We round the corner of the wall of rocks and stop dead in our tracks. A couple miles away, the black ship from the transmission video is lifting off the ground. And it's even more terrifying in person.
"What the hell is that!?" Kaiden gasps. He didn't see the vid, this is his first time seeing this- this thing. I can only imagine what's going through his mind. We watch in silent horror as it continues to rise higher and higher until the thick mixture of red clouds, dust and ash shield it from our view. I glance at Ashley, her eyes are wide, her face is pale, and her breaths are quick and shallow. She feels me staring at her and her eyes meet mine. Something unspoken flows between us- understanding. This thing killed her squad mates, and demolished most of Eden Prime. She is fearful of the beast, and she has every right to be. "Heads up, Commander!" Kaiden yells as I turn in time to see more of those spikes lowering with those abominations squirming on them. I also see a few geth patrolling the spaceport. I glance at Ashley hoping that this won't be another incident like with Jenkins. No, her gun is locked, loaded, and already scoping out the enemies.
We charge in heavy, taking down the dead that get too close to us, while taking out the geth troopers. After a few minutes of silence, we cautiously continue towards the spaceport, ascending the stairs. Behind a few crates we spot Nihlus lying on the ground. My heart rate spikes as I dart towards the motionless turian, falling to my knees. I notice the puddle of blue blood that surrounds him, and spot a bullet hole on the back of his head, under his fringe. Someone shot him in close proximity... he was near someone with his guard down. Spectres don't let their guard down, only when they're with someone they trust implicitly. Someone either got the drop on him, which is highly unlikely. Nihlus has been at this for a very long time, he's the best of the best. Or... someone betrayed him... but who?
I roll him over and close his eyes, just like how I did with Jenkins. I squeeze my eyes shut tightly, sending up a silent prayer to the spirits, asking them to watch over Nihlus. Turians have absolute freedom to practice whichever religion they choose to, as long as it doesn't affect anyone's abilities to perform their duty. Most turians, however, believe that groups and areas have "spirits" that transcend the individual. For instance, a military unit would be considered to have a literal spirit that embodies the honor and courage it has displayed. While a city's spirit reflects the accomplishments and industry of its residents. Or like how an ancient tree's spirit reflects the beauty and tranquility of the area it grows within. These spirits are neither good or evil, and they can't affect the world but they can inspire the living, so to speak. I just hope Nihlus finds peace... because I'm gonna make sure the bastard that did this, doesn't.
"Something's moving! Over behind those crates!" Ashley's voice makes my eyes snap open, and jump up with gun at the ready.
"Don't s-shoot! I'm human, like you!" A wary man cries out, as he slowly comes out from hiding with his hands up in the air. I quickly lower my gun. Son of a-
"Sneaking up on us like that nearly got you killed!" I spat at him. His eyes widen a little more and he nervously looks away.
"I... I'm sorry. I was hiding. From those creatures." He says quietly. He slowly lowers his hands, letting them drop to his side. "My name is Powell." He says after a moment of silence. He rubs the back of his neck, and glances at Nihlus' body. "I saw what happened to that turian." He whimpers. "The other one shot him." I feel my brows furrow together angrily.
"I need to know how Nihlus died." I press him. His eyes meet my steady gaze as he explains what happened.
"The other one got here first. He was waiting when your friend showed up. He called him Saren. I think they knew each other." He says softly, still coming out of his initial shock. 'Saren.' I know that name, but I can't remember from where. Doesn't matter. He's going to pay and hell is coming after him. "Your friend seemed to relax. He let his guard down... and Saren killed him. Shot him in cold blood." I shake my head, just like I thought...
"Where'd Saren go after he killed Nihlus?" I ask trying not to take my anger out on him. He points to the cargo train.
"Jumped on the train and headed over to the other platform. Probably going after that damn beacon." He sighs. "I knew that beacon was trouble. Everything's gone to hell since we found it. That damn mother ship showed up, then the attack happened..." His eyes fall to the ground. "They killed everyone. Everyone! If I hadn't been behind the crates I'd be dead, too..." His eyes are filled with sorrow and regret. I frown at him.
"How come you're the only one that survived? Why didn't anyone else hide with you?" I demand. His eyes don't reach mine.
"They never had the chance." He says somberly. "I... I was already behind the crates when the geth started attacking."
"Wait a minute." Kaiden shakes head and points a finger at Powell. "You were hiding behind the crates em style="box-sizing: border-box;"before/em the attack?" He asks suspiciously. Powell's sorrowful expression deepens.
"I... sometimes need a nap to get through my shift. So I sneak off behind the crates, and catch 40 winks where the supervisor can't find me." Powell says shamefully. I grimace at him.
"You survived because you're lazy?" Ashley hisses and takes a step towards the now frightened man. I hold my arm out in front of Ashley.
"Easy Williams." I grumble, trying to get her to stand down. I'm just as flabbergasted as she is at the man. After Ashley calms down a bit I refocus my attention on the man. "If you hadn't snuck off for that nap you'd probably be dead- just like all the others." I stare at Powell, holding his gaze. "By some miracle, you've been giving a chance, Powell. Don't waste it."
