Snake in the Mud
Chapter 8
Voices penetrated deep into her head as she awoke. She opened her eyes, but her swollen face pressed back. This can't be happening. Ashley tried to open her eyes again, but could only open them up enough to where she was looking through two slits. A Krogan voice sounded and burned deep into her brain. Not Wrex. She tried to move her legs, but it felt like they were in cement or as if she was trying to run in a nightmare. The voices came into focus.
"Tank must hold still. Stop squirming," a Salarian voice ordered.
"Hmmmm, my foot is gone because of that human!" Ashley's heart raced expecting another blow.
"How is my Krogan friend doing," a familiar Turian voice chilled the room.
"The doc said I need a synthetic foot, damn, will you stop it already that hurts!"
Ashley heard footsteps that belonged to a Turian approach her. She closed her eyes and went limp trying to act invisible; she wanted to cover herself up under some blankets in a warm bed and just disappear from this nightmare. She could hear him sniffing and feel his breath on her neck. What in the Hell? Oh I just wanna pop him in the face!
"How many did we lose Skave," the Krogan asked. Skave?
"Six. We lost six."
"Damn, looks like we were a little rusty. I heard Shikirta died."
"Yes, she died fighting for what she believed." Ashley heard a lighter click open and the scent of tobacco. Through her closed eye lids a warm light lit up the darkness. I swear to God! The light moved back and forth as if he was taunting her. The light went away. Thank God. Her finger began to burn and a chuckle came out of Skave's mouth.
"Damn you!" Ashley erupted swinging her arm forwards towards Skave's grinning face. A sharp pain shot up her arm. "Ahhh, what in the Hell!" Through her swollen eyes she looked down at her right arm. A wire was digging into her flesh and moved up her arm almost filleting the flesh on her tan forearm. Terror overwhelmed her upon looking at her new wound as beads of dark red blood appeared from the white torn skin.
"Hit her with some more sedatives Linder," Skave hissed.
"10 cc's entering blood stream. Will be unconscious in twenty-eight seconds."
"Damn you, I swear when Shepard finds you, he will," she was cut off by three words that hit her deep.
"Shepard is dead." Ashley's whole world began to spin and she felt like vomiting.
"No Skipper," she whispered to herself. She eyes closed and she could feel the sedatives tear at her veins. No Shepard.
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The SR1 Normandy hummed as it serenely floated in the vacuum of space. Tali put an arm up to her face and inhaled. She couldn't smell anything that reminded her of the garbage pit. The time grew late and all of the engineers went to their sleeping quarters. Her eyes drew up towards the Normandy's drive core as she watched the hypnotizing pulses of light shoot though the room. The Normandy at night was her favorite time, although she loved interacting with the crew and listening to them talk, but the night seemed special.
"I need to talk to someone," she said aloud as her Quarian socializing instincts kicked in. She glanced at the time on the holographic computer before shutting it down. 0145. Maybe Joker will be up. Tali spun around and made her way to the elevator. As she entered it, she stared at Ashley work bench. Stress pushed on her chest and made her exhale. The image of Shepard hitting the Turian appeared in her head. She ignored it, but it came back. His head was red, veins protruded, and if one was to run their hand over his face, they could read his emotion like Braille. His muscles flexed and rippled as he pounded his captor. Eyes were blood shot, rage surged through every cell in his blody. This is not the Shepard I know. The elevator hissed open as Tali continued to walk forward and continued up the stairs.
The galaxy map spun in place as if nothing was happening. She stopped and stared at it leaning against the workbench full of computers. Its blue light showered the Normandy in its calming hue. She exhaled and walked up the fuselage. There was no movement or sound coming from the pilot's chair, only an arm hung down along with a head slouching to the left. Tali approached from behind and peered over Joker's shoulder. His mouth hung wide open and he was breathing heavily. Tali grinned and bent over to pick up his hat that was lying on the floor. She stared at the human apparel. Hmmm, I wonder. Tali looked at Joker who was in a deep sleep and sat limp in his chair. She quietly pulled the Velcro straps apart at the back of the hat and put it on top of her head attaching the straps back together.
