Several years earlier
Mindoir Cemetery
His boots clanked off the concrete walkway. The large black gates opened just enough for two people to fit. The grass was always kept impeccable and the large stones that marked the final resting places of the dead were kept cleared from precipitation or any other form of debris. Two flags decorated one solemn grave, marked with a name and the overused "will be missed", maybe a date.
He walked down the walkway, then after the sixth row he slowed, and crossed. For the most part his head was always bowed in respect, and he quickly snatched the hat off his head when he remembered. The flowers and small flag he held in his hand, as fragile as they were, were slowly being crushed. This he didn't even realized until one of the violet petals flew from the bouquet.
Shakily he loosened his grip and stopped mid-stride, and read the two stones in front of him. He ran a hand through his messy brown hair, and licked his lips.
Here lies Hannah Shepard; beloved mother that will be missed. Next to that one. Jackson Shepard with the same wording, only with father. The most generic and cheapest engraving Ben Shepard could find. He wasn't left much in terms of credits, and was the only child of the two. It was a lot of stress for a boy that was only sixteen at the time.
Now at eighteen, he placed the flowers and the flag on both graves, and kneeled before them. He closed his eyes and whispered to himself.
"I will make you guys proud. Mom, Dad, If you can't already see, I joined the Alliance just a few days ago." Shepard takes a glance down at his own clothes, just a t-shirt and jeans. "I'm leaving for bootcamp once I leave here. I swear it, I will make you guys proud. I can't say that enough!" Shepard said, head bowed, eyes closed. He gave a small crooked smile. "My hair'll be cut, mom. Sorry about that. I doubt the military will let me keep my hair the way it is." Shepard ran his hands through his hair and then with that he stood, said once again, "For now, I say goodbye. I'll be back."
Present time.
Local Cluster
The window was small and showed little of the metallic landscape Shepard saw. He was XO of the Normandy, a prototype Alliance ship. He was farther along in his semi-short military career than he could ever hope. His Commanding Officer, Captain David Anderson, hand picked him after everything Shepard did.
The colony he grew up on was raided by Batarian slavers, but he proved himself eventually, held down Elysium long enough for help to arrive, by himself. A few years later, he was picked for the Elite program known professionally as Interplanetary Combatives Training, or ICT, it was unofficially called the N7 program. Though to make it to the N7 rank was rare, Shepard had accomplished it. Shepard gave a smirk to the ship he was on. His life turned around for the better once he joined the Alliance, and he was grateful for the opportunities he was given.
"Shepard," the deep voice he knew belonged to his Commanding officer, broke him from his thoughts. He turned to Anderson, one eyebrow raised in question. "I want you to head to the bridge, oversee that Moreau is alright."
"Yes, Sir." Shepard replies, and grabs the helmet from desk beside him. He finds the hook with ease, and snaps the helmet to his back with precision. The armor he had on was one of his favorites of all the suits he had. There were multiple seals and snaps, just like the one his helmet was attached to, that offered convenience and freed up space. His guns, all snapped to his back in their dutiful spots, were separate from the seal his helmet clung to. The N7 on his chest was small but noticeable. The red stripe was really the only different color on his armor and contrasted the charcoal gray.
Shepard moves from the sleeper pods, and quickly makes his way up the stairs of the Normandy's main floor. The CIC was buzzing with action and talk among the crew members. He had to zigzag through the mass of the people. He passed by Navigator Pressly, the map and walked passed the men and women arming the guns.
"Hitting the relay in 3...2...1..." the pilot states as Shepard got closer. "Thrusters... check, navigation... check. Internal emissions sink engaged. All systems online," Joker's hands glide across the interface, dragging this, dropping this with precision and skill. "Drift is just under fifteen-hundredk."
"Fifteen-hundred is good, your captain will be pleased." the figure besides Shepard, says. The Turian is in red and gray armor, so dark in color it looked black. His face, as most Turian faces do, was decorated with markings. Shepard understood the markings as almost a family crest in comparison, but his knowledge stopped there.
The Turian in question quickly turns around, giving Shepard a nod of acknowledgment and then walks away. Shepard sighs mostly to himself and watches the helmsman pilot the ship.
"I hate that guy," he says after seconds of silence.
"Nihlus, gave you a compliment, so... you hate him?" The other man said who sat in the co-pilot's seat, replies sarcastically.
