Fahos snapped, clearly at the end of his patience with the hotheaded Turian. "Another such accusation, and you will be forced to remove yourself from this hearing. Shepard, could you explain why you went to the aid of this Dr Kenson? Was this an Alliance operation?"

"No. I was acting on my own to save her. It was one friend helping another, nothing more."

"I see." Thankfully, the Salarian didn’t probe any further into which of Shepard’s friends were being helped. "And what happened next?"

"I rescued Dr Kenson from her cell and managed to get her off Aratoht using a stolen Batarian shuttle. We then proceeded to her current base of operations, an asteroid on the edge of the Bahak system."

"So she was operating in Batarian space?" Tevos asked. Shepard knew that the Batarians would never give a human permission to operate in Batarian space. Even his excursion to speak with Etarn had been possible only after much wrangling with the Batarian authorities to negotiate the Normandy’s passage through Hegemony space. There was no way that the Asari would believe that Kenson had permission to be in the Bahak system.

"Yes. She, along with a team of scientists, had uncovered an artefact in Batarian space that they believed warranted investigation. However, upon closer examination of the device, they concluded that it provided irrefutable proof of the Reapers’ imminent invasion."

"Once again with these Reapers, Commander!" Udina said angrily. "Please, keep your testimony within the realm of non-fiction."

The Human Councillor was silenced by an impatient glare from the Asari Councillor. She then turned back to Shepard with an expression that encouraged him to continue.

"Upon learning of this artefact and its link to the Reapers, I insisted that I be taken to it to determine the true extent of the danger for myself." Shepard continued. "It was during my time at Kenson’s base of operations, where the artefact was housed, that it became apparent that the entire research team had been indoctrinated. I-"

"Shepard, could you please clarify what it is you mean by ‘indoctrinated’?" Amul asked, face showing more interest and less judgement now. Shepard got the feeling he might be getting somewhere, and gladly answered.

"It is a process the Reapers use to exert control over organic minds. A field of as yet unidentified energy subtly alters an organic being’s brain chemistry, influencing them in an increasingly powerful manner. As I explained in my report after the Battle of the Citadel, the rogue Spectre Saren Arterius was a victim of this process, having been in the presence of Reaper technology for an extended period of time."

"So Saren’s actions were the result of some… mind-control?" Hughes asked.

"In part." Shepard said after a pause. "The Reapers’ influence springs from twisting thoughts that are already there. Saren was sworn to protect the Citadel and its citizens, and Sovereign used that oath to convince him that the best way to defend the Citadel was to help the Reapers achieve their own objectives."

"And Kenson had succumbed to this mental attack as well?" Tevos asked. The Commander noted that the trio of more hostile members of the court, Udina, Latham and Velarn, were remaining silent, now slightly more sullen after his being allowed to speak freely.

"Yes. The Reapers had channelled this signal through the artefact to corrupt the minds of both her and her team."

"Then how were you not affected by this signal?" Amul asked, still very wary of the Commander’s story.

"Kenson and her team were in the presence of the device for several months. I was only there for just over two days."

"And then what happened?" Tevos asked.

"As I examined the device, it gave me visions, much like the Prothean beacons on Ilos and Eden Prime. These visions were a message, a brief glimpse of the Reapers’ plans. I was able to discover that the Viper Nebula Relay was an integral part of the Mass Relay network, almost as important to the network as the Citadel itself. The Reapers planned to use Object Rho and the Viper Relay to cause the entire Mass Relay network to go into lockdown, paralysing Galactic civilisation."

"Impossible!" Latham scoffed.

"Not as impossible as we once thought." Shepard replied. "As I discovered during my activities against the Collectors, the Relays do respond to certain signals. The uncharted Omega Four Relay would only deliver a ship bearing a certain Identify Friend or Foe transponder signal safely to a small safe zone in the Galactic Core. Any ships lacking this signal would be sent outside the safe zone and into the lethal space of the Core."

"And you were able to access this IFF Code?" Tevos asked, blue brow raised curiously.

"Yes. We retrieved it from the databanks of a Reaper that had been dead for millennia. Using this code, we pursued the Collectors to the Galactic centre."

"So what did you do with Object Rho upon learning of its true purpose?" Fahos asked.

"Both it and the Viper Relay had to be destroyed. Kenson had realised this, and began to modify the asteroid Rho was located on to throw it into the Viper Relay. Given the mass of the asteroid, the collision was sure to destroy both the Relay and the artefact. Unfortunately, Kenson was indoctrinated before she could proceed with this plan, and the Project, while completed, was not activated."

"Destroying the Relay led to the annihilation of the system. I presume a Doctor capable of concocting a scheme like this would have realised that?" Latham asked accusatorily.

"Yes, Kenson was aware of the most likely outcome. But she had seen what was coming, and knew that it was a necessary price to pay to save trillions more lives." Shepard said. He was defending, not the Doctor Kenson he had met, a near-mindless drone, but the one who, upon learning of the Reaper plot, had accepted the burden of destroying a single system to save the rest of the Galaxy.

"And she explained this to you?" Udina inquired.

"Yes," Shepard said, realising the trap he had stepped into. Here he stood, before the whole Galaxy, admitting that he had knowingly sentenced three hundred thousand of his race’s worst enemies to death. He silently cursed himself for not realising the danger before it was too late. He took a deep breath and tried to explain what had gone through his head in that single, crystalline moment before he had pushed the button. "It was one of the most difficult things I have ever done in my life, but there was no other option. With the loss of the Relay network, it would have taken any of us months or years to get to the nearest settled star systems. During that time, the Reapers would have been able to travel instantly from system to system, culling our worlds as and when they liked. The choice was between three hundred thousand lives, or the trillions of others in the Galaxy."

"Prime Minister Shastri, I must object to our even considering this drivel!" Udina blurted out. "This story is ridiculous on so many levels. Living machines larger than most space stations, mind-controlling ray beams and a device that could halt interstellar traffic the Galaxy over? And, rather conveniently, any evidence to disprove these fables is left as dust beneath a nuclear haze. It is clear that the Commander creates these fictions to elevate himself as a hero while all he really is is a mass-murderer with an overactive imagination!"

"Councillor Udina, I would suggest you retain such bold statements for a more discrete discussion." Amul said sharply. He turned back to the rest of the chamber. "This hearing will resume after a brief thirty minute recess while the court discusses the case."

As the audience began to mill about, glad to be out of their seats for a brief respite, Shepard’s shoulders slumped. He released his tension in a long breath, though the knot in his guts remained. He had no idea what sort of impression he had made with the court.

"You did good out there, Commander." Benjamin assured, walking into the arena. "I knew you could walk the walk, but its good to see a frontliner who can talk the talk too."

"Thanks." Shepard smiled. "I just hope it was enough."

~o~0~o~


Half an hour later, the court officials filed back into the chamber, and the assembled watchers scurried back to their seats. Shepard straightened once more as the attention shifted back and forth between him and those solemn figure who bore his future in their hands.

Amul Shastri, Prime Minister of Earth, stepped up to his podium, a grave look on his face. Shepard looked between the various members of the court, scanning their faces for some sign of how the deliberations had concluded. His heart sank upon noting the triumphant looks upon Udina, Latham and Velarn’s faces, combined with the stiff expressions of Tevos and Fahos. Dennis Hughes looked openly apologetic, his eyes creased with regret. The Commander’s attention snapped back to the Prime Minister as he began to speak.

"It is the opinion of this court that Shepard cannot be held accountable for the theft of the Normandy. His actions proved to be in the best interests of the Citadel and the member races of the Council. Given his position as a Spectre at this point in time, his actions can only be viewed as an extension of his duties to those he has sworn to serve."

Shepard felt a slight twinge of hopefulness at this opening statement, but had felt that this was a sure thing, anyway. His foes were only digging at old bones when they had brought up his actions from three years ago.

"It is therefore also the opinion of this court," Amul continued. "That Shepard was merely acting in the best interests of his race in aligning with Cerberus briefly to put a stop to the abduction of Human colonists. The Collectors had attacked the Sovereign state of the Systems Alliance, and his actions in pursuing them avoided the need for a long and drawn out conflict."

At this, the Commander’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. He hadn’t expected to be let off the hook for the Cerberus thing so easily. It seemed that someone had noticed that his work had put a stop to the vanishing colonies, whether they’d admit it was the work of the Reapers or not. He felt a glimmer of hope spark in his chest. Maybe they recognised the threat. Perhaps they understood why-

"However, with regards to Shepard’s actions in the Bahak system and the related ‘Aratoht incident’," Amul’s next words soon dashed Shepard’s optimism. "We conclude that, while Shepard may feel that his actions were warranted, we cannot find any evidence to justify a course which led to the deaths of so many."

"At the same time," Amul’s voice rose over the increasing murmur. "As this crime was committed in Hegemony Space, the duty of assigning punishment does not fall to this body."

"It is therefore our judgement," The Prime Minister’s voice took on a hollow tone as he spoke his final words. "That Commander Shepard will be extradited to Khar’Shan, to face punishment under the laws of the sovereign state of the Batarian Hegemony."

The chamber descended into chaos, a number of the audience rising to their feet to applaud the judgement, while others rose to decry Shepard’s treatment. Shepard even heard some shouting and jeering that the judgement was too lax, and that he should be forced to endure more than what had been decided. He felt taken aback to see the crowds descend so quickly into a disorganised mess.

I fought for this? He asked himself. His hands, by his sides, clenched into fists, shaking furiously, though whether it was from anger or from defeat, the now ex-Commander could not tell.

Benjamin had walked up to Shepard’s side and was speaking as he gently guided the numb soldier from the chamber. Shepard couldn’t hear what he was saying. He felt like he was down at the bottom of a deep pit, and everything around him was muffled. As the younger Captain escorted him away, the jeers and cheers of the court’s audience followed him, a haunting chorus to what felt like a coffin lid being sealed over his still-living body.

He wouldn’t survive another Batarian prison. He’d only made it through the last one because of Cerberus’ interference and Liara’s rescue operation. This time, his incarceration was bound to be much more public, and the officials on Khar’Shan would make sure he suffered for a very long time before the end.

He was escorted down several flights of stairs, another two guards joining Benjamin in his task of escorting Shepard. Eventually they arrived on one of the building’s sub-levels, and Shepard was shown into a cell block. His squad occupied a semi-circle of cells running along the sides and back wall. The Commander felt a spike of anxiety upon noticing that none of the main crew was present, but then realised that they would not have possessed the same abilities as his main squad. Clearly this was a high-security facility, and the rest of his crew would be in another, less complex prison.

The first cell was occupied by Mordin, Kaidan and Jacob. The Salarian was sitting idly, nodding his head to some internal tune as he performed complex calculations in his head, waving his hands before himself as he carried numbers from one side of the equation to the other. Kaidan was sitting with his back pressed against the wall, eyes closed as he dosed lightly, waking as the Commander was escorted in. Jacob was lying on the floor, engaged in a rigorous series of sit-ups.

The next cell contained the serene Samara, sitting cross-legged with a ball of biotic energy on her lap. As an Asari couldn’t have her biotics suppressed through the removal of an amp, due to their inherent ability, powerful blue energy field crackled around the cell to contain any possible attempts to escape. Behind the Asari, an uncomfortable Revenant sat gingerly on one of the cell’s bunks, burn marks still showing across his pitted carapace.

Next to this cell, the third cell contained Legion, the Geth powered down to conserve power during such a period of inactivity. Along with the Geth, the cell housed Zaeed and Garrus, who were well into a game of Skyllian Five. Shepard couldn’t even begin to imagine where they had been hiding the cards to get them past the guards. Feron sat glumly to one side, green eyes glazed over as he gazed into his memories.

Grunt was the sole occupant of the fourth cell, this one a much sturdier construction clearly designed with Krogan in mind. He lay back uncomfortably on a bunk much too small for his huge frame, staring at the wall with an extremely bored expression.

The fifth cell was another cell reinforced to hold biotics. Inside, Jack paced the tiny floorspace restlessly, hands rubbing together anxiously as he spun on her heels to walk back the way she had come. A tiny trickle of blood seeped from a cut above her ear, a clear sign that the guards had tried to forcibly remove her amp. Due to Cerberus tampering, the device was hard-wired into her, as integral to her body as her hand or a lung.

As the Commander was shoved into the cell next to hers, Benjamin glaring at the guard who had pushed him in for acting with such a lack of respect, Jack looked up from her pacing feet and slowed to a halt, her hazel eyes creased with worry. Seeing the Commander’s head drop with shame, she closed her eyes for a moment, instantly understanding. She stepped over to the side of her cell slowly, sinking onto her bunk and turning her head to face the Commander, just on the other side of the energy barrier from her, and waited patiently, something that did not come naturally to her.

The rest of the squad, alerted to the Commander’s presence, all turned to look to their leader, either sitting up, standing or, in the case of Legion, activating their glowing white eye. Shepard sat on his bunk, head hanging with weariness. With an effort, he lifted his eyes to his friends and shipmates. These were the people who trusted him to lead them safely past any dangers they faced, and now he had to tell them of what had occurred during his trial. The pain of it struck him to the core.

"I’m being held accountable for the Bahak System." He began simply. "As a punishment for the murder of all the Batarians in that system, I am to be extradited to Batarian space, where the Hegemony will administer my punishment."

There was a moment of shocked silence from the squad. Shepard caught the sounds of an intake of breath from Zaeed, Jacob and Kaidan. The three of them understood the four-eyed aliens dislike for Humans, and knew just how well he’d be treated in a Batarian prison where his true identity was known.

"I’m not sure what’ll happen to you." Shepard continued. "I imagine a few of you will be bailed out by your governments, and Liara will do what she can to make sure the rest of you get off lightly, or even get set free, if she can."

He looked about his crew. Mordin, he knew, would be bailed out due to his old STG connections. Wrex would make sure that Grunt wasn’t held any longer than necessary, and the Alliance wouldn’t want to sour relations with the Turians by holding Garrus for a second longer than was necessary. Samara couldn’t rely on her people any more, but the Alliance had no real reason to hold her, save her connection to him. The same went for Kaidan, Feron and Zaeed.

Shepard’s real concern was for the other members of his squad. Jacob was a former member of a known terrorist group, and would likely be held over that. Legion and the Revenant were in danger of being kept in a lab for study.

His main worry, however, was for Jack. Her tattooed physique was infamous throughout the Alliance and throughout Citadel Space. Her past crimes had earned her several dozen life sentences. Even an entity as powerful as Liara was now would have trouble getting such a notorious criminal released. Shepard glanced over to Jack and saw the same worried glance being sent his way, and felt warmed by it. She wasn’t worried for herself, but was concerned for his safety. His hand twitched, answering the impulse to raise his hand to hers through the bars, but stopped when a flicker of energy emphasised the barrier between them. Right now he might as well have been on the far side of the galaxy for all the comforting contact he could he her.

"What do we do?" Grunt demanded. "We can’t just sit here!"

"It’s all we can do." Shepard said firmly. "I tried to warn as many as I could, and I think it worked, but now the politicians will decide what to do with us all. If we tried to break out, we’d have to fight our way out, killing too many of our own people in the process."

"So what now?" Zaeed demanded.

"Now?" Shepard settled back on his bunk, staring at the ceiling with a motionless expression. "Now, we wait."

~o~0~o~


Two hours later, Shepard was roused from a fitful dose by the doors to the cell block opening. He looked over, expecting to see one of the guards pass a cursory glance over the prisoners. Not that it was necessary, of course. Shepard counted at least a dozen monitoring devices without really having to search. Doubtless many more lurked in unexpected corners of the cells. Every last breath that his squad took was noted down somewhere.

The Commander was surprised, therefore, to see a Batarian walk through the door. His first instinct was to assume that the Alliance had already signalled for the Hegemony to send a representative to collect him. However, he was pleasantly surprised when the familiar features of Etarn turned to face him.

"Shepard," The Batarian’s voice was full of relief. "I’m glad to have found you."

"Etarn? What are you doing here?"

"After the rest of the squad was arrested, the marines responsible for taking us in received orders to let me go free. Something about not wanting to cause further tensions with the Hegemony. I’ve been wandering around, trying to find out what happened to you. I watched the trial on one of the terminals in the building. You gave a good accounting of yourself, and that’s coming from an individual experienced in speaking to a crowd."

"Thanks." Shepard grumbled, rubbing at his face. "So they televised it already?"

"Well… not exactly." Etarn grinned. "But I’m not going to let something like that get in my way."

"Have you seen the Revenant?"

"He was taken to a small medical facility in the building. Not far from here, actually." The Batarian’s face dropped. "I’m sorry to hear the verdict you received, Commander. And a little anxious. There are some whispers of having me take you back to Hegemony Space."

"Well, that would help your image with your people." Shepard said wryly. "The Batarian who brought the great Commander Shepard in."

"Yes, and had you not helped me escape Khar’Shan, I’d probably have agreed to it. But I see more than the thug who destroyed Aratoht. You’ve been a friend to me, Commander. And of course, handing you over to Gorm’s regime won’t help us win the war against these Reapers, will it? I saw what they did to your ships at Dholen. Aratoht would have been just the tip of the iceberg, were it not for you. I can’t go home and pretend nothing’s going to happen, not when it could leave the entire Hegemony in ashes."

