To Kathleen: No I haven't read Genetic Teakettle. If my story is similar, maybe I could put in some weird twist to make it different. My character's age is 18.
To other readers: Have you guys read Genetic Teakettle, is that story and mine really that similar? If so should I read it?
Chapter 4: Shepard, Alenko and the Beacon
Kristen Pov
Things have been going smoothly ever since we headed out, and we were going at a good pace. The only thing I wished would change was the semi-awkward silence from earlier, there was no conversation what so ever.Now that I think about it, what was so embarrassing anyway? I mean there wasn't really much to look at. I have a chest of 12 ye- Ahem. I mean I haven't reached my growth spurt yet...maybe that's why .With my height and small... endowments l really do look like a child don't I?
"Kristen?"
"Yes Ashley?" I glumly replied.
"I'm…sorry about today…." She sounded upset.
"If this is about the shirt thing, I'm over it." Kind of.
"No, it's not just that. In general, I'm sorry for all that's happened, as a soldier I was supposed to protect you. I didn't do a good job kid, just look at me," Her voice was getting louder as she continued. "I haven't got a single scratch and you're all battered and shot," Ashley was now trying to do her best to keep from shouting as her voice shook. "Everyone else, they're dead! My team is dead because m-ah!" I couldn't take it anymore.
Rushing forward I embraced her, and felt her quivering as she kept from breaking down. When a sob slipped past her lips I pulled her closer until she was resting against me. Slowly her crying increased and she shook harder.
I leant towards her ear and whispered "Just let it out Ashley."
Letting out a large cry she faced me and retuned my embrace strongly, her tears now freely flowing with her head buried in the crook of my neck. Leading her over to a rock, I sank to my knees and brought her down with me. Together we sat there, letting her tears for the fallen drop into the soil below.
Ashley Pov
I fell into her warm arms as she caught me, and we both fell to our knees as I saw the faces of my team- no, my friend's faces flash by me as I recalled their deaths. I should've called for a retreat. There must've been something I could have done!... I'm so sorry everyone. Ashley stayed like that until her tears finally slowed to a stop. A pair of warm hands on her face made aware of Kristen still holding on to her. Kristen used her thumbs and wiped away her tears and she opened her eyes and was greeted with Kristen searching her eyes with her own and softly spoke.
"Are you alright now?" Her expression was filled with concern and something else she couldn't identify.
"Yeah, I'm…..fine now." Taking Kristen's hands off her face she stood up and regretting it as she instantly missed their warmth. Straightening up she took the familiar weight of her assault rife in her hands and adjusted her grip. Ashley then extended her hand out to Kristen who hadn't moved, and was watching her with a strangely blank expression.
"Come on, we've wasted enough time already." Seeing Kristen's expression harden she silently cursed to herself, knowing she'd said something wrong. Kristen seemed to think for a moment before accepting the outstretched hand and then let go when she stood. I'll have to figure out what that meant later. Wait, what was that sound? Two machines then flew into sight and headed straight towards them. Recon Drones! Getting her pistol out she tossed to Kristen who fumbled before she got a proper hold on it. With no large cover in the area, there was only one option.
"RUN!"
Shepard Pov
"Area clear."
"Alright Alenko, but keep your eyes open. We don't want a repeat of what happened with Jenkins." Jane Shepard kept her Lancer ready as she scanned the path ahead.
Walking farther along the path and they heard shots being fired and shouting and broke into run. At the top of the path they could see two female figures being chased by a couple of Recon Drones, with bullets pelting the ground almost hitting them. The smaller of the two blindly shot at one and took it down, which was in vain when more drones entered the fight. Now the larger of the two took the smaller one's arm and jerked her to the front just in time when a spray of bullets shots impacted her shields. With a misplaced foot she fell down but quickly recovered and shot another one in the process. What they all saw next shocked them to the core. Two synthetics had placed a barely conscious man on a strange device that all of a sudden pierced him through the chest and lifted him the air with a shower of blood. As the synthetics looked their way, the two ran for cover and the taller woman pulled out a shotgun, the other stood with her pistol ready as the synthetics stalked closer.
"Alenko take cover!" Shepard did the same as she shot off one their heads while Alenko destroyed his with a singularity and a few rounds to the chest. Over by the boulder Ashley and Kristen had already finished off the last drone.
"Kaidan?"
"Zero contact Shepard."
Approaching the pink and white armored girl and her partner, the former spoke up.
"Thanks for your help, Commander. I didn't think that we were going to make it," then she introduced herself. "Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams of the 212. You're the one in charge here, sir?"
Shepard took this time to speak "Are you wounded, Williams?"
"A few scraps and burns. Nothing serious, though I hope you can take a look at my friend here. The others of my team... weren't so lucky." Ashley face turned downcast. "Oh, man…we were patrolling the perimeter when the attack hit. We tried to get off a distress call, but they cut off our communications. I found Kristen here a little while later and we've been fighting for our lives ever since."