Shepard understood him to be Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko, one of his subordinates
"You remember to zip up your jumpsuit on the way outta the bathroom, that's good! I just jumped us halfway across the galaxy and hit the target the size of a pin, *That's incredible," Joker says looking sideways at Alenko. "Besides, Spectres are trouble. I don't like him on board. Just call me paranoid."
"You're paranoid," Kaidan replies quickly. "The council helped fund this project. They have a right to send someone to keep an eye on things." Kaidan shrugs.
"That's the official story. Only idiots believe in the official story."
"They wouldn't send a Spectre on a shakedown run," Shepard speaks up.
"See!" The pilot gestures behind him stiffly. "I just... have a bad feeling."
A voice crackles over the comms. "Joker, status report!"
"Just cleared the mass relay, Captain. Stealth systems are engaged. Everything looks fairly solid."
"Good," Shepard can practically hear the Captain nod his head. "Get us in link to a Comm buoy and link us into the network. I want mission reports filed back to the Alliance before we even get off of Eden Prime."
"Aye Aye, sir. Better brace yourself, Nihlus is coming your way."
"He's already here, Lieutenant," Anderson says with what Shepard classifies as annoyance. There's a sigh on the other end. "Tell Commander Shepard to meet me in the comm room for briefing." Anderson orders.
Joker shakes his head, muttering another Aye Aye before quickly shutting the comm down. Soon though Joker picks up his head, and puts on a smirk.
"You get that, Commander?"
"Yeah, got it." Shepard says before turning around and walking away. He could barely make out Kaidan's voice, they must have continued their chatter as soon as he was out of earshot.
"Only when he's talking with you, Joker." Kaidan chuckles.
Shepard smirks to himself and gives a slight chuckle of his own as he makes his way to Pressly, who seems in a discussion with someone on a comm call. He glances at Shepard and snaps to a salute.
"Congratulations, Commander, Looks like we had a smooth run. You going to go see the Captain?"
"On my way to give him a status update," Shepard says nodding his head in the direction he was walking.
"With all due respect, sir, maybe he'll finally tell us why we're *really out here."
"You think the Brass is holding out on something?" Shepard questions.
"Well, if all we're doing is testing the ship out, why is Captain Anderson in charge, or that Turian, what is he doing here?" Pressly shakes his head with a frown. "Spectres are top secret covert agents to the Council. Why send a spectre- a Turian Spectre on a shakedown run?"
"You don't trust Nihlus, do you?"
Pressly sighs, "Well..."
"Speak your mind, Pressly, please." Shepard urges politely.
"Well, I don't really like Turians at all. It seems to run in my family. My grandfather fought in the First Contact War, and he was always bitter about losing his friends in battles. He lost a lot of them when they first hit us."
Shepard sighs. He wasn't one for racism, it was a waste of energy and resources to fight a war already over. Though Shepard didn't really have any room to speak, show him a Batarian that was somehow involved in the attack on Mindoir, and the Batarian wouldn't be your problem anymore. The thing was, he didn't blame every single Batarian for what happened to him, he reasons with himself. If anything, he wasn't racist, just skeptical.
"That was a long time ago, you can't possibly blame Nihlus."
"No, guess not." Pressly admits. "I am still uneasy about having a Spectre on board, Turian or not."
"I'll see if I can get information out of the Captain or Nihlus, and I'll let you know. But thanks for voicing your concerns, Pressly." He gives a reassuring smile and snaps a quick salute.
"Good luck, Commander!" the navigator calls to him.
Shepard runs over the conversation in his head, was there more he should of said? Or asked? If Navigator Pressly was prejudice to Turians, why was he even on the Normandy? It was a joint operation between Humanity and the Turian government. His mind was wandering when he bumped into two more people having a discussion. He was just on a roll with butting in, wasn't he?
"I grew up on Eden Prime, Doc, it isn't some place that Spectre's visit. There's something someone's not telling us." Corporal Jenkins says to the presiding Doctor Chakwas.
"Don't be so rash, Corporal."
"Commander!" Jenkins breaks off, snapping to a salute.
"At ease," Shepard ordered, "I couldn't help but overhear. You have doubts," Shepard says mostly to Jenkins.
"Yeah! I want to get down to real action," Jenkins smacked a hand into his palm. "I wanna get out there and actually do something. Obviously they wouldn't send a Spectre on a mission like this," Jenkins shrugs.