I don't get the point of this. Her eyes locked onto the bill as she moved her head right and left. I believe these are supposed to keep the sun out of your eyes, but why does Joker wear one inside? Her luminescent eyes glanced to Joker's satisfied face as he slept; his hair was molded perfectly to the interior of the hat. She narrowed her eyes and locked onto a spot on his head where his scalp was becoming visible. Her head got close to the spot as her curiosity spiked. I wonder if this is the reason.
Joker's eyes cracked open slightly and his vision was filled with the purple mask of Tali. His green eyes blasted open and he jerked back in his chair.
"What the Hell! Tali, what in the Hell!" They both jumped away from each other. Joker's eyes were teeming with fear as he looked around utterly confused with the situation; his hands were shielding his face. He eyed Tali who backed up into a chair and fell into it, he legs shooting up in the air.
"Tali, were, were you trying to seduce me?!" Tali's head peeked over her feet and Joker was looking at his hat on her head. "What in the Hell is going on?"
"I, I, uhmm, you see, I was, uhm, I never understood hats," she stuttered at him having no legit excuse to give him. Joker's arms fell from his face and he gave Tali a confused look.
"What?"
"Quarians are a very curious people and we uhm… I was trying to understand human apparel, just some extra information to bring back for my pilgrimage. You know, so we can understand humans and stuff like that. So, uhm, yeah," Tali babbled at Joker who was baffled. "I can explain."
"What," Joker replied even more bewildered than before. He pointed at his hat and mouthed the word why. Tali had no answer, so she just swayed her legs over the chairs arm rest and shrugged.
"Well, I mean, if you want a hat so bad I can get one for you."
"Yes, that would be great," she quickly said while standing up. "Uhm, here you go." Joker cautiously grabbed his beloved cap from Tali as if she was about to pounce on him. "So you said you were going to show me what a ninja was." Tali needed to change the subject quickly. Joker was still staring at her like a scared animal.
"Oh yeah, I promised you that, didn't I," he responded with his shoulders scrunched up protecting his neck and head as he spun around in his chair. Tali sat down on the ground next to Joker's command post, put her knees under her chin, and wrapped her arms around them.
"What was that I just saw happen," a raspy voice sounded from behind the two. Shepard slowly approached from behind cradling his hand. Joker shook his head still confounded from his close encounter.
"I was doing research for my pilgrimage. You know, about human apparel," Tali fired at him slurring her words together as she stood up.
"Sit back down Tali," Shepard ordered her with a wave of his hand. He sat down next to her and exhaled. "What are we doing Joker," he asked in a friendly voice hiding his sorrow.
"Well," he said more concentrated on typing something into his holopad.
"Joker is going to show me what a ninja is. I… I don't know the term." Shepard gave a confused smile.
"A ninja, huh? Well I'm just here for the show," he whispered stretching his bandaged hands behind him and leaning against his levered arms.
"Here, this is perfect. Shepard, do you remember the movie Night Shadows?"
"Doesn't ring a bell."
"Ah, well you were probably killing something when this came out, am I right," he asked leaning his head back trying to lighten up his mood.
"You are probably right."
"Tali, you were probably, what, fifteen when this came out. Seven years ago? What did you do when you were fifteen if you mind me asking?" Tali glared at Joker.
"Playing with circuit boards, learning how to wire, so on and so forth," she whispered reminiscing on her child hood.
"Yeah, well when I was fifteen… actually never mind, I don't want to talk about it." Joker spun around in his chair grumbling to himself. "Watch this move and it will answerer all your questions."
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"Shepard, did you get anything out of that Turian," Tali leaned in to whisper to Shepard trying not to disturb Joker who was intensely staring up at the screen watching the violence unfold.
"Nothing. All he said was the people we fought at the station were ex-Spectres, Asari commandoes, and STG. All ex-military whom hates humans," he whispered back not looking away from the movie.
"So… I took out an Asari commando and a STG trooper with a knife," she asked.
"Yup, you saved my ass too. That syringe had a paralyzing agent, they were going to record me getting paralyzed and put it on the Vids," Shepard looked at Tali, "Messed up, huh?"
"Yeah. What about Ashley, anything on her?" Shepard looked away at the screen, closed his eyes and shook his head.
"Nothing yet," he spun his head and looked into Tali's mask, "He is a tough sucker to crack." Shepard looked at his hand and wrapped the white bandage around it tighter. "Just to let you know, don't punch a Turian in the face. It hurts like Hell." He looked away from his hand and watched the movie trying to escape from his present world. Tali lay down on the ground and cupped her hands behind her head and stared up at the screen where short men dressed in black were fighting other humans. Tali closed her bright eyes and drifted off to the sound to a foreign human language and the clanking in swords.
