Chapter 1: Betrayal
"It's new day Shepard", "with the technology from the collector base it will insure human dominance from the Reapers and beyond"! The Illusive man proclaimed
"Human dominance or just Cerberus?" Shepard questioned
"Their one and the same I've never hidden this from you." "You have to be excited about the possibilities."
"Don't try and spin this to me!" Shepard cut in "I kept that base to fight the Reapers, half the crew was lost and three of my squad mates are dead". "If you do anything with that tech other than fight the Reapers I'll take you down and every Cerberus base I find!" Shepard
The Illusive man now annoyed at Shepard's threats and accusatory tone. "Don't be short sighted, don't let fool idealism blind you to the big picture." He said while he stood up and walked toward Shepard. "With my resources and your skill we can defeat any threat to humanity we need each other." The Illusive man reasoned.
"Joker cut connection" said Shepard done with the illusive man's preaching.
Six weeks after the collector base was captured for Cerberus, Commander Shepard has delayed the Reaper invasion now has to combat a threat from the galaxy he has sworn to protect. But the Reapers are still out there…
"Stealth systems disengaged "exhaled Joker "Next time commander don't have the ship fly into a pirate ambush."
"I was supposed to know that that beacon was a trap right?" Said Shepard sarcastically
"The main engines have been damaged "EDI said robotically
"Well that's wonderful so we stay here and wait for more pirates to show up when they realize that their ships haven't come back great plan." Joker said sarcastically
"EDI are we in any danger of another attack?" Shepard asked
"Scans show that there are no ships in the Normandy's vicinity, I suggest that repairs be made before we leave the system."
"Message Ken in engineering and tell him to start on those repairs" Shepard sighed
As Shepard made his way from the bridge to the elevator he looks at Jacob Taylor who looked a little on edge.
"Got something on your mind." Shepard asked
"Isn't it a little strange that almost every system we visit or settlements we land on we get attacked and the how the ships been acting strange."
"Jacob we've been taking out any Blood pack, Eclipse and Blues Suns bases we've found since coming back from the collector base and if you remember Jacob the Normandy did take a beating." Shepard said dismissing Jacob's worries
"I know we've made some enemies but that doesn't explain why pirates and mercenaries have been able to track the Normandy! "
"Jacob relax we've been in the Traverse pirates are everywhere and besides since humanity got a seat on the council it's getting more difficult for them to work out here so they attack a high risk target like the Normandy they're desperate." Shepard answered trying to assure his friend
"I hope your right commander."
Jacob walked off but his words stuck with Shepard" are we being is tracked if so by whom?" Shepard was in his quarters now, thinking about the last six weeks. Taking the collector base and saying good bye to the team. They had dropped Samara off on Illium but not before she promised that she would have to kill Shepard next time they meet as dictated by the Justicar code, Miranda got reassigned to the collector base, Jake and Kasumi left around the same time both with out good byes. His thoughts about the team lead him on to think about the ones who didn't make it. Thane died helping Shepard fight the human/reaper hybrid, Grunt lead the distraction team but was fatally hit before the doors shut and Mordin never made it back to the ship. But dwelling on it won't bring them back he'll just have to what he always does when he loses people on a mission to do better for them.
"Bridge to Shepard you've got a message from TIM, patching it through to the com room."
"The Illusive man wishes to speak with you" EDI backed up as she usually does for joker
Before Shepard got up he notices a message from Ashley Williams who has not messaged for weeks with the subject entitled IMPORTANT. Shepard made a mental note to look at the message later; the Illusive man hasn't sent a message in person for months, whatever he wanted it must have been serious.
"Shepard you are a shinning example of our species, you are a symbol of our courage, strength and determination." Said the Illusive man while lighting a cigarette
"I know you didn't call just to stroke my ego what do you want?" Shepard questioned
"You have become you much of a risk" the Illusive man said taking a puff of his cigarette
"The council has quietly declared you a rouge spectre and I've put up a bounty for you."
"So you're the one whose been giving away our location" demanded Shepard
"Yes and no I leaked your position to mercs and pirates to take you in alive and deliver you to a Cerberus location" he said taking in another puff
"The Alliance has been able to track you via your messages to Ms. Williams and unfortunately I must wash my hands of you. Any continued association with you will be damaging to our cause." The Illusive man said as he put out his cigarette.
"So the council thinks I've gone rouge, the Alliance has been tracking me and you've hung me out to dry!" Shepard shouted
"I guess I'm not surprised, I knew you would betray me eventually." "What happened to be being an example for humanity and us needing each other" Shepard mocked
"Be grateful I told you anything at all, we are discovering new technology from the collector base all the time; Humanity doesn't need you anymore you've played your part." The Illusive man said smirking at Shepard's obvious frustration.
"You son of a bitch, I'm not letting this go and when I find you won't be smirking then!" Shepard shouted now in the face of the holographic image of The Illusive man.
"Very well but let's see if you can get out of the Traverse with the Alliance circling in on your location as we speak."
"How long?" Shepard barked
"Five minutes, good luck Shepard" The Illusive man said coldly as the connection cut.
"EDI how are the engine repairs going." Shepard said walking out of the comm. room.
"They are not at one hundred percent entering FTL or a Mass Relay could damage them further."
