Admiral Stephen Hackett tapped his boot impatiently as the elevator slowly descended. Damnable things. Somehow, even here in the N7 program, they got crappy ass elevators. With all the wonders of modern science, you would think they could get some decent elevators in their most secure locations. Maybe that was something he should get Zorah on. Or not, she had better things to do with her time, just like he did.
He stormed out as soon as the elevator touched down. "How bad is it?" He demanded.
Daro'Xen looked up from her work and shrugged. "I don't know, why are you even asking me? You dump this damn asari tech into my lap and expect me to do something with it?" She made a disgusted noise. "Its energy is fluctuating, and I can't get it to stabilize. Leave me alone and let me work. If you want to talk to somebody, go talk to Archangel."
"What happens if you can't get it to stabilize?" Hackett demanded before Xen could turn back around.
"Big boom," Xen answered, already getting lost in her work.
"How big?" Hackett demanded.
"How big's Texas?" Xen snarked as she continued to work." That should be about right."
Frowning, Hackett turned and strode over to the snipers nest, motioning for Garrus to hop down. The N7 Agent did so quickly, holstering his sniper rifle as he did so. "Report," Hackett demanded.
His mandibles twitching slightly, Garrus shrugged. "It just started reacting to something. It's asari make, right? So it comes from another planet. Maybe even another dimension."
"No one tampered with it?" Hackett demanded, leading Garrus back over to the glowing sphere.
"Nobody but Xen and her team," Garrus confirmed. "And they weren't even working on it when it started."
Nodding absently, Xen explained as she worked, "The Sphere is a doorway, an entry point to another dimension. It's acting like it wants to open a gate."
"A gate?" Hackett asked, a termor of worry in his voice. "A gate to where? How did we open it?"
"That's just the thing about gates Hackie," Xen sighed. "They open both ways."
Suddenly, Hackett knew. He remembered. Remembered the Justicar from Thessia, another world, known as a legendary god or angel. Remember her private little duel with the giant worm thing. And how she had departed again.
My God, they're coming back!" Hackett snarled. "Garrus, back to your position, get me a security team and-"
Suddenly, the Sphere ceased to hum and a brilliant blue beam shot out of it, forming a circular portal. Hackett drew his gun, training it on the portal as Garrus stepped between his Admiral and the danger, his gun trained on the opening as well. Before anyone could react, a glowing being stepped through and the portal collapsed in a cascade of energy that staggered Hackett and all the other guards. The glowing being reached out and grabbed Xen, pulling her into a fierce embrace and lifting the quarians mask as it kissed her fiercly. For a brief moment, Xen resisted, then she gave in and relaxed. When the glowing being released Xen, she stood and slowly replaced her mask, her eyes glowing an unnatural blue instead of their normal soft white.
"Ahhh, so this is Earth. I have to say, I'm not that impressed," The being drawled. Hackett privately swore, it as an asari. And not Samara either.
"Who are you?" Hackett demanded, keeping his gun trained on the alien.
The asari cocked her head to one side and smiled at Hackett coquettishly. "Hmmm, I have many names. But the one I think you know me best by is... Morinth."
As soon as he heard the name, Hackett opened fire and screamed for everyone else to do so. Morinth. That was a name from turian mythology. The name of a trickster, a demon, a destroyer. The one who would bring about The Harvest, the end of the world."
"Spirits!" Garrus gasped, but even at his astonishment at seeing one of his gods brought to life didn't slow him much. He fired along with the rest of the N7 agents.
But it appeared a god would not die so easily. As the last of the brass fell to the ground, Morinth's lips curled in a predatory grin. "My turn."
She spread her arms and a wave of blue energy crashed into the assembled agents, sending many of them sprawling, including Hackett. Only Garrus stood his ground, continuing to fire at point blank range. But Morinth seemed to split in two, and Garrus chose the wrong target to track with his rifle. Before he could react, Morinth was there, wrapping him in her deadly embrace and planting her subversive kiss.
"Shit." Hackett snarled, coming up as he tried to slap a fresh clip into his gun.