"I don’t see much point in taking that stance," Shepard answered. "I’ve already had my sentence read out. I’m to go to Hegemony Space, like it or not."

"That’s why I’m here without permission." Etarn winked. His omnitool raised up to hover over the cell door’s controls, which sparked as he overloaded them. Shepard’s door hissed open. "We need to move."

"Etarn! What are you doing?" Shepard exclaimed. "You’ve got a free pass off this planet, don’t throw it away!"

"I’m doing what I think to be right, much like you did on Aratoht." Etarn said firmly as he opened Jack and Grunt’s cells. "Your friend, Hackett, arrived in-system earlier this morning. He’s currently talking with your leaders up in Governor Latham’s office. From the sounds of what I heard through the door, things were… heated, to say the least. Aside from that, there’s something going on at your Mass Relay. I don’t have many details, but I think our friends have caught up with us."

"Damn. I thought we’d bought ourselves enough time." Shepard paused, thinking. "Do you know where they’ve got our equipment?"

"There’s a secure storage room just a couple of doors down the corridor. That’s probably where you’d find your kit." Etarn’s omnitool hissed as it blew the lock on Samara’s door and he turned to the final cell.

"And what about the guards? Did you see any in the next room?"

"There were three between here and the storeroom."

"Were?"

"Yes, were."

"Alright," Shepard said, turning to the door out of the cell block. "Then I guess we’ll arm up and-"

He was brought up short as the door hissed open before him to show the bored expression on the face of an Alliance soldier beyond. That bored look swiftly cycled through shock, fear, anger and dismay in short order. He reached for his commlink, but a fist connected with his jaw just as he activated the device, knocking him out cold.

Behind that first soldier, the second one had just finished reaching for his gun by the time that Shepard launched a vicious right hook at his head, knocking him out in short order, too. The Commander launched himself at the third and final soldier, forearm pressed against the man’s jugular as he bulled the soldier into the wall. Shepard only slowed upon recognising the young features of Benjamin Swift.

"C- Commander?" The Captain asked, surprised.

"What are you doing down here?" Shepard demanded.

"We were sent to take you to the shuttles. It’s time for you to be taken to Batarian Space." Benjamin admitted ashamedly.

"No time for that now." Shepard said. "Etarn’s found out that the Reapers are in the system. They’ll be here in no time at all."

Benjamin hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. Shepard could understand his hesitation. Even after the talks they had had, the very idea of the Reapers was a bit hard to swallow. He relaxed his grip, allowing Benjamin to move.

"Etarn," The Commander called. "You’re going to come with us."

"Us?" Benjamin asked uncertainly.

"Yes." Shepard said confidently. "You and I are going to go speak with Hackett, Shastri and Udina. They’re currently holding a meeting in Latham’s office."

"Yes, but how did you kn-?"

"We’re very resourceful." Was all Shepard would say. "If anyone sees me at the head of my squad, charging down the hall, they’ll get suspicious. Etarn is meant to be given free roam of the building, and you would make it look like the prisoner’s getting escorted to speak with the Prime Minister. It’s the best way to make sure we don’t get stopped. The rest of my squad will make their way to the Normandy, quietly."

This last word was said very firmly while looking at Grunt and Jack. The former grunted irritably, while the latter simply threw a defiant look at her Commander. Shepard didn’t have time to be picky, so shrugged and turned back to Benjamin.

"Look, I know that this all seems a bit much to take in at once, but please, trust me. If I’m wrong, I’ll have wasted an hour of your time and knocked these two out, tops. If I’m right, then we could be saving thousands, if not millions of lives."

Benjamin paused, mouth working as he thought. At last, with a sigh, he nodded his head.

"I’m with you, Shepard."

"Good man. Now, let’s get our stuff, and get the hell out of here."

~o~0~o~


Minutes later, Shepard was adjusting his armour once again, happier now that he felt fully clothed once more. He stepped over to a nano-armoury and had the machine put together a small arsenal for himself, shotgun, assault rifle, sniper rifle and handgun. The rest of the squad had had their weapons with them when they were arrested, but Shepard had walked into the trial unarmed. He didn’t have time to manufacture any of the larger weapons, besides which the schematics were stored on the Normandy, so he was forced to stick to the smaller weaponry, although hopefully he wouldn’t need any at all.

The Commander looked down to the unconscious trio of guards stowed inside the storeroom before throwing a sly grin at Etarn. It seemed that the Batarian had many hidden qualities. The efficiency with which these guards had been neutralised would have made even Thane jealous.

Outside of the storeroom, the security console was silent, another example of Etarn’s work. Thanks to the Batarian’s tinkering, the alarm system had not sounded, and the watchers on the other end of the security cams would be none the wiser for a good while yet.

He turned to see the rest of the squad suiting up, Grunt carefully positioning Jath Fotnar’s brow plate on his shoulder, Kaidan buckling up his torso plate, Jacob carefully inserting his amp into the nape of his neck. Mordin’s omnitool sparked as he powered it up, countless unique programmes running through it, the function of which Shepard sometimes even hesitated to guess at. Finally, they were all ready for action.

"Okay, I want you to get to the Normandy as fast as you can, and get her ready to lift off as soon as possible. You’ll need to find the crew and bust them out of wherever they’re being kept. Non-lethal force only, I don’t want any Alliance blood on our hands." The Commander waited for them all to nod an affirmative, and then signalled for Etarn and Benjamin to follow him.

The trio hurried off down the corridor, making their way to the nearest staircase. Benjamin led the way, his knowledge of the layout of the Parliament Towers key to their making swift progress. Shepard and Etarn followed as closely as they could.

They made swift progress through the building, the young Captain leading them through a series of corridors not often travelled and therefore helping them to avoid any confrontation. At one crossroads between corridors, Shepard was forced to duck into a doorway as the tramping of several sets of booted feet alerted him to some approaching guards. He held his breath as the soldiers walked past, one chattering about some rumours he had heard from a friend of a friend in the Fifth Fleet.

They continued down the corridors in this fashion, proceeding steadily to their goal. All of this time, Shepard had to resist the urge to simply bull his way through to the Governor’s office. Tact and subtlety was called for here.

Shepard called for a halt as they passed an office with an active terminal blinking on its desk. He stepped over to the terminal, gesturing for Etarn to join him.

"You said there was something going on at the Relay that you thought might be the Reapers?" He asked.

"Yes." Etarn answered. "About half an hour ago, the Relay locked up. From what I could gather, nothing’s getting through. Seemed to me like the Reapers closing the net around any ships in the system."

"Show me." Shepard commanded.

Etarn bent over the console, tapping away hastily. After a few moments, a stream of comm traffic could be heard as the Batarian brought up some scans of the Charon Relay and its immediate surroundings.

"Sol Traffic Control, this is the Rogue Endeavour. We’re getting no response from the Relay. Please advise."

"Inuvik to STC. I’ve got a no-go on our jump. The Relay’s bouncing our signal back at us."

"Sol Traffic, this is the Terentatek. Our jump failed. The Relay looks… dead. Is there some maintenance scheduled we don’t know about?"

"Sol Traffic Control, everything’s stopped moving up here. We’re backed up at least a couple of thousand kilometres. What’s going on?"

As the transmitted queries became more and more frequent and more urgent, a hologram of the Relay popped up. Starships trailed away from the Relay in queues thousands of kilometres long, and Shepard noticed that the Relay looked like it had been powered down. The glowing sphere of energy at its core had dimmed, and the Relay’s moving parts had slowed.

"Hey, wait." Shepard said as the image moved. The Commander pointed to a small point of light, just above and away from the Relay. Etarn moved the image over it.

A single ship hung in space, motionless. Shepard checked its transponder code to find that it was an independent freighter called the Salarian Scoundrel. On scanning the comm chatter, he noted that the ship had not transmitted anything since its arrival in the system, recorded by Sol Traffic Control as having occurred just before the Relay went silent.

"Commander? Come in, Shepard." Joker’s voice sounded over the Commander’s comm.

"I’m here, Joker."

"We’re back aboard the Normandy. Luckily, the techs didn’t find EDI, so she was able to deactivate the security systems they’d left, letting us in. She’s been scanning the comm traffic, and it looks like the Relay’s gone into lockdown."

"I can see that." Shepard explained. "Etarn and I are at a terminal not far from the Governor’s office. There’s a ship near the Relay that’s acting strange. Name’s the Salarian Scoundrel. Have EDI look into it, and see what she can find about that freighter."

After several moments of silence, the Normandy’s AI spoke over Shepard’s commlink.

"Shepard, I am detecting an unusual signal originating aboard the freighter. It would take some time to decipher, but from what I have been able to analyse, the signal is somewhat similar to our Reaper IFF code. It is logical to assume that this is the cause of the Relay’s sudden shutdown."

"Thanks, EDI. Keep me posted."

"Affirmative, Commander." The AI signed off, and Shepard’s commlink went silent. He turned to his companions.

"If the Reapers are already shutting down the Relay, they must be getting ready to attack. Come on, we haven’t much time."

Benjamin nodded, redoubling his pace as he hurried through the corridors. They dodged several more patrols of guards on their way to the Governor’s office before they arrived at the final few stretches of hallway between them and their destination.

At last, Benjamin led the Commander to Latham’s office. Without waiting, Shepard barged through the doors. Beyond, Admiral Hackett was in the midst of a heated debate with Councillor Udina, Prime Minister Shastri and Governor Latham looking on quietly. Off to one side, the rest of the Citadel Council were tactfully trying to ignore the argument, standing around with an awkward discomfort.

"This is a bull**** trial and you know it! I have proof that Shepard’s story is true, but you tried to get him out of here before-" Hackett halted as the doors burst open and everyone turned to look at the Commander.

"Shepard? But you should be halfway to- Guards! Stop him!" Udina shouted to the soldiers flanking either side of the door. The young Alliance marines moved to intercept the Commander, but a clicking sound drew them up short as the muzzles of Etarn’s SMG and Benjamin’s rifle swung their way.

"What is the meaning of this, Commander?" Amul Shastri demanded. "Have you come to intimidate us into allowing you to take your ship and make your escape?"

"I’m not here to threaten anyone." Shepard said defensively. "But circumstances meant I couldn’t just sit in my cell while the Reapers approach Earth. I trust the Admiral has delivered his report of the encounter in the Dholen system."

"Trying to." Hackett answered. "Its getting these politicians to pull their heads out of their asses that’s giving me trouble."

"You come to us with stories of these fantastical creatures, but you don’t have any proof!" Udina shouted. "You’re just looking to protect the Commander, a man you put your reputation on the line for when you nominated him to be the first Human Spectre."

"You want the proof?" Hackett asked threateningly. "Here’s the goddamn proof!"

The Admiral tapped out several commands on his omnitool and waved it over the Governor’s terminal in the centre of the room. The terminal’s display flickered, expanding to well over two metres in width. A holographic video shimmered across it, depicting the Fifth Fleet engaged with the Forerunner around the second Citadel. As the assembled politicians watched the footage, the focus shifted to another patch of space, where the first wave of the Reaper fleet hove into view, having just been summoned from Dark Space. After a couple of minutes, the footage played out, and the room was silent for a moment.

"We lost fifteen frigates, three cruisers and one carrier in that engagement, and were only able to account for two already damaged Reapers." Hackett explained. "There may have been more casualties when the Citadel blew up, but I sure as hell wasn’t about to stick around and find out."

"These ships do bear a resemblance to Saren’s flagship." Tevos mused. "But this doesn’t prove that they are sentient."

"It doesn’t matter if they’re sentient or not. The threat they present is real enough." Hackett said sharply. "We need to bolster our defences before they get here."

"Too late." Shepard said from the side. "They’re already here."

"What?" Fahos blurted out, clearly nervous upon seeing the sheer size and destructive power of the malevolent machines.

"The Charon Relay went dead just over half an hour ago." Shepard said flatly. "This is the first stage of their attack. Now that we can’t flee through the Mass relay or get reinforcements, they’ll close in on Earth."

"So what do we do?" Latham’s voice now had a tense hint to it.

"I think we’ve found the source of the signal that’s keeping the Relay locked down, a small freighter. It’s nestled in right next to the Relay itself." Shepard explained.

A beep from the Commander’s omnitool drew his attention. He looked at it to see an incoming transmission from the Normandy.

"Commander, Liara wishes to speak with you." EDI informed him.

Shepard wondered how Liara had managed to contact the Normandy, with the Charon Relay down, before he realised that the Normandy’s Quantum Entanglement Communicator wasn’t reliant on Mass Relays to transmit. He silently praised Liara for having the forethought to have such a device installed.

"Put her through."

"Shepard," Liara’s voice came through, tense with anxiety. "I’ve just learned that the Arcturus Relay has gone silent. Sol’s cut off from the rest of the Galaxy. What’s happening?"

"We’re under attack. The Reapers have shut down the Charon Relay using a signal being transmitted by a small freighter called the Salarian Scoundrel. They’ve got us trapped here."

"…Shepard, the Scoundrel was one of the ships I sent into the Dholen system."

"Makes sense." Shepard reasoned. "The Forerunner must have indoctrinated the crew and now they’re helping the Reapers take Earth."

"Unless you can get Charon back online, my ships won’t be of any use to you." Liara said urgently. She paused for a second, and Shepard’s ‘tool informed him of an incoming datastream. "I’m uploading the Scoundrel’s schematics and access codes. You can use these to take her out so your people can begin ferrying civilians out of the system."

"Thanks. I’ll have EDI keep you updated on the situation here."

"Of course, Shepard. Shadow Broker out."

The Commander turned back to the rest of the room to see the others looking at him inquisitively.

"I’ve managed to confirm that the Salarian Scoundrel is a hostile ship. It’s definitely causing the Charon Relay to malfunction. We need to take it out if we want to get any civilians out of the system before the Reapers get here."

There was a moment of dead silence from the politicians as they processed his declaration. Shastri, Udina and Tevos stared numbly while Fahos visibly began to shake. Velarn’s mandibles quivered at a furious pace as his eyes darted about nervously. The Turian was the first to speak up.

"We need to depart. The Citadel must be prepared for this attack!"

"Nobody’s going anywhere." Hackett interjected firmly. "As long as Charon’s offline, we’re all trapped here. We can’t even get a message out of the system without a Mass Relay. Until that signal’s stopped, we’re on our own here."

The grizzled Admiral turned to Shastri, face grim as he addressed the Prime Minister.

"Given the threat to Earth’s safety, it is time for the military to take charge. I am relieving you of your control over the Earth Defence Fleet and assuming command over the military forces in this system to co-ordinate our defence. I suggest you go find a bunker somewhere to hide in."

The Prime Minister looked shell-shocked for an instant, but soon recovered, nodding meekly before stepping past the Admiral and leading the other politicians out of the office. After the last of the group had filed out, Hackett turned to Shepard and his team.

"We need to deal with this freighter as quickly as possible. Can you bring up your scans of it?"

"Sure." Shepard tapped his omnitool, and soon had an image of the Charon Relay and the Salarian Scoundrel hovering over the desk. Hackett rubbed at the stubble coating his chin as he considered the situation.

"Hmm. It’s a little closer to the Relay than I’d like, so we’ll risk hitting it in a firefight. But, considering the options we have, I guess this is what we’ll have to go with." He tapped at his own ‘tool, opening a channel to his ships in orbit. "This is Admiral Hackett. SSV Jerusalem, Stromness and Bannockburn, head to the-"

His orders stumbled to a halt as the image above the desk flickered. Like gigantic comets springing into view, the Reaper fleet dropped out of FTL immediately around the Relay, surreal silhouettes glinting menacingly as they ploughed through the ranks of unaware freighters queuing to leave the system. Their massive metal limbs waved about, tongues of devastating fire tearing through the unprepared traffic in a destructive blaze. Hulls splitting open like peapods, the ships disintegrated before the wrath of the ancient machines. The majority of the Reapers then moved on, cutting a swathe of bloody carnage through the masses of waiting ships, while four remained behind, flanking the Relay and the Salarian Scoundrel.

"Damn it!" Hackett cursed. "Our ships will never get through all that."

"The Normandy can, Sir." Shepard said confidently.

"That just might work." Hackett mused. "The stealth drive should be up to the task. Alright, Shepard. You want to save the world, take your ship and deal with that freighter. I’ll head back up to the Krakatoa and co-ordinate our forces from there."

"Aye, sir!" Shepard saluted, before turning to gesture for Etarn to follow him. He paused to nod to Benjamin. "Thanks for your help, Captain."

"An honour, Commander. I’ll do what I can down here to get the civilians aboard what vessels we can muster for an evacuation. You just make sure we’ve got an escape route when we’re ready."

Shepard saluted again, and rushed off towards the docking cradle where the Normandy waited, signalling for Joker to get the systems fully powered by the time he arrived.

Moments later, Hackett gazed out of the office window to see an abrupt flash arc through the sky above the towering Big Ben as the Normandy arrowed up into the sky. Shaking his head, the seasoned soldier turned to the task in hand.

[fainmaca]

Chapter 20: Part 3!


The Normandy powered through the blackness of space towards the Charon Relay and the small knot of ships stationed just next to it. The four Reapers hovered menacingly around the Salarian Scoundrel, limbs twitching eagerly as they kept watch over the tiny ship.