"Damn it we don't have time we need to leave the Traverse." Shepard shouted
"What's going on Shepard?" Jacob asked
"The councils declared me a rouge spectre, Cerberus has turned its back on us and Alliance ships will be here in less than five minutes"
"Jacob I need you to get the crew into the shuttle"
"Yes sir"
"Garrus Jacob's on his way to the crew deck I need you to help him get the crew to the shuttle" Shepard said over his comm. unit
"Alright but what's going on?"
"There's no time to explain just…"
Before Shepard could finish several explosions' rocked the Normandy sending debris falling from the ceiling, sparks flying and setting fires throughout the ship.
"Joker what's happening" Shepard shouted as he ran to the bridge
"Other than the ships engines being disabled and fighters swarming the ship nothing at all and oh the Admiral of the carrier is trying to open communications."
"Patch him through"
As soon as Shepard opened the channel a booming voice erupted out of the intercom.
"Shepard I've been ordered to bring you and your crew in surrender immediately!"
"Sorry you're shooting at me I tend to not cooperate with people who do that." Shepard said with barley controlled rage "It's only fair if I shoot you back"
"Shepard I take threats seriously, you only have this warning surrender now!"
"He's baiting you into a trap; he knows you need him alive."
"Look I don't know why you're here and I don't care" The Admiral said growing more frustrated at the situation. "We don't need your kind here this is Alliance business."
"I was sent here by the council. They believe Shepard is a threat to galactic stability making this my business human"
"Now listen Asari"Before the Admiral could finish his rant he was interrupted by the luminescent dark blue glow of the asari flaring her biotics and being rushed into the air and on the ceiling above him.
"No you listen" she said with visible menace "I've been ordered to bring Shepard in alive; what your doing is blasting the Normandy to hell endangering my mission." She told the Admiral before she dropped him.
"Call your fighters back in they cant leave the system" the asari said as she walked out of the CIC. The asari turned around and smiled at the terrified Admiral "remember you want to help my mission, Admiral there are some things that just aren't healthy like being in my way"
"Yes what ever you need and where are you going…Ma'am" the Admiral asked with terror in his eyes
"To my ship if you must know and I'll need a squad of your marines to work as a distraction when I board the Normandy."
The Admiral thinking about what the asari might do to him if he didn't stuttered "Yes…yes of course."
"EDI damage report"
"Multiple hull breaches there are fires in life support and the crew deck evacuate immediately."
"No we can't leave the Normandy again we can still…"
"Don't finish that sentence" Shepard interrupted "We don't have time to argue Joker you need to leave with the rest of the crew."
"What about EDI"
"I am an A.I. Jeff; I am hardware and software, I can be replaced you cannot."
"OK I guess your right" Joker sighed
"Shepard the crew is ready to go you and Joker have to come on now!" Tali shouted as she ran down the CIC.
"Joker go with Tali"
"You too Shepard" Tali insisted as she pulled on Shepard's arm "You're the only family I have left I'm not leaving you behind."
"Um I hate to interrupt but there's an incoming ship and it's about to board the Normandy." Joker pointed out
"Tali I need you and Joker to get to the shuttle." Sheppard said pulling Tali close with his hands on her shoulders looking at her seemingly through her suits helmet into her eyes."I'm going to buy you some time, I'll be right behind you ok." Sheppard assured
"Ok Shepard… good luck" Tali said as she went in to embrace him. "Keelah sel'lai"
"Shepard the enemy ship has boarded"
"Thanks EDI how long until the get through the airlock."
"Hard to say my monitoring systems are down. They maybe attaching an ordinance to the hatch in which case I suggest you move." EDI warned
Shepard moved quickly down to the CIC looking at Tali and Joker run to the elevator, thinking about how he lied to Tali; He wouldn't be going with the crew he needed to buy them time. The Alliance wanted him most they wouldn't care if his crew got away, if he went with them it would be putting his crew at risk so he will stay.
"EDI fire the escape pods and message Jacob and tell him to fly the shuttle out of the system"
"Already done shep…"
Before EDI could finish speaking an explosion ripped through the bridge. The air lock was blasted open and three Alliance marines rushed through what was the Bridge down to the CIC. Without even a thought Shepard charged his biotics and threw the first two marines into the broken remains of the cockpit while a third fired several shots one hitting Shepard in the shoulder.
"Damn it" Shepard shouted as he went down for cover behind the galaxy map. "You always have your barriers up" Shepard thought to himself griping his bleeding shoulder. "when you dont something stupid happens like getting shot in the shoulder!"
The shooting stopped, this was Shepard's chance. He got up from cover and slammed the soldier bioticly with enough force to put him into the wall killing him instantly. Shepard looked at the elevator, someone was coming up. "Someone's still here?" Shepard thought the elevator opened up to show Jacob on the other side.
"Jacob what the hell are you still doing on the ship you need to leave!"
"I came to help out but it looks like you took care of the boarding party, let's go commander."
"Well that's the thing Shepard is not going anywhere and I don't need you Mr. Taylor."
They both turned around to see a lone asari, but before Shepard or Jacob could do anything two shots rang out in the CIC, both hitting Jacob killing him. Shepard could not move not because of seeing a friend murdered coldly in front of him, he was stuck in a biotic stasis field and at the mercy of whomever this asari was.
End