So onward with chapter 3. Got a little bit done on the novel so off to work on this. Are we holding up okay everyone? Liking where the story is going? I'm getting hits so I'm gonna say "Yes." enjoy Also i took some liberties with certain aspects of how Shepard became an N7 because it's never really stated so...*shrugs* I came up with something that might work.
Chapter 3
"Holy shit!"
They had entered their third building for the day. So far their searches had yielding no positive results yet. It had been three days since they'd landed and each place they found was either littered with bodies or empty. And it was unnerving to put use the term lightly. The houses that were empty had no bodies and no food in them adding more to the mystery of what was going on.
But they weren't worried. The size of the area they were in was large enough that if you followed the rules of mathematics they would end up hitting pay dirt eventually.
When they landed, they were shocked to find out that the results of the probes searches were correct. When they landed the atmospheric controls were in full effect, the temperatures were still functioning at the same levels as they were before the explosion, but other than that there were no functioning lights or anything leading them to believe it was an emergency protocol that had been initiated at the time of the explosion.
Other than that, they weren't surprised to find a large amount of bodies littering the grounds. Corpses of reaper troops, Cerberus soldiers, civilians, mercs, they were everywhere and the smell wasn't helping so they decided to keep their masks on. To no ones surprise a few of them had to stop when they found a few empty rooms. When they removed their masks and helmets a few of them emptied their stomachs in whatever receptacles they could find.
They may have been battle hardened warriors, but the conditions that they saw without the rush of adrenaline and fear of life rushing through them took their full effect.
Garrus, CT, and Wrex were the only ones who kept their composure.
Over the past few days it grew gradually easier, but still difficult and they decided to avoid buildings with the largest amounts of bodies in them. Which unfortunately included a couple of small hospitals. While they wanted to search, their health was more important and without a larger crew the job would waste too much time.
Still they marked each building with a tab for the next trip.
But for now they were sitting in a small clinic in one of the wards going through a few things when Jack discovered a large cache of crates filled with medical supplies behind a fake wall.
Upon inspection they were able to figure out the majority of the medication was geared for turian and human use, which meant the asari could also benefit from it. They even found antibiotics for the quarian fleet and a small stock hold of weapons, armor, and even a few hundred pounds of amino and dextro based foods. Tagging the crates, Garrus made a call.
"Cortez, we need you to follow the signal I've set. We've found some supplies that need immediate transport to the supply frigates."
"On my way, Garrus."
He looked over his squad and added, "Make sure you have the mechs ready to load up the supplies. I'll be leaving Kaidan and Liara to help oversee loading."
"Copy that."
"Where do you want us to meet up with you?" The major asked as he began taking inventory on his omni-tool for the reports later that night.
"We'll be heading to the next shopping district. Should only be about twenty minutes from here. Load it up as quickly as possible and forward our findings to the necessary people."
The order came from CT, but Garrus let it slide. There was no real leader of the group but they all trusted each other enough to know that when someone spoke it was what the others were thinking. Kaidan nodded while Liara eyed the woman with suspicion as was her new habit.
From the corner of his eye he saw Wrex shake his head and the Shadow Broker went back to her duties while Garrus checked his visor. Over the past few nights he'd been able to make repairs to it. The targeting system was still a little off as he found out during an early morning practice session, but he was one of the best snipers around and he had no problem shooting without it. But his tracking beacon for Shepard was still not functioning. He knew he should just uninstall it, but Wrex had been right in his suspicions a couple of days ago.
Heading back into reality he moved the squad out of the building and with Urz leading the way he heard Jack and Wrex sharing battle stories.
"So then the station is going down and I finally manage to get aboard an escape pod and as I'm floating away I'm just staring out the pod window as this massive giant explosion rocks the moon and leaves a big ass crater in it."
Wrex let out a loud laugh while CT sighed at the juvenile way they were acting. . That got the biotics attention.
"Got something to say up there?"
The older woman turned her head and sneered. "You're lucky that little incident didn't kill anyone."
The biotic snorted. "You're right, I am lucky. Truth is I'm glad I didn't hurt anyone but at the same time it was fun as all hell." There was a laugh in her voice. "And just because you're some Alliance hot shot, don't think your shit is any better smelling than mine."
They were about five minutes out from their destination and Garrus was hoping this confrontation could be held off for a while longer, but it was inevitable. The stress had been piling up and even with the finding of that small bit of supplies it didn't help with everyone worrying about how they would all survive for very long.