"Any idea what kind of enemy we're facing?"
"...I think they're geth."
That was when Kaidan cut in. "The geth haven't been seen outside the veil in nearly 200 years. Why are they here now?"
Ashley glanced to Kristen and stepped closer speaking in a low voice. "They must have come for the beacon," Then returned back to normal "the dig site is close. Just over that rise. It might still be there."
"We could use your help, Williams. How about your friend?" Shepard cast a look over Kristen's fairly small form. Take off two feet maybe a foot and a half away she could be short as a volus. Cute.
Taking a step forward the small girl introduced herself. "My name is Kristen Anderson, Commander. I have a fair amount of experience and could be of help if you take me along."
Anderson? That thought aside she took in the girl's appearance. Kristen still wasn't looking too good with her blood stained shirt and are those denim jeans? I thought they didn't make those any more, and a one-strap bag slung over her shoulder. She doesn't have any armor, a colonist maybe, hmm we have some armor that we salvaged from earlier…but it might be too big.
"Okay, but be sure to watch yourself, Anderson. You don't have any armor at the moment so I advise to stay under cover, understood?"
"Understood Commander." Kristen replied. Ashley checked her gun over as she stood beside Kaidan.
"Aye, aye, sir. It's time for payback." Ashley's voice was tight.
"Move out."
"This is the dig site." The beacon wasn't there. "The beacon was right here. It must have been moved." Yet Ashley didn't see a single sign of it as she looked at the area were it had been.
Kaidan looked around for anything suspicious. "By who? Our side? Or the geth?"
"Hard to say. Maybe we'll know more after we check out the research camp."
While they were talking Shepard had walked around the perimeter of the site and found signs of struggle, but no bodies were found. Something's up around here, and I have a feeling that I'm going to find out pretty soon.
Walking back to the group she asked "You think anyone got out of here alive?"
"I don't think so, if they were lucky maybe they're hiding up in the camp. It's just on the top of this ridge. Up on the ramps." She said with a point.
Walking up the ramps, Nihlus contacted them. "Change of plans, Shepard. There's a small spaceport up ahead. I want to check it out. I'll wait for you there." That was vague. They came to a halt at the top of the ramps taking in the damage of the camp. Most of it had ended up in fire and a wreckage of metal and some bodies here and there.
"Looks like they hit camp pretty hard." She took out her rife. Something didn't feel right to her. Kaidan and the others mimicked her action and brought out there fire arms.
"It's a good place for an ambush. Keep your guard up." To the side were bodies that were impaled on spikes like they had seen earlier with Ashley and Kristen, but these bodies looked...wrong. Then they stared to twitch as the spikes lowered them to the ground.
"Oh, god,"Kaidan shouted in horror. "There still alive!"
The bodies tore themselves off the spikes and charged at them.
'What did the geth do to them?" Commented a nauseated Ashley.
Kristen Pov
The Husk came at us releasing biotic charges as they went. Taking my aim at one of them it fell as I shot it in the leg, but started crawling its way to me. Backing up I wasn't quick enough as it lunged at me. It landed on top of me and brought its' arms around, trying to claw at my face.
"Kristen!" It was Ashley. Looking like she wanted to help she couldn't as she and the others had their own problems. Pulling up my legs, I planted both my feet on its' chest and kick it away. I got up and stared shooting again as it lunged once more, but went down with a few hits to the body. A good thing to because my gun just overheated. Looking around everyone else had finished their fights.
I made my way towards Ashley but fell short when Kaidan turned and stared talking to her. I guess I should go into one of those buildings and find some armor or something. Just as I got to a container someone called my name.
"Anderson?" It was Shepard, seeing as no one else called me by my last name. "Do you have time to answer some questions?" I thought we only got to talk on the Normandy? Then again this isn't a game anymore but what do I say? Should I say no?
"Anderson?"
"Gah!" I hadn't noticed that she was only a foot away from me. I could see an amused look on her face at my reaction. I should be more aware. I bet a hanar could sneak up on me.
"Um yeah, I mean yes Commander."
The Commander's face went from amused to serious. "Do you have any idea what could have happened here?'
I shook my head. "No Commander, all I know is that there is the beacon you're looking for and a lot geth."
She looked over my facial features and then posed the next question. "Are you in any way related to Captain Anderson?" I guess I could be. If I were born in this time.
"No Commander. I don't know who that is, why?"
"With your hair, skin and eye color you could be his daughter if he had one." I never thought of that.
"Oh. Okay, Commander I was going to check these crates to see if there was anything small enough for me to use." Emptying the contents of a container there was a shotgun and Scorpion 1 armor and 2 medi-gels. Holding the Scorpion 1 up I realized that I didn't know how to put it on. Looking back to Shepard she arched a brow at the light blush on my face. I held out the armor.