Joker manoeuvred the Normandy through the cloud of still-glowing scraps of metal, all that remained of the several hundred ships that had been hanging in space around the Relay at the time of the Reapers’ arrival. With the stealth systems engaged, the Normandy was practically undetectable by any means save visual scanning. The first Normandy’s stealth systems had been defeated by the Collectors due to their possessing a technology which allowed them to accurately detect the presence of Humans within a reasonable range. After this ****** in the Normandy’s defences had been exposed, Shepard had had Mordin augment the ship’s frame to support his armour modifications, originally intended to hide an individual from the Collectors’ Seeker Swarms. Thanks to the Salarian’s genius, the new Normandy was now impervious to this weakness, its crew rendered invisible to all but the most powerful scans. So long as Joker kept her out of the Reapers’ line of sight, an easy feat against the vastness of space, the Normandy’s enemies would be oblivious to their presence.

Shepard paced back and forth behind the pilot’s chair, watching the Relay draw closer at a painful pace. Joker twitched irritably as Shepard turned on his heel for what felt like the thousandth time.

"God damn it, would you keep still already?" He snapped. "We get there when we get there. Ain’t no amount of you wearing out the deck-plates that’s gonna change that."

"And you’re sure they can’t see us?" Shepard asked, looking at the glowing ‘eyes’ of the massive creatures.

"Unless they look right at us, we’ll be fine. The fact is, there’s like a billion miles of open space out here for them to stare at, and we’re coated in a light-absorbing Mass Effect Field. It’s like looking for a black needle in a black haystack several light-years in diameter. ‘Course, once we get a little closer, its gonna be a fine piece of flying to keep us hidden. Hard not to notice a mosquito buzzing past your nose. That’s why we’ve got to take the Normandy in. If she gets spotted, we’ve got the manoeuvrability to dodge incoming fire. If they see the bear cub incoming, it’ll be a hell of a short firefight ending with you as a cloud of swiftly expanding vapour."

"I get it, you’re a really good pilot." Shepard grumbled good-naturedly. He reached up to fasten his helmet in place, making ready to head back to the elevator which would take him to the Cargo Hold and the waiting shuttle. "Take us in."

As the Commander made his way to the shuttle, the Normandy swerved suddenly, breaking out from the cloud of debris with a surge of speed. Joker carefully manipulated the ship’s drive to send it into a spin, angling down below the plain occupied by the Reapers and the Relay. The engines thrummed as he poured power into them, hurling the ship towards the hulking Relay.

The Normandy skimmed across the thick plating of the Charon Relay, using the enormous device as cover for her approach. Joker whipped the frigate around the Relay’s shell, the ship darting across the empty space towards the Salarian Scoundrel. As Joker took her across this final stretch of open space, the Reapers finally caught sight of the tiny ship, spinning and opening fire. The young pilot feverishly worked the controls, looping the Normandy through a spider’s web of red lines of plasma. The ship’s shields shimmered as they struggled to deflect a couple of shots, the red lines of fire bouncing back into space harmlessly.

Shepard clambered into the shuttle as the ship shuddered under the assault. As the Kodiak’s doors hissed closed, the Cargo Bay door opened, the atmosphere in the bay escaping into space with a roar. Shepard struggled into the shuttle’s pilot’s chair, looking out of the window at the open bay doors. Beyond, the Commander could see the Salarian Scoundrel wheeling about his field of view, intermingled with glimpses of the Reapers, the Relay and empty space.

G-forces tugged at Shepard as he waited for the optimal moment to launch the shuttle, the ship’s inertial dampeners struggling to compensate for the extreme manoeuvres. The Commander watched a flare of red arc across the space before the Normandy, causing him to flinch.

With sudden speed, the Salarian Scoundrel hove into view, dangerously close. Seeing his chance, Shepard released the shuttle’s clamps, responsible for holding it in place in the Cargo Bay. As Joker whipped the Normandy about on her axis, the shuttle was thrown from its docking cradle and into space, racing towards the freighter at an incredible pace. As the Kodiak began its journey towards the Scoundrel, the Normandy sped away, drawing the Reapers’ fire as they failed to notice the much smaller shuttle.

Shepard deftly angled the shuttle at the freighter’s hull, bringing the Kodiak in close. He brought the shuttle alongside the smooth surface of the freighter and bumped the two vessels together, engaging the shuttle’s docking clamps in order to fasten the vehicle to the Scoundrel’s hull.

In the main passenger compartment, Grunt, Samara and Garrus waited patiently for the Commander. Garrus had seemed like a natural choice for this mission, given his expertise in sabotage, a skill honed to perfection by his time on Omega. The Commander had brought the exiled Justicar along because her prodigious biotic powers had proved very effective in previous engagements against the indoctrinated servants of the Reapers. Grunt had been brought along because, when it came to breaking things, there was no equal.

Shepard would have preferred to bring his entire squad along, but realised that this was impractical, given the nature of their infiltration and extraction. A large squad would be too unwieldy to get off the freighter easily, and seemed like overkill for just one ship. Aside from that, they were serving vital roles on the Normandy during this tense combat situation. Legion had practically been hard-wired into the ship, the Geth platform’s sheer computing power being put to use preventing any hacking attempts made by the Reapers, while Etarn and Feron were using their hacking skills to scramble the Reaper comm channels and further inconvenience the massive machines. Jacob was busily prepping the ship’s arsenal of assault rifles and shotguns for shipboard combat, while Jack and Zaeed amused themselves by manning the Normandy’s main cannon, each trying to outdo the other as they took pot-shots at the Reapers with the powerful gravity cannon or the white-hot metal of the Thanix cannon. Kaidan occupied the Commander’s usual position above the Galaxy map, issuing orders to the rest of the crew in Shepard’s absence. Mordin and the Revenant, meanwhile, were down in engineering, monitoring the ship’s power systems and shields. Therefore, Shepard had to make do with only three companions.

The shuttle door hissed open, the interior decompressing swiftly so that only a few scraps of air blew out into space. Shepard led the way, hopping out of the shuttle and engaging the magnetic soles of his boots to cling to the hull of the ship. Grunt stomped out after him, followed by Samara and Garrus. Air hissing inside his helmet, Shepard closed the shuttle and waved for the squad to follow him.

The team made their way across the hull of the ship, their movements slow as they were cautious to make sure their suits didn’t lose their grip on the freighter. Shepard chanced a glance up above them to see a massive Reaper looming over him, one of the Scoundrel’s guardians. Even though it was clear that the gargantuan creature did not see them, the Commander still felt a flicker of alarm on looking at the creature. The Reaper’s arms moved sinuously, a rippling wave of motion that was almost hypnotic as it hovered in space. One arm snapped out, end glowing hotly as it fired off a red beam at the nimble Normandy, missing by a wide margin.

The Commander led the way across the Salarian Scoundrel’s hull towards the nearest airlock, kneeling next to the portal and entering the codes provided by Liara. The airlock hissed open, and the squad climbed in. The freighter’s atmosphere flowed into the airlock, and the interior door whooshed open. Shepard’s omnitool informed him that the atmosphere of the interior of the ship was safe to breathe, and so he unfastened the clasps on either side of his helmet and lifted it away, taking a deep breath from the freighter’s tinny, cold air. He stowed the helmet on his belt, the rest of the squad following his example, and drew his rifle. Grunt toted a massive Krogan shotgun, a Claymore, while Garrus sported a powerful Mattock assault rifle, and Samara relied upon her biotics to attack, only falling back upon a small hand pistol in the tightest of spots.

The Commander consulted the map Liara had provided and headed off down a long corridor, making his way towards the ship’s bridge, deciding that would be the best place to look for whatever the Reapers were using to transmit their signal to the Relay.

The corridors clanged to Grunt’s heavy tread, the Krogan’s booted feet sending tremors through the deck as he took up a position behind the Commander. Samara stood at his back, the flicker of biotic witchfire licking over her arms as she held her powers in a state of readiness. Garrus watched the rear, his rifle swinging about aggressively as he kept an eye out for enemies trying to sneak up on the party.

Shepard began to feel a tension growing in his head as he took note of the silence of the ship, the lack of any sign of life, hostile or otherwise, getting to him.

As the squad traversed what looked to have been the crew quarters, Shepard paused to lift up a small datapad discarded on one of the worktops. He activated the stored recording, the tinny voice echoing around the empty rooms.

"-Been out here for three weeks now, watching this star go dead. Feels strange, to see something as big as a star dying. Hannah says that she’s picking up some readings on the outskirts of the system, but she’s not sure what they might mean. I think the Broker will order us in to investigate."

Shepard discarded the datapad, shivering at hearing the voice of a person he knew had to be dead. Straightening up, he turned to the next doorway, and pushed onwards.

The next section of the ship was some sort of cargo hold, filled with supply crates and spare parts. Clearly this ship was equipped to operate in the far reaches of space for long periods of time.

As Shepard rounded a stack of crates, a pale shape suddenly lunged out of the dim gloom, bearing him to the ground. The dead face of a Husk screeched in his face, fists flying in a frenzied attack. A cluster of the dead shapes rushed out of the darkness all around, guttural cries filling the air.

Grunt’s shotgun coughed once, disintegrating the Husk on top of the Commander in a bloody rain. The Krogan then turned to the approaching mass, his weapon barking out several shots in quick succession. Samara’s biotics flared and she sent a pair of the pallid forms tumbling away in a tangle of broken limbs. Shepard rolled to his feet, bringing his rifle up to perforate the torso of the nearest Husk. He joined Garrus in raining down a savage volley of bullets on the main cluster of Husks.

In seconds, the squad tore through the initial wave, the bodies of at least a dozen of the creatures lying at their feet in shreds. Shepard expertly ejected the heat sink in his weapon, replacing it with a fresh one. Behind him, the squad reloaded their weapons or, in the case of Samara, adjusted her biotic amp, certain that the battle was only beginning.

Sure enough, seconds later the cargo hold was filled with clamouring groans and the sounds of multitudes of running feet. The first Husks transformed into clouds of mist, barely able to emit a single sound before the squad’s combined firepower tore into them. Immediately behind this group, even more Husks darted towards them, a bustling throng of pale bodies loping across the deck. The red flickers of Abominations mingled with the pale blue-white flesh of Husks, adding additional danger to the encounter.

Garrus instantly began to fire at the Abominations, taking them out before they could get among the squad and detonate, dousing Shepard and his allies in burning flesh. Samara and Grunt focused their attacks on the weaker Husks, while the Commander’s eye was drawn to a larger shape approaching behind the main ranks of Husks.

Lumbering along at a slower pace than its smaller cousins, a Scion roared menacingly as its long weapon arm turned to point at the squad. A vibrant blast of biotic energy screamed across the hold, tossing Husks left and right. Shepard only had a second to yell a warning to his comrades before the shockwave tore into them, causing Samara to stumble, Garrus to take a step back, and even the resolute Grunt to pause momentarily. Shepard’s muscles protested as unseen forces pushed at him, and his own armour threatened to crush him as it resisted the attack.

Recovering from this assault, Shepard replaced his assault rifle on his back, swapping it out for the Viper sniper rifle. He unfolded the weapon swiftly, and took aim. His finger pulled the trigger several times in quick succession, the rifle cracking as its powerful rounds traversed the length of the cargo hold almost instantly. The white-hot bullets pierced the Scion’s main head, sending sprays of grey matter spurting out in a fan of gore. Garrus joined the Commander in his attack, the Turian’s assault rifle carving a less accurate line of destruction across the Scion’s torso.

Finally, after three thermal clips, the duo brought down the Scion. The huge beast collapsed with a shriek, gooey grey matter oozing across the deck from its myriad wounds. As it fell, Samara used her biotic abilities to hoist the final cluster of Husks into the air, hurling them into the stacks of crates on either side until they disintegrated, limbs tumbling here and there. With a flick of her wrist, the Asari sent the grisly remains sailing away through the air.

The squad relaxed, breathing heavily from the exertion of battle. They waited for several moments, listening carefully for any sound of more Husks coming to attack. Once they had confirmed that they were safe, Shepard gestured for the squad to continue moving.

They made their way to the bridge of the ship, finally reaching a pair of doors, welded shut. Shepard considered the obstacle for a moment, before turning to Grunt. He nodded, the Krogan grinned. He stepped up to the door and, flexing his shoulders, slammed into the doors with all of his massive frame. The doors shuddered under the Krogan’s bulk, denting visibly. A second impact caused a tiny fracture to spread through the doors, and a third turned this fracture into a wide crack. A fourth and final crash tore the doors open, exposing the bridge beyond. Grunt stepped back, allowing the Commander to step forward.

Shepard walked into the bridge, looking for a console to use. He jumped as a gunshot sounded out, dodging back as the bullet pinged off the wall next to him. He swiftly drew his pistol, looking about for the source of the attack.

Hands trembling, a slight figure stepped out of a dark corner of the bridge, pistol aimed a little half-heartedly at the Commander. Behind the gun, a pretty, young face framed by raven-black hair stared with terror at Shepard.

"You’re- you’re still human!" She breathed. "Who are you? Are you here to help us?"

"Not exactly." Shepard said slowly, speaking gently so as not to startle her. "I’m Commander Shepard of the Normandy."

"Alicia." She said, lowering her pistol.

"Can you tell me what happened here, Alicia?"

"We were sent to explore out beyond the frontier. We were attacked and disabled, but they didn’t destroy us. But then the crew started to, to change."

"How long ago was this?"

"Not long. Maybe two weeks. The entire crew began to go mad, attacking anyone who didn’t become like them. First Officer Stewart and I tried to run for the bridge, the safest place on the ship, but they caught up with us. Stewart gave me the time I needed to get inside and seal the door. Then I, I heard…"

"Its okay, Alicia." Shepard comforted. "It’ll be alright. We’ll take you out of here, but first we’ve got to disable something that the crew is using to hurt a lot of people. I’m guessing from the powered down terminals that they’ve cut the bridge’s power off. Can you tell me how they’re controlling the ship now?"

"I’m not sure." Alicia said through barely held back tears. "I just ran the sensor array."

"Shepard, something doesn’t smell right here." Grunt cautioned. "How come she isn’t being controlled like the rest of the crew? Why would the Reapers spare her?"

"I can’t say." Shepard answered. "But if she’s immune to indoctrination, we need to find out why. That’s why we’ve got to get her back to the Normandy."

"You’re going to take me away?" Alicia asked hopefully.

"Yes, as soon as we’re done here." Shepard answered. "But first, we’ve got to stop this ship from transmitting a signal to the Mass Relay out there."

"The main comm array is routed through here, so they can’t have used it." Alicia said. "Your best bet is probably to get to engineering. It’s the easiest place to access the power systems, so you’ll probably find whatever they are using down there."

"Okay. You stay here. This door’s useless now, but you can seal the corridor beyond. Seal the doors behind us, and wait here. Once we’re done, we’ll come back for you, and then we’ll take you back to our ship."

Alicia nodded, her green eyes blinking with anxiety. The Commander led his team out of the bridge, and she sealed the doors behind them.

Shepard progressed through the cargo hold once more, leaving by one of the doors he had not used previously. He found himself in a corridor running towards the back of the ship, making swift progress towards the engines. After a few more minutes of cautious exploration, the squad found themselves before the heavy doors of the engineering department.

Garrus moved forwards, activating his omnitool as he tinkered with the door’s interface. In a matter of seconds, he had bypassed the door’s controls. As the Turian stepped away, the doors hissed open. Shepard looked beyond the doors into the engineering department, looking for any potential threats.

Walkways extended out from the doors, hanging in the air above a dark emptiness that stretched out at least two decks below. In the centre of the room, the ship’s eezo core hummed powerfully, a massive sphere of silver energy suspended in a cylinder of glass and metal that extended from the darkness below to the ceiling far above. The light glimmered around the room, reaching to the walkways about a deck below and to the ceiling, bathing the room in a shimmering veil of silvery light. Wires dangled across the space between the core and the walls, drooping in lazy curves through the empty air.

The engine room appeared to be empty, the only sound to be heard was that of the core itself, a deep, thick thrum that travelled through the Commander’s entire body. Unsure, Shepard took a few wary steps into the room. Once it became apparent that nothing was about to lunge out of the darkness, he took several more confident steps into the room, followed by the squad.

They moved towards the core, their footsteps echoing around the engine room hollowly. Shepard strode up to the core, stopping before a console. He attempted to hack into the ship’s computer systems. It took him only a few moments to gain access, and he was immediately searching for any sign of the Reapers’ devices.

"That’s strange…" Shepard muttered. "There’s no sign of any meddling with the ship’s systems. As far as I can see, there’s no reason why Alicia should have been unable to assert control over the… oh, no."

"She was indoctrinated!" Garrus breathed. "But then why did she send us down here?"

"A very good question, Turian." Alicia’s voice echoed around the engine room, bearing a much deeper boom than the timid whimper she had used before. "The answer is simple: You would stand in the way of the Reapers’ stratagem. For this, you must die."

As she said these last words, the engine room’s doors slammed shut, thick, heavy doors that shut with a solid thud. The core shuddered, its light brightening considerably. The engine’s thrum intensified to a fierce whine.

"She’s putting a surge through the core!" Garrus shouted over the noise. "The discharge will fry anything in this room!"

"Damn it!" Shepard said angrily, turning back to the console. "How do I stop it?"

"We’ll have to hack the capacitors around the room."

