Eleven long months after the devastating attack on what was once Earth's most idyllic and promising colony, Eden Prime is still in a state of slow recovery. In addition to the spaceport, much of the surrounding farm lands were destroyed by subsequent flame, placing the colony's ability to sustain itself in serious jeopardy. Efforts by both humanitarian volunteers and Alliance governmental agencies have managed the revitalization of many essential facilities, but it may still be some time before homesteaders will brave settling on the ravaged planet once more.
- Ladan Medina, Westerlund News 2183
They hit the ground at a run, images of smoke and fire seared into their minds. From the air it seemed the whole colony was alight. Despite the best efforts of his helmet's filters, Alenko's nose immediately filled with the stench of burning plastic and charred flesh. The expression on Jenkins' face said plainly that he too recognized the smell. Kaidan's heart went out to the kid. He had been so eager to see action, and now he was getting his wish in the most horrific way possible. He looked like he was going to be sick. Shepard waved him back when he moved to take the lead, but he shook his head determinedly.
"I know this area, Commander. I should go first," he said, a note of urgency creeping into his tone. "Please."
Shepard gave him a hard look. "If you take point, you had damn well better keep your head in the game, Corporal. We have a job to do and the best way we can help anyone here is to do it."
Relief washed over his face and he visibly shook himself. "Aye, aye, ma'am."
He led them towards the settlement, the sounds of gunfire and heavy artillery muted in the distance but growing steadily closer. With every step the smoke in the sky thickened, narrowing their field of visibility and turning afternoon in to gloomy twilight. Moving past an outcropping of rock they came across the first of the bodies. What remained of them. There were maybe half a dozen sprawled forms, blackened and burned while the area around them was left untouched. Shepard knelt to examine the remains, signaling Alenko to keep watch. Behind her Jenkins took up a similar position, eyes anywhere but the charred husks. "Oh God. What happened here?" he murmured. "I never thought – this was supposed to be a simple..."
Alenko shook his head in sympathy as he took in the billowing smoke and the reddened sky. "There was never anything simple about this mission.
Shepard shot him a look as she straightened up. "Have something to share with the rest of the class, Lieutenant? When did you put that together?"
He shifted uneasily under her scrutiny, kicking himself for opening his big mouth. He'd yet to meet a superior officer who appreciated subordinates over-analyzing their orders. Usually he had the sense to keep it to himself. Usually. "Gagarin Station," he admitted.
Her brows shot up her forehead but the rest of her face remained impassive. "I'm listening."
Jesus, does she have any idea how terrifying she can be? "Well, uh, a simple shakedown run would have been a complete waste of talent. Ma'am. I mean, a prototype warship, an infamous pilot, two En Sevens, and a council Spectre may sound like a setup for a bad joke, but what it does not sound like is a routine mission."
She pinned him with a look akin to the one she'd given when she first boarded the Normandy; like an entomologist examining a specimen under a magnifying glass, unsure whether to squash him now, let him loose, or keep him in a jar for further study. "You forgot the biotic tech too smart for his own good."
Now I've done it. "Er, sorry, Ma'am. It's not my place to speculate."
"Oh no, there's no going back now. You've outed yourself as being halfway competent, I'm officially making it you place. So if you have any more revelations you be sure to speak up."
"Er -" I can't tell if she's serious or just fucking with me. "Yes, Ma'am."
They resumed their careful march, passing more former residents of the devastated settlement. The commander cast her eyes about the scene, her shoulders sagging ever so slightly. "Oh, and Alenko? You figure out the punch line for that joke, you be sure to fill the rest of us in. Because I'm fucking dying to hear it."
The bodies were becoming more frequent as the colony loomed nearer on the horizon. Jenkins had examined the first few as though afraid he might recognize a face, but all were too desiccated to be identifiable. It was clear he was becoming more agitated as he increased their pace forward. Another pair could be seen just around the bend in their path.
"Keep your head d-" Shepard began as Jenkins rounded the corner before them, but was cut off before she could finish. Ahead on the path three drones sprang to life, mounted guns coming online even as they lifted off the ground. Before he could bring his rifle up they were upon him, their fire sending him staggering back a step before he crumpled.
"Shit," she spat, calling up a wave of dark energy as she ducked behind the nearest boulder. She reached out with one blue hand and pulled the fallen marine, sending his limp form sailing back into cover while loosing a few rounds with the pistol suddenly in the other. One of the machines exploded in a satisfying shower of sparks and shrapnel. She glanced over to confirm her lieutenant had made it to cover of his own and found him aglow with a blue barrier similar to hers, attention intent on his omni'tool. As she turned back a second drone burst apart just as she grabbed the third with a field and smashed it against the rocks behind. She remained huddled in position for a moment longer, but when no more enemies were forthcoming and her HUD remained clear, she cautiously stepped out of cover.