Chakwas sighs next to him, "Calm yourself, Jenkins. That kind of reckless behavior is what sends soldiers into my Medical Bay,"
"Jumping headlong into anything, isn't the way to prove yourself to the Brass, Corporal," Shepard scolds
"Easy for you to say, you already proved yourself during the Blitz. Everyone already knows who you are," Jenkins says shrugging.
Shepard rubs a hand down his face. He hated being called the 'Lion of Elysium' he didn't do anything special. It was all luck that he didn't get killed.
"T-that..." Shepard sighs. "I did what I had to do to survive. I did nothing more, and nothing less." he explains.
"So? You still held off an entire enemy platoon, by yourself, for two whole days! That's incredible!"
"I think what the Commander means, is that you shouldn't get reckless with your life." Chakwas says, gesturing to Shepard with her hands. Shepard gives a small smile and points her way.
"Exactly," Shepard says.
"Whatever it is, I'll stand behind you, Commander, you can count on me!" Jenkins says with another salute.
"I should get going, nice talking to you both," Shepard dismisses, walking around the two and into the Comm room where Anderson said to be.
Instead seeing the Captain in the large, round room. He saw a Turian in red and gray armor.
"Nihlus?" Shepard asks. Nihlus turns around and his mandible flicker at Shepard.
"Good, you're here before Anderson. I was meaning to talk to you." Nihlus starts, his hands clasped behind his back.
"The Captain said he'd meet me here." Shepard replies, his voice dropping low and laced with confusion. Shepard was still skeptical on Nihlus, and from what he learned so was the rest of the crew.
"He's on his way," Nihlus answers. Nihlus relaxes his stance and crosses his arms in front of his chest. "I'm just curious of the colony we're visiting, Eden Prime, I've heard it's quite beautiful,"
"Depending on who you ask, it's a paradise," Shepard replies his brow furrowing. "What are you getting at?" Shepard asks.
"A paradise," Nihlus continues almost as if not hearing Shepard's own question. "Serene and peaceful. Eden Prime has become something of a symbol to your people, hasn't it?" Nihlus asks. He pauses as Shepard crosses his own arms in front of him. "Proof that humanity can found colonies, and also protect them."
"I supposs-"
"How safe is it really?" Nihlus interrupts
"Extremely, but what does this have to do with anything?" Shepard asks, a glare taking form in his eyes.
"I mean no offense, Shepard, but your people are still newcomers to the galaxy, and it is one dangerous place," Nihlus replies unfazed or either oblivious to Shepard's feelings. "Is the Alliance truly ready for this?"
"Ready for what?" Shepard asks.
The Spectre's mandibles twitched and he opened his mouth to answer before being cut off by the voice of Captain Anderson.
"I think it's about time we tell the Commander what's really going on," Anderson says, coming shoulder to shoulder with Shepard.
"This mission is far more than a shakedown run, Commander." Nihlus says.
Shepard nods. "That's what everyone else was saying." Shepard turns his head to Nihlus, "They wouldn't send a Spectre on a shakedown run."
"We're making a covert pickup on Eden Prime. That's why we need the stealth systems operational." Anderson explains. Shepard turns his attention to his Captain, shifting only a little to finger the scar running down his cheek and over his nose.
"What's the payload, Captain?" Shepard asks.
"A research team on Eden Prime unearthed a beacon of some sort. We have reason to believe it's Prothean."
"Prothean? I thought they were extinct," Shepard says.
"That's why this pickup is so important Shepard," Nihlus answers. "And because i'm here to evaluate you."
"Me?" Shepard questions.
"Yes, you," Anderson replies, gesturing his hand to the Turian and Shepard. "The Alliance has been pushing this for a long time. Humanity wants a larger part in shaping interstellar policy, a larger say with the Citadel Council,"
"What does that have to do with me?" Shepard inquires.
"The Spectres represent the Citadel's power and authority, imagine that they accept you, a human into their ranks! It could be huge for humanity!"
"Not many can survive what you did, Commander. Losing everything on Mindoir, only to save Elysium from almost the same attack! You showed a remarkable will to live, and you proved you were not just a grunt fresh out of camp," Nihlus explains. "It's why I put your name forward as a possible candidate to the Spectres."
"Me? That's..." Shepard trails off, as he can practically hear his mother yell at him for hesitating with his manners. "That's an honor, thank you."
"Don't thank me yet, Commander. I still need to see you in action myself. Eden Prime will be the first of several missions together," Nihlus says.