Tali woke to the sound of two deep grumbling noises. Her eyes opened and saw Commander Shepard's face laying flat on the floor with his mouth open along with a small strand of saliva running down the corner of his mouth. If everyone could see the savior of our galaxy at the moment, people would lose all hope. She looked around and saw Joker leaning back in his chair with his hat on the ground again.
"Shepard," Tali whispered poking his chest. He awoke and looked around completely dazed. "I have a question." Shepard looked at Tali through his half opened eyes. "When humans lose their hair, is that something to be ashamed of?" The question took Shepard by complete surprise.
"What?" Tali got on her knees and silently stood up pointing at Joker's head.
"You see that bit of scalp there?" Shepard stood up and looked at Joker's head and snorted.
"Now I understand why he never takes off his hat, premature balding."
"Is that a disease?"
"No, it's natural," he said through a yawn. I'm gonna head to bed and get some sleep before I have to start interrogating again. Night Tali."
"Good night Shepard." He began walking down the fuselage of the Normandy staring at his injured hand. Tali walked over to a seat off to Joker's right and melted into it falling back asleep instantly.
"Thanks Liara."
"You are quite welcome Joker." Tali's eyes shot open.
"What time is it," she asked Joker who was about to take a sip of black morning liquid.
"God damn it Tali! I swear to God you startle me at all the wrong times!" She frantically searched for the time on Joker's holodisplay. 0541. Tali, you slept in you bosh'tet! Joker cautiously went for another sip of coffee eyeing Tali like a dangerous animal.
"Joker!" Shepards voice yelled from behind as Joker sloshed the hot liquid over his chest.
"Yes commander!"
"I have new coordinates for you, we have a way to get to Ashley but we have to hurry!"
Snake in the Mud
Chapter 9
The night before entering Ilos was their night. Ashley's dark brown eyes stared into his as she recited her poetry to him, her lips moving like water from a young spring brook.
Shepard's eye's opened slowly. He rolled over to his right and saw the empty spot in his bed. Guilt hit him like a bucket of cold water; his hand gently gliding over the white sheets of his bed. He swung his legs over the side of his bed as the cold floor of the Normandy shot through his bare feet. His hands wrapped around his face and he drew them away slowly as if trying to wipe his grogginess away. Methodically, he put on his socks, shoes, and walked out of his cabin towards the medical bay. The door opened and blue light trickled towards Shepard. Peter and Chakwas were lying on the beds sleeping peacefully. Quietly, the commander made his way to the back room where his captor was being held.
"Shepard, is it time to resume," Garrus asked from the shadows of the small room.
"It is that time my friend." Garrus grunted and walked out from the darkness. They both eyed the broken Turian strapped to his chair. His beady eyes glared at the two who hovered over his form.
30 minutes later
"Where is the ship going?" Shepard had a pistol pressed against the Turian's knees. He accidentally slipped a bit of information about the ship needing to refuel through some tricky questions Garrus asked him. The Turian mumbled an insult.
"When I pull this trigger, a small pellet will come out and hit you in the knee traveling five kilometers per second. It will pull your leg off, you know that?"
The Turian just looked at Shepard with no emotion.
"Garrus, grab that towel and wrap it around his knee, I don't want to get dirty when I pull the trigger." Garrus grabbed an oily cloth and handed it to Shepard. He wrapped it around his prisoner's knee and tied it tight. "You see that torch in the corner? Light it up, I want you to seal the wound when I'm done." Shepard slapped the Turian on the shoulder, "I don't want my buddy here to bleed out on me."
"Screw you!" Shepard stood up and smiled staring deep into the ex-Spectre's dark eyes. For once he saw a glint of fear. Shepard jammed his pistol into his knee and turned his head.
"Garrus, don't look. You don't want to catch some bone fragments in your face."
The Turian beamed at Shepard's finger which was closing around the trigger of his pistol.
"Wait, don't… don't do this. I know where they are going!"
"How do I know you aren't going to lie to me again?"
"I swear Shepard. Listen to me."
"Don't say my name!"
"Listen!"