"Perimeter secure," Alenko supplied quietly, straightening from a crouch and moving to where Jenkins lay motionless. Shepard watched from his shoulder as he carefully rolled over the still form and searched the suit's interface for vital signs. Even from her vantage point she could see the readings were inactive.
"Damnit," she whispered. God fucking damnit.
"Ripped right through his shields. Never had a chance." His voice was tight with frustration as he gently closed the younger man's vacant eyes. When he turned to look up at her his face grim. Grim. That was becoming the word for this mission, she thought angrily. What the hell was I thinking, letting him go first? She forced the fist at her side to unclench. No one could have foreseen this. She wadded up the self-doubt and distress and shoved back into the farthest corner of her mind. Later. Right now they needed to press on if they were to have any hope of getting a handle on the situation.
"We can't help him now," she found herself saying, "but we sure as hell won't leave him here. We'll send a team back as soon as the beacon is secure."
The lieutenant gave a terse nod. "Aye aye, ma'am."
She opened her mouth to add that he needed to stay focused, to say that the colony was counting on them, that getting to the beacon was the most important thing, but the look on his face made her closed it again. He didn't need to be told. Instead she returned the gesture with a jerk of her head. Good, she thought. One less thing to worry about.
A stray round clipped the edge of the rock just above her head and the gunnery chief flinched, pressing her back more firmly to the smooth stone. The interface of the assault rifle in her hands flashed red accusingly, overheated once more. Fantastic. She dropped it to the ground in disgust and unholstered her sidearm. A quick glance around the side of her impromptu shelter revealed the mechanical form slowly advancing on her position. Behind it another finished its ministrations on the captive colonist and moved to join its companion. She loosed a few shots, but the rounds bounced harmlessly off of the things' glowing shields. The two returned fire and she ducked back.
Damnit. Habit made she glanced to her side, to where Bhatia should have been. But she was gone. Damnit, damnit, damnit. She swung around the wall again, unloading several ineffectual rounds into the approaching geth before she was forced to withdraw again. They were all gone. No one was coming. Fear weaved an icy tendril up her spine, but she stamped it back down, replacing it with a wave of anger. If she was going down she was taking as many of those mechanical bastards with her as she could.
At her feet the rifle beeped, display blue once more. She scooped it up, cradling it to her chest as one might a small child. Enough of this. She braced to renew her attack.
More gunfire reached her ears, but this time from behind. Her head whipped towards the sound. Stalking down the hillside towards her was the most welcome sight she had ever seen. Reinforcements. Thank God. The pair of marines quickly took cover behind what was left of a concrete wall, drawing the enemy's fire with them. As if in greeting, the machine on the right collapsed in a spray of parts and fluids and the second staggered backwards. Taking the opportunity, she finished it off with a quick volley of fire. Her eyes searched around for another target, but there were none in sight.
"Clear," announced the nearer of the two newcomers as the blue aura surrounding him faded.
The other dropped hers as well, approaching where the chief stood. "Are you injured, soldier?"
She could only stare at her.
"What's the status here?" the woman persisted.
Coming to her senses at last she threw up a hasty salute. "Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams of the 212, Ma'am." Then, because she couldn't keep the ridiculous grin from spreading across her face, she added, "I thought the Cavalry was supposed to ride in on horses."
Nihlus was still warm when they reached him, his assailant couldn't have been more than a few minutes ahead. "Goddamnit," Shepard swore. Alenko knelt down to check for life-signs, deja vu joining the dread pooling in the pit of his stomach. The turian had been shot in the back of the head. Point blank. Either someone had caught him unaware, or he had let them get that close. He was having a hard time deciding which was worse.
A noise behind them brought all three marines' weapons around to bear and a cowering civilian emerged from behind a stack of crates, arms stretched high above his head.
"Wait! Don't – don't shoot!" The man was a wreck; he face and clothing smudged with soot and sweat and his entire body quaked with fear.
Shepard lowered her gun. "What happened here?" she demanded.
"My name's Powell," said the man, letting his hands fall to his sides. "I saw what happened to that turian. The other one shot him."
"What other one?" Williams asked, stepping forward.
"The other turian. He got here first. He was waiting when your friend showed up. He called him Saren." The commander and Alenko shared a questioning look. A turian? he wondered. Working with the geth?
"This other turian. He shot Nihlus?" asked Shepard, and Powell nodded.
"Your friend seemed to relax. He let his guard down. And Saren killed him. Shot him right in the back. I'm just lucky he didn't see me."
"Do you know what he wanted?" she pressed.
"They're probably after that beacon thing!" His eyes took on a fevered gleam. "They killed everyone. Everyone! If I hadn't been behind the crate's I'd be dead, too!"
