'The Krogan? No, no. I'm not ready to get a krogan warlord yet.' , Shepard debated internally, staring down tentatively at the galaxy map. It had many small points on it, symbolizing the missions he still had to do, most of which were recruiting his team. A team that he hoped would follow him to hell and back, or at least join him even though he was with Cerberus and asking them to go on a potentially one-way mission through the Omega 4 relay, which no ship had ever survived.
With his luck, they'd make it there and back in one piece, and maybe get a few more people he could trust, though he sort of doubted many more of those were out in this galaxy. Jade eyes shifted from one marker to the next, silently denying each idea as they came.
He already recruited Garrus, Mordin, and Zaeed. And of course he had had Miranda and Jacob from the very moment he was awoken from being rebuilt. He grunted, leaning his elbows on the bar in front of him, deciding against getting 'The Convict' .
Finally, there remained one last flag on the map that he hadn't refused. 'The Scout'.
He hummed thoughtfully, not having remembering any significant information on that particular title.
"EDI?", he called out. The slightly robotic voice that identified the Normandy's AI answered back, "Yes, Commander?"
"What can you tell me about 'The Scout'?" EDI was silent for a few seconds, before she started spouting out information.
"The Scout is the code name for Leilani Haven, Age 25, Human, Currently in the Illonius System on the planet Friuthia. The Dossier states that she is attempting to gather information on a low branch Cerberus group called Aviation."
Shepard's eyebrows furrowed at the description,"What's Aviation?"
EDI replied almost instantly," There is no information that I can detect. Just simply that they exist and are affiliated with Cerberus."
He hummed knowingly, the sneaky bastards were probably up to something if this girl was risking herself to get something on them.
"Joker, set a course for Friuthia."
"Sure thing, Commander."
Friuthia was sparsely populated, though there was a rare colony or two littered around the planet. Vines and weeds sprung up from the ground and curled around rocks and trees that covered most of the ground. It was a bit stressful to know that something could be hiding in the thick vegetation, something that could be dangerous. The planet didn't have a lot of knowledge on it, usually the one people who came here were desperate to escape something or someone.
The Commander ran through the brush, gun at the ready, with Garrus and Mordin trailing right behind him, in a similar alert position as himself.
"Flowers appear to be highly poisonous, possibly toxic. Why did Cerberus colony choose to settle here? Could be..problematic.", muttered the salarian scientist, while examining a crimson flower that glinted eerily in the spotty sunlight that filtered through the tree tops.
"Little strange that Cerberus would suggest for you recruit someone who is trying to get into one of there bases.", Garrus mused suspiciously.
Shepard continued to run forward, already seeing the top of the building emerging, the style of the building being a little too official for a random colony to produce. "I'm wondering just as much as you are. We know that the Illusive Man isn't telling us something. Maybe this girl will be able to tell us something."
The full building came into view and the small team passed through the last of the trees, Oddly enough the facility seemed deserted, but Shepard knew better than to believe that absolutely nothing was there.
"Commander, I am receiving very little signs of activity inside of the building, it is possible that the colony has moved on or been wiped out",EDI's voice came in through the com nestled in Shepard's ear.
Garrus shifted to his other foot, question floating in the air,"Think she might be the reason for that?"
"Guess there's only one way to find out", Shepard replied, starting once more to run to the building, which they seemed to be at the back of, judging by the small shuttle bay door that was slightly opened.
The blonde holstered his gun, using both hands to coax the door upward, where it slid up enough for the men to crouch down and enter the building.
The bay was void of any shuttles, only a few boxes scattered around the room, all appeared empty. An apprehensive hum left Shepard as they got onto a lift, going up one floor to the catwalk going around the top level. They approached the door, which slid open once sensing the body mass. A long hallway was presented, but it too was barren, as if every just packed up and left.
The three men continued onward in silence only once or twice getting attacked by a varren that had jumped out of an abandoned room.
"Think we're getting close to the middle of this place yet, Shepard?", the turian asked. Although, not verbally, his questioned was answered as another door opened, revealing a large chamber, a mass of computers and consoles were set up in the middle, casting the soft blue light around the otherwise, dark room.
Typing furiously on a keyboard, was a young looking woman, frustration and anger clearly displayed in her expression. She showed no signs that she had noticed the three who had entered the room, so absorbed in what she was doing that she hadn't heard the light 'whoosh' of the automated door sliding open.
Shepard raised his hand briefly, signaling Garrus and Mordin to lower their guns. He holstered his own before slowly approaching the other across the room. He stopped a safe distance away from her before speaking clearly,"Are you Leilani Haven?"
The girl gasped and turned to face the Commander, black hair flaring around her face due to the quickness of her actions. Shocking blue eyes stared into his own emerald green, shock evident in the depths.
She seemed to regain her propriety as her spine straightened, hands gripping the edges of the desk hard enough so that her already pale knuckles turned white. The look of panic didn't quite leave as she took in the Cerberus symbol that was on the shoulders his armor. She cleared her throat nervously,"I am."
He assumed a proper position, legs together and hands clasped behind his back,"I'm Commander Shepard. My team and I are going to go through the Omega 4 Relay to stop the Collectors. I need the best. And they tell me that's you."
Leilani quirked a slim eyebrow, pushing off the table and half-turning back to the console,"No one has ever made it out of that relay. It's suicidal."
Shepard began to scan his brain for possible ways to convince the girl to join him, encourage her , tell her that her abilities are above anyone else's (except that he had no idea what she could even do), promise her something..."I'll do it"
Shepard took a moment to process what he just heard, eyes snapping up to the girl's face. A smirk had stretched across her pale pink lips. Her eyes were alight with the challenge at hand, suddenly her eyes dimmed and her face mellowed back down. "But first..."
She turned back to the screen, typing again. Several windows opened on it seemingly blank and she groaned , smacking her hand on the table next to the keyboard. Shepard wandered to her side,"What are you even looking for. Maybe we could help."
She huffed a bit, pulling up more documents, each showing nothing on them. "The Cerberus group here had some...information I need. But by the looks of it , they packed up shop and left the planet. I thought they might have left a trace or maybe all of the data on the computers, but they've been wiped clean." She stopped typing for a moment, swiping a hand through her long hair, "I couldn't ask you to help me. I know you're Cerberus and I don't want to get you into any trouble with your 'superior officer' or whatever you have."
Shepard held a stern voice,"I'm only with Cerberus to stop the Collectors. I don't give a damn what the Illusive Man thinks about what I do. And if it gets you on my team, I'll help."
Leilani's eyes narrowed, seeking truth behind the vows. With a sigh she hit a key, all the screens shutting down, taking the soft blue light away and leaving only darkness. She took a step back and looked back to Garrus and Mordin. "Alright, let's go."
"Welcome to the Normandy. I'm Jacob Taylor. I'm glad you were able to put your past with Cerberus behind you.",Jacob said, leaning on the conference table,"Your skills are admirable, It's a good thing we've got you."
The tall girl nodded at him, "Lani is fine, thanks.",then brushing past Shepard she said in a low tone, "I'd appreciate if you'd dig around a little for me. See what your boss knows about where Aviation ran off to." She stopped in the doorway, "I'll settle myself in. Probably just stick around the drive core. You'll find me eventually."
Right after Lani left, Jacob nodded at Shepard before taking his own leave.
A/N- I made up the System and planet name. As well as the Cerberus facility/colony name. I'd like to know what you think so please Pm/Review. And if you see a mistake please PM me so I can fix it. Thanks
-TS