"Right, then-" Shepard’s instructions were interrupted by a chorus of groans from below. The Commander looked down into the darkness under the walkway, only to see rank upon rank of Husks clambering up towards him. "Garrus, deal with this. We’ll hold them off!"

Cursing, Garrus turned to the console, trying to hack the capacitor before the enemy was upon him. Shepard, Grunt and Samara armed up, forming a defensive ring around the Turian.

The first few Husks charged towards the squad, but were swiftly torn apart by the Commander and his allies’ combined fire. An Abomination raced out before its kin, but a thrust of Samara’s outstretched palm sent it flying over the edge. After the first wave had been eliminated, Garrus gave a grunt of satisfaction as he finished with the capacitor, and the core flickered, losing some of its intensity.

"I’m done here, Commander. Let’s move to the next one!" He called over the engine’s roar. "Three more to go."

Shepard nodded, and the squad moved slowly along the walkway, cutting their way through the masses of enemies in a bloody course. A few more moments, and they had moved on to the next level down, approaching the second capacitor. Garrus knelt next to it, tinkering with his omnitool.

The Commander dropped down into a combat stance, bracing his rifle, and waited for the next few enemies to appear. The Husks were quick to oblige, racing towards the squad with angry moans. Behind them, a Scion lumbered up the walkways from the lower levels. The Commander focused his fire on the larger foe, with Samara using her abilities to keep it off-balance and prevent it from using its weapon arm effectively. Grunt discharged his shotgun into the mass of Husks, laughing as he revelled in the carnage.

"Two down, Shepard!" Garrus shouted. "Two to go."

Shepard nodded, firing a final shot at the Husk and causing it to tumble off the walkway, moaning as it dropped into the darkness. Samara used a titanic biotic push to hurl the remaining Husks from the walkway, sending them cascading down to the floor far before, and the squad began to move, heading back the way they had come and proceeding towards the upper levels.

Garrus led the way to the third capacitor, kneeling down next to it as the others formed up around him again. Shepard’s hands felt numb from the recoil of the rifle as he reloaded once more, noting that his stock of thermal clips was dangerously low.

"Hurry it up, Garrus. We can’t keep this up much longer." He cautioned.

"Going as fast as I can." Garrus shouted back over his shoulder. "Almost…done! One capacitor left."

"Good! Let’s-"

Shepard was interrupted by an all-too-familiar shriek. Two dozen heads locked in an eternal scream, a Praetorian rose out of the darkness, clawed feet dangling below it menacingly. Shepard leapt out of the way, dodging the hulking machine’s lunge forwards. The Praetorian’s claws carved furrows in the metal of the walkway, the whole structure shivering violently.

Shepard turned his rifle towards the monstrosity, unloading a full clip into it at point-blank range. The gun’s barrel glowed red-hot as the thermal clip popped out. On the far side from the Commander, Grunt fired his shotgun, the weapon’s powerful blast punching several large holes in its outer shell.

The Praetorian hovered away, aligning itself with the Commander. Shepard flinched as its eyes flickered a brilliant blue, and two bright eye beams lanced out at him. He braced for the attack, but the impact never hit. Shepard opened his eyes to see Samara standing there, eyes glowing a bright blue as she held up a biotic barrier that held the Praetorian’s attack back. The Asari’s face was locked in a pained expression of concentration as she struggled to hold the barrier. The Praetorian shifted, intensifying the beams, but the barrier held strong.

Suddenly, Samara opened her eyes, which glowed a powerful white. With a grunt, she pushed her hands forwards, and the barrier surged towards the Praetorian. The biotic attack struck the Praetorian squarely, launching it backwards. The huge machine struck the core’s containment chamber, shattering the glass. The Praetorian writhed as it was drawn into the core, limbs flailing ineffectually. With a loud whump, the monstrous creature vanished in a white flash, disintegrating into nothing.

The squad looked at this with a mixture of surprise and relief. Shepard was the first to refocus, turning to Garrus. The engine’s noise was now considerably louder, and it sounded a lot more unstable.

"We’ve got to get going. I don’t know what losing the core’s containment will do to the engine now that we’re hacking the capacitors, but I’ll bet that it isn’t good, knowing our luck."

"I hear you, Commander." Garrus nodded.

The squad rushed over to the last capacitor, on the upper level, and Garrus quickly hacked its controls. The core roared loudly, silvery light turning an urgent red as the room’s temperature rose dramatically.

"Let’s get out of here!" Shepard shouted. The squad hurried to the nearest door, now open due to the sudden loss of power to the rest of the ship.

As the squad raced down the corridors away from the engines, the freighter shuddered urgently, and Shepard felt the gravity suddenly vanish as his boots anchored him to the deck. He nodded to his comrades and they all donned their helmets as the air began to grow thin, no longer recycled by the ship’s life support.

They rushed towards the airlock from which they had entered the ship, their pace made all the more urgent as the ship began to disintegrate around them. At last, the airlock appeared around a corner, their way to safety. The door waited, open, inviting.

Shepard sprinted towards the door, his legs burning with the effort of fighting his magnetic boots. As he got within arm’s reach of the airlock, the doors hissed closed before him, blocking his exit. The door’s holographic display flickered to show an image of Alicia, her eyes now glowing a sinister yellow. Her skin smoked, burning out from the sheer power coursing through her veins.

"Shepard," Her voice was incredibly deep and harsh, immediately recognisable as that of Harbinger, the Reaper whom Shepard had come to know and despise. "Yet again you stand before us, shouting defiance against that which must be. Even now the flames of war engulf your world. Your doom has arrived, and yet you insist upon ignoring it."

"You think this is a victory?" Shepard spat. "We are more than a single world. We’re an entire Galaxy, ready to defy you at every step. If you want to march across the Galaxy, we’re going to make you fight for every step. That’s what you’re fighting against. That’s the price you’ll have to pay."

"You are nothing before us." Harbinger replied. "Why should we fear your defiance? You will be twisted to serve us, whether you desire it or not. Our dominion is absolute, our victory was assured before your ancestors walked the surface of your planet."

"This isn’t over." Shepard threatened.

"You are correct, Shepard. This is merely the beginning of your downfall." With that, the image vanished, and the door’s interface went dark. Garrus rushed up to it, trying to activate the door controls.

"Damn it! There’s no power left. We’re trapped."

"Like hell we are!" Shepard seethed. "Step back and hold on!"

The Commander pulled his shotgun from its cradle over the base of his spine, unfolding it as fast as he could. He lifted the weapon and aimed at the airlock. The airlock’s transparent materials held for the first couple of blasts, but then a web of cracks spread across its surface before it shattered. The outer door faced the same treatment, and when it finally gave way the ship’s atmosphere rushed out in a whirlwind of roaring gas.

Shepard was buffeted by the rushing air, clambering for cover from the brutal windstorm. He saw Samara cling for her life to a nearby doorframe, hands scrabbling for a purchase. On the opposite side of the corridor, Grunt had braced himself in another doorway, his wide frame easily filling the door. The Commander turned to the third member of his crew just in time to see Garrus’ hands slipping on the pipe he had clung to. A crate tumbled past, catching the Turian on the shoulder on its way out of the airlock. Garrus struggled for a few seconds before his claws lost their purchase on the pipe.

"Garrus!" Shepard almost screamed, launching himself across the corridor.

The Commander struck the Turian about the waist, arm curling tightly around his friend as his free hand found purchase on another pipe. Shepard turned to look past Garrus to see the swirling maw of the airlock just feet away, the Relay and the Reapers wheeling in and out of view beyond in a sickening spiral.

After several moments, the wind calmed, the ship fully depressurised. Shepard relaxed his grip, his boots finding the deck again. He could hear the laboured breathing of his comrades over the comms, and knew that it was time to leave. He led the way out to the shuttle.

The squad clambered in, glad to be able to remove their helmets once the Kodiak had repressurised. Shepard took the pilot’s chair again, releasing the docking clamps.

"Normandy, this is the bear cub, requesting pickup ASAP."

"Roger that, bear cub. Normandy inbound." Joker’s voice rang back immediately.

Seconds later, the Normandy buzzed by mere miles away, arrowing towards the wildly twirling Salarian Scoundrel. Shepard manoeuvred the shuttle away from the freighter as fast as he could, angling towards the frigate. Joker spun the Normandy in a move that would have torn most ships apart, and aimed straight for the shuttle. Shepard adjusted the shuttle’s course accordingly, deftly flying the Kodiak into the waiting Cargo Bay.

The Normandy, having collected its precious cargo, twisted and turned, speeding away from the Salarian Scoundrel. The freighter glowed for a few seconds, shafts of light spearing out from various parts of its frame. Suddenly, the ship vanished in a tremendous explosion, a momentary sun in the blackness of space. After this violent end to the Scoundrel, the Charon Relay began to move with renewed vigour, fresh power coursing through its frame. As the Relay powered up, the Normandy darted away, setting a course for Earth.

~o~0~o~


Shepard strode onto the CIC deck, unbuckling his helmet as he walked. Kaidan looked up from his work at the spot above the Galaxy Map and respectfully stepped aside, allowing the Commander to step up. Shepard thanked him silently, turning to face the rest of the crew present in the CIC. He nodded his approval upon seeing them about their work diligently, and keyed in a few commands on his omnitool.

"EDI, open a channel to the Krakatoa."

"At once, Commander." The AI complied.

"Shepard," Hackett’s voice filled the command deck moments later. "I’ve just received word that the Relay’s back up to full strength. Is this true?"

"Mission accomplished, Admiral. We can call in reinforcements from Arcturus immediately."

"No." Hackett said firmly. "We’re taking too hard of a beating here, Shepard. I’m calling a retreat now that you’ve given us an escape route."

"But sir, the Earth…" Shepard said urgently.

"Is already lost. Several Reapers have descended upon the primary spaceports and are tearing our largest cities apart. We’ve got as many civilians as we can out, but we’ve had to leave a lot behind. My forces are stretched to capacity just defending the evacuation shuttles."

"How many do you think we can save?" Shepard asked, dreading the answer.

"As many as five hundred thousand, at a push."

"There are over twelve billion down there, Admiral."

"You think I don’t know that, Commander? You think I don’t understand what I’m doing here? David Anderson’s still down there, for crying out loud! I’ve had to leave one of my closest friends in the clutches of those monsters."

"Anderson’s still in London?" Shepard asked, the revelation hitting him harder than any news before this. The older soldier had been like a father to him, a mentor in his younger years.

"He was trying to evacuate the Council when the Reapers descended. Their intended escape vessel was destroyed in the assault."

"But they’re still alive down there?"

"Last I heard. David said he was going to get the Council to safety, one way or another. Said something about trying to get to a bunker nearby."

"I’m going to go get them." Shepard concluded.

"That’s suicide!" Hackett retorted. "The Reapers would tear your ship apart before it got past the stratosphere."

"We need the Council to rally the Citadel’s forces. This is the Reapers’ main tactic, eliminate our political leaders to send our governments into disarray. Besides, I’m not about to leave Anderson to become a slave to those bastards, are you?"

Hackett was silent for a long moment before sighing and replying.

"Godspeed, Commander. If you go and get yourself killed, I’ll make sure that hell gets especially unpleasant for you when I join you down there."

"Acknowledged, Admiral. Normandy out." Shepard closed the channel. "Joker, set a course for London. EDI, have Ken and Gabby prep the skycar, and make sure it has a full stock of ammo."

The Commander stepped down from the Galaxy Map, heading for the armoury to restock on ammunition.

~o~0~o~


The Normandy skimmed through the Earth’s upper atmosphere, ducking and weaving as two Reapers raced after her. Joker wove the frigate through several tight spirals, keeping the ship on an unpredictable course to confuse the enemy fire.

The Cargo Bay doors opened again, the crew having cleared out beforehand. Wind whipped through the opening, the first indications of the oxygen-rich atmosphere below.

Shepard breathed slowly as his hand settled on the flight controls before him. With his usual quirkiness, Mordin had decided that the freshly painted, hot-rod red skycar should have physical controls, rather than holographic ones. Kaidan had joked at the time that the Commander’s driving would be just as poor with either option. Shepard smiled on thinking back to that, but then refocused on the task before him. The engine of the skycar revved as he timed his move carefully.

Behind the Commander sat Kaidan, Jacob and Jack. The Commander had ruled that Garrus, Grunt and Samara had earned a rest, and he chose fresh team-mates to accompany him on this perilous assignment. Kaidan had volunteered very quickly to join him, as had Jacob. The pair had stated that attacking Earth had ‘made this personal’ and that they were determined to join Shepard on his mission to rescue the Council. Shepard had been about to ask Mordin to come along when Jack had shot him a sharp look. She had then spoken up, insisting that she be on the team.

"Earth’s the home of my species. Its as close to home as I’ve got, save for this pile of scrap. If the Reapers want it, they have to ****ing go through me first."

Shepard had seen the defiant glint in her eye, and had said no more, although he suspected that there was more to the biotic convict’s words than she was letting on. As he had dismissed the rest of the squad, he’d caught her watching him with worry in her eyes and realised that she was here, not for Earth, but for him. He’d felt warmed by the fact, though he knew all too well that telling Jack that he understood would simply incite her wrath.

"Normandy, we’re ready when you are." He called over the skycar’s comm.

"Roger that, Commander." Joker answered.

With a lurch, the frigate looped around and, for a single moment, the Cargo Bay was aiming straight down at the planet below. Shepard gunned the engines, propelling the skycar out into the Earth’s atmosphere at a considerable speed. The vehicle rattled as it raced through the upper atmosphere, hull plates glowing from the heat of re-entry. Ahead, Shepard saw the tiny island of Great Britain drawing closer and closer, faster and faster. In moments, he could make out the finer contours of the island’s outline, from the rocky island chain of the Outer Hebrides to the smoother contours of Dover. Shepard began to work the skycar’s controls, trying to slow their descent, as the grey blotch that was the sprawling city of London grew bigger and bigger, until finally the city’s extensive layout filled the forward window.

At last the vehicle began to slow, its steep dive turning into a shallower trajectory as, like a red comet, it streaked past the upper levels of the city’s skyscrapers. Shepard searched for landmarks to find his bearings, eventually homing in on the unmistakable silhouette of Big Ben and the London Eye, a massive Ferris Wheel on the banks of the River Thames, standing out amidst the shapes of a multitude of Reapers touching down in the city’s streets, pulverising buildings beneath their monstrous size. He turned the skycar towards those landmarks and activated his commlink.

"David Anderson, this is Commander Shepard, do you copy?"

Shepard waited tensely as static answered him, his brow furrowing. Finally, a crackle of noise rewarded his repeated attempts at communication, causing his heart to leap within his chest.

"Shepard! About damn time you got here. We’ve got a hell of a lot of ass to kick." Anderson responded jovially.

"I’m not so sure these things have asses, sir." Shepard said joyously.

"Well then I guess you’ll have to kick everything else twice as much, just to make sure."

"I’m glad to hear your voice, Sir." Shepard answered. "We’re inbound with transport for you and the Council."

"Good to hear, Shepard. Captain Swift’s taken us to a secure bunker not far from the old Houses of Parliament. Just head for the big damn clock tower and look out for the flare. We’ll signal when we see you."

"On our way, Sir." Shepard said, making the necessary course corrections.

~o~0~o~


Benjamin ducked as a colossal explosion overhead sent debris raining down about him. He watched with a mixture of fear and awe as a red beam, about as wide as a small cargo transport, cut a devastating gash through the London skyline. A towering skyscraper resisted the beam’s assault for all of a second before its myriad windows shattered, sending a deadly hail of glass splinters cascading down on the streets below. The building’s inhabitants, still struggling to escape, screamed as the structure began to collapse on top of them.

In the distance, Benjamin could see one of the massive creatures settling down amidst the blazing bones of the ruined city, looking like an enormous insect squatting down over its prey. Gargantuan arms moved about, swatting at what remained of the Parliament Towers like a child would demolish a structure made of toy building blocks. The Towers, once having stood so proud over the British capital, disintegrated like a sandcastle before a powerful wave, leaving no evidence of their existence behind.

A hand clamped down on the young Captain’s shoulder, pulling him back from his terror-struck paralysis. David Anderson stood behind him, pistol in one hand, the other bleeding from a wound gained during their headlong dash away from the Towers.

"Come on, son." He said resolutely. "We’ve got to keep moving."

Behind the former Alliance soldier trailed the Council, battered by their brutal struggle to escape the wrath of the Reapers, the Prime Minister and his Deputy, and Governor Latham, the latter sporting a grave wound to his shoulder, received from a falling support beam. The arm below it hung limply, a clear sign that the shoulder had been dislocated. With every step the Governor took, his face bore a pained expression.

"No sign of Shepard yet, Sir." Benjamin said wearily.

"Don’t worry, he’ll be here." Anderson said confidently.

"Wait a minute…" Tevos suddenly interrupted. "Do you hear that?"

The group halted, heads tilted as they listened carefully. The Asari’s ears had picked up on a sound that soon filled the air around them, a chorus of moans and dead breath moving through unliving throats. As Anderson tensed, already sensing what he was about to see, a cluster of Husks lumbered into view from behind a building just over a block away. Their still faces looked at the group with glassy eyes, and their feet began to thump against the ground with increasing speed.

"Crap!" Anderson shouted. "Get to the River! We need to get out into the open so the Commander can find us."