"You'll be in charge of the ground team," Anderson says looking at Shepard, "You have to secure the beacon and get it onto the ship ASAP. Nihlus will accompany you to observe the mission."
Shepard nods, "Just give me the word, Captain."
Nihlus shifts next to Shepard moving to stand next to Anderson.
"We should be close to Ed-" Anderson starts only to be interrupted by Joker over the Comm.
"Captain! We got a problem!" Joker's voice sounding hurried and maybe a bit worried.
"What's wrong, Joker?"
"There's a transmission from Eden Prime, you gotta see this!"
"Bring it up," the captain orders quickly.
The large screen in the room lowers quickly. Before an image gets projected on it. At first all that is seen is the ground, lots of sand and rocks, maybe a patch of grass, but then the audio comes in. The gunshots are loud and rapid. Obviously whoever's holding the camera is in a hell of a shootout.
Anderson drifts closer, his arms crossed, and a worried look on his face.
Then the camera glides up, showing soldiers in armor with guns a blazing, sometimes dropping back behind the rock for cover. Then one soldier, clad in what Shepard recognizes as Phoenix armor runs to the camera man and yells for him to get down over the roar of fire.
The camera jerks and moves unsteadily around, showing the figure that just yelled, obviously a woman, stand up and fire, before dropping back into cover.
Shepard glances at Anderson and Nihlus. Anderson's face contains worry and confusion, while the Spectre beside him shows nothing. Nihlus just watches the screen carefully.
Shepard looks back to the screen now, the image showing another officer, this one male.
"We're under heavy attack! We have heavy casualties! I repeat, heavy casualties! We can't-!" the soldier is cut off when static comes through and nothing is heard for a brief second. "-eed EVAC! They came out of nowhere..." wonder now filling the male's voice. "We nee-" This time the man was cut off permanently, a bullet tearing through him as he is silenced instantly.
The Camera jerks once again, pointing to the sky to show a large shape, blurry and grainy. It takes a second to focus but once it does, Shepard can see the shape.
It looked like a gigantic hand, red electricity, Shepard guessed, crackled and snapped like lightning. The volleys of fire never let up on the enemy side but he heard screams of pain from people being hit.
"What are they doing! They're being shot at!" Shepard yells his arm flying out to point to the screen. Then the screen takes to absolute static, with no picture and only the annoying buzzing that follows.
"It just cuts out after that," Joker says, "It goes dead, there's nothing... Just nothing.."
"Reverse and hold at 38.5," Anderson orders. The feed reverses as asked and paused just at the moment where the strange figure takes the screen, focusing.
Nihlus' mandibles twitch, the only emotion he showed throughout the whole thing.
"Status report!"
"About 10 minutes out, Captain. No other Alliance ships in the area."
"Take us in, Joker, fast and quiet.
"Yes, sir," Joker replies, the screen slowly retracting, but the image was already burned into Shepard's mind. 'What was that thing? A ship? An illusion?'
"This mission just got a lot more complicated..." Anderson mutters.
"A small strike team can move quickly, it's our best chance at securing the beacon." Nihlus suggests.
"Grab your gear and meet us in the cargo hold, Shepard." Anderson says, walking from the room behind Nihlus.
Present Time
Eden Prime
"Your team's the muscle in this operation, Commander. Go in heavy and head straight to the dig site."
"Survivors?" Shepard questions.
"Helping survivors is a secondary objective, Commander." Andersons replies. Shepard grimaces. If there were any survivors left after what they saw on the feed. "The beacon is top priority!"
The Normandy's back hatch drops, the seal tight room suddenly overcome by the roar of wind as Joker steers to the drop point.
"Approaching drop point one!" Joker calls over the comms. It was heard throughout the ship and the ground team's suits.
"Nihlus," Jenkins calls. "You coming with us?"
Nihlus looks down the sight on his shotgun, cocking it back with ease. "I work better on my own. Good luck Commander!" Nihlus calls as he jumps from the Normandy. Shepard glances away, before calling to Joker over the Comm to take them in.
Shepard's team was dropped just on the outskirts of a small town on Eden Prime. This one seemed to be the smallest, and mostly agriculturally based. Shepard squints at the horizon, trying to make out any activity in the town. There was nothing.
"It's unnerving how quiet it is," Kaidan pipes up from Shepard's left.
"I know," his eyebrows knit together, and he unholsters his gun, walking a little ways at the ready. He can't help but jump as the large thing floated passed him. He jerked his rifle up and let of a quick burst of shots, a gooey substance resembling blood, spurted onto his armor.