"I don't think I am going to believe you…" The Turian viciously stared at the titanium trigger of Shepard's pistol creeping back.
"There is a fuel depot in the Caleston Rift! It is in a system called Balor!" His eyes were shut expecting unbelievable pain to rip up his leg.
"Is that the truth?"
"Yes yes yes!"
"Garrus," Shepard said expressing no emotion, "Stay here for a second." Shepard walked out of the small stuffy room with the door shutting behind him.
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Tali's heart raced as Shepard gave Joker some coordinates.
"Shepard, you got him to talk," Tali asked now standing up.
"Yeah, but," he turned around and walked towards the galaxy map, "the ship Ash is on is way ahead of us." Tali chased after her commander.
"Do you think Ashley is still, uhm… never mind," Tali hesitantly cut herself off. Shepard turned around and stopped walking.
"I am thinking the same thing. I know she is still alive," Shepard said with the utmost confident whisper. Tali looked away from his face.
"I didn't mean it like that commander," she weakly said embarrassed. A hand clapped on her shoulder and squeezed.
"I asked myself the same question. Tali look at me." His finger went under her chin and lifted her head up to eye level. "Don't worry about it." He smiled at her.
"Commander, we will hit the Mass Relay in five minutes and will be at the fueling depot in an additional twenty-three," Joker chimed in over the speaker. Shepard shook his head and walked towards the stairs.
"Tali, come on. We need to gear up." She again chased her commander who took long confident strides.
"Oh Keelah! Sorry Shepard," Tali gasped as she kicked Shepard's heel following him. He laughed and ran down the stairs anxious to get his Ash back.
"Go grab Liara from the medi-bay and ask her if she is ready for a fight," he told Tali as he punched open his locker.
"On it." The medi-bay opened and Tali spotted Liara sitting on one of the tables with Chakwas injecting something into her arm. Garrus was talking to her, probably telling her to gear up soon because of the lead they got. Peter was standing on one of the beds secretly trying to touch the spikes on Garrus's head. Liara's head snapped to Tali when she walked in the door.
"Did Garrus update you on the situation," Tali asked Liara eyeing Wrex as he emerged from the back room.
"Yes, he did. Joker just radioed down to us our ETA," Liara said cool as ice. The door opened up behind Tali and Shepard walked in attaching a shoulder plate. His team nodded at him feeling his sorrow. They all knew they were going to see him fighting on a different level today; he wasn't acting himself lately which was obviously self explanatory. His omni-tool lit up a brilliant orange which gathered Peter's attention. Shepard took his finger and tapped a blinking green light on his omni-tool which opened up a holographic blue print of the station. Liara hopped off the table as the team assembled around their commander.
"Liara, are you going to be able to fight," he asked looking at her bandaged arm.
"I am tougher than you think commander. Also, this is personal. They have one of my friends," she said narrowing her eyes and tightening up the bandage. Tali looked over at her and was impressed; she had toughened up since she first met her on Feros.
"Okay, it looks like the interior of this place is bigger compared to Station 12, but it looks like an old Quarian fueling depot, am I right Tali," his piercing gazed scanned the holograph.
"Looks like it. It must be over 400 years old. We used to build quality stuff," she informed the group.
"The actual station is going to be big," Shepard brought up a side by side holograph of Station 12."
"Damn," Wrex commented to the scale of the depot which was several kilometers in length.
"Hey Commander Shepard, is it okay if I come aboard." Everyone spun around to see Sergeant Kale sitting up rubbing his neck.
"Kale, our up!"
"Yeah, that I am." He went cross eyed to look at his nose. "Damn," he laughed.
"Kale, here, take these pills, you should feel better," Chakwas ordered him with an outstretched fist full of pills. He tossed them in his mouth and threw his head back swallowing them.
"How do I look," he chuckled.
"Like you got in a fist fight with a Krogan," Shepard fired back. Kale ran his hand through his quarter inch orange hair and laughed.
"Permission to come with you on this one commander," he asked, his eyes were saturated with revenge. Shepard eyed Chakwas.
"He should be fine. I was just waiting for him to wake."
"Shepard," Tali started, "We could use all the help we can get." He looked at his friend and nodded in agreement.
"Thank you commander, it's just they killed all of my friends…and more."