"And just how come you're the only one who survived?" Williams asked, eyes narrowing.
Kaidan left his attention drift as the chief laid into the dock worker for sleeping on the job, his thoughts already trying to wrap around this new mystery. Why would a turian be helping a race of machines that hadn't been seen this side of the veil in over two hundred years? And not just any turian, one Nihlus knew well enough to trust with his life? Whose presence he didn't automatically question, even in the middle of a human colony? Who was this Saren?
The commander had an easier question. "Where did he go?"
Powell looked relieved to shift the subject away from his own transgressions. "He took the cargo train to the spaceport," he said, pointing off into the distance.
"Right," she said. "Let's go."
More geth were waiting for them at the transit center. His HUD went haywire seconds before the first round skittered off Shepard's armor. "Down," she ordered as they took cover as best as they could in the open stairwell. One of the machines appeared at the base of the stairs, but Alenko was ready for it. With practiced ease he swept his arm towards the geth, the blue aura leaving his hand and engulfing the mechanoid, sending it careening off the platform.
"Cover me."
Wait, what? He turned back just in time to witness his executive officer reach up, grasp the top of the stair wall and vault herself over. Oh crap. Launching himself up from a crouch he slung his rifle on to the ledge, firing rather indiscriminately into the crowd of geth. Williams joined him a split-second later. Fifteen feet below him on the platform Shepard was rolling to her feet, moving to take cover behind a metal crate of questionable integrity and prepping what looked to be a grenade. Sure enough, a quick throwing-motion later and the cluster before her scattered; some of their own volition, but even more were sent flying from the blast. Abandoning the crate in favor of a concrete wall, she gestured for Williams and himself to take position at the far end of the platform before leaning around to lay down suppressive fire.
The two sprinted the last few meters between themselves and concealment, coming to rest behind another wall. By now the geth had regrouped, falling back in the direction of the train and taking refuge behind one of the many stacks of crates. Shepard stalked towards them, taking shots here and there as the opportunities presented themselves, Alenko and Williams close on her heels. When they had caught up she paused for a moment against a canister of her own.
"Alenko, on my mark I need you to get rid of those crates." She gestured to the cartons currently harboring their targets far off down the platform. "Williams, take your shots as you find them –" She was cut off as the chief's rifle barked a quick staccato, and was rewarded by a metallic clang as one of the machines fell to the deck.
She lowered the gun. "Sorry ma'am, you were saying?"
"Carry on, Chief." Shepard patted her shoulder as she moved past.
"Where are you going?" Alenko asked after her as she disappeared behind another stack.
"To get closer," she called back.
The two remaining marines shared a look. "I don't think I like -" Williams began.
"- where this is going." Alenko finished. "Maybe -"
"Mark!"
She was ready with another grenade when the crates abruptly launched themselves into the air. The moment it left her fingers she was mobile again, prepping a mnemonic as she sprinted to the next bit of cover. The blast littered the area with bits of shrapnel, but there were still maybe half a dozen of the walking toasters left. Grabbing a smaller crate with a field as she passed, she sent it barreling into the first of the geth coming her way. The box connected with a satisfying crunch and machine was swept off the edge. Still clutching the canister in her biotic grip, she swung it around to smash into another target. This one was ready for her, bracing itself and taking the impact with a raised appendage. Its structural integrity already compromised, the flimsy carton sheared in half when it met with superior construction. Somewhat winded, she dropped the two pieces with a clatter and loosed a volley from her assault rifle into the mechanoid before it could resume its advance. As it fell she took quick stock of the situation.
While she had been playing croquet with her pair, Alenko and Williams had claimed one each. Go team. That left probably two unaccounted for, and her HUD was still down. She'd have to talk to the lieutenant about that later, maybe he could figure out a way to block whatever was blocking them. In the meantime they'd have to search the old fashioned way.
As it turned out, there weren't a whole lot of places an eleven-foot-tall sentient machine could hide. Rounding the corner of a rather haphazard stack of canisters, she caught sight of the towering geth. Ducking back into cover the team opened fire, but it quickly disappeared from view.
Because we wouldn't want this to be easy – "Williams, head around the side, try to flush it out. And keep your eyes open, we're still one food-processor short. Alenko, head around –"
Ahead of them the pile of crates exploded, sending their contents flying. The geth in question advanced towards them, packing materials and plastic shards clinging to its form, along with what looked to be several pillows worth of down feathers. All this was taken in at a glance as Shepard hurled herself behind another carton, clotheslining her lieutenant in the process and hauling Williams down after them. They landed in a heap as slugs tore through the space where they had only recently stood, embedding themselves in the boxes beyond. When there was a break in the fire she shoved her marines towards the more substantial cover of a nearby wall. "Move!"