Anderson began firing upon the Husks, his pistol swiftly burning through one clip before he went on to the next. Benjamin stepped up beside him, rifle chattering a chant of destruction as bullets poured into the seething mass of dead flesh before him. Tevos moved up behind him, using her innate Asari biotic abilities to cast Husks left, right and centre. Behind them, the unarmed politicians began to run, legs pumping as they charged towards the River Thames.

The group retreated past the blazing ruins of St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey, victims of a stray shot from one of the invaders. The road between them was broad, but pitted and cracked by the raging conflict. A massive black pit in the centre of the road still smoked from the intense heat of a Reaper beam, the same one that had chewed through to two grand buildings on either side of it.

Benjamin kept up his rate of fire, keeping the Husks at bay long enough for the group to approach the old Palace of Westminster, formerly the building used by the British Parliament. The windows had all shattered, allowing the fires blazing within to lick at the stony exterior of the sprawling complex. Towering above this inferno, the clock face of Big Ben looked out over the burning city resolutely.

Benjamin’s rifle clicked, its final thermal clip spent, just at the same time that Anderson’s pistol clunked dully, its ammunition all gone. The Husks had been left far behind, but they still followed doggedly. Benjamin pulled out his Incisor sniper rifle, pausing for a few seconds to send several bullets speeding towards the enemy ranks. Two Husks dropped, their midsections torn out from their torsos.

"We can’t hold them off forever." Anderson cautioned. "Send up the flare. We’ve just got to hope that the Commander gets here in time."

"I’ll go find a higher vantage point, try to slow them down even more." Benjamin said courageously. "You get to the river. There’s a bridge just in front of the clock tower. Get to there, and I can cover you until the Commander arrives."

Anderson hesitated, looking over to the young Captain. He knew that, once the Council had been recovered, the Commander could not risk their lives in an attempt to save Benjamin. What the captain was suggesting would end with him being left behind in this hellhole. But he saw the determined spark in the young man’s eyes, and realised that Benjamin would not take no for an answer.

"You’re a brave man, Captain. Thank you."

"Just doing my job, Sir. The Council gets out of here, my job is done."

The pair nodded to one another, and then went their separate ways, Anderson leading the politicians to the river and the waiting bridge, while Benjamin made a beeline for the clock tower.

His breath catching in his chest, Benjamin raced up the final few steps to the top of the clock tower, until finally he was faced with the interior of the huge clock face. He lifted his sniper rifle, shooting out several panels of the face, and stepped forward, using his scope to scan the streets below.

He instantly saw the crowd of Husks chasing after Anderson, and his finger danced on the trigger. Shot after shot downed the dead creatures, keeping them at bay as the Council drew closer and closer to the bridge.

A loud whine drew the Captain’s attention, causing him to look up. A red skycar darted across the sky, obviously searching for something. Seeing the rescue vehicle, Benjamin lowered his rifle and activated his omnitool. A glowing red projectile arced out through the shattered clock face, cutting a graceful curve over the devastated streets towards the bridge across the river. The skycar noticed this, and angled sharply towards the bridge.

His job done, Captain Benjamin Swift went back to the grisly work of keeping the Husks off the ongoing rescue attempt.

~o~0~o~


Shepard deftly swerved the skycar around, darting towards the glowing red flare over the river. As he drew nearer, he saw a small group racing towards the middle of the bridge, a horde of enemies behind them. He leaned forwards, willing the vehicle to move just a little faster, and saw a couple of the Husks at the front of the mass tumble to the group, lying inert.

With expert control, Shepard whipped the skycar around to hover just over the bridge, almost touching down. A cloud of dust whipped around underneath it as it was displaced by the vehicle’s Mass Effect Fields.

Seeing salvation at hand, Anderson and the others redoubled their pace, running headlong towards the now open skycar door and the beckoning hands of Shepard’s comrades.

Shepard looked around from the approaching group to see another mass of Husks racing across the bridge from the opposite side, threatening to surround the skycar as it made the pickup. He turned back to the approaching Anderson, adding his shouts of encouragement to those of the rest of the squad.

Councillors Fahos and Velarn were the first to arrive, leaping into the skycar as quickly as they could before collapsing into empty seats, their chests heaving with the exertion. Amul Shastri and his Deputy, Dennis Hughes, were close behind, scrambling across their fellows to get into the skycar. Tevos and Udina came next, the latter almost keeling over as his breath wheezed in his throat.

Shepard turned his attention to the remaining two survivors, Anderson and Latham. The ex-Councillor’s legs pumped powerfully at the bridge below him, launching him across the final few yards towards the skycar. Latham was considerably slower, hindered by the injury to his shoulder. The Husks were only yards behind him, screeching and roaring as they closed the distance between them and him. Only a couple of yards from the skycar, they overtook him. He screamed as pale, dead fingers clawed at him, pulling him back from safety. A sniper rifle sounded out, and the heads of Husks to either side of the terrified governor exploded, but the main mass of the pallid creatures had caught up to him, and in seconds he had been dragged into the heart of the seething mass, his screams still loud.

Shepard closed his eyes to the grisly sight, activating the skycar’s engines and lifting away from the bridge as the Husks threatened to close in on it. The wheezing monsters waved their arms at the fleeing vehicle uselessly, unable to do anything but watch as Shepard steered the skycar away.

Inside, the exhausted Anderson flopped into the seat next to Shepard, breath still ragged from his headlong sprint to safety.

"Dramatic timing, as usual." He managed to gasp out.

"A little too late, if you ask Latham." Shepard said grimly, weaving the skycar in between several burning towers. "What happened to Captain Swift?"

"He stayed back to find a vantage point from where he could use his rifle to hold back the Husks." Anderson explained.

"Can we go back for him?" Shepard asked, unwilling to let the soldier be left behind.

"I don’t know where he went, and chances are we wouldn’t get close to him with all the enemies on the ground now." Anderson said firmly. "Our job is to make sure the Council gets back to the Citadel. We’ll need them if we’re to rally the Citadel fleets to retake Earth."

Shepard was silent for a moment, saddened at the loss of the young Captain. His willingness to sacrifice himself for the Council was admirable, and the Commander knew soldiers of that mettle would be in short supply in the months to come.

Moments later, the Normandy hove into view, Cargo Bay doors open and ready for the skycar’s return.

~o~0~o~


Back in orbit, Shepard returned to his post above the Galaxy Map.

"Joker, its well past time for us to leave. Set a course for the evacuation convoy. We’ll help Hackett get the refugees out of here."

"Message coming in from the Krakatoa, Commander." Joker informed him.

"Shepard, any news on the Council?" Hackett asked, anxiety in every word.

"I’ve got them, Admiral, and the Prime Minister, too."

"Good." Hackett’s voice was full of relief. "In the days ahead, the last thing the people will need is to lose the leaders they trust in."

"How goes the evacuation?" Shepard asked.

"Not good. A bunch of those damn machines have formed a blockade around the Relay. We’re getting ready to make a run for it, but we could lose a lot of ships this way."

"Any other options?"

"Seven years travelling between stars, in which time the Reapers will have a fair shot at the rest of the galaxy. At least this way, there’s a chance some of us will get through to warn the rest of the Milky Way."

"Then I guess we have to try it. Where do you want the Normandy?"

"On the frontline. It’ll do the rest of our forces good to see you leading the charge."

"Aye-aye, Admiral. Joker, stay in touch with the Krakatoa, follow Hackett’s directions."

The Galaxy Map flickered, becoming a holographic representation of the evacuation fleet. Countless small cargo transports, fuel tankers, private yachts and even a few tiny shuttles formed the core of the fleet, a massive flotilla that stretched over several hundred kilometres. Around them circled a variety of frigates, cruisers, gunships, carriers and even some short-range fighters, a protective screen for the civilian ships.

The Normandy wove its way to the front of the formation, taking a position alongside the Krakatoa, Hackett’s flagship. The fleet made its way towards the Charon Relay.

As the Relay came into view, Shepard understood why Hackett had hesitated to try running at it. Twelve Reapers hung in space between the fleet and the Relay, a barrier to their escape. Such a force would be more than a match for the entirety of Earth’s ships at full strength, much more so for a rag-tag fleet like this one.

Shepard noted that all of the ships at the fore of the convoy, aside from the Normandy, were cruisers and dreadnoughts, therefore every ship at the front of the formation was a ship outfitted with the new gravity cannon, and therefore much more powerful than the other ships. Having made a note of this, the Commander passed the word down to Garrus in the Gunnery control station to make sure the weapons were fully armed and ready to go.

The fleet drew closer to the blockade, and Shepard’s hands curled around the rail he stood at, combat gloves leaving indentations in the metal.

With a jolt, a massive flotilla of assorted ships dropped out of FTL speed around the Relay, instantly opening fire on the unsuspecting Reapers. Surprised at the sudden attack on their rear, the Reapers proved to be sluggish in reacting to the new threat, their defences taking a battering before they could return fire.

"Commander Shepard, this is the THV Allierax, of the Turian Hierarchy. The Shadow Broker sends his regards."

"Shepard, this is Captain Swindon of the Alliance freighter Sapphire Storm. An Illusive friend told us you might appreciate some help."

Shepard’s laugh barked out throughout the CIC, turning heads as he stood a little straighter, now eager for the fight ahead.

"This is Shepard of the Normandy. It’s good to see some friendly faces around here. This neighbourhood’s gone all to hell recently." He tapped out a command on his omnitool and brought up the Admiral’s channel. "Admiral Hackett, focus your ships on getting the refugees through to the Relay. We’ll hold the Reapers’ attention."

"Roger that, Commander. I’ll buy you and your friends a beer on Arcturus. Hackett out."

Shepard grinned, thinking that the Admiral may not be so ready to thank the new arrivals once he learned that half of them were affiliated with Cerberus, while the other half took their orders from the shady Shadow Broker network. Shaking his head in amusement, Shepard turned back to the task in hand.

The new arrivals, a motley assortment of armoured yachts, private gunships and stolen frigates, along with one dreadnought and a pair of fighter carriers, ploughed into the Reapers with gusto. Shepard caught sight of a few singularity cannons firing, clear evidence that the two networks were keeping up-to0-date with the latest developments that Shepard had provided the Alliance with.

Into the midst of this melee flew the Normandy, weapons firing furiously around her as her shields sparkled an intense blue from multiple hits. Shepard shouted orders to Joker, Garrus and EDI, directing the frigate where she was needed most in the battle.

Ships splintered under the intense fire of the Reapers, and pretty soon the space around the relay was filled with glittering shards of glowing metal. The radio channels were filled with shouted orders from captains to beleaguered crews, the cries of the wounded, or the sudden explosive demise of a ship or two. As one Reaper’s hull sparked and began to glow, the massive creature disappearing in a sudden explosion, the comm frequencies echoed with the triumphant cheers of the organic aggressors. This cheer turned to cries of dismay as the remaining Reapers, angered by the death of their fellow, intensified their fire, destroying a large cargo transport filled with screaming refugees.

Throughout the protracted battle for the Charon Relay, Hackett used his ships to screen small clusters of civilian transports to the Relay, his crews risking their lives again and again to ferry small knots of ships to safety. At last, the final group of civilian transports, consisting of a pair of small shuttles, a handful of cargo transports and a large fuel tanker, vanished in a streak of blue light, sent on their way to Arcturus.

"That’s the last of the civvies." Hackett’s voice sounded over the comms. "Everyone else, get the hell out of there."

The remaining ships, a battered, sorry collection of vessels, pushed their way past the Reapers to get to the relay, vanishing in clusters of ten or twenty ships. At last, the Admiral’s flagship vanished along with the remaining handful of Shadow broker ships, and only the Normandy remained.

"Hit it, Joker!" Shepard ordered.

The fragile pilot complied, activating the ship’s eezo core and propelling her out of the Sol system.

As the exhausted crew breathed a collective sigh of relief, Shepard slumped over the railing above the Galaxy Map, looking at the image of the system he had left behind. A feeling of emptiness stole over him as he realised what had taken place. The Reapers had taken Earth.

[fainmaca]

Chapter 21: Regrouping


"The extranet is abuzz today with news of the shocking invasion of the Sol system. Systems Alliance forces were forced to retreat from the system as an as yet unknown enemy attacked the Human homeworld of Earth. Admiral Hackett of the Alliance’s Fifth Fleet led the military forces in the defence of the system, but after sustaining heavy losses, the human fleets were forced to flee to Arcturus station, where they are now attempting to regroup.

"The question on everybody’s mind is, who are these mysterious attackers? As of yet, nothing is known about the hostile force. Many fingers are pointing to the Batarian Hegemony, a political entity known to harbour hostile feelings towards the Systems Alliance. Others say that the sheer firepower necessary to occupy such a prominent planet is well beyond the capabilities of the Batarians, or any civilisation we know of. Some refer to ancient legends of destructive beings that sweep across the Galaxy, wiping out sentient life in a regular cycle. With me now is Ba’ash Heram, of the Batarian Church of Ganoszh, Hulix Vrenan of Turian xenoscience firm Nimbus Industries, and Keline Madresh, a representative of the Hanar Illuminated Primacy."

The Asari reporter turned to her guests, a glowering Batarian, a stiff-backed Turian and a nervous Drell. She leaned back comfortably on the couch, a posture meant to encourage the others to relax a little.

"So, Honoured Ba’ash, you believe that this is the work of supernatural forces?" She asked, her voice holding enough respect to not cause offence while still maintaining a slightly mocking tone. The Batarian nodded enthusiastically.

"Correct. It has been apparent to the Hegemony since day one that these Humans are nothing more than petty thugs toting their guns and their mechs. For too long have they spread their impurity through the Galaxy, denying honest-hearted Batarians a home among the stars, and now their retribution has come down upon them with the rage of a thousand dying suns."

"Only three hundred thousand Human civilians were rescued from the system before the relay went silent. Three hundred thousand out of twelve billion. Do you not think that is a little… extreme, even for vengeful deities?"

"Three hundred thousand of the pure flock died at the hands of the Spectre Shepard on Aratoht." Ba’ash said primly. "It is fitting that only a like number should escape from the homeworld of the Murderer of Bahak. In this way, the gods show us that the Batarians will be avenged, no matter the injustices they must suffer."

"Indeed." The Asari said, swiftly shifting her focus to the Turian, Hulix. "Mister Vrenan, your organisation postulates that this attack is the result of Humans stumbling across a volatile and until now undiscovered race beyond the reaches of known space."

"Yes." Hulix said stiffly. "Humans are always poking their noses into places they do not belong. Why, the Relay 314 Incident was a direct result of a Turian patrol finding the first Human explorers fumbling with a locked Relay. It was only a matter of time before their inquisitive nature got the better of them. The Humans have a rather quaint expression that describes this: ‘curiosity killed the feline’. In this case, it invoked the wrath of a virulent enemy, and now they are paying the price."

"Mister Vrenan, you were most vocal in your opposition of the Hierarchy’s decision to compensate Humanity for losses suffered in the First Contact War, were you not?"

"Indeed I was. The Hierarchy was only acting in the best interests of the Citadel when they opened fire on the Humans/"

"Thank you. Now, Mister Madresh, you are here to represent the Illuminated Primacy. What is the Hanar’s stance on the Sol situation?"

"The Humans have never embraced the truth of the Enkindlers. They cannot, therefore, call upon their benevolence to protect them." The Drell said slowly, voice clipped.

"The Hanar believe this to be the result of a spiritual failing on Humanity’s part?" The Asari asked pointedly.

"Not… directly." Keline said carefully. "But rather a consequence of their being… misguided."

"Thank you for your comments." The Asari said brusquely. She turned back to the camera. "All of this, of course, closely followed the high-profile trial of Commander Shepard, formerly of the Systems Alliance and Spectre to the Citadel Council. Shepard was brought up before a court on the charges of…"

Shepard’s attention drifted as the Asari’s voice droned on, the massive image hovering over the display cabinet opposite his bed flickering as the Normandy hummed, the ship going through a routine core discharge.

The Commander was sprawled back on the bed, his armour in a pile on the coffee table while his guns, still not cleaned from their recent outing, were scattered about on the floor. The bed’s sheets were in a tangled mess at the foot of the bed, tied in knots by the Commander’s fitful slumber.

Shepard lazily waved his omnitool at the screen, lowering the volume of the news show as the Asari’s voice really began to grate on his nerves, continuously insinuating that the loss of Earth was, somehow, his fault. He groaned, lowering his head back onto his pillow.

The door to the cabin hissed open and shut again, followed closely by the sound of a pair of booted feet clunking their way to the steps down past his ‘office’ and into the living area of the cabin. Shepard lifted his head with an effort to see Jack stepping over his discarded weapons. The tattooed biotic stepped over to the bed, quietly lowering herself to sit on it. She half-turned to look at the Commander, a worried look in her eyes. The pair sat like that for a moment, Shepard enjoying just having her close.

"The whole crew’s worried about you, Commander. Ain’t seen you around for two days now." Jack started. "Not that seeing you would do them much good. The face fungus doesn’t suit you, Commander. You look like **** warmed up."

Shepard tried to chuckle at her little joke, but his chest refused to give the laugh any sincerity. She smiled at him for trying.

"It hits you hard, don’t it, seeing how easily they can get at what matters to you." Jack continued. "I may not have lived there, hell I never even visited, but Earth meant something, y’know? Its more than where any one person came from, its where we’ve all come from."

