Consensus seems to be that I should continue uploading things. Thank you for the reviews (and rather surprising favorites) thus far, though I'd like to ask for future reviews as I continue to add material. Particularly on this one. I'm not really happy with it and may end up removing it entirely. ...Assuming that's possible. Burn that bridge when I come to it.
Oh and in response to a plea not to give my Shepard a silly name, the name Julian is the one on the game file so I'll probably stick with that. On with the show.
Edit: Due to a good point about Shepard having the worlds slowest shield recharge this part had been sloppily edited.
The door to the main area of Chora's den slid open normally as Shepard hit the control. This was quickly followed by a barrage of gunfire from half a dozen mercenaries, all of whom seemed to have a clear shot at Commander Shepard. His shields managed to deflect the onslaught long enough for him to side step into cover. His back to the wall next to the door as he drew his pistol. Garrus and Wrex ducked behind a convenient crate for cover a meter or so back.
I don't have time for this! If I don't get to that quarian before Fist's thugs get her, we're all screwed. The Council won't lift a finger without evidence. We have to take them out fast. At that thought Shepard clenched his left fist, flexing his muscles in well trained patterns, a dark energy field beginning to distort his appearance. He swung out of cover, miming a forceful shove at the nearest attacker. A mass effect field promptly lifted the target off his feet and flung him head first against the far wall. A sickening snap indicated that his neck hadn't survived the trip. The sudden biotic display caught the rest of the thugs off guard, making them hesitate for a second. This was all the time it took to establish an offensive.
Without waiting for orders Wrex charged. A nearby merc found the crate that had formally been protecting him crushing his lower body as Wrex barreled into it. Wrex simply aimed his shotgun in the general direction of the pinned merc and fired, at the same biotically hoisting another victim into the air and into Shepard's line of fire. Not waiting to see the results, he moved to the next merc, amused at her attempt to hold her ground. Assault rifle rounds turned Wrex's shields into a fireworks display but did nothing to slow the juggernaut of a krogan. In contrast, a single shotgun blast to the chest was all it took to stop the human mercenary.
Garrus rose above cover and peered though his scope. He could just make out a mercs head protruding from cover. Garrus pulled the trigger, dropping the enemies shields with a single shot. The residual force of the impact sent the target to the deck, clear of cover. Garrus quickly dispatched him with a second pull of the trigger. He watched Wrex at work for a second, admiring the krogans tenacity in spite of himself, before getting a fix on his next target. Another quick trigger pull later and this final merc fell with a satisfying thud. He powered his omnitool and swept it over the room, mandibles spreading in a smile at the results.
"Looks like we're clear, Shepard," Garrus announced, rising from cover and collapsing his rifle. They needed to move fast and the long barrel would just get in the way.
"We've got to keep moving. That quarian will be walking into that trap any second now," Shepard replied, holstering his pistol as he sprinted to the exit from the ruined bar.
A moment later the trio was running through the dimly lit corridors as fast as their legs could carry them. Shepard taking point with Garrus bringing up the rear. Shepard briefly considered calling Alenko and Williams back into the fray. He'd sent them back to the embassy earlier figuring that three heavily armed people was suspicious enough and that five would probably have bought in half the C-Sec officers in the district to investigate. He'd kept Garrus for his knowledge of the Citadel and Wrex seeing as the bounty hunter was after Fist already.
That bastard Fist had to start working for Saren. If he'd still been working for the Shadow Broker we might have had a shot at just buying the data. Then Wrex wouldn't be involved. Shepard glanced back at the lumbering krogan. Why the hell is he still here anyway? He already killed Fist, his job is done. It's not like a merc to fight for free. Then again, he's krogan. Maybe he just wants to fight today. I'm not exactly inclined to turn down the help. Besides he could break me in half if he wanted to, so it's probably smarter to just let him do what he wants.
At least I know what Vakarian is doing here. He wants to take Saren down almost as much as I do. I think I can trust him at least that far. He's definitely hot headed, but he's also a great shot and seems to have a solid grasp of tactics. He might be useful later on if he's interested. Course, the Alliance brass might not be too happy about working with a turian. They certainly wouldn't approve of Wrex. Cross that bridge when we come to it.
Shepard raised a hand as they approached the site of Fist's trap, indicating a slower pace. A short flight of stairs and a mercifully unlocked door later and Shepard could tell why this was the chosen site. Only two doors and no witnesses. A decent ambush spot. I guess Fist wasn't a complete idiot after all. The dull red lights cast a foreboding mood over the hall as Shepard's squad approached quietly. Shepard could just make out voices ahead, though not clearly enough to glean any information. He advanced as stealthily as combat armor allowed, drawing his sniper rifle. Garrus followed suit while Wrex pulled an assault rifle.
"They'll be here. Where's the evidence?" Sounds like a turian. Probably one of the assassins.
"No way. The deal's off!" Female, synthesized tone...must be the quarian.
Sure enough the scene came into view, a solitary quarian female backing away from a turian. A pair of helmeted salarians were advancing on her, training their pistols on their would be victim. The quarian drew something from her pocket and flung it towards the salarians, then made for cover. An abrupt explosion knocked the salarians off their feet, drastically weakening their shields in the process. The turian had stayed clear of the blast, and was drawing an assault rifle while striding to the quarians cover.
Shepard raised his rifle, not having time to scope in his target. A miss will still get his attention, he thought as he pulled the trigger. The shot was perfect, aimed straight for the assassins head. However this one had invested in better shielding than his comrades. The mass effect field flared brightly, but held. The turian uttered some untranslatable curses, spinning to aim at Shepard instead. By now the salarians were upright again and opening fire. The rapid fire of the modded assault rifle wreaked havoc on Shepard's shields, forcing him to pull back and crouch behind a convenient crate.
Why are there always crates? It's helpful, but who do they belong to?
Garrus dropped to one knee and got the left salarian in scope. The assassins battered shields were in no shape to stop the bullet. The helmet didn't fare much better, green blood spraying the wall before the body slumped the the floor. The second salarian was just as unlucky as Wrex's assault rifle destroyed what was left of his shielding. As though she'd been waiting for this cue, the quarian reached out around the side of her protective crate and fired her shotgun. The salarian dropped at once, the front of his armor, and presumably body, mangled by the blast.
The turian took his chance, apparently choosing death before failure as he put his gun to the quarians head. He never got the opportunity to make the kill as his feet left the floor, his body being pushed by a powerful surge of dark energy until he was pinned to the wall. At the top of the stairs the turian saw the source of the attack: an armored human surrounded by a fading blue glow, leveling a military sniper rifle at his head.
"Oh shi-"