They came to a halt and before Garrus could stop, CT, the woman had her fist cocked back and into Jack's face while Wrex just casually stepped to the side and fiddled with his shotgun. Garrus let out a loud groan and prepared to stop them.
"Don't do it, Garrus."
Turning to the krogan, the sniper spat. "They're going to kill each other."
"No they won't." The former mercenary set his shotgun on his back holster and watched as Jack threw the woman over her shoulder. Even without her biotics Jack was still a force to be reckoned with.
"How can you be so sure?" Asked Garrus, holding himself back from using a concussive round on the two women.
Wrex chuckled as CT planted her elbow into Jack's stomach before the biotic planted a fist into the top of the older woman's skull.
"If they were trying to kill each other Jack would have used her biotics and CT would be using a gun or her knife to end this as quickly as possible."
Garrus's eyes followed the women for a moment and he saw what Wrex meant. Though they weren't as powerful as they had been, Jack's powers were still well beyond the scope of most humans and CT he had come to find out was skilled with a blade and a gun. But they were just using their fists and he remembered his days with a certain female soldier when he was in the turian military.
It was a similar situation, though Garrus knew it wouldn't end with the two of them creeping off together later and watched silently until CT finally won with a knee to Jack's stomach. The biotic crumpled to the ground, followed shortly by the soldier and Garrus and went to the two of them. He was certain they'd be bruised tomorrow, Jack had a cut lip and CT a bloody nose, but save for a few scratches they were none the worse for wear.
"Are you two finished acting like children?"
CT nodded and plugged her nose with a bit of tissue from her hip pouch before handing a bit to Jack who thanked her.
"Hell of a right cross you got there, CT."
The older woman chuckled and gave Jack a pat on the back. "You aren't too bad yourself. I'd hate to see what state I'd be in if you'd used your biotics"
Jack shook her head and stood up just as Kaidan and Liara came up with happy looks on their faces. "Face it lady, your head wouldn't even exist had I used my powers."
The biotic extended her hand and pulled the woman up with a small grunt as Garrus shook his head.
"Everything go all right?"
The major nodded. "No problems at all and we kept a couple of extra medi-gels just in case." He looked over at Jack and CT who were still smiling stupidly about their fight. "And from what I can see we were right to suspect that."
Jack shrugged and spat a bit of blood out on the ground. "Come on, Major. You've never gotten into a fist fight just because you were pissed off?"
"Not since I was ten, Jack." He looked them over and turned to Garrus. "Have you even gone into the building?"
Garrus shook his head and grinned. "We were hoping you'd show up with the small pool filled with Jell-O."
"What's Jell-O?"
Garrus and Kaidan coughed nervously at Liara's question and Jack took her by the shoulder and began whispering in her ear. A few moments later, Liara was in Garrus and Kaidan's faces, her own face a much deeper shade of blue than normal.
"How is it that you two know of such things."
Kaidan shrugged and said, "Well it's not that uncommon of an event on human planets. I've never been myself, but I have a few friends that are into those sort of activities."
"And Garrus, what about you?"
The turian scratched his scars and laughed. "Leela may have taken me to a few when we were on shore leave in a few of the seedier parts of the Citadel." Liara's hand came up and with a loud pop he felt a small stab of pain.
"I bet you learned about it during one of your stupid research escapades and forced her into it."
Garrus could hear the jealousy in her voice but straightened up and flexed his jaw a bit before saying. "Actually it was not my idea. She was the one who suggested it when she found out it was going on where Chora's Den used to be. All I did was agree with it and I wasn't having nearly as much fun as she was." Liara could see in his face that he was hinting at Shepard joining in on the festivities by more than just cheering.
"Shocking that with you being the Shadow Broker and an asari you still don't know about these things."
Liara shot a look at Wrex who just continued to grin. "Why didn't she tell me about it?"
Kaidan made a grimace and wandered off with CT while Jack grabbed Wrex and began heading into the collapsed building.
When they were alone, Liara let a few tears fall and Garrus held her. It was a sad sight to see. Though they were a long-lived race, Liara was more than a kid out of her teens and Shepard had been her first real love. He hated what he had done, but he hadn't planned on doing that to Liara, if anything she was a sister to him and like the others he'd die to protect them and hoped that she and Shepard would get back together so he could get over his own attraction. But instead he ended up finding out that she was just as interested. He'd been out shopping for weapons parts while she and Shepard had met on Illium. And he'd been left behind on the Hagalaz mission but even then he'd steered clear of her when she was on the shipand he was aware of their conversations, but now he had a chance to at least apologize.