His shoulders droop, "Yeah. Yeah, I guess. I don't really want to think about it." I press him for more information about the attack and the ship. He tells us that he thinks the geth came from the ship. He also says that the ship descended fast, and then the next thing they knew geth were swarming the place.
"Is there anything else you can tell me about the beacon?" He shakes his head at me. "We need to find it before it's too late," I explain. He points to the cargo train.
"Take the train. That's where the other turian went." I nod my thanks to him.
"Return to the camp, and go to the only building left standing. Inside you'll find Dr. Warren and Manuel. Wait there with them until help arrives." I command. "We cleared a path, you shouldn't run into any danger."
"Yeah, okay. I need to get away from all this." He says before turning and sprinting away towards the camp. Ashley snorts and grumbles.
"You're welcome, bastard." She says under her breath. Kaiden and I remain silent. I take one last sorrowful look at Nihlus before heading towards the train.
We run into trouble on our way to the train, a bunch of geth were stationed there to guard it. We move our way up the cart, having to take cover behind crates as we slowly advance forward taking out the geth, and evading their attacks. We make it to the controls and Kaiden gets to work pressing different buttons, and the train begins to lurch forward.
The train comes to a stop and we get off with caution. We spot a huge white geth crouched over, messing with something in front of it. It kind of looks like a- bomb! "Quickly take out those geth as I override the bombs with my omni-tool!" I shout at my squad.
"Yes, ma'am!" Kaiden and Ashley shout in unison, as they start cutting down the geth. I run towards the bomb sliding on my knees in front of it. My omni-tool comes to life and I scan the bomb, it beeps letting me know that it's done and that there are three more other demolition charges still remaining. I only have 5 more minutes until they detonate. There's no way I'll find the other three in time.
"There are three more charges! Split up, and shut them down!" I yell at my squad, as I shoot down a geth. The next few minutes seem to drag on forever. But we each manage to find a bomb and disarm it.
Across the bridge I see Kaiden is kneeled down, hovering over a bomb and examining his omni-tool as it shuts down the demolition charge. I notice a geth slowly creeping up on him. Before I can aim my pistol at the geth, or yell at Kaiden to warn him. Ashley tackles the geth and furiously begins pummeling it with at first, the butt of her gun, but then she drops it and begins punching the machine with her fists. Alternating her hands. By the time I cross the bridge to reach her, Kaiden is dragging her away from the mangled geth. Ashley is screaming, as Kaiden struggles to hold her back and I notice her bloody hands... she punched away her armored gloves as she attacked the bot. I glance at the geth and take note of it's dented and deformed head. Ashley is still wailing, and fighting against Kaiden. I march over to her and Kaiden, cock my hand back, and slap the shit out of her.
She blinks a few times and stops struggling against the Lieutenants' tight grip. Her breathing is heavy and tears streak her face.
"Enough!" I exclaim and hold her fiery gaze with my own. Fire snuffing out fire. Her breathing slows and she looks away apologetically. The imprint of my hand is now starting to form on her cheek, and I know it stings.
"Yes, ma'am. Sorry, Commander... " She croaks. "It's just.. It's..." She struggles.
"I know, Ashley... I know..." I say quietly. If anyone in the world knows how she feels- I do. Her brothers and sister were slaughtered in front of her, and she couldn't do anything to help them. And to make it even worse, she's the only one that survived. I know she doesn't understand why, and it kills her not understanding why or how the rest of her squad shared a different fate than her. Kaiden picks up her gun and hands it to her.
"Thanks." She says as she takes it from him. She gives him a small nod.
"Are we good here?" I ask as I eye my team. They both stand straight and nod.
"Yes, Commander!" They both say in unison. I nod and study my surroundings. All the bombs were disabled, and there were no sign of geth. I step past them and move forward. The beacon has to be close by.
We find some stairs that go down to a different platform, and see more of those spikes. They begin to lower the dead down, as even more geth show up. It's a long, hard fight. But the Lieutenant, Chief, and I hold our own. We carefully venture forward and see why this area was heavily guarded. I press my finger to my earpiece.
"Normandy, the beacon is secure. Request immediate evac." I say as I turn to look up at the sky, where the Normandy should be coming from. Kaiden and Ashley speak with each other as I repeat for an immediate evacuation.
"Aye, aye, Commander. We'll be there in 5." Joker says through the earpiece.
"Copy that." I reply as Ashley walks up beside me and begins to mutter an apology for her behavior earlier. She's abruptly interrupted by a groan from Kaiden as the beacon lights up and begins pulling him closer towards it. Kaiden's feet are dragging against the floor as he fights the invisible force that tugs on him. Before a coherent thought crosses my mind, I push Ashley out of my way, and dive towards Lieutenant Alenko. I wrap my arms around him, and throw him away from the beacon. The invisible force moves from him to me and overwhelms me. It's almost painful, as my body fights with it. I hear Kaiden call out my name. Suddenly, my body is hovering a few feet off the ground and everything goes dark.
"No! Don't touch her! It's too dangerous!" Ashley yells, even though her voice sounds so distant.
I let out a blood curdling scream, as disturbing images burn themselves into my mind. Everything is on fire, explosions and the screams of innocents fill my mind. Geth swarm in large groups, and destroy everything. Then a fiery force shoves me back and my whole world goes silent.