a/n: I'm so sorry this took so long. I had it almost done, then we lost power in the middle of the night and I lost everything! It caused a minor writers block that I was starting to over come. Then I received some bad news. My mother has been diagnosed with Colon cancer. She goes to surgery next month but until we get the all clear I'm going to be pretty distracted. I can't promise any kind of an update schedule but will try my hardest to update for you guys.
-brittsis
There wasn't a sliver of light, not even the tiniest of hope. Darker shadows moved around her, whispering accusations and doubts. She covered her ears and tried to block them out but she could still hear them. The voices got louder as the shadows merged. They crowded around her until they formed a large hand and gripped her tight. She was lifted up and the voices screamed at her now. Tears trailed down her cheeks and as the gripped tightened.
"How can you hope to save the galaxy if you couldn't save us?" They shouted at her. Their faces formed in the mass and mocked her.
"Stop it!" Rae shouted back.
"Accept it, accept your fate."
Rae cried out and fought against the hand. The more she struggled, the tighter the shadows gripped.
"You're doomed to fail Shepard!" The voices laughed as they squeezed the air out of her lungs. Rae's mouth gulped for air, desperate for a single breath. Spots formed in front of her eyes as her body was starved of precious oxygen.
"WE ARE YOUR SALVATION!" The voices echoed around her as the visions from the beacon assaulted her.
Rae screamed as she shot up from the bed. She crouched in the corner, her pistol gripped tight in her hand. Sweet soaked through her regulation shirt and shorts, causing them to stick to her skin. She was breathing heavily as her eyes scanned the room. "VI, lights at one hundred percent."
The lights blazed, burning her eyes. The shadows were chased away, leaving no room for the fear and doubts the nightmare had brought back to life. She hadn't had one of them in years. When the beacon burned its image into her brain, it had unearthed hidden thoughts.
"Commander?" Joker's voice called through the speaker.
"I'm up Joker." Rae called out as she stood, stretching her muscles.
"We have activity on Therum Ma'am." Joker replied. "Looks like Geth forces are crawling over the planet."
Rae nodded as she pulled her shirt off and threw it into the cleaner. "That must be where the Doctor is then. Joker, tell Tali and Wrex to suit up. We're going to find ourselves an Asari."
"Yes Ma'am. Joker out."
Rae fired the thrusters, trying to slow the Mako's descent. Even with them Rae still gritted her teeth as the vehicle bounced to a halt. She always hated the rough ride and wished for a smoother and easier way to deploy to planets.
"Commander I'm picking up some strange readings. Really strange." Joker's voice filtered through the vehicle's speakers as Rae pushed the vehicle forward. "Like off the damn charts. I looks like it's coming from an under ground complex a few clicks from the drop zone."
Rae nodded as her hands gripped the wheel tightly. "The Doctor must be there."
"That's what I was thinking Ma'am." Joker replied.
"Now leave me alone Joker. I'm trying to drive." Rae growled, causing the pilot to chuckle. She flipped the comms off and turned just in time to avoid the lava.
Tali squealed in the seat beside her, gripping the seat belt that held her in. Wrex chuckled behind her before climbing into the gunner seat. They made their way toward the dig site, fighting Geth, and avoiding gun fire. Rae really was a horrible driver, never having the need to learn growing up. If you couldn't get there on your own two feet, Rae didn't go. It wasn't until her officer training that she had been put behind the wheel the first time. After weeks of practice and coaching she just barely qualified.
When they climbed out of the vehicle, unable to take it further, Tali just about kissed the ground. Wrex grinned and pulled the Quarian back onto her feet. Rae climbed out and pulled out her shotgun, feeling more a home.
"Where'd you learn to drive Shepard?" Wrex asked, a twinkle of amusement in his eyes.
"Shut it Wrex." Rae growled, pumping ammunition into the gun. "Move out people."
The three of them made easy work of the Geth troops. Her and Wrex charged through them, blowing them to pieces with their biotics and shotguns. It quickly became a competition on who killed the most.
