A/N: Hi there! This is my first ever fanfic so feel free to review etc.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Mass Effect universe or any of its characters, with the exception of Jack Walker, he is my own creation.
Chapter 1
A hail of bullets thundered into the wall to Jack's right.
At the sound of the impact he tensed, ready for a stray bullet to ricochet into him at any moment.
Teeth clenched tight Jack fumbled his belt, desperately searching for a spare thermal clip to reload his rifle. Eventually he felt the tips of his fingers brush the familiar feel of a full clip and hastily thrust the fresh ammo into his assault rifle.
Jack crouched low, knowing that if even a small part of him was showing above the low wall behind which he was taking cover then the mech's automated targeting system would lock on to him and it would be game over. He wouldn't normally have to be so careful but he hadn't had enough time to grab his armour from the locker beside his bed after he'd realised that the base was under attack. All he'd managed to do was to grab his M-8 Avenger assault rifle and a few thermal clips. Now though Jack was almost completely out of ammo and he was still several sectors from the Hanger Bay where he was hoping there would be a way off this station.
Wiping a stray bead of sweat from his glistening brow Jack spotted an open doorway along the corridor to his left. I've got to make a break for it. Checking that his weapon was set to fully auto and shifting onto his feet like a sprinter, he bolted.
The gap he had to close was only about ten metres but that would be more than enough space for the mech to target him. Jack felt the adrenaline burning in his veins as he pushed his body as hard as it could be pushed. All the while he was spraying bullet in the mech's direction.
As he was about half way across he spotted the two mech's that had been keeping him pinned for the last quarter of an hour. Keeping his finger hard down on the trigger Jack felt a slight relief when he spotted one of the mech's take a bullet through its mechanical head.
Four metres to go.
The moment of glee didn't last as no sooner had he dropped the first mech than the second had raised his weapon, a signal that it had acquired its target.
Three metres, nearly there!
Jack's assault rifle made the horrifyingly familiar clicking sound signalling that it was out of ammo. Knowing that he needed as much of an advantage as possible he threw the weapon to the side and continued the dash.
One metre!
The mech fired.
Knowing that the shot was moments away Jack dived for the safety of the wall. The round clipped his left arm as he came careering through the automatic doors.
Despite the searing pain and the smell of burnt flesh from his arm Jack wasted no time getting to the keypad by the side of the doors and locking the door through which he had just come bursting through. The sound of two rounds hitting the sealed doors hung momentarily in the air, a reminder that he needed to keep moving if he wanted to get off the station alive. The pain in his arm flared and Jack decided to check that damage. He pulled the 9in combat knife that he kept tucked in his right boot and cut away the cloth around the wound. After that he scanned the wound using his Omni-tool to check for any infection or damage to the muscle or bone even though he knew he couldn't properly treat it as the medi-gel at the station was securely stored so as to curb any potential addiction to it. Luckily for Jack the bullet seemed to be little more than a flesh wound, also the wound had been cauterised which indicated to Jack that the mech's had been using incendiary ammo, something that – providing he escaped – bought him more time to treat the wound later on.