"What the hell was that?" He questions, holstering his Lancer to wipe off the goop.
"It's completely harmless, Commander, They do the same as trees, just help with oxygen levels." Jenkins says, matter-of-factly. "But, it's okay if you shoot at them, i'm sure these ones aren't needed anymore. They normally don't venture this far out..." Jenkins trails off, obviously thinking hard.
Feeling the blood rush to his face in a blush of acting so rash, especially in his first commanding mission on the Normandy, Shepard shakes his head and moves on silently.
Shepard jogs on this time he kneels before a charred body. His nose shrivels in disgust and he grimaces at the odor. It was rancid and he used the stock of his gun to try and move the arm.
Instead he was rewarded with a loud snap, and the arm was separated at the elbow.
"Shit..." Jenkins mutters to himself.
"Language, Corporal," Kaidan scolds, but Shepard too, was thinking the same thing. Shepard was also upset. What the hell possessed him to poke it?
"Let's move out," Shepard replied gruffly standing.
The group trudges on, the rocky terrain not making it very easy to maneuver. There are lots of rocks here, the area the trio find themselves in, is now open, with rocks coming chest high, some of them even taller.
"They must have dumped some rocks here from the excavation," Sheprd answers himself aloud.
"Yeah, shame, this would be for a ni-" Just as Jenkins was responding to Shepard, robots, flying crazily shot out and clipped Shepard in the arm, while Jenkins dropped behind a rock. Kaidan who lagged behind the other two was able throw a barrier up and take a few more shots.
Shepard risks a look from his rock and notices the drones targeting Jenkins.
"Don't worry Commander, I got this!" he yells as he pops up from his cover, receiving multiple shots to his armor, and Shepard feels like he's moving in slow motion. He shoots one, two, three, in a matter of seconds, Jenkins grunts and collapses behind the rock.
The last recon drone is taken care of, going haywire and flying into the ground with a very anti climatic pop.
Shepard dashes to Jenkins.
The Corporal's eyes are half lidded, as he coughs. Jenkins grasps at Kaidan.
He's overridden by coughs and gasps for breath. Shepard watches on, his throat closing. He gently takes off the Corporal's helmet.
"It's okay, Jenkins," Shepard whispers, taking Jenkins hand and raising it to his mouth to wipe the blood away. Shepard analyzes the armor. So many holes... One above the heart, another one just centimeters away, the rest going into his stomach and as Shepard raises his gaze he realizes that one had punctured into his neck as well.
"I can't feel... anything..." Jenkins whispers. Kaidan hangs his head, as he gives a solemn look over to Shepard. Shepard feels like he was kicked in the gut. He was going to die...
"Tell me straight, Commander, am I gonna die?" Jenkins asks his voice cracking.
Shepard opens his mouth to speak, but finds his commander voice in place. Shepard's eyes drift down and to the holes in the man's armor
"I'm sorry, Jenkins." Shepard says.
"Well, this isn't how I pictured it..." Jenkins coughs. "I'm not even afraid, I..." his head lolls to the side. "At least i'm back on Eden Prime... Never thought that would happen." he whispers, his voice getting smaller, and weaker, and softer with every breath.
"When you go home; Tell them of us and say; for your tomorrow; we gave our today;" Shepard says, reaching to Jenkins arms to cross them politely across his chest that no longer heaved with the pain of trying to breath. Jenkins was completely still. Alenko closed his eyes and stood sighing heavily.
"I know that Jenkins is a part of the crew, and I will see to it that he will get a proper burial, but, Alenko, I need you straight. You straight?" Shepard asks, placing a heavy hand on Alenko's shoulder piece.
"I'm good, Commander. Lead the way," Kaidan answers normally. For a minute, Shepard believes he was more shaken up by the death of his subordinate than Kaidan, then he noticed a glossy look in Alenko's eyes, and sighs inwardly.
Shepard stares a bit at Kaidan before nodding and walking onwards.
They walked in silence until they reached these large metal objects. They had to be a yard high or more, with a sharp, pointy, top.
"What are these for?" Kaidan questions.
"Beats me. I'd say they have something to do with the colony if I were a fool." Shepard replies.
"Since you're no fool, what do you think?"
"That they have something to do with the attack on Eden Prime," Shepard says. They walk onward, still on shaky ground, Shepard frowns when he sees more of the metal contraptions. They had just reached the foothill of a rather large he heard gunfire, and glanced at Kaidan.