"It’s just… how can we fight them, when we’ve already lost our homeworld?" Shepard asked a little helplessly. "When I was chasing Saren, when we were going after the Collectors, I was always thinking, ‘I’m doing this to keep them from getting to Earth. As long as the Earth’s okay, I’ll gladly pay any price to stop them’. But now, what’s left of Humanity? A few colonies, and a fleet full of refugees."

"Yeah, it’s ****ed up, I’ll give you that. But what about Palaven, or Thessia, or Tuchanka? You gonna sit here and mope and let ‘em do it to someone else? ‘Cause those are the stakes right now. I can’t remember where I came from, but I know that I’ll lose it if I don’t stand and fight. So maybe you’re not fighting for Earth anymore. So what? Fight to protect all the other Earths out there.

"All I can say is, I ain’t living the rest of my life like some gyppo Quarian, never setting foot on another planet. Besides, if I had to wear one of those damn suits, how’d I make sure people could see my ink?"

This time, Shepard’s laugh was a little more genuine. After a moment, Jack joined him, her lighter chuckle mingling with his deeper laugh. In the midst of this, Shepard rolled into a sitting position on the bed, suddenly leaning forwards and grabbing Jack.

"Gyah! What the ****, Shepard?!" She cried out as he pulled her into a tight embrace, turning her so her back was pressed to his chest. She resisted for a moment before allowing herself to mould into his frame.

The pair sat like that for several long seconds, leaning into one another. They looked at the holo-screen, still displaying the news programme. As they watched, the Asari’s pleasant smile was replaced by a video. With a lurch of recognition and a groan of dread, Shepard realised that he was looking at what was left of his little ‘chat’ with Miss al-Jilani. As they watched, an image of Shepard sent the reporter tumbling away with a powerful punch to the jaw. The vid was repeated at a slower speed, carefully mapping the instant the Commander had launched the attack.

"They definitely got your good side in that shot, though I’m not so sure about the slow-mo replay. Seems a bit over the top." Jack commented casually.

"And that’s the image that the entire Galaxy’s looking at, right now." Shepard said despairingly.

"Eh, she probably deserved it. I hear that Jilani chick ain’t too popular. Even once saw a Volus lay her out. How annoying do you gotta be before one of them gets pissed enough to take a swing at you?"

"Depends if it was our friend from Illium or not." Shepard muttered. "The Great Wind, remember him?"

"Oh yeah!" Jack chuckled. "The sorry little ****er could hardly ****** straight, let alone use his amp properly."

Shepard sighed, feeling the strains of the past week fall away like a literal burden dropping off his back. He leaned back, holding Jack close, willing for the moment to last forever.

The couple’s moment of peace was interrupted by an insistent chime from EDI’s interface.

"Commander, the Council requests your presence." She intoned softly.

"Can’t we have just five minutes?" Shepard groaned.

"It’s the price you pay for being such a ****ing boy scout." Jack smiled, her lips briefly brushing his cheek. She stood up, extracting herself from the Commander’s grasp. She turned and headed for the door.

Behind her, Shepard rolled into a sitting position, wearily rubbing at his face.

"Have Joker set a course for Arcturus station, EDI." He called out to the ship. "Tell the Council I’ll be there soon."

~o~0~o~


Twenty minutes later, Shepard strode through the CIC, wearing his neatly pressed Alliance uniform and rubbing at a clean-shaven chin. As he walked up the corridor towards the cockpit, Joker announced over the ship’s speakers that they had just docked with Arcturus station, the large space station located close to the Arcturus Relay, twinned with the Charon Relay in the Sol System.

Shepard stepped into the Normandy’s airlock, nodding to the pilot as he walked by, and dialled the code to leave the ship. The airlock hissed, and the outer door opened, allowing Shepard to step out onto Arcturus Station.

The station had taken a beating over the past few days. As the Reapers had blazed their way through to the Relay and the Sol System beyond, the Alliance garrison stationed there had done its best to stop them, but the Human ships had been horribly outclassed, and now the majority of those ships were so much debris drifting in orbit around the Relay. The station itself was very much worse for wear, with entire modules burst open by the Reapers’ weaponry, most of the secondary systems had overloaded, and the station was running on auxiliary power. As Shepard entered the docking module, he had to move out of the way of a bustling crew of techs, rushing to perform some repair or another.

The Commander strode through the chaos, making his way to the administration hub near the centre of the station. He walked through what had been stark white corridors, immaculately maintained, but were now cluttered, dark passages as cleanliness gave way to the more pressing need to keep the station from going dark.

Shepard made his way to the station’s centre, finally wending his way to the control centre, from whence the rest of the station was monitored. The Council was gathered there, along with Amul Shastri and David Anderson. They were busily conversing with Admiral Hackett via a holographic display, the Admiral remaining on his flagship out on patrol around the Relay, ready for any sign of Reaper movement. The cluster of politicians turned at Shepard’s approach, Anderson and Fahos’ faces lighting up in a welcoming expression while Udina and Velarn remained openly hostile. Shastri and Tevos’ faces were unreadable.

"Commander." Hackett said from his screen. "Glad that you could make it."

"Any news from Sol?" Shepard asked immediately.

"Nothing. No Reapers, and no further survivors. We tried to send some probes through, but the Relay’s no longer responding. They’ve sealed themselves in the system."

"Which is bad news for us." Anderson said. "If we can’t get to them, we can’t stop them from building another Relay to Dark Space."

"There must be some way to override the Relay’s controls." Shepard pondered.

"We’re working on it." Anderson said. "Several teams of scientists are crawling across its surface, trying to find some way to open it up."

"We need to regroup." Hackett said. "Our forces are scattered and, without a homeworld, we have nowhere to rally to."

"Any and all Human refugees are welcome on the Citadel." Tevos said graciously. "It is the least we can do to repay the Alliance for their part in the Battle of the Citadel."

"Your kindness is much appreciated, Councillor." Anderson said tactfully. "But I think we need to pick a world of our own to gather on. The Citadel is liable to become a target when the Reapers choose to strike. It lies at the heart of the Relay network, and would be key to any attempt to control the Mass Relays. You need to shore up your defences, not burden yourselves with what’s left of our people."

"Elysium has ever been a stronghold of Humanity." Shastri suggested. "We could gather our people there, concentrate our forces."

"A sensible suggestion." Hackett agreed. "I’ll leave a garrison here to watch for Reaper activity, along with a small fleet of frigates, carriers and a pair of dreadnoughts. That should be enough to stop a single Reaper. Should any more come through from Sol, they’ll be given instructions to retreat. In these dire times, we can’t afford for any of our forces to throw their lives away in a battle that’s already lost."

"Given the crushing blow that Earth’s loss will deal to the Alliance, Humanity will be seen by many as a weak target." Fahos cautioned. "This is a time for bureaucracy to step forwards. We’ll need to reaffirm political relations to ensure that certain factions don’t choose to exploit this opportunity."

"We’ve got the Hegemony threatening to invade our colonies, now that they think we’ve got no armed forces left." Hackett elaborated. "And pirate and slaver attacks will increase now they need not fear an Alliance reprisal."

"What do you need me to do?" Shepard asked, eager to help.

"As the only Human Spectre, you are a figure the Alliance will be looking to in the coming conflict. We need you out there, visibly doing something to prepare for when we try to retake Earth." Anderson explained. "Use your network of contacts to find anything to give Humanity an edge over the Reapers, be it technological, diplomatic or material."

"The Council will endeavour to do what it can to render assistance." Fahos promised. "You already have your status as a Spectre to call upon, along with the resources that entails."

"Thank you." Shepard nodded. "Its good to have the Council’s support once more."

"Just make sure that you put these resources to the proper use." Velarn said sternly. "It is your duty to ensure that your actions are in the best interests of the Citadel and its member races."

"Ah, yes. The ‘best interests’ of the races of the Citadel." Shepard shot back sarcastically, raising his fingers in the ‘air quotes’ gesture. "So tell me, how were you acting in the ‘best interests’ of those you represent when you ignored the threat these Reapers posed?"

"Gentlemen," Hackett interjected sternly as Velarn spluttered, groping for a response. "Now is not the time. We need to work together."

Velarn closed his mouth, huffing obstinately at the rebuke.

"Commander, you have free reign to act as you see fit to prepare for an attack upon the Reapers." Fahos said gravely. "If it is as you say and many more Reapers will arrive should the new Relay be completed, then it is imperative that we stop them."

"I understand." Shepard saluted. With that, he turned and left the politicians to debate what their own organisations would do next.

~o~0~o~


Back aboard the Normandy, Shepard strode purposefully through the Command Deck. He stepped out of the corridor into the CIC proper to see Joker standing at the head of the Galaxy Map, chatting with Kelly. As the Commander approached, the pair finished their conversation and Joker turned, almost bumping into Shepard.

"Whoa, sorry ‘bout that, Commander. Didn’t see you there." The fragile pilot said, his voice a little hollow.

"Joker, you okay?"

"Yeah just a little… you know? I mean, Earth was home."

"I understand." Shepard nodded. "I reckon everyone’s a little shell-shocked right now."

"We’re gonna show the bastards, though, aren’t we?"

"You know me, Joker." Shepard chuckled. "Never was one to be outdone in a pissing contest."

Joker laughed, clutching at a tender rib as he nearly doubled over, his Vrolik’s Syndrome proving particularly troublesome that day.

"Ha-ugh!" He coughed. "So, any word on where we’re headed?"

"Not yet. I’m gonna check in with Liara, see if she’s got any more leads for me to follow up."

"Hey, ask her if there’s any planets full of cheerleaders she needs us to go check out. It’s a rough job, but I’ll heroically volunteer."

"I’ll keep that in mind, Joker." Shepard said, shaking his head in amusement as he turned to walk away, patting his old friend on the arm.

The Commander’s first port of call was the crew deck. He stepped out of the elevator with a purposeful stride, making his way to the starboard side of the Crew Mess and the Med Bay.

Inside, Mordin was busily checking various pieces of equipment he had assembled. The elderly Salarian looked up at the sound of the doors opening, and shot a happy smile towards the Commander. Behind him, Revenant could be seen resting on one of the beds in the Bay.

"Shepard! Just in time! Was about to test latest project, needed volunteer. Unnecessary to go looking for one now that you are present. That is, if you are willing to ‘step up to the plate’?"

"What’s it do?" Shepard asked cautiously, remembering the numerous times EDI had calmly informed the crew to don hazmat equipment after the scientist’s experiments.

"Was investigating method to increase muscle mass of patients through use of nanites. Similar to Alliance gene therapy procedure, but much faster, and results are more pronounced. Believe am now ready to advance to trials upon living test subjects."

"Are you sure it will be compatible with what Cerberus used to put me back together?" Shepard asked, growing nervous.

"Complications always a possibility, but cannot be sure until we try." Mordin smiled broadly

"I… think I’ll pass, thanks all the same." Shepard said awkwardly.

"A shame. Perhaps next time." The Salarian’s tone suggested that he was far from disappointed. "In meantime, can always ask Joker. Not a viable test subject, but his reaction to risk of becoming one is always fulfilling to watch."

Mordin sniffed, one of his furtive mannerisms.

"Was there… anything else?" He asked.

"Got a minute to talk?"

"Certainly. Just finishing diagnostics, so have time to spare. Was actually just about to take a break."

"That’s not something I often hear from you."

"Salarian metabolism encourages us to be active for thirty Earth-standard hours, followed by just over an hour’s sleep. We do not like to sit still." Mordin tinkered with his omnitool. "Laziness is considered unacceptable in our society, to the point where a Salarian with nothing to do will experience feelings of frustration and discomfort."

"That’s why you said you don’t experience emotions like other species."

"Not exactly. Still experience emotions, adrenal glands and other chemical components of our physiology affect our brain chemistry just like other species. We are not the Geth, Commander. We do not allow Logic to rule over all. Rather, we process these chemical triggers much faster than other species, allowing us to ‘get over’ certain emotions before they can truly imprint upon our minds. This is why Salarian courtship is nothing more than a contractual agreement."

"There must be some experiences that shape you. Otherwise, what drives you?"

"Extended contact with the source of certain emotions can allow an imprint in our minds. Foremost example would be our emotional bond to our Dalatrasses, our mothers. Extended time in contact with these individuals forms the parent-offspring bond that is so strong in our culture." The Salarian looked about a little uneasily. "Other triggers can form deep impressions upon us, such as an intense battle or the loss of one we deem close."

"Anything that you feel made you who you are today?" Shepard asked, curious about what could have had such an impact on the aloof Salarian.

"Have told you of my work on Tuchanka, one of the foremost experiences that weighs upon my life. In comparison, very few experiences have an impact of equal import."

"Last time we talked, you made mention of one of your team-mates, a female called Sietra."

Mordin sighed, powering down his omnitool.

"Assumed that you would wish to know more of her. Was reluctant earlier, painful memory, difficult to relive. Can only be thankful that I am not a Drell, and am spared experiencing these moments in anything more powerful than as a distant memory."

"What was she like?" Shepard pushed.

"As I said, very intelligent. Not many in Galaxy that can match wits with me in relation to genetic theory, but Sietra had a gift. She had green eyes that any Dalatrass would have been fortunate to be graced with, and would have been considered attractive by most standards." Mordin chuckled. "She was witty. Recall that, on one occasion, Blavenn and Sietra argued over an aspect of the Genophage project. Blavenn was attempting to assert his authority over the rest of the team in Kirrahe’s absence. Sietra brought up subject of Blavenn’s ancestry, indicating that as he hailed from Jaeto, he should watch his toes!"

Shepard looked on with a bemused expression as the Salarian barked our a few sharp laughs. Mordin chuckled for a few moments before catching his confused look and feel silent, coughing a little awkwardly.

"Joke of course loses impact once translated into Human languages. Meaning in original Mannovai-dialect Salarian is much more pointed." He shook his head, dismissing the failed attempt at humour. "Regardless, Sietra was a remarkable female."

"You sound so sad when you say that." Shepard commented. "What happened between you?"

Mordin paced about for a few seconds before halting before one of the beds in the Med Bay, placing his hands on the footrest and leaning forwards to put his weight onto it.

"During our work to modify the Genophage, Sietra and I… developed an attachment to one another. This, of course, was prohibited. Sietra’s family had agreed to a bonding contract between her and a prominent politician on the colony of Jedrun."

"So what did you do?"

"At first, we agreed that our relationship could progress no further. She belonged to another, and I had no real pedigree to negotiate for her with her family.

"We continued our work on the Genophage, endeavouring to ignore our feelings. This… proved futile. Knew we were failing to remain indifferent, and eventually spoke to her concerning it."

"How did that turn out?"

"We argued, things became heated. Team stability was compromised by our distraction.

"On mission to deliver the modified Genophage to certain drop sites, team encountered several Krogan patrols. Our presence was discovered, and within moments entire team was surrounded. During ensuing gunfight, Sietra failed to spot Krogan approaching from the flank."

Mordin’s eyes closed in pain.

"Took shotgun blast to side at point-blank range. Was no way to save her. Death was instantaneous."

"I’m sorry for your loss." Shepard said, walking over to place a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Seen many dead in my career, from Krogan bodies on the battlefield to Plague victims on Omega. But seeing her corpse… Nothing compares." Tears glistened in his large eyes. "Last words I said to her were… unkind, to say the least. Had I refrained from voicing my desires, she would have survived."

"You can’t know that." Shepard stressed.

"Sietra was not focused, Commander. Distracted by emotional stimuli. My fault."

"Nothing can change what happened, Mordin. What matters is how you let it affect you."

"Easy to say, Shepard. Much harder to implement." Mordin sniffed deeply. "Must get back to my duties, Commander. Will talk later."

The Salarian pushed past Shepard, leaving the Med Bay. Shepard hesitated, wanting to follow his friend, but unsure of what he’d say. He decided that it would be better for Mordin to have some space for now.

The Commander turned to the back of the Med Bay, where the Revenant had sat up in his bed, watching the proceedings with a careful eye. Shepard walked over to stand next to him.

"Shepard," The Collector nodded. "What do you require?"

"Just checking how you’re doing. You’ve been through a fair amount these past few days."

"I’m recovering, Commander. Dr Archer has been most vigilant in his ministrations." He breathed heavily. "I also feel a lot clearer in my mind, as though some obstacle to my memories has been lifted."

"Could be that the chunk of circuitry the Doctor pulled out of your skull was somehow limiting your ability to access your memories." Shepard reasoned. "If it was what the Reapers used to possess your people, it would make sense that they’d design it to inhibit your ability to access your people’s memories."

"It makes sense. The images that spring into my mind have become more coherent since Harbinger’s message. I feel as though I am on the precipice of understanding now."

"Anything in particular that comes to your mind?" Shepard asked, his curiosity bubbling over.

"I can see flashes of a Prothean world. The same one that I saw before, with the two moons and the city? It held some significance to my people before they fell. Whenever I see it, I feel… hope. I think the Protheans had a facility there that they hoped to use to preserve our species. With images of any other world, I feel loss, despair, and then I see the cities in flames, with Reapers striding about across the planets, raining destruction down upon any in their path. But with this planet, I see no such devastation."

"And you have no idea where this is?"