He was too late. Garrus broke the embrace and gunned down several agents while Morinth seemed to flow to others, kissing them as well as their eyes took on that icy blue hue.
Hackett stumbled toward the elevator, despretly trying to come up with a plan. But Garrus got there first, blocking Hackett's way and twisting his gun out of his hands.
"I don't think so, Admiral." Garrus's cold voice stated."
"Well, an Admiral is it?" Morinth laughed, slowly making her way toward Hackett.
With his free hand, Hackett quickly depressed his panic button. Now he had to play for time while the others evacuated and the self destruct charges activated.
"Admiral Steven Hackett," he delcared, doing his best to stand up in Garrus's iron grip. "And just who the hell are you?"
Pausing, the asari studied her immaculately groomed nails as if examining them for injury. "Morinth, the Demon of the Night Wind. I believe that's the name you primitive races know me by. Now, tell me Admiral, just what are this planets defenses? I intend to rule here. Thessia has really gotten to be such a bore, and I hear that you mortals make fine bedmate. Though I also hear you can't actually survive the act, at least you'll die for my pleasure."
"That's sickening," Hackett spat. "You'll never conquer us by yourself, even with your puppets."
"Darling, I find that offensive!" Morinth exclaimed in mock exasperation. "Do they look like puppets? Where are the strings? I've merely showed them what being on the winning side has to offer them. And they like it."
Hackett snorted." Whatever helps you sleep at night. Monster."
Morinth laughed, but there was no warmth or humor in the sound. "Oh, I am a monster. The thing your kind has had nightmares about since before you even had language. I'm going to remind you of your proper place. On your knees."
"Ma'am, I must warn you," Garrus suddenly said, his voice empty of all emotion or feelling. "He is playing for time. I am certain he has already sent the orders for the self destruct seque-"
Hackett didn't let Garrus finish the sentance. With an expert twist and a quick sweep of the legs, Hackett took Garrus down and leapt onto the elevator, slamming the emergency override. The door slammed shut, and the car races for the surface, pinning Hackett to the floor. Oh yes. That was way the elevators normally took so long. Because you shit your pants when the training wheels came off.
As soon as the car came to a stop, Hackett sprinted out into the waiting arms of Miranda Lawson. "What happened?" She demanded, helping the limping Admiral to a transport.
"They've got the sphere. The asari came back, and it's not a Justicar this time. It's Morinth. The Mornith. She's even worse than in the stories."
Nodding as if she heard that ancient demons showed up all the time, which they did, if you were in the know, Miranda pulled out a small radio. "Code X-11, asari invasion. Get those charges set, we have to-"
She didn't finish her sentace, as a crackling blue portal opened and Morinth, Garrus and Xen strode out of it, firing as they came. They took down several agents, but Miranda calmly drew her own weapon and fired, forcing the trio under cover. "Well, it appears she's at least worried about bullets. That' better than it could be." Miranda mused as she dragged Hackett out the pad where a helicopter waited for them. "Come on, let's get you out of here sir."
"We have to stop them, they have the cube!" Hackett snarled, though he couldn't put up much resistance.
"Of course sir," Miranda answered briskly. "That's what you have all those trained agents for. But the N7 program couldn't function without you. So you have to get clear before that blast takes you out."
As the screams and gunfire resounded behind them, Hackett had to admit that Miranda at least had a point. "Well, at least circle around until we're sure we've got them." Hackett grumped as he was dragged on to the helicopter.
"Certainly sir," Miranda answered, then turned to the pilot. "Get us the hell out of here, and don't look back." Then she smiled down at Hackett. "Anything else sir?"
Hackett moaned, rubbing his shoulder. He was getting to old for this shit. "Yes. They're not going to be able to stop her. Assemble the squad."
"Yes sir," Miranda said respectfully. "I'm always happy to obey your orders. At least when they are reasonable."
As the N7 facility exploded behind them, Hackett couldn't help but feel this was nothing but the opening salvo in what would turn out to be a rather long and messy war. Earth's first real extra-terrestrial war had begun. God save them all.