"Okay, here is the plan." Shepard briefed them on how they were going to set up a trap and attempt to board the ship. The team broke up and went to the lower decks to gear up.
Tali made her way towards the airlock on the upper level. Shepard was hovering over Joker's chair giving him a really fast brief.
"Shepard," Tali called out from behind. Her commander spun around to stare at his good friend, "We ready to get Ashley back?" Shepard had his jaws clenched and she could see his muscles bulging from his mouth. He nodded and spun back around. He is in the zone. I am nervous to see what he does. Tali had the slight feeling of vertigo as the Normandy exited from FTL.
"Okay commander, we are all quiet. Stealth systems on, we are good to go."
"Alright everybody," Shepard called out to his team who were approaching from behind," We are going to fan out and use the service tunnels to navigate around the fuel depot. I don't like the idea of spreading out, but once we get a lock on their ship, we will all converge on them and board." Tali disliked the idea of fanning out, but she trusted Shepard with her life. He knew what he was doing.
"I have nothing on their ship in the vicinity. It looks like we beat them here," Joker informed Shepard.
"Remember, when we get on that ship or if we happen to meet up with them in the depot, these guys are professionals. They are almost as good as us…almost," Shepard said unfolding his assault rifle. Tali's morale boosted. I love it when he talks. "We have killed a Reaper and Saren, these guys will be nothing!" He slammed his fist into the bulkhead. "We have this in the bag guys."
Tali's eyes glanced to her right and noticed Kale staring at her. She looked at him through the corner of her eye. What is he looking at? She finally got the courage to lock eyes.
"What?"
"Sorry, it's just you are the first Quarian I have seen. I didn't realize how… never mind." Okay? Tali glanced over at Garrus who was chuckling. Whatever just happened flew right over my head. Tali looked out the window and saw the depot coming into view. The depot had a similar look to some of the Quarian ships in the Flotila. The center had a several kilometer long diameter sphere spinning in the center of it creating gravity and had outstretched docking bays that looked similar to spider arms.
"ETA, sixty seconds."
Tali and Liara ran down the service tunnel designated to them from Shepard. Wires were loosely attached from the falling apart ceiling and the interior of the depot resembled nothing of Quarian engineering. Everything was covered in insulation and sloppy welded metal plates.
"This is Shepard," his deep voice sung in Tali's ear," this place is way too big to spread out. Change of plans, Joker, I want you to keep track on all incoming vessels. Everyone else, I want you to set up positions around the center of the depot. Stay hidden, Shepard out."
Liara and Tali stopped running. Liara's mouth was hanging open trying to catch her breath, small clouds of water vapor escaped into the air. Tali opened her omni-tool to find a short cut back to the hub of the depot. Why is it I am always out of breath when around Shepard?
"Tali, we should get moving," Liara suggested through a gasp.
"What are we waiting for?" Tali grabbed Liara and hoisted her up on her feet.
"Shepard," Tali whispered his name as she looked up through the grates at the swarms of weary travelers walking around above her.
"Tali, what is going on?"
"Do I have permission to head up and scan the crowed, over."
"Negative on that, over." Tali exhaled and gathered some courage.
"I noticed several Quarian's above me; I can blend in the crowd, over." There was a long pause over their channel.
"Shepard, I have an excellent position over here. I can cover Tali. We could use someone down there too, over," Garrus informed him through an insanely calm voice. He must be using his sniper. There was another long pause.
"Okay, if I see anything I want you out of there, Shepard out." Tali walked several feet to her left towards a ladder that lead up to a pump room. Clipping her shotgun to her back, she scaled the ladder and opened a hatch. A pump hummed in the corner of the room as red light splashed the walls. Tali hid her shotgun behind the buzzing pump and exited the room. Yellow light filled the open room before her. Holographic signs spun advertising small shops and food. The air was thick and stale from all of the travelers who passed through the depot every day.
"I have eyes on Tali," Garrus's calm voice spoke into her helmet. They have my back. The air buzzed with conversation as Tali weaved her way along the scummy walls, working her way in and out of the shadows. A Krogan hacked away at a carcass of some sort and a Hannar was speaking to its self in a corner. Everything seemed normal, Tali noticed no one with any weapons or armor.
"Tali here, everything is calm and normal." She looked around fascinated from all the bustle.
