Disclaimer: Mass Effect is owned by Bioware. This is only a fanfiction that takes place in the Mass Effect Universe.
Chapter 1: A Pain in the Neck
Dad...you...
"...will be entering the atmosphere in 60 seconds." A digital voice rang in his ears.
"Huh, entering the atmosphere?" He moaned, peeling open his eyes to see blur. He slid his fingers over his forehead and through his short dark brown hair as his vision cleared up. He then moved hand onto the side of his neck where he felt a throbbing discomfort.
A hologram of a human head materialized in front of him. The orange head spoke, "Pike Keaton, please stay seated with your safety belt fastened for the duration of the flight." The head then disappeared.
Pike furrowed his brows. Looking down he noticed he was already sitting and strapped tight. After a few blinks he examined his cramped surroundings. He appeared to be sitting in the middle of tiny cockpit. What he found unusual was that there were no steering controls in front of him, only a small keyboard and green screen to his left displaying "AUTOPILOT." The only thing in front of him was a wide window with the horizon of a blue planet quickly consuming the view. He realized in thought, This is an escape vessel. There were two other seats but they were both empty. He was alone. He asked the VI, "Where am I go-" His question was cut short when the vessel began vibrating. Subconsciously he slapped his hands to arms of his seat.
"Now entering the atmosphere," the VI's voice announced in its nonchalant monotone.
Now it tells me. The young man grasped tightly as the vessel shook more violently and louder by the second. He never thought a ride through a planet's atmosphere could be so rough. For a split second his mind panicked. Could I be crash landing?! His eyes zipped about in every direction. There weren't any flashing red lights or ominous alarms. He then remembered the VI mentioning about staying seated for the duration of the flight. So maybe everything was in control. He couldn't calm himself though, not with the fact that he woke up in an escape vessel already plummeting into an unknown planet.
"VI...where am I heading? What planet are we landing on?"
The Virtual Intelligence replied with voice-only, "We are entering the atmosphere of planet Virmire."
"Virmire?" The name rang a bell but he could recall anything about it.
I do not have any additional information, but my sensors indicate a stable magnetosphere and an atmospheric composition of 76 nitrogen, 22 oxygen, 1 water vapor, and less than 1 carbon dioxide and other trace gases. Surface air pressure is roughly 0.9 earth atmospheres. Surface temperature averaged to be 31 degrees Celsius. Surface gravity is measured to be 0.86 G's. Among the traces elements in the atmosphere sensors read the region of decayed heavy elements, indicating the presence of nuclear fallout. However no delays or complications are to be expected as pre-coordinated destination is located far from the range of potential radiation exposure."
Only half listening to the VI's report, Pike held his gaze at the window. Just outside of the ship he saw all blue, but the color was glowing with a tint of violet. The vehicle's kinetic barriers were visible reacting with the intense friction of the air. The shaking dragged on - the sound was the combination of an earthquake and a powerful flamethrower. With his body tense the soreness at his neck only ached worse. Sweat dripped down his cheeks. Even the shields couldn't prevent the buildup of heat from getting into the ship. This was not a pleasant ride.
"blipblip-blipblip-blipblip." A high pitched beeping went off. The Orange hologram appeared again, "Warning: kinetic barrier power supply reaching critical low." The VI stated in a calm tone that only pissed Pike off.
"You're kidding me!" He blurted at the floating head with all his frustration. "Why are we losing power?"
The Virtual Intelligence continued unfazed, "68 of primary power supply was exhausted from the use of two mass relays."
"Two mass relays?! But there aren't any mass relays in-"
The VI interrupted, "Emergency procedure B-2 will be executed: Remaining secondary power cell supply will transfer to kinetic barrier power supply. Notice: Only kinetic barriers, engines, and auto-pilot system will be remaining active after power transfer is complete. Remaining time: T minus 3...2...1...Transfer comp..." The VI hologram vanished with a static pop.
"No wait! What about the mass relays! Argh!" He pounded the back of his head into the seat's head rest and then hissed from the pain of using his sore neck muscles.
What is going on? What is going on?!
"Dad! What is going on?!" Pike asked hastily at his father who was clutching his arm and leading the way through the blue-gray and white corridor.
The scientist exclaimed, "Pike quit dragging! I'm going to need your help. And I'm taking you to safety."
"But the others! Why did we split up with everyone else? If we're going to safety, where the hell are they going?!"