"Ah...Commander. I don't- you know...can you help me put this on?" Giving a small chuckle the Commander helped me put on. This had to be some kind of punishment for something I did. You won't believe how many straps were close to…some unmentionables. I'm sure I created a new shade of red out of embarrassment.
"Thank you Commander."
Shepard smiled. "Call me Jane."
"Well, only if you call me by my first name." I shot back.
"Alright, Kristen." Yay for paragon Shepard responses. Though that could've been a bad move if she actually was a Renegade.
"We should check for any survivors Jane, there are still other buildings that we haven't checked yet." Nodding her head we all and headed to the next one. It was the one that needed to be decrypted.
I went for it. "I got this Jane." Let's see if I can remember this. Nice.
"Got it."
Inside was more weapons, but there was nothing else. Taking what we could we continued to the train tram. Wait, Nihlus! There was no time to talk as I sprinted past them grabbing Kaidan as I went.
"Kristen/Where are you doing!?" Ashley and Jane chorused.
We were getting close and I could see the ship leaving. As we were running over the bridge I could see Saren leveling his gun to Nihlus's head.
"Kaidan do a singularity!" And pointed in their direction. It still wasn't enough. While lifting Nihlus in the air he still got shot, but it was in the chest instead of in the head. By now Jane and Ashley had caught up. He should be alive long enough for questions. I heard the familiar sounds of Husk groaning and ran for cover as a geth shot.
I could hear Ashley behind me. "It's a ship. Look at the size of it!"
"Contact!" I shouted, and the others snapped to attention.
A few containment cells and overheated guns later the fight was done. Was it just me or am I the only still seriously injured? No, I wasn't. I could see Kaidan with a cracked visor with a rather large cut on his face, Ashley was limping from a shot in her leg, and Jane was holding her shoulder while small tickles of blood were leaking out. Both Kaidan and Ashley pulled out some medi-gel, but it looked like the Commander was fresh out. Putting my hand in my suits compartment I pulled one of the two medi-gels I found, crushing it in my palm I walked over to her.
"Jane?" She looked up and I removed her hand ignoring her protests and applied the gel. Her face had initially up scrunched in surprise, but then smoothed out as she felt her shoulder healing. As I was pulling my hand away her, her own slender but strong hand took a hold of mine.
"Huh?"
"I appreciate it. Thank you Kristen." Her voice was sincere and warm, I felt butterflies start to flutter in my stomach and my face broke out in a small blush. I hurriedly took a step backwards trying breaking the contact, and I felt her slightly tighten her grip.
"J-jane?" What is this feeling? I could that she has vibrant green eyes, just like the Shepard I made.
"Commander? Kristen?" Ashley was calling us. Did she sound angry? She was coming towards us in a rigid stride. Taking my hand from Jane's, Ashley intertwined our fingers and dragged me to a mini building. Sensing some tension from her I stayed quiet. There was another decryption pad. I tried to move to it but couldn't as Ashley's fingers were still laced with mine. Why is she so wound up? I tugged her along with a sigh and started on the lock. Blue, yellow and green.
I scrabbled backwards with a yelp when a head pocked out, hearing me yell the Commander and Kaidan came right over. A man came out with his hands out in a no-harm gesture and two others at his back.
He spoke slowly. "Everybody stay calm out there. We're coming out. We're not armed."
The female at his side spoke in a jittery voice. "Is it safe? Are they gone?"
Jane positioned herself in front of us showing that she was in charge. "We took care of them."
Feeling tired I zoned out for the remainder of the conversation. After a while I was entirely oblivious to my surroundings. A tug on my hand signaled that the conversation was finished. A mild thought crossed my mind that Ashley was still holding my hand. Then we went to Nihlus.
"Commander. It's Nihlus." From where I was, I saw that he was breathing faintly.
"A turian? You know him?"
"He's a Spectre. He was with us on the Nor—there was a shuffling noise.
"Something's moving! Over behind the crates!" Everyone but me whipped out their choice of weapon and took aim as a figure stood from behind the crates. Already knowing what may or may not happen I moved over to Nihlus and knelt beside him. He was only shot once, but he's already lost a lot of blood. Checking my suit's compartment I found I only had one medi-gel left. Might as well put it to good use. The effect was almost immediate. His eyes creaked open into slits and looked at me with unfocused eyes.
"Who…?" Nihlus's voice was barely a whisper and he struggled to breath.
"Nihlus, my name is Kristen. I need you tell me what happened to you. You don't have much time left."
"I…it was Saren...he shot me." His breathing was getting heavier. "He be…betrayed me. You must...hurry. He's going to destroy...the entire colony." His head fell to the side and I tried to wrack my head but couldn't remember what was going to happen.