"Shepard here, Chakwas reported to me that Peter is safe in Alliance hands, she dropped him off." That's good news. Tali enjoyed the crowds of people and the sound of music thumping in the back ground, it was all comforting to her except for the fact that they were waiting for their enemy to show up at any moment. But we have the high ground this time. She disappeared into a shadowy corner of the depot to scan the crowd.
"Shepard, Joker here, something is not right."
"What is it?"
What came out of Joker's mouth sent Tali's heart to her throat.
"Shepard! They were here before us!"
Snake in the Mud
Chapter 10
Kramos sat in his captain's chair monitoring his ship while it refueled in Balor. The helm of the Turian ship was small and the ceilings were low. The highly armored cockpit was bathed in a light red light as a holograph pulsed outside the small window of the ship. His beady eyes flicked over to one of the security monitors to see Ashley Williams passed out on one of the medical beds with micro fibers wrapped around her extremities. Shepard isn't going to like this. Back on Station 12, he got the call from Bilit to leave immediately followed by a roaring gunshot. Kramos dwelled on this and had the sinking feeling that Shepard got away. But how? He felt anxious and excited sitting in his chair waiting for the fuel to finish. These damn stations take so long to fuel up. He looked at the clock and saw they were here close to twelve hours. The captain of the Normandy really screwed up the computers trying to hack into our core, he is good, but I am better, thanks to the Oracle. He smirked as he pondered on the Skave's plan to get Shepard. Everything isn't going by the book, but we have Shepard by the balls. Skave has dumped millions into this plan.
"Ah, okay…I see. Yes!" Kramos shouted as he finally fixed the problem with the computers on board. He double checked all systems to make sure they were all running at full power. Stealth systems already at 100 percent along with the Oracle need to channel power to the… A green light blinked like a strobe. His head snapped to the light and read the message.
"No, that can't be. But the Oracle, how?" Kramos's hand shot up to the radio. "Skave, I have eyes on the Normandy. They just entered the system!" There was a pause.
"Understood. We knew this might happen. When will the Dynamism be ready to go," Skave's cold voice filled the cockpit.
Kramos opened a few holopages with some data on them. "Thirty minutes."
"Understood. My guess is he will be coming right for us in the depot. I will take care of him long enough until we are ready to go," Skave's chilly voice informed Kramos.
"Shepard! They were here before us!"
Tali uncrossed her arms and her skin started to tingle with shock. She scanned the interior of the room again.
"Tali, get out of there now," Shepard yelled to her. Her heart raced like an engine as she started to make her way through the busting crowd of the fuel depot. Her thoughts blurred together and everything she saw was covered in a thick haze of fear. Claustrophobia ripped through her as she weaved through the crowd. She felt extremely exposed and could feel someone watching her. Tali's head swiveled around scanning the crowed frantically. Someone bumped into her; she grabbed the Turian's arm in defense.
"Hey, what are you doing?" She looked him over and let go of his arm and continued. Suddenly an ice cold scream exploded from inside if the buzzing crowed. Tali looked towards the noise and in slow motion witnessed a female Quarian fall to the ground. A tall Salarian stood behind the falling woman. Tali caught a glance of a syringe sliding back into a hidden compartment on his arm. The two locked eyes. The Salarian was a wicked looking one, scars all over his face with a dilapidated mouth and sagging shoulders. He mouthed something and his massive seven foot form approached Tali. She froze on the spot staring into his dark crimson eyes.
"Garrus, I have a contact approaching me from my twelve," she yelled spinning around pushing herself through the crowd of people who were all staring at the Quarian laying on the ground convulsing. "Salarian, looks like your Dr. Heart, except taller."
"Negative, there are dozens of them around here!" Tali turned around. Her pursuer was gone. Where did he go? Gun fire roared through the room and Tali dropped to her knees instinctively.
"I am taking fire," Wrex yelled into his mic. Everyone started to scream and panicked into a stampede. Tali was knocked to her stomach as people scrambled over her trying to escape from the fight. Blood sprayed on her mask as people around her were taking hits. I need to get to my shogun! Tali got to her feet and saw the door to the pump room, turning around to make sure the Salarian wasn't near her; she made a dash for it.
"Oh my God my baby," a woman yelled fighting her way through the quake of people attempting to get to her trampled child.
"Run away! Raiders! They are going to kill all of us!"