"Survivors maybe?" Kaidan says. a
"Hopefully, let's move!" Shepard orders, taking to a sprint, towards the sound. Once they reached the top of the hill Shepard took in the situation, One armored person hiding behind a rock and two robotic things coming after them.
Shepard is reminded of Jenkins, his eyes blazing with anger as they open fire on the rock. The person behind the rock drops to a crouch.
"Open fire!" Shepard orders, rushing down the hill shooting as he did so. The armored figure behind the rock didn't even hesitate when shots were fired, jumping from cover and firing too.
Shepard had reached the rock with one headshot on one of the flashlight heads.
The figure shot the last one in the chest, causing it to stumble and malfunction as a biotic field wrapped around it and finished it off, launching it into the air to never be seen again. Shepard looks up the hill at Kaidan, hand on his knees, wiping at his face.
He knew biotics strained themselves with their power, but he secretly was glad that he didn't have to deal with them.
"Commander Shepard, Alliance, SSV Normandy." Shepard recited, gesturing to Kaidan. "That's Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko, also Alliance military and stationed aboard the SSV Normandy as well. And you are?"
"Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams, 212 garrison force," Ashley answers snapping to a salute.
"At ease Chief. Where's the rest of your force?" Shepard asks, taking in the armor. Pink... just like the one in the transmission.
"We were patrolling the perimeter," Williams explains, pointing over Shepard's shoulder to her previous location. "when the attack hit. We got scrambled, and it wasn't pleasant... I... I haven't stopped running until now... I don't think the rest of the 212 was as lucky," Williams says looking at the ground.
Survivors guilt... Oh boy.' Shepard thinks
"It's okay, Williams, i'm sure you did all you could," Shepard reassures her with a, what Shepard believes, to be a calming voice and a squeeze of her shoulder. "Now can you tell me more about the dig site?" He asks.
"Yeah, it's just over that way a bit. There was another unit guarding it. Maybe they fared better than mine," Ashley responds sounding hopeful. Shepard smiles and nods his head.
"Alright, that's where we'll head to. Williams, you wanna come with us so we know where we're going?"
"Yes, sir. Sounds like a chance for payback." Ashley says with a determined nod pulling out her rifle
It took a bit of hiking but they finally reached the top of the hill, and Shepard was able to see the excavation site. He was straining his eyes to see anything. He saw a few groups of Geth scanning the area with their three fingered robot hands, and a small group of the Geth were staring at the group watching them.
"Hostiles down at the site. Prepare for a fight," Shepard says breaking the silence.
"How many?" Williams asks.
"Looks like a lot," Kaidan answers. Shepard glances back at Alenko giving him a nod which he returns quickly. He looks back at Williams who tightens her grip on her gun at the sight of Geth.
"Uh.. Ready, sir."
Shepard gave a smile to her, hopefully reassuring her. He really hoped she didn't try anything stupid. He'd hate to have to deal with two deaths in one day.
Jenkins... Why'd he... How did he not realize he was hurt, that he should stay down! Shepard grits his teeth and tightens his hold on his own gun.
"You alright, Commander?" Kaidan asks
"Fine," Shepard fires out with a hint of hostility. Shepard took a deep breath before starting the descent down the hill.
He didn't make it five feet before the Geth saw him as a threat and started shooting.
Shepard aims down his sight taking out two of the Geth with a quick controlled burst. Williams did the same, only on the left, and Kaidan's body was engulfed in a blue hym as a group of Geth were sent into the air. All in all the 'fight' Shepard warned everyone about wasn't even that bad.
"So much for a fight," Shepard says to the two. He shrugs and moves down the hill and into the site. In the middle, a large pedestal surrounded by about five huge pillars, sat empty.
"Where's the beacon?" Shepard turns and questions Williams.
"I dunno, it was here this morning. They must have moved it somewhere."
"Who's they? The Geth or the scientists?" Alenko questions, flicking the safety on and off on his Lancer.
"Shepard? Do you read me?" Nihlus' voice
Shepard's hand flies to his ear, his voice already questioning. "Where are you Nihlus?"
"There was a compound, up ahead of the dig site, I'm there."
"They moved the beacon. We should regroup at the compound you're at," Shepard suggests.
"Good idea, I'll meet you here," Nihlus agrees. Shepard nods to the two behind him.
"Let's move."
"Maybe some of the colonists got lucky, and are alive at the compound. It's just up the hill from here," Williams points.