"Nihlus? Nihlus!" Shaking his shoulder he hardly responded. "Wait, how is he going to destroy the colony?!" My yells drew the attention of my companions and they quickly gathered around us.
Tilting his head back towards us he gave his final breath. "Bombs." And then he was gone.
Taking point Shepard gave out orders. "We don't have much time before they start the bomb charges. Ashley, Kaidan, go scout ahead. Kristen, stick close." We all had a few steps and we were under fire. Pitching in when I can, and with Kaidan's biotics we made good time and activated the train controls. The train stopped and we spotted groups of geth across the bridge.
"Everyone take cover!" Shepard barked. Not a second later the geth attacked and she made her way to one of the bombs.
Jane shouted "Cover me!" and took off with me following her mad run into the open. When we got to it I hid behind a crate and Shepard worked on the bomb. As we went my first few shots missed and so far I only managed to take down one. Taking a deep breath I leaned out for a shot-Ping!
"Ah!" I fell back and put my hand to my shoulder. The shot had only grazed it.
"Are you almost done?" I yelled over my shoulder.
"On to the next one!" We were about halfway to the next one something landed with a thud a few feet in front of us. Shit.
"Grenade!" Jane shouted, and we both dove for cover. The seconds after it exploded we once again set off to the next bomb, but stopped when the geth turned their attention to us. We were hard pressed for cover as there was only one crate. The metal began to warp with the numerous hits it was receiving.
"Williams, Alenko take the heat!" In response the duo relentlessly fired at the synthetics and we were no longer of interest. Arriving at the bomb the Commander quickly disarmed it. One left and it was all the way across the walk. As luck would have it one of my stray shots hit a containment cell and destroyed what was left of them.
"Good shot kid!" Exclaimed Kaidan and gave me a thumbs up. If only he knew it was pure luck. Wait a minuet, did he just call me kid? I opened my mouth to disagree but stopped, probably better not to make any enemy's on the team. So I gave him a half hearted smile and went over to Jane just as she got done disarming the last bomb.
"Area secure Commander," said Kaidan. Shepard only nodded while grabbing something from the crate she was bent over. Doing a once over on everyone our small group looked no worse than when the fight had first started save for a few scratches on their armor. Then she came over carrying a Scimitar II, Reaper I and a new set of armor. Shepard took the Scimitar II for herself and offered the the other two to us. I shook my head in regret. The pistol was the only thing I could currently handle unless I could get some training in the others. Ashley and Kaidan also refused seeing that compared to what they already had, that what was offered was not nearly as good. With a shrug Shepard turned around and converted them to omni-gel, with me trying to look over her shoulder. Alas, I wasn't fast enough to see how she did it. How the items were converted to omni-gel remains a mystery to me. Because haven't you ever wondered how they could just turn about anything in the inventory to omni-gel?
"The beacon is just up ahead," Ashley informed. Suddenly Kaidan pulled out his pistol and his biotics flared.
"Take out those hostiles!" He shouted. Oh look. More geth and Husk. Seeing that there was an even amount of enemies,each of us chose a target and gunned them down.
"Clear."
Walking down the ramp we ended up right in front of the Prothean Beacon. Shepard went a little ways off and contacted the Normandy. " Normandy, the beacon is secure. Request immediate evac." While she was still on comm, Kaidan, Ashley and me approached the beacon.
"This is amazing. Actual working Prothean techology. Unbelievable." He said in an awed voice. Ashley on the other hand stared at it in confusion.
"It wasn't doing anything like that when we dug it up." With a frown she stepped closer. "Something must have activated it."
"Roger, Normandy. Stand by." Said Shepard, still on the comm.
I realized what was about to happen. "Ashley don't!" I just got to her when the beacon started to pull her closer. Jumping up I grabbed on to her and threw her out. Now I was being lifted in the air when I felt Jane jump onto me and tried to pull us both away. It was too late. We were held in it's grip when the vision pierced our minds.
"Commander, Kristen!" Ashley cried out and moved to stand when Kaidan held her down.
"No! Don't touch them. It's too dangerous!" And wrestled her to the ground.
I tried to scream but nothing came out. I saw it. Bodies,synthetics everywhere in the red painted vision. Death, and then it exploded sending us crashing to the ground.
Kaidan Pov
The beacon exploded and sent both Commander and Anderson to the ground where they now lay motionlessly. The air was driven out of my lungs as Williams thrust her elbow in my stomach, making me release her and rushed to their sides. Catching my breath I found my self next to them along with Ashley and turned them over.
This doesn't look good.
Pieces that were once part of the beacon had punctured through the two's armor and was lodged on the front of their bodies.
We need to get back on the Normandy now!
"This is Alenko to Normandy. We need to evac immediately!"