People were grabbing at Tali using her as a shield and a way to move faster. The fear overwhelmed everyone. Almost there! The pump door opened when she was close enough to it. She crawled inside and wrapped her arm around the pipe. It wasn't there. A shadow casted over her kneeling form, she wiped around to see a Salarian standing over her along with the door shutting behind him. No!
"Shepard, help!" The Salarian lunged at her with his hands wrapping around her neck. "Ghaaup," Tali gasped for air as his hands tightened around her skinny neck crushing it. He lifted her up in the air; Tali stared into his dead eyes. She kicked him in the groin, he armored shin plate clapping as it contacted. He did nothing but squeezed harder.
"Boss. Linder has Tali'Zorah nar Rayya under control. Permission to neutralize."
Like Hell! She slammed her fist into his face. Linder's head snapped back but his grip was getting stronger. The dull pain began to paralyze her body from the neck down.
"No. No. Not an intelligent move Tali'Zorah. Not at all." Linder let go of her with one of his hands and a needle slid out of the other. Tali eyed the metallic needle as a bead of fluorescent green liquid clung to the tip. "Will enter nervous system in seventy-eight milliseconds. Cause muscle convulsions. Will break one's back and implode brain. My favorite concoction. Made myself just for this mission." His arm cautiously made its way towards Tali's neck. She grabbed the Salarian's arm to hold it back, but he was too strong. Push harder Tali, push! Her arms shook as she restrained the needle from slipping under her neck plates.
"Grah, no!" Tali gasped as she could feel the needle trying to punch through the environmental suit.
"Hold still."
Pain shot up her neck as the needle pushed against the suit. She could feel it tearing through the layers of armored fabric.
"No!" Black enveloped her vision as blood was not getting to her brain. In a last ditch effort, her hand reached for the knife strapped to her leg. With the rest of her strength, she plunged it into Linder's neck. His eyes shot open as he fell back against the door. Tali spared no time to grab the needle and pushed it into his face. His crimson eyes rolled back into his head as he crumpled onto the floor gasping. His fingers went erect and his head almost touched his chest. Tali fell on all fours gasping for air. She pulled the knife out of the Salarian's neck who became very still on the ground.
"Tali, come in. Where are you," Shepard's voice came in over the mic.
"I…I," she coughed, "I'm coming Shepard." She stood up and approached the door, but it didn't open. "Shepard, I am trapped in the pump room."
"Where?"
"Commander, I know where she is. Stay here and I will go grab her," Kale shouted from over gunfire.
"I don't need your help Seargent, I can back track my way through the tunnels."
"Kale, go grab Tali," Shepard ordered him.
"But Shepard, I don…"
"Tali, don't be a hero, Shepard out."
"Stubborn bosh'tet." Tali had to play her favorite game: The waiting game. Her friends needed her help and she had to sit it out. She looked down the ladder and bit her lower lip in temptation.
"Sorry Shepard," she muttered to herself. Tali climbed down under the floor, the gunfire was fierce above her head, and bodies littered the grate above her. She looked right and left down the sublevel hallways, she saw nothing. I need to get to Shepard. Without a weapon, she felt vulnerable. Her hand rummaged through her pocket searching for a grenade.
"This way, the pump room is this way," distant voices bounced off the walls. Oh Keelah! That doesn't sound like Kale. She frantically searched for a hiding spot, but the walls were smooth and ran hundreds of meters in both directions.
"Sergeant, I need your help right now," Tali whispered as she put her back against the smooth surface trying to melt into it. She narrowed her eyes to spot two figures converging down the hall like dogs on a hunt.
"I have movement up ahead," a Turian voice sharply whispered. The two black silhouettes went prone and disappeared into the ground.
"I'm coming up on your six, hold up," Kale's voice crackled together. She looked behind her and caught movement.
"Kale get down!" Tali broke from cover and ran towards him. Mass accelerated particles snapped over her head. She dropped to her stomach and crawled towards Kale who had cover behind a pipe. He took several hits making his kinetic barriers rippled blue and forcing him behind cover. Kale stuck his rifle over the pipe blind fired towards the opposing squad. Taking advantage of his suppressive fire, Tali got to cover behind the pipe.