"Maybe," Alenko murmurs to himself, but Shepard hears. Shepard's hands tighten on his own weapon and he takes a deep breath.
A colony of this size, just wiped out, it brought back some hurtful memories. Shepard desperately wanted to find, at least *one survivor.
He was jostled out of his own thoughts by his crew's voices talking, discussing the attack, as the woman, Ashley, explained her predicament in more detail.
Shepard's nose became accustomed to the stench of fire and burning rubber. Vehicles just abandoned on the sides. He couldn't help but let out a shaky breath before snapping himself from any bad thoughts.
"Looks like they hit the camp hard," Williams says, a dejected look on her face. Shepard nods in agreement, as he stares ahead at one falling ember. Just one ember brought him to a halt, it was small, and barely noticeable, but to Shepard it was a flaming torch, like a soft tear from the fire itself.
"Looks like a good place for an ambush though, be ready," Kaidan warns. Shepard agreed, but was too late in replying, for as he was just about to speak, the spikes retracted, and then he noticed the glowing blue forms that were impaled on them.
"What the hell?" He calls instead. His hands reach around to his back replacing his Lancer and grabbing the shotgun on his back.
"What did the geth do to them?" Ashley whispers mostly to herself.
The body swung it's long arms at Shepard's faceplate, only to be blasted away by a quick trigger pull by the N7 Operative.
Kaidan's body was engulfed in a blue hue, and with one flick of the wrist a whole wave of the husks were blown away.
Shepard looks to Ashley who fires quickly and spot, hitting her mark every time, downing more husks than Shepard could count, at a rate that he couldn't keep up with.
Shepard blasted another group of the husks away and suddenly it was all quiet. It was over in a few seconds, but it felt longer.
"I can't believe it... What did the geth do to them?" Ashley let out.
"I don't know but they aren't human anymore..." Shepard replies, shaking his head. "These poor people..." Shepard closed his hand into a tight fist. "Let's just check these homes for survivors," Shepard orders, walking into one as the door opened at his movement.
Inside he found some Medi-Gel amongst some tech things. Then he heard the quiet sounds of sobbing.
He rushed over to the sound, the structure next door, and hacked the lock. Inside he found a sobbing man, while the woman tried to comfort him.
"Oh thank the Maker!" she cried out, dropping to her knees. "We heard the screams, the dying, the guns..." Her brown hair was tousled, even though it was short, her makeup running down her face, and her whole body was shaking.
The man groaned as he stood, wobbling on his feet.
"I-I gave him an extra dose of his medicine. He's a bit... nervous."
"Why are you in here?" Shepard asks, looking out the darkened window."We are a part of the scientist group here to investigate the beacon, or we were. Tell me mister, did anyone suervive?"
Shepard takes a second to compose himself before saying, "Not that we've seen. You're the first of the scientist group."
"Shepard, are you there? Come in Shepard!" Nihlus' voice crackles.
"Shepard here, what's up Nihlus?" Shepard replies.
"I hit a big wave of Geth, looks like they're planting bombs on some of the catwalks, I'd recommend haste in disarming them!"
Shepard curses under his breath before regarding the two scientists. "I think, it'd be best for you both to stay here. It's safe, there's no Geth in the surrounding area, but it would be too dangerous for you to move anywhere." Shepard says. "I'll call and give this exact location, and you will be picked up. I promise that." Shepard finishes. His arm glows as he activates his Omni-Tool. "When we leave you should lock the door,"
"I w-will." the woman forces out. "Thank you..."
"Bombs!" Ashley's says, after they walk out, "Do they have no sense of survival. They'd just rather blow this place to hell?" she mutters to herself, but it was no secret what she was saying.
"They're synthetic, they don't have self preservation, they do what they are ordered to do and that's that." Kaidan replies
"The Geth won't blow this colony up if I have anything to say about it," Shepard replies harshly.
"Aye, Aye," Kaidan and Ashley say in unison.
A/N- There you go readers of mine! The first chapter of many. My own novelization of Shepard, taking on Saren and doing all his bad-ass STUFF! WOO It's probably going to suck, but if you bear with me, I'll make it my life goal to finish it! Reviews are extra helpful, PM's are always welcome, and I'll say, Ten reviews for the next chapter to be released early! I seriously need a good sign off... Until next time!
P.S If you know how I write, what I write about, and who, I think you'll figure out who my Romance option is in this story!