"I'm sorry, Liara."
She slammed a fist against his armor. "I know you are, Garrus. But it doesn't change the fact that she is gone."
He stroked her crests and nodded. "Maybe, maybe not. But," he pushed her back and lifted her chin with a finger. "It won't do any honor to her memory to cry about it right now."
She wiped the tears and nodded. "I'm sorry, Garrus. I said some hurtful things to her about the two of you and I just wanted…."
He laughed, "Don't worry about it. I'm pretty sure I would have done the same thing if I was in your shoes."
She straightened up and wiped the remaining tears, though it didn't do much to help the condition of her eyes. And with a nod they headed into the building where they found Kaidan and CT scrounging through bathrooms on the lower floors. They'd been lucky to find a few medi-gel packs in dispensers along with other sanitary items.
"Where's Wrex and Jack?"
CT pointed up. "With Urz. The damn beast smelt something upstairs and they followed after him." A second later they heard the stumbling of steps and Jack screaming loudly as she slid into the room on her knees holding up two large bottles. "We are going to party tonight!"
Taking one of the bottles Garrus saw that it was a form of high end alcohol and was surprised that it was both dextro and amino friendly. The other bottle, Kaidan took and smiled. Shaking it at CT. "It's looking like things may be going our way."
The officer took the bottle from the Spectre and read it carefully. "Find a few jugs of water and I'm more than willing to suffer through the hangover."
At that moment, Wrex and Urz appeared with bundles of medi-gel and more food stuffs. His lip curled as he growled at Jack.
She shrugged and gave a nervous chuckle causing the split on her lip to bleed a bit. "Sorry."
The krogan turned with a growl and thundered back upstairs with Garrus and CT following quickly behind him while Kaidan, Liara, and Jack went about taking inventory again.
Upstairs Garrus and CT let out gasps at the sight. It was a larger cache of supplies than the last one and he was certain they would need Steve to make at least three trips for all of it. Luckily there were lifts they could use to transport the cargo down into the streets for pick up. As they went through the boxes. They found more food and medical supplies as well as clothing but no weapons or spare parts for ships or computer systems. But still he signaled the human female to send out the message while he and Wrex went about fixing the lifts.
A few hours he was bidding Cortez and another shuttle pilot a good trip while they went onto the next location. This trip was difficult as the deformed bodies of whatever happened on the Citadel made an appearance once more. By the time they stopped, they hadn't found anything for the evening save for a hidden supply of water that would have kept the crew of a dreadnaught saturated for a few months.
By the time Steve and his pilot friend showed up again, they had set up camp for the night and when they were gone, Jack opened up the two bottles and he shared a toast with them for a finally productive day.
Liara didn't join in on the festivities. She set to work coordinating what forces she had left and it seemed to brighten her mood when she finally got a message from Feron that he was safe.
As he sipped at his glass he began to read from the book once more.
I haven't been able to sleep in days. What happened on, Akuze, my team, my squad mates, we were slaughtered. All of us save for me by a damn thresher maw. It was massive and it's spit. I watched them burn in front of me. Screaming in agony as me and the others ran. I tried to save them. I tried to distract it with some of my biotics by sending down rocks on top of its head but it wouldn't give up the chase.
We ran forever, my fellow marines dying one by one. Some of them sucked into the ground and others, God…the others were eaten or melted.
I can't sleep, the dreams still haunt me and all I can see is Vanessa laying in front of me. Her breaths ragged as I tried to clean her wounds. Her apologizing to me for what she had done a couple months ago. I told her not to worry about it but she shook her head saying that there was nothing I could do before thanking me and letting go as I did nothing but cry.
I was given ten marines to keep safe and none of them came back. My own injuries pale in comparison for what they gave up.
The analysts are calling it a freak accident. Something that we couldn't stop. I'm the only survivor to come off that world with the last person I thought I'd ever see rotting in front of me.
I was lucky that my beacon worked and when I was picked up the first thing they told me was that I'd done a good job.
Again I cried. I had failed in my mission. I was a member of the N7 training program and I could only save myself.
After my surgeries they sent in the shrinks who wanted to talk about my past and the things that happened on Akuze. I told them to drop it. It had nothing to do with what I was going through now but they said that I should be thankful for what I had gone through as a child. I lost control and sent them flying with a biotic push telling them not to make light of the dead.