"Kale, lay down some more fire," Tali screamed over the fight. Kale stood up barley exposing himself and raked the hallway. Tali threw an incendiary grenade down the hall. It went off with bone rattling noise and vibration spitting white phosphorous everywhere. Kale let loose another salvo of rounds down range arching them into the smoke.
"Tali, run back seventy meters and take a left! There is a hallway that leads you straight to Shepard, Commanders orders!" Tali looked up at Kale's beaten face. "I will be right behind you!" Her legs were shaking violently, but she managed to stand up and run down the hall, beams of light pieced the grate above her giving off a sickening strobe sensation. Rounds zipped past Tali slamming into the wall over her head creating glowing red craters in the polished cement. She sprinted towards the ally Kale told her about with all of her strength, her legs burned as the lactic acid injected into the muscles. Red beams of light bored through the thick air and caught her eyes attention. That must be it. She rounded the corner sliding into the opposite wall of the safe hallway. Rounds ate away at the wall sending high velocity cement chips bouncing off her kinetic barriers.
"Tali!" She looked up at the small service tunnel to spot Shepard running down a small ramp avoiding several cowering Asari spread out covering their faces expecting Shepard to waste them.
"Are you okay Tali," he asked scanning her body checking for wounds.
"Yeah, but Kale is pinned down," she informed him wrapping her arms around his waist grabbing the shotgun off his back. "I killed the Salarian; he tried to inject some nasty stuff in me." She fought the urge to give him a hug. "Thanks for coming Shepard."
"I always have your back Tali." He grabbed her shoulder as he walked towards the corner of the hallway where the fight was going on.
"Commander, I need your help right now! They are getting close to me, you need to grahp!" Kale's radio channel shut off with a gasp and what sounded like a paddle slapping mud. Both Shepard and Tali looked at each other. The sound of a mass accelerated particle hitting flesh had a unique noise.
"Oh God they got me, help," Kale screamed from down the hallway, his voice drowning in fear. Shepard's upper lip quivered with rage. Oh Keelah. The just woke the sleeping giant even more!
"Tali, take my sniper and cover me." His powerful arm reached behind his back and grabbed his HMWSR X unfolding it handing it to Tali. "Where ever you point it will hit that target. Squeeze the trigger, don't pull it. Exhale before firing, don't inhale," he briefed her on how to use the high powered rifle.
"Got it Shepard, I have your six." Her commander cracked a small smile which punched through all of his powerful emotions. Tali laid down on the cold floor resting the rifle on her folded left arm.
"You ready?"
"Go!"
Shepard ran down the hall and Tali caught two blue tongues of muzzle flash appeared close to 100 meters away. Her left eye closed and she exhaled resting the side of the helmet on the ceramic stock of the sniper. Squeeze, not pull. Slowly, she began to squeeze the titanium trigger; it smoothly creaked back. Only several inches of a Turian helmet was exposed and the scope read 115 meters.
"POW!"
The rifle cracked pushing the rubber butt pad violently back into Tali's dainty shoulder. Her scope landed back in place just in time for her to whiteness the Turian's head break in half and his body drop instantly as the hyper accelerated particle punched through the barriers like a hot knife through a pillow of honey. Whoa! Tali scanned patrolled the hallway for the next target, but he evaporated into the shadows.
"Nice hit Tali, your shots are right on!" She confidently held the rifle snuggly into the pocket of her shoulder watching Shepard's back. Where is the other one?
"Garrus here, we have successfully pushed the enemy out of the common area. All of our shields are really low. We need some assistance if we are to board the ship, over." Shepard walked past Tali with Kale slung over his shoulder.
"Copy that Garrus. We have a problem at the moment and will be there shortly," Shepard informed him. Tali got to her knees to look over at Kale who Shepard was setting on the floor delicately.
"Tali, get over here!" She crawled over to the two men on the ground. Kale was screaming in pain and kicking his legs. There was a ragged bloody hole in the center of his torso; his cheap security armor couldn't stand up to the powerful Spectre weapons they were facing. Shepard eyed Tali, his eyes flashing a message; it is not in his favor.
"Commander, sorry," he coughed spraying saliva and blood in the air like a geyser.
"Turn him on his side; I don't want him choking on his own blood." Tali grabbed his shaking arm pulling it to get him on his side. Her heart stopped when she examined his back.
"Shepard, come, uhm… look at this," she stammered. He leaned over and spotted