"That's twenty-five for me Shepard!" Wrex called out as he blew a whole through the chest of a Geth.
Rae grinned as she lifted two into the air and shot them with her shotgun. "Twenty-eight, twenty-nine."
It was all fun and games until a large Geth Armature dropped and aimed it's cannon head at them. Rae cursed as the thing fired and threw her barrier out to protect them. It had been a trick she learned from a fellow N-recruit but it drained her biotics quickly, leaving her unprotected afterwards. The pulse hit the barrier and Rae fell to a knee, her teeth gritting as the barrier faded. She could hear the thing warming up for another shot as she struggled to her feet.
"Shepard!" Wrex roared and yanked her behind the crate just as the thing fired again. Rae nodded to him in thanks and exchanged her shotgun for her assault rifle. Until she could use her biotics again it was best to fight from a distance.
"Tali take down that thing's shields." Rae ordered and fired at the sniper that jumped into view. "Wrex, once it's vulnerable you and I are going to hit it with everything we have."
Tali leaned out and hit the Armature with an overload before destroying a trooper with her shotgun. Rae and Wrex killed the down troops until Tali called out. Rolling from cover, Rae pulled her trigger and aimed for the flashlight. Wrex yelled as he charged the thing, shotgun firing nonstop. The Armature swung its head side to side, unsure which to fire at first and it lost it's life.
"That's worth ten Shepard!" Wrex called out as he slammed his boot down, cracking the Armature's frame.
"Hello? Can somebody help me?" The voice called out as Rae dropped down to the lower levels. "Anybody there?"
Rae turned around and raised her eyebrow at the scene that lay before her. The Asari was held in the air, spread eagle. At first Rae thought biotics were the cause but as she ghosted her hand over the field she felt the buzz of a shield. Frowning, she pressed against it biotics flaring.
"Please help me." The woman called out again, bringing Rae's gaze up to match hers.
"Before I help I need to know something." Rae took a step back and crossed her arms.
"Anything, just please let me out." The Asari pleaded, close to tears. "I've been here for days."
"Saren attacked a human colony." Rae noted the jerk of surprise. "You're mother helped."
Liara shook her head frantically. "No she…. I swear I don't know anything about it. I haven't spoken to Benezia in years."
"So you don't plan on helping her? Or Saren?"
"Never!" Liara protested. "Please just let me out. You can take me into custody if you choose but I'm so tired."
"Calm down Doctor. I believe you." Rae nodded, satisfied. "How do I get you out?"
"That's the thing. The controls are in here with me. You'll have to find a way past the barriers." Liara explained, fighting against the invisible restraints.
"Hang in there. I'll be right back." Rae pulled her assault rifle back out again and signaled for Tali and Wrex to follow her. They didn't get far before the encountered more Geth. Wrex let out a warrior's cry and charged into battle. Rae stayed back, her biotics still down, and took the machines down with rifle fire. Tali took cover besides her, leaning over to shot them with her pistol.
It didn't take long to clear the area and Rae was eyeing the large drill. "Tali," Rae called out, waving the young Quarian over. "Would this get through the rock over there?"
Tali looked where she was pointing and nodded. "If I trip the fail safes, turn the settings…"
Rae waved her hand, stopping her. "I don't need the details Tali. Just get me through that wall."
"Right away Shepard."
"Protect the Doctor!" Rae ordered her comrades as she pulled her shotgun out. Letting out a scream, she charged the Krogan, shooting two Geth on the way. Her shoulder collided with the large mass, causing the huge Krogan to step back. The creature laughed at her, his biotics grabbing hold of her and throwing her across the room.
"Shepard!" Someone called back as she sunk to her knee.
Shaking her vision back into focus, she growled. "Stay with Liara. That's an order!"
Pulling her shotgun back up, Rae ran forward. She ducked the Krogan's arm and hit his chin with the butt of her gun. Her arm shook from the force as his head snapped back. She quickly punched his throat, causing him to step back and cough violently. Grinning, she brought the barrel of her gun around pulled the trigger several times causing his chest to erupt in shotgun pellets and blood. The large Krogan fell and Rae turned her attention to the Geth closing in on her.