I was left alone after that save for the nurses. None of them said anything as they changed my bandages and checked my I.V. Finally Mom and Dad showed up and I felt a little better. Dad's been retired for a couple years now but Mom was an X.O. on a dreadnaught now. She'd been given special leave to come help me.
When I told her I didn't want her to be there she just smacked me upside the head and said, "You best watch your tone with me young lady. I'm not so old that I won't bend you over my knee."
At that point we heard a cough and Mom and Dad immediately straightened up and saluted. I couldn't see what they were looking at but when I finally saw I tried to straighten up and salute but my shattered arm and ribs wouldn't let me.
He waved his hand away and asked to speak with me in private. My parents gave concerned looks but nodded and when they were gone, Admiral Steven Hackett sat down in front of me.
I asked him what to what I owed the honor and he shook his head and apologized for sending us in with so little intel. It took me by surprise having one of the most decorated soldiers in the Alliance apologize to me, but I kept quiet about it.
He went on about how they should have realized what was happening and had given us better equipment or warning and that because of them fifty good people were dead. He also apologized to me for the treatment I received during my training.
When I asked what he meant his face dropped and he said that he was well aware of my treatments and reassignment surgery before basic training. I clenched up but he shook his head saying it didn't matter. He said that what the Alliance needed was people like me and from out of his pocket he pulled a small package and spoke.
"What is inside this is not a consolation, nor is it out of pity, or disrespect to the lives lost on that mission nor as a way to make up for the suffering you've endured. I'm presenting this to you because you have earned it. You have served the Alliance honorably and with integrity. You have survived missions, lead people into battle and come out alive. You have shown the willingness to survive, have saved lives when you could, and have shown the honor and integrity that the Alliance has tried to stand for. And I ask that when you are cleared to join us, that you stand with those receiving this honor and bring those who have bled with you the honor and vengeance they deserve."
I took the parcel and opened it and inside was an N7 badge and the insignia for a second-class warrant officer. All I could say was that I'd think about it and he nodded.
Before he left he turned to me and gave me a salute. "You've done us proud, Shepard. And I hope that you will make the right decision."
That was two days ago and I still haven't gotten back to him. My body ribs are feeling better but my arm will need more time to heal along with my body from the dehydration. But in a week they will have the N7 induction ceremony. I've been thinking about it a lot lately. Thinking about those who died shooting for this dream.
Over time I had earned the respect of the other candidates. They knew I could do the job, just like them. And while none of us were friends, we were comrades and that was more than enough. After five years I'm finally starting to feel like I belong and I know that if I don't accept this I will do myself and them a great dishonor.
Still won't help me sleep any better.
December 12th, 2177
He shut the book and drank from his glass of alcohol before taking a sip of water. Jack and Wrex were singing loudly at the top of their lungs while CT was curled up on the ground with the liquor bottle, a small bit of drool seeping from her mouth.
Liara had gone to sleep as well away curled up in a blanket next to the heating lamp.
He thought he'd turn in to when he noticed Kaidan staring out into the Wards.
Getting up, he walked to the window and stared out with him and noticed the dark mounds of bodies beneath him.
"It's never going to be the same is it?"
Kaidan shook his head at the question. "I suppose not. It's kind of funny," he added with a small chuckle. "So many races used this place as place to bring peace and order to the galaxy and in three short years we expose it for what it was, thus destroying the entire illusion that has been built up for millennia."
Garrus chuckled and handed Kaidan the rest of his drink. The human drowned it and coughed before speaking. "But, we're alive. And thanks to her, we have a chance to finally control our own destiny's."
The turian nodded and scratched his chin, "That's true Kaidan. But right now, we are only at the beginning of our destiny."
The major laughed and clapped his friend on the shoulder. "That may be. But right now, I think enjoying a brew, a shot, and a steak sandwich with my sister is a pretty good start to this destiny."
Garrus's mandibles quivered momentarily at this and he asked, "You have a sister?"
The biotic nodded and smirked. "Yeah I do. You might know her. About five-foot-eight, hundred-and-thirty-five pounds. Biotic, naturally red eyes, and hair that looks purple under the right light. Has a turian boyfriend with a mangled face." His grin broadened. "I think you know someone like that, right?"
Garrus laughed and slapped the biotic on the back. "I may know someone like that. But if her brother tries anything I may just have to put a foot in his ass."
Kaidan laughed as well. "Just make sure you pay for my sandwich and medical bills."
"No, promises Alenko."