"Not yet. I hope to decipher it." The Collector shifted uncertainly on his bed. "I’ll need to spend some more time meditating upon the memories of my ancestors."

"I should go, then." Shepard said, turning to leave.

"Shepard?" The Commander paused at the Collector’s call. "I am sorry about your home. I swear I will do whatever I can to help you save your people from the same fate as mine."

"Thank you." Shepard said, a knot in his throat.

~o~0~o~


Leaving the Med Bay behind, Shepard stalked through the Mess Hall to get to the elevator. As he passed the tables that dominated this section of the ship, he saw the grizzled Sergeant Rupert Gardner scrubbing away at one of the tables industriously. As the Commander approached, the Sergeant looked up, saluting with a grimy cloth.

"Commander. What can I do for ya?" He said chirpily.

"Rupert." Shepard acknowledged his salute with a nod. "Everything going well down here?"

"As good as you’d expect. Just got a nice big shipment of quality supplies from Arcturus, should keep the grunts happy for a while. Not much in the way of alien food, so I reckon your specialists will need to dig up their own supplies from somewhere. Though most of ‘em can eat Human grub, I get the feeling they don’t care for it."

"Have you ever tried other species’ food?" Shepard asked curiously.

"Once or twice." Rupert shrugged as he attacked a particularly stubborn glob of some substance or another. "The Asari make some nice sweet foods, but half of it is too sickly for most Humans. Salarians always make their food bland. They eat to live, and feel that us other species live to eat. The one’s you’ve got to look out for are those Krogan dishes. They’ll eat at your stomach lining, and that’s no joke!

"I even tried that chirality reversal treatment a few months back, during our last stopover on the Citadel. Back when they were still working the kinks out of it."

"Really?" Shepard was surprised. The unusual culinary experience was quite expensive, and definitely a rare treat.

"Cerberus wasn’t stingy with our hazard pay when we were hunting down Collectors, Commander. And without having to pay for room and board, I was soon able to save up a fair bit. I thought to hell with it, I’m cook on this boat, I need to make sure I know what I’m doing if I ever have to cook for our non-human crew, Quarians and Turians included."

"And? What was it like?"

"Frankly, the stuff tastes like it’s already been eaten once. But that’s what Human tastebuds will tell you. Dextro-based ones might say different. But, it gave me a new look at what Garrus or young Tali’Zorah eats." He straightened, pushing at the stiffness in his lower back. "But I hardly think you want to chat about Quarian cupcakes, Commander. What’s on your mind?"

"I’m wondering how the crew’s doing. We’ve been through a lot these past few days."

"Well, my stocks in the Port Lounge are getting hit pretty hard, but that’s to be expected. We’ve got a lot of Earthborn on board. Yourself included, if I’m not mistaken." He raised an eyebrow, but Shepard didn’t rise to the question. "Anyway, even those from the colonies will take this as a knock to their confidence. Earth’s more than some rock in space, it’s what Humanity is."

"You don’t seem to be letting it get you down, Rupert." Shepard commented.

"I’m a frontier man, Commander. I’m not as attached to that old boulder as most others. Besides, one of us has to keep a positive outlook. If we’re all doom ‘n’ gloom, then the Normandy’ll sink fast when it comes down to the end. I’m just trying to keep our spirits up, Shepard." Rupert said earnestly.

"I understand. Thank you, Rupert." Shepard nodded. "Carry on."

"Can do, Shepard." Rupert said, leaning back into his work. Shepard smiled as he walked away.

The Commander made his way to the elevator and was about to punch the code for the next deck when he noticed movement in the corner of his eye. He turned to look towards the Starboard Observation Lounge and saw that the doors were open. Beyond, the viewport glimmered from the light of the stars behind it. The Lounge itself was dimly lit, just enough for Shepard to make out the figure standing before the view into emptiness.

Etarn turned as the Commander walked in, his four eyes opening slowly from an expression of deep thought. He gave Shepard as small smile.

"Shepard." He nodded.

"Etarn." Shepard returned the gesture. "How are you?"

"I am well, Commander." The Batarian replied. "I find this view… inspiring. I have never spent much time contemplating the Galaxy, or my place in it."

"Your work takes up too much of your time?" Shepard asked.

"Not so much, no. I simply have never faced such strong evidence that we’re not as big and important as we once thought. These Reapers put our achievements into perspective."

"They’re tough, but we’ll be better." Shepard said confidently. "I mean, think about the value the Krogan had during the Rachni wars, and they’re still considered primitive today."

"You are correct. The measure of a species is not entirely determined by their scientific development. Otherwise the Salarians would have left us all in the dust by now. Nor is it determined by culture and art, or we’d all be repressed under the heels of the Asari." Etarn folded his arms behind his back, taking up a comfortable, straight-backed stance as he stared at the glittering stars. Shepard stood next to him, feeling a peace come from the vast expanse before him.

"I… wanted to thank you. For your actions on Earth." Shepard began awkwardly. "Without you the crew would still be in a cell in London while I’d be halfway to Hegemony space and the waiting hands of Gorm’s lackeys."

"It was the right thing to do. I could not allow you to be sealed away in some pit on Khar’Shan while this threat to our Galaxy drew so near. After everything I have seen while in your company, how could I hold back from acting?"

"I’m surprised you haven’t borne more hatred for me than you’ve shown, actually. After Aratoht, the last thing I'd have expected would be to find a friend and ally in a Batarian."

"You view me as a friend?" The Batarian sounded a little amused. "The upper castes of Khar’Shan would laugh to hear such a thing."

"I’ve been meaning to ask you about-"

"You wish to understand my feelings with regards to the demise of the Bahak system." Etarn stated rather than asked. "I was expecting to have this conversation with you. Come, be seated."

The pair walked over to the nearest couch, where Etarn sat with his elbows balanced carefully on his knees so he could steeple his fingers before his face, while Shepard’s posture was more tense, his torso leaning forwards while his hands pushed into the couch on either side of him. The Batarian’s face remained staring straight ahead while the Commander turned to look at the side-on profile of his comrade’s face.

"If you had asked me even a moment ago what my feelings were on what your politicians refer to as the ‘Aratoht incident’, I would have spouted venomous words and called for your blood to be spilled on the bulkheads of the Eye of Torla’kht. Three hundred thousand of my kin died in that system’s fiery end.

"However, recent events have opened my eyes to the circumstances you faced. And after what I have been witness to aboard this ship, I know you to be an honourable being."

"I’m sorry, the eye of what?"

"Torla’kht. It is an important structure in our society. Perhaps I will elaborate at a different time."

"Alright." Shepard conceded. "So what recent events made you realise I wasn’t all that bad?"

"A close family member of mine, a favoured cousin, was present in the Bahak system on that fateful day. He was captain of a small freighter responsible for ferrying supplies to the colony. He was due back home less than a week later, but did not arrive. Soon after he was due to return, we began to hear of the destruction of the system’s Relay and everything within several light-years of it."

"I’m sorry for your loss." Shepard said sincerely. "But I don’t see how this would make you think any better of me."

"Only a short time ago, just before I began to campaign for peace with the Alliance, his ship returned. He was alive, and had a strange tale to tell.

"On his way to the colony, he noted that a large asteroid had begun to stray from its normal course. It did not take him long to realise that it was set to collide with the Relay. Moments later, a strange, yet familiar voice sounded out over all channels, trying to get a warning out to the colony. Before any message of sufficient length could be sent, the voice was silenced, cut off mid-sentence. However, it was just enough of a warning for my cousin to realise that he had to leave, immediately. He released the cargo module of his ship, dumping the supplies into space, and set a course for the Relay.

"Mere moments after he began the jump to faster-than-light travel, the Relay was destroyed, causing his jump to go awry. He was deposited several light-years from the nearest usable Mass Relay, low on supplies and lacking any way to communicate what he had seen to the rest of the Hegemony.

"Months later, he returned, after a long, dark journey through unsettled space. As he told me his tale, I knew that it had not been your wish to destroy the colony. I had thought that perhaps the destruction of the Relay had been an accident you had wished to avoid, or at least that you were there to get the warning out of the impending doom, whether it had been the result of an accident or a Human scheme.

"Of course, after my time aboard the Normandy, I realise that you sought to delay the Reapers."

"If they’d taken the Bahak system, they’d have been able paralyse the Galaxy. Nobody would have been able to use the Mass Relay network." Shepard explained.

"No doubt Aratoht’s sacrifice bought us valuable time which we can now put to use saving lives. After all, without your achievements these past few weeks, we would never have managed to find and destroy the Relay. And if they had descended upon Aratoht, they would have found three hundred thousand Batarians to transform into their thralls." Etarn blinked all four of his eyes at once, not looking at Shepard for a second. "I despair over the loss of my kin, Commander. That is something no amount of justification can change. But I understand the need of the moment, and I respect you for being able to shoulder the burden of such a decision. To carry all of those lives upon one’s conscience cannot be an easy task."

"It’s not." Shepard agreed. "And you never forget when you’ve failed to save everyone you could. But I have to think about those who will live now because I made the choice."

"I would expect no less of the hero of the Citadel." Etarn smiled before standing suddenly. "I have taken enough of your time, Commander. Perhaps we can speak another time."

"I’d enjoy that." Shepard said, standing up as well. The two comrades faced one another, sharing a solemn moment of understanding before the Batarian nodded, turned and left the room. Shepard turned back to the viewport for a few precious, silent moments, drinking in the vacuum before him and enjoying the peace of the moment.

~o~0~o~


Shepard’s next port of call was the Engineering deck, where a clamour drew his gaze to the Port cargo hold. Shouts could be heard, though there were no sounds of any real struggle. Shepard heard a roar escaping from between Krogan teeth and realised that, if Grunt was involved, then heads were likely about to be broken. He hurried to the closed door, waiting anxiously as it hissed open.

Inside the Cargo Hold, he saw a small cluster of crewmen gathered around a single large crate. The surface of the crate had been cleared and, standing to either side of it, Zaeed and Grunt leaned across it, their hands locked together as they strained to best one another in an arm-wrestling contest. The seasoned mercenary’s eyes were almost popping out of his head as his face turned a deep scarlet, his clenched fist shaking as it battled the Krogan’s relentless power. Grunt, oddly enough, seemed to be having some difficulty beating the Human. His teeth were bared and his eyes had narrowed to thin slits of startling blue.

"Come on Zaeed, you old bastard! Show the alien who’s boss!" The shout came from one of the gathered crew, watching the contest intently.

"Grunt’s got this in the bag." Came a confident reply from the other side of the group.

The banter continued in this way throughout the tense moments of the match. Muscles bulged and rolled underneath skin stretched to its limit. Veins throbbed in the combatants’ upper arms as their blood almost audibly pulsed through their systems.

With a sudden crash, the contest was over. The intertwined fists thumped down onto the crate’s hard surface, and all was still for a moment before the crew surged forwards to congratulate the winner. Grunt took a step back from the battlefield, rubbing at his fist, as Zaeed basked in the adulation of his comrades. Some of the crew looked to the Krogan with a measure of concern, clearly worried that he would turn out to be a bad loser. They were surprised, therefore, when the huge alien’s face split in a wide grin.

"Hah! Good fight, Massani." He nodded his head gracefully. Zaeed, showing an uncommon amount of tact, merely nodded back, refraining from bragging or rubbing the Krogan’s nose in his defeat.

The gathered crew slowly filed out, still chattering excitedly about the match, eventually leaving only Grunt, Zaeed and Shepard. The mercenary strutted across the room, taking a seat atop one of the crates there, while Grunt lounged against the windows overlooking the main Cargo Hold. As the last of the crew filed out, the pair seemed to notice the Commander standing at the door for the first time.

"Shepard!" Zaeed called warmly. "Care to take a crack at the title?"

"Not today." Shepard said, smiling. "I think I’ll practice a bit more before I take on the man who can out-wrestle a Krogan."

"That’s rich, coming from the Commander who has killed at least a thousand Krogan with nothing more than a handgun."

"Not to mention Warlords Uvenk and Guld." Grunt added from his side of the Hold. "And the Thresher Maw. And-"

"Alright, alright. I’m a badass, I get it." Shepard said, before laughing out loud, swiftly being joined by his two friends. "Just came to see what the noise was about. Thought Grunt might be tearing the ship a new one."

"Eh, Tiny’s been behaving himself." Zaeed said, leaning back with his hands interlocked behind his head. "I’ve been making sure of that."

"Hah! You talk big, Human, but you know I could snap you like a twig."

"Try it then, you overgrown lizard."

"If I did, I’d be stuck with the company of the Turian, or that Alliance poster boy Alenko. They’re no fun. Altogether too slow to blow something up just for the hell of it."

"I’m starting to think it’s a bad idea to let you two hang out." Shepard chuckled. "It feels like I’m holding a candle next to a barrel of gunpowder."

"Don’t get your panties in a wad, Tracy. We’ll save it for those metal bastards, don’t you worry." Zaeed quipped.

"Glad to hear it."

"Anyway, I’m gonna go get a beer or something. See you around, lads." Zaeed said as he stood, stretching his arms as he strode purposefully out of the Hold. Much to Shepard’s amusement, as soon as the old soldier had walked out of sight of the Krogan, but just before the hissing doors hid him from the Commander’s view, the grizzled mercenary reached up and rubbed his shoulder, wincing at the pain.

Grunt paced across the Hold, working his own shoulder after the exertion. Shepard folded his arms across his chest, raising a questioning eyebrow.

"I’m surprised he got the better of you in that match." He commented.

"He might be small, but he knows how to use his strength to get things done." Grunt said slowly. "I respect that. Knowing just the right way to lean, how to use your opponent’s strength to defeat him, is just as important as having the strength in the first place."

"Good to see that you’re learning." Shepard commended. "It helps to study how others win their fights. Let’s you know the best ways to win your own. Sometimes you’ve got to think like someone else to find the best way forwards."

"I understand." Grunt nodded eagerly, his voice full of excitement at what he was learning. "When I was in the tank, Okeer tried to teach me how to fight, but he only ever spoke of the ways the Krogan used in war. Of course, he taught me of the tactics of other species, but only to defend against them, never to use them myself. I guess it would have strayed too far from his ideal of a ‘perfect Krogan’, contaminated it with alien thinking. But I see now. The way to be the best I can is to grow beyond Krogan strategies, to learn how to scheme like a Salarian, how to disrupt like a Human, how to hold strong like a Turian."

"But at the same time, you can’t forget what you are. There was a reason why the Galaxy needed the Krogan during the Rachni Wars."

"Yes." Grunt readily agreed. "We were needed for our brute strength. But we were so much more. And the Galaxy learned this. It was only after the genius of warlords like Lertron, Ragjall and Ferindur that the Turians realised we were to be feared."

"I’ve never heard of them." Shepard commented.

"I’m not surprised." Grunt chuckled. "They were very dangerous Krogan. The Council races don’t like to mention them because their stories make the Salarians and Turians look weak, and we don’t talk about them with outsiders because they’re a part of our history, no one else’s."

"I never realised. I won’t ask you about them then."

"Shepard, you’re my krannt! That makes you practically family. You’ve certainly proved yourself to be ten times the Krogan most of my kin show themselves to be. It would be an honour to tell you about the Krogan who had such an impact on my people."

"Alright then, tell me a bit about Lertron."

"Lertron was chief of clan Torudok before the Rebellions broke out. Torudok were Tuchanka’s scientists. They set to work replicating the tech the Salarians gave us, finding ways to mount more weaponry on the ship designs they shared and figuring out how to make bigger and better craters with every round of ordinance. Without their work, we would never have set foot on the Rachni homeworld.

"After the last of the Hives had been dealt with, Lertron realised that the Krogan’s victory would be short-lived. He saw that our numbers would swell beyond the pitiful few worlds we were given to colonise as a reward for our sacrifice in the Wars. And so he began to prepare for the inevitable rebellions.

"He rallied his clan and their allies and began scheming ways to strike against the Council. When the conflict came to a head, he was ready to strike, and he did so to great effect. His clan’s first targets were certain prominent Turian colonies, three planets called Kallen, Tipriol and Forghar. They provided a sizeable portion of the Hierarchy’s ships and were also home to Turian research bases."

"What happened? How did he get to those planets?"

"He managed to hi-jack a Salarian supply convoy in the Terminus Systems and used them as a cover to approach the three colonies, hitting all three at once. He used an experimental new weapon to strike at the manufacturing districts, a specially modified nuke that burned hot enough to raze all buildings in a two-hundred mile radius to the ground. The tank gave me memories of Lertron’s soldiers picking through the remains afterwards, of the twisted skeletons, their flesh turned to ash in an instant, of the molten slag flowing through the streets, all that remained of the Turian armada under construction. The most profound image, though, was of the crater where a biological weapons lab had once been, the focus of the explosion. Steel, concrete, flesh and bone, all gone in a second, nothing left except for radioactive atoms.

"Weeks later, all three planets started to die. The weapons had left enough contaminants in the atmosphere to poison the skies, causing a catastrophic breakdown of the environment. After six months, those worlds were nothing more than cinders in space. This was the rallying call the rest of our people needed to realise that we were strong enough to be feared by the Council, that we deserved respect. Without Lertron, the Rebellions would have been nothing more than a minor scuffle, settled pretty quickly by the politicians. Thanks to his work, we united against the entire Galaxy and carved a bloody path through the stars."