"Damn it, boy! We don't have time. They'll be fine. But I have to make sure that you-" An explosive rumble rippled through the hall, throwing both Pike and his father off their feet, falling to the floor. The tremor triggered the red emergency lights to go off.
"What the? Did something ram into the colony?" Pike looked back.
"Pike! Get up, get up!" He said pulling his son onto his feet.
The two continued running down the long hall. Reaching an intersection they saw a large man in a security uniform running from another hall. Pike's father shouted, "Dean!" Dean, the head of the security unit, scanned the other corridors and spotted the two, "Doctor Keaton! Pike!" He motioned his hand to follow, "This way!"
"Come on, Pike follow him." He father instructed.
"Dean? But is he doing here?!" Right there Pike stopped resisting. He dashed passed his father to reach Dean as quick as he could. Ahead he saw Dean had already reached the elevators. The man was tapping the button as many times as he could with the slightest hope that the elevator would arrive faster in doing so. "Dean!" Pike caught up to him, "What are you doing here, missing out on the action?"
Dean didn't reply. The doctor then finally reached them and leaned at the wall catching his breath. He asked Dean, "So had the attackers been identified, Dean?"
The Security Chief replied with his deep voice, "Yes. But it should already be obvious for you doctor? I knew it was only a matter of time."
"Obvious? You mean the geth?" Pike asked speculatively. Both Dean and his father glanced at Pike at the moment but stayed quiet. It had to be the geth. They were the only potential threat to the space colony out in this remote region of the galaxy.
The elevator doors opened with a "bing." The three entered. As the doors closed, Dean stood at the long list of keys; he followed his finger down to the bottom of the list and hit a button. The elevator descended.
Doctor Keaton said in surprise, "What? Where are you- Dean we have to get up to the bridge. We have to activate-"
Dean cut him off, "We are going to the hangar. My team and I have already taken ensured the safety of the other vitals. They will be there as well."
"But that doesn't account for the rest of the populous, Dean! Half the ships haven't even returned."
"You know that is not our concern, doctor. The vitals are the only reason this colony is still here. They are our top priority, especially him." Dean eyed at Pike.
"Dad, what is he talking about?" Pike was confused. What vitals? What are vitals?
The doctor retorted at Dean, "And this is your fault. Our protection was you're responsibility. Everyone's protection." Dean only crossed his arms staring into the eyes. The doctor then asked with a sigh, "Can you at least give me some details?"
"We have discussed the emergency plans before doctor. They will be sent to different locations each aboard the escape vessels and pick them up at the classified locations."
The doctors tone jumped up again, "Oh I know what you're talking about and it's not happening. We haven't tested the P-FTL drives on them yet."
"The Pygmy-FTL drives have passed all laboratory inspections. And it is the best way to ensure their safety. Remember it was your decision to delay their field tests on a mass relay."
"Whoa, hold up a minute," Pike intervened, "Mass Relay? But we're a quarter of a galaxy away from the nearest mass relay." That was what his father and the rest of the board told everyone. "Dad, tell him." Pike turned to his father but his father looked away.
Dean spat cough that sounded more like chuckle. "You mean he does not know. Doctor, I had advised you to tell them, but your paranoia cost us. Your flaws do not impress me." A distant rumble shook the elevator.
"Didn't tell me what?!" Pike grabbed his father's arm, "Dad, what didn't you tell me?"
Out of surprise his father rushed from one side to the elevator to reach the panel, but Dean grabbed the doctor by the neck of his shirt. Doctor Keaton tried to break free, "It's too dangerous! I'm not letting you do this."
Dean shook his head, "You do not have authority in this situation."
Pike was in shock. Dean, a man that was always humble and loyal to his father's decisions was now practically strangling him. Pike lunged in the middle of Dean's grasp. "Dean, let me go! Let him go now." A faint blue aura appeared, outlining Pike's entire body. Dean's eyes widened at the sight. The chief quickly pushed the scientist across the area and onto the floor and with unnaturally quick reflexes he spun around Pike. Pike turned quickly only to see a syringe needle aimed down at him. Dean thrust the needle directly into his neck. Pike felt the sharp pain; he felt the liquid injecting into his body. He quickly lost control of his limbs.
"No, Pike!" Doctor Keaton caught his limp son. Pike saw his father's panicked face. He tried to keep his eyelids open but his vision only blurred and darkened.
"Dad...you..."