As the two broke for the barrier she provided cover fire, keeping the thing at bay. She made to follow, but the crate hurtling her direction forced her to duck back down. Son of a –. It shattered on contact with her canister, showering her with shrapnel and overripe produce. She looked up just in time to see her foe charging straight towards her and her fragile cover. It was all she could do to throw up a hasty field around herself before the thing was upon her, slamming the crate forward and pinning her between it and another.
"Commander!" She was dimly aware of one of her companions calling out, but she couldn't be bothered to figure out which one just now. Her barrier had protected her organs from being reduced to a fine paste, but all the air in her lungs had been forcefully expelled upon impact and she was having trouble refilling them. Wheezing, she lashed out instinctively with a blue fist, connecting with something hard and unyielding. The blow wasn't enough to do any damage, but the biotic force sent her assailant staggering back a step. Taking advantage of its distraction, she summoned all the force she had and threw it. The massive geth barely lifted off the decking, but the attack was enough to send it stumbling back against the railing. Its arms pinwheeled cartoonishly as it fought for balance before a second field joined hers, forcing it over the side.
"Hell, Commander, save some for the rest of us," came a voice near her right ear. Williams was at her side, shoving the deformed canister away. Behind her Alenko was lowering his arm, the corona of dark energy around him fading.
"Nice timing there, Lieutenant," she coughed.
"Better timing would have sent it over the edge before it charged you, Commander."
She couldn't argue with that logic. "Any sign of the other one?"
Williams gestured to an inert form up the way.
Shepard nodded. Go team.
He was definitely going to have to reevaluate his previous stance concerning the commander's lethality in conjunction with fruity cocktails. Having now seen her in action, any lingering doubt concerning her abilities was long put out to pasture. She was incredible. As he watched, she swept the last of the geth into the air as the chief expertly drilled it full of holes. She probably hadn't even needed that wedge of lemon.
"It's no fun when you hold them still, ma'am," complained Williams.
"Next time I'll be sure to give it a toss first," Shepard promised dryly. Pressing a hand to her ear, she hailed the ship. "Normandy. The beacon is secure, request immediate extraction." She moved away as she consulted with Joker.
Williams joined him as he beheld the artifact. It was unlike anything he had ever seen. The surface was bathed in energy, oscillating with light and emitting a barely audible, throbbing hum. From its apex shot a beam of energy, piercing the smoke and clouds above and disappearing into the sky. The chief regarded it with bewildered look. "It wasn't doing anything like that when they dug it up."
She eyed it suspiciously a moment, then turned away to join the commander.
"Something must have activated it..." he trailed off as he approached. It pulsed and glittered invitingly. Amazing. What kind of power source could still be viable after thousands of years? It must be based on tech similar to the relays. So engrossed was he in his extrapolations that he failed to notice the faint tug of a mass effect field until it had grabbed a hold of him, pulling steadily him towards the beacon.
He flung his weight backwards, attempting to break the field's hold, but succeeded only in unbalancing himself. Without both feet braced against it, his slide towards the artifact hastened. Voices beyond his range of hearing whispered and sang in his head, growing louder with each moment. His vision swam sickeningly. He had time for a brief flash of panic before arms were encircling his waist, hauling him back and before he had registered what was happening he was on the ground, rolling away. He looked up in time to see the commander as she was yanked off her feet in his place, hoisted into the air by an unseen force.
"Shepard!" He lurched forward, but Williams was beside him holding him back, her grip on his arm like a vice.
"No, don't!"
The two watched in horror as the commander hung in midair, the energy from the beacon surrounding her and the hum increasing to a dull roar. Her face was a mask of pain as she struggled to turn away from the source, eyes screwed shut and breath coming in short strained gasps. It was a losing battle. As the roar became a wail her head was brutally wrenched forward. Her eyes flew open as the light engulfed her.
With a brilliant flare the beacon exploded. Shepard was thrown to the ground, landing hard on her side where she lay still in a tangle of limbs and debris. Alenko freed himself from the chief's hold and scrambled to her side. No. Not her, too. Her suit's medical interface was dead, fried by the energy pulse. Yanking off his gloves, he released the seals on her helmet and carefully removed it from her limp shoulders. He cradled her head, fingers moving to her throat seeking a pulse. Thready, but present. Thank god.
"Is she –?" Williams crouched down next to them.
He shook his head. "She's alive. I can't tell much more."
"What the hell happened?"
He shook his head again, sliding a hand back to support her mercifully unbroken neck and easing her onto her back. Her face was pale and drawn, lids closed over restless eyes. A tremor passed through her as he held her. Then another. This was way beyond his abilities as a field medic. They needed to get her back to the ship before she got any worse. Before he fucked anything else up.