"Shepard!" Wrex yelled out, "Krogan have two hearts!"
Rae spun around just in time to avoid the warp heading for her head. She cursed and advanced on his again. He learned his lesson though, grabbing her by the throat and pinning her against the wall. He knocked her shotgun from her hands, sending it flying across the room. Rae struggled against the strong grip, her boots lashing out. Tali and Liara called her name as Wrex barreled toward her. Geth swarmed him as the Krogan in front of her laughed.
"The great Commander Shepard, Butcher of Torfan nothing but a weak human." He chuckled and tightened his grip. "I'm going to break your neck then I'm going to kill that little Asari."
Rae tried to reach his eyes, intending to inflict as much pain as possible. Eyes narrowed in concentration as she Krogan grinned at her. The world darkened around her as she fought to stay awake, to stay alive, when suddenly she hit the ground and could breath again. She coughed as her lungs burned, her gaze spotting the Krogan pinned against the wall by biotics. Rae turned to the group to find Wrex stepping over the dead Geth and Liara glowing blue. Sweet broke across her brow as she sunk to a knee, struggling to hold the Krogan still.
"Just a few more seconds Blue." Wrex encouraged her as he walked up to the other Krogan. "Let him go."
Liara dropped to the ground on all fours as Wrex rammed his fist into the bloody mess of the Krogan's chest. "We Krogans have secondary organs Shepard. The only sure way to kill us is to rip them out."
Wrex pulled the muscle out and stomped on it with his boot, letting the now dead Krogan drop. Rae rose to her feet shakily and nodded, making a note to talk to Wrex later. The room shook and parts of the ceiling fell. Grinding her teeth, she gathered her weapons and ran for the exit. "Let's go!"
Rae stopped and looked back, seeing Liara falling behind. "Go go go!" She told the others before grabbing the Asari. Rae picked her up, throwing her over her shoulders and ran for the exit. Liara was too exhausted to complain and Rae was in no mood to argue. Grunting, she yelled for the Krogan. "Catch!" She pusher her limits and used what little biotics returned to throw the scientist on board. Wrex grabbed the woman and set her down as Rae kicked off.
She slammed into the cargo door, her gloves scrambling for purchase. She was slipping back when strong talons latched on. Garrus held onto her until Kaidan ran over to help. "Get us out of here Joker!" Rae managed out between breaths when she was clear.
"Chief Williams, get the doctor to the med-lab."
"You need to go as well Shepard." Wrex grumbled out.
"Not yet, first I have to contact the council."
"You destroyed a valuable Prothean dig site Shepard." The Turian councilor grumbled, his arms crossing in front of his chest. "Was that really necessary?"
Rae wanted to shout at them. Ever since the call started they could only question her decisions. Instead she growled, deciding to spare her sore throat. "Geth were all over the place Councilor. What did you want me to do? Ask them to stop shooting nicely? After all, we don't want to ruin the poor Prothean RUINS!"
"I don't like your tone Commander." His mandibles flared as he glared at her.
"And I don't like yours." Rae replied back.
"And Doctor T'Soni, what is her involvement with Saren?" The Salarian spoke up, breaking up the glaring contest.
"It is my belief that she had no prior knowledge nor current knowledge on Saren's plans." Rae answered, tearing her gaze away from the Turian Councilor.
"But I trust you have her properly restrained?" He spoke up again, drawing her gaze back to him.
"Liara proves no threat to the Normandy or her crew. She will be given free reign of the ship and an invitation to join our ranks." Rae turned from the Turian, deciding to leave well enough alone for now.
"Are you sure about that Commander?" The Asari spoke up next.
Rae nodded. "Trust me Councilors. She will prove to be an asset to the team."
"She better be Shepard." The Turian replied. "We'll contact you if we find any clues on Saren's where abouts."