"Wow." Shepard said simply. "Sounds like without him, there’d have been no Rebellions."

"I think he’s the main reason we have such a reputation among the other species. But it’s his foresight that we Krogan respect. He saw the approaching danger to his people, and made sure he was ready. Few Krogan today possess such wisdom, and put too much emphasis on the here and now rather than what is yet to come. That’s why Wrex is so respected, and why Urdnot has become the clan it is today."

"What about the other ones? You mentioned a Krogan called Ragjall?"

"Kerut Ragjall was a simple soldier in the ranks of clan Kerut. He fought in the Rebellions, saw many of our kin fall in battle, only for their brothers to charge over their corpses to steal the victory from our enemies. It was during this time of war that he realised something was missing in the Krogan way of battle. He saw that the soldiers did not respect their commanders, and the officers did not care for who lived and who died. Lives were there to be sacrificed and orders were to be ignored at all times. Ragjall studied the ways of his Turian foes and saw that their ranks were regimented, organised. After a great deal of thought, he concluded that both methods were flawed. The Turians had the organisation and strength in formation, but if the chain of command was disrupted then the lower ranks fell into disarray too quickly, whereas the Krogan could continue to function no matter who was lost, but the frontline soldiers only acted on their immediate surroundings, and not in the best interests of the larger battlefield.

"He formulated a plan to resolve this and, taking a mixture of experienced soldiers from different clans, formed a small force of about two hundred warriors. These Krogan were wise in the art of war, but all respected their chain of command, which ultimately had Ragjall at its peak. This small force was soon christened the Bloody Threshers, and once they were involved, victory was assured. They consulted with the chieftains, crafting grand schemes to conquer entire systems with minimal losses. They were, in a way, like the Salarian STG, except a little more militaristic. Once a Thresher was involved, our forces would advance like the shockwave of a supernova, almost unstoppable."

"I take it they had quite the impact on the Rebellions."

"I’ll say. After they began their work, our progress through Turian Space tripled in speed."

"So what happened to them?"

"The Council realised the threat they posed, and the Spectres, the STG and the Asari Commandos became involved. One by one, the Threshers fell, though they took countless agents with them. Ragjall was the last to die, surrounded by the corpses of over three dozen different agents. He died with a smile on his face, having experienced what is known among our people as one of the longest and most intense battles waged. You think breaking Archangel out of Omega was tough? Try replacing those three merc gangs with the three top Black Ops organisations in the known Galaxy."

"Very impressive." Shepard nodded. "And what about the last one, Ferindur?"

"He was one of the Battlemasters who spoke with the Salarians before they elevated us. He wholeheartedly believed in the need to fight the Rachni, and his ability to command inspired the rest of his people. He convinced the Krogan to accept the offer the aliens made, and led the charge against the bugs.

"The most famous tale about Gormat Ferindur is about when the Krogan made their first strike against one of the Rachni Hive Worlds. The Turians and Salarians watched our flanks while we did the Varren’s share of the work. Our ships descended on a slimy pit of a planet, the air thick with poisonous fumes. We fought with the Rachni drones on the surface, and broke through their lines to the Hives underground. Ferindur found his way to the Queen’s lair and fought with her, hand to hand. He lost an arm, the lower half of his leg and a good portion of his torso and internal organs, devoured by the Queen, but he kept fighting, and eventually cracked her skull open, clawing at her exposed brain. The Queen died and her drones descended into chaos. Afterwards, Ferindur came crawling out of the Hive, the last of his squad, clutching his pistol, retrieved from the Queen’s throat, and the surviving forces on the planet’s surface broke out in celebration. It was the first Hive that we had managed to destroy, but nowhere near the last."

"Did he survive his injuries?" Shepard asked, a little awe-struck by the tale.

"Yes. Krogan are built to take a beating, Commander. Most of the organs he lost had secondary redundant ones ready to replace them, and his regeneration took care of the damage to what he managed to hold onto. In honour of his role in the battle the Salarians gave him a prosthetic arm and leg. Clumsy, but stronger than any flesh and blood. He lived a life full of blood and glory, living testament to Krogan durability."

"What happened to him after the Rachni wars?"

"Ferindur was one of our most prominent warriors. When the Rebellions broke out, he, along with a number of other Battlemasters, were targeted to weaken the morale of our people. An Asari Commando unit attacked his private shuttle, crippling it. His shuttle was sent back through the Mass Relay to Tuchanka with his corpse inside, a message to us."

"How did the Krogan react?"

"The Council thought the loss of one of our heroes would break us, but it only strengthened our resolve. Some cunning chieftains managed to use his death to whip our people into a frenzy. Our revenge was swift and brutal, leading to the desolation of many Asari, Salarian and Turian colonies. Ferindur was interred in the Dead Spire with all of our honoured Battlemasters and became a symbol of Krogan might."

"I can see why those warlords are important to your people."

"They embodied how much more the Krogan are than petty thugs. While we revel in the glory of battle, like Ferindur, we are made even stronger by our technology and the strength of those we fight alongside. If Wrex would appoint me as his successor, I must make myself worthy to lead, and so I think about them to understand what it takes."

"Its good to see you’re learning how to lead. There’s so much more to battle than just pointing and shooting."

"I see that now. Fighting at our side teaches me more than the tank ever could, so I can see these lessons in the images it gave me."

"I should get back to my work." Shepard said, excusing himself. Grunt nodded a farewell.

"Right, Shepard. You know where to look when there’s something big you need to kill."

Shepard smiled as he walked out of the Cargo Hold, making his way to the nearest door leading to Main Engineering. The doors hissed open to reveal Kenneth armpit deep in a pile of circuitry he had pulled up from underneath one of the deck plates. The engineer waved a grimy hand at the Commander as he strode by.

"Commander."

"Kenneth. Anything I should know about the Normandy?"

"Purely routine maintenance, Commander. Some of the wiring in the atmospheric recyclers needed replacing and, given the fact that your Admiral Hackett offered to pay the bills, I decided it was long past due. Got a whole bucketload of supplies and I’m getting some of the neglected chores down."

"How’s Gabby?"

"The poor wee soul pulled triple shifts while we were in the Local Cluster, so I said to her it was high time she slept it off. She was up in the Crew Mess last I saw, practically asleep on her feet." Kenneth jumped as the wires in his hands sparked wildly. He fiddled with a small device and the sparks ceased. "So what can I do for you, Shepard?"

"I’m actually looking for Legion."

"Oh, aye? He’s in the engine core. Been a bittie quiet today actually. Quieter than usual, anyway. Not that I’m an expert on Geth behaviour or anything."

"I’ll go talk to him. Thanks."

Shepard stepped past the mass of loose wires and strode towards the heart of the ship, its pulsing eezo core. He walked down the short corridor between the engineering consoles and the core, enjoying the sensation of the engine’s thrum becoming more and more powerful, a reverberation that penetrated his very core. Inside the core, on the platform that reached out towards the shimmering orb of the heart of the machine, Legion stood stock-still, its head tilted upwards as the white 'eye’ stared at the core. Even as Shepard drew next to it, the Geth did not move for at least ten more seconds. Finally it turned to the Commander.

"Shepard-Commander. Was there something you wished to discuss with us?"

"Ken said you were acting a little strange today. Something wrong?"

"Geth do not fully understand the performing arts of organics. Geth do not ‘act’."

"You know what I mean. Your behaviour has been a little odd of late. And don’t dodge the question."

"This platform’s servos are not designed for sudden unpredictable motion. We do not ‘dodg’-" The Geth’s words halted as the Commander shot it a warning glance. Its facial flaps lifted and lowered quickly, as near as the machine got to a shrug. "We have been in contact with the Geth Collective."

"And?"

"There is a great deal of discord among our runtimes. The events within the Dholen system have caused a great deal of consternation within our numbers."

"I’d have thought the risk to your race would be more apparent now than ever. The Reapers just barged in and took control of your people like a Quarian would hack a mech."

"We do not deny the risk to our existence. However, we are conflicted as to the course of action to take in reaction to the Old Machines’ presence. Some runtimes favour resistance, adopting the stance that our individuality is necessary for the Geth’s continued existence, and our best interests are served by aligning with the organics and fighting. Others infer that such a course would result in our destruction, and that continued existence under the control of the Old Machines would be better than destruction while trying to assert our independence."

"So they think it’s a choice between dying free or living as a slave?"

"A statement bearing a high statistic of accuracy." The machine acknowledged. "Consensus has not been achieved."

"I thought we got rid of all the supporters of the Reapers when we reused the heretic virus."

"Error. These runtimes favouring submission are not heretics. They do not ‘support’ the Old Machines. They simply advertise an alternate method that would lead to the survival of our kind. They do not worship the Old Machines, and are not considering going to war with organics. They propose to surrender, and remain apart from the rest of the Galaxy when the Old Machines advance."

"Haven’t they seen your memories? Don’t they know what the advance of the Reapers will mean for the entire Galaxy, Geth included?" Shepard asked incredulously.

"You must understand, Shepard-Commander. Consensus is our most valued possession. We must attain to it before acting."

"If it comes down to it, and the Collective chooses to remain apart from the rest of the Galaxy, what will happen to you?"

"The Collective will expect us to return to Geth Space and rejoin our runtimes with theirs."

"And? Will you obey?"

"It is in our programming to follow consensus."

"That wasn’t a straight answer." Shepard persisted. "Given what you have seen while in you’ve been a part of my squad, what will you do if the Collective orders you to go and hide with the rest of them beyond the Perseus Veil? Would you be able to run and hide while we, your ship-mates, men and women who put their lives on the line to help you more than once, face an enemy of this magnitude, and keep a clear conscience?"

"Geth do not have a conscience-"

"Answer the goddamn question!" Shepard snapped, a little more harshly than he had intended.

"…No data available."

Shepard was about to bring the Geth platform up on how that wasn’t a real answer either, when he paused to think about it. Would he, if put in Legion’s shoes, go against everything he had been brought up for, conditioned to do? Could he break the programming his mind had picked up in his training and his service to the Alliance? The fact was, his answer to the question would have been much the same- he didn’t know. He sighed and nodded.

"No, I guess there isn’t. Not many organics would have had to face such a decision, let alone a Geth. Just… keep me informed, okay? I don’t want to wake up one morning to find out you stole a shuttle and set a course for the Veil."

"Affirmative." The Geth intoned before turning back to its consideration of the engine core.

Shepard turned quietly, heading back the way he came. He made his way to the elevator and punched in the code for the CIC.

~o~0~o~


The Commander stepped out onto the Command Deck, looking about at the crew going about their business. The Normandy was almost ready to set off, just needing a destination. As Shepard walked into the CIC he saw Kaidan hunched over a console on one side of the Galaxy Map. The soldier’s eyes were hollow, sunken with weariness, his entire face reflecting the exhaustion within. He looked up as Shepard strode onto the deck, the corners of his mouth twitching a fraction, a ghost of a smile.

"Commander." He acknowledged as Shepard approached. "Something I can do for you?"

"You look awful, Kaidan."

"Tactful as always, Shepard." Kaidan managed a chuckle. "Just been putting in a few extra hours around my shifts, is all. Can’t afford to take it easy these days."

"How’re you holding up?" Shepard asked with concern.

Modifié par fainmaca, 15 avril 2011 - 02:09 .

[fainmaca]

“I’m… getting by, Commander. These past few days have been a bit of a shock to the system. First being too slow at Dholen, then seeing the way the politicians treated you in that ridiculous sham of a trial, and then losing Earth… It’s a lot to take in.

“I can remember back when we were starting out, right after you got appointed as a Spectre. We were chasing down Saren, dashing from planet to planet. Pretty soon we had a badass team to go with the top-of-the-line ship, and we felt like we were invulnerable. Then Virmire happened, and we lost Ash. After that, I could see that we weren’t as unstoppable as we’d once thought. And now it’s happened again, but this time it wasn’t just one person, it was our entire homeworld. I grew up there, just like you, Commander. Losing it hurts like a ****.”

“The Reapers think they’re untouchable, that we couldn’t hope to fight them. We proved them wrong when we fought Sovereign, and we’ll do it again.” Shepard reassured. “Trust me when I say that we’ll walk on Earth’s surface again.”

“And I believe you, Commander. You’ve never led your crew astray before.” Kaidan smiled warmly, before his expression dropped again. “But I’m not going to kid myself. We’re going to have to go through hell and back to win this. God knows what devils we’ll have to make pacts with to pull of a mission to liberate Earth, and we’re definitely coming out the other side with our share of wounds.”

“I like to think positive.” Shepard said lightly, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “We went through Omega Four and came back with a full complement. After something like that, suicidal odds don’t bother me in the slightest.”

“I’ll grant you that.” Kaidan chuckled. “We do seem to take on three impossible missions before the morning’s out. And I mean, when the Collectors destroyed your ship, they ended up as so much dust and ashes in space. I don’t want to know what you’re gonna do to the guys who took your planet.”

The two friends laughed out loud, drawing curious stares from the rest of the crew. Shepard was the first to regain his composure. He reached out and warmly patted his old friend on the shoulder.

“Get some sleep, Kaidan. We’re doing what we can to get Earth back, but working yourself to death won’t help. We’re gonna be heading out into the field soon enough, so I need you ready for that.”

“Aye-aye, Commander.” Kaidan acquiesced, lowering his head wearily. The Commander smiled encouragingly, and turned towards his station at the top of the Galaxy Map, where Kelly stood waiting for him patiently.

“Got something for me, Ms Chambers?”

“You have an incoming call, Commander. The Shadow Broker wishes to speak with you in the briefing room immediately.”

“Right you are. Thanks.”

The Commander made his way through the ship towards the comm room, passing through the armoury en route. He nodded to Jacob, working busily to process a pile of hand guns that needed calibrating, and swiftly proceeded into the short corridor that spanned the distance between the armoury and the tech lab, the door to the comm room being halfway between the two departments. The doors hissed open to show Feron going about his work at the terminals installed in the far wall, busily keeping the Normandy’s lines of communication open. The Drell looked up as the Commander entered.

“Shepard.” He nodded. “Liara’s coming through over the QEC. The holo-imager is ready when you are.”

“Fire it up.” The Commander ordered.

The table retracted into the floor, allowing Shepard to step forward into the holographic imaging field, where the myriad scanners mapped his form and transmitted it to Liara’s ship. The instant he entered the field, the comm room vanished from his view, replaced by the Shadow Broker’s office. The huge tank of some glowing white fluid flickered overhead, sending strange shadows skittering across the floor in all directions. Against the walls, a multitude of terminals blinked, information feeds on dozens of topics. Shepard knew that more than a few of them were dedicated to keeping tabs on both him and his ship, mapping out hundreds of tiny details from the menu of the day to what songs Joker was downloading illegally over the extranet.

Against the wall before him was the Shadow Broker’s desk, over which hovered a labyrinth of different displays. The kaleidoscopic mixture of data caused Shepard’s eyes to sting, and yet the figure standing before it seemed to have no trouble sorting through the information.

Liara turned to face Shepard as his holographic self flickered into being in the centre of her office, a kind smile gracing her features.

“Shepard,” She said, a little sadly. “I’m so sorry. Earth-“

“Is just another reason the Reapers have to be stopped.” Shepard said firmly.

“Of course,” Liara replied smoothly, knowing that the subject had to be a tender topic for the Commander. “The Council is in disarray after the loss of the Local Cluster. They’re scrambling to protect their own interests. The Citadel has never been so heavily defended. In other parts of the Galaxy, we’ve got opportunistic organisations eyeing up Human colonies, now that the bulk of the Alliance’s fleets are scattered. The Batarians in particular are looking for blood, especially after you weren’t handed over to them for what they see to be justice. Amazingly, some of them are calling the attack on Earth an elaborate stunt to protect you. Its amazing what some people will believe. Gorm Jib’bat, of course, is doing nothing to stop these rumours from circulating.”

“Do you have any good news for me at all today?” Shepard asked, rubbing at his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Not much. I have a few more leads for you to follow up in your efforts to prepare a force to take on the Reapers.” Liara pressed a few controls on her desk. “I’m sending the information on to you now.”

“Much appreciated.” Shepard said as his omnitool received the data. “Do you have anything else for me?”

“I’m afraid not.” Liara said with regret. “I am doing what I can to help, but my network is tasked to capacity at the moment. I once said that I could start a war in minutes with the power I now wield, but stopping wars from happening in the first place is a great deal harder, and I’m trying to keep a lid on several different conflicts at once. Combine that with the work needed to get restricted intel from organisations such as Cerberus, the Council and a dozen other high-profile entities, and my resources are swiftly approaching their limits.”

“I understand, and I appreciate everything you’ve done to help so far.” Shepard said understandingly.

“I’m monitoring the data coming in from the science teams Hackett has studying the Arcturus Relay. I’ll keep you posted on anything interesting I find. In the meantime, do what you can to make sure you have the forces needed for when the time comes to take back Earth.” Liara tapped a few keys on her desk, and the transmission began to fade. “Take care, Shepard.”

The Commander stepped out of the holo-image, blinking as his eyes adjusted to the light of the comm room. He nodded to Feron before turning on his heel, striding out of the room purposefully. He activated his omnitool to look through the data Liara had given him, looking for his next destination. He made his way to the elevator, heading up to his cabin where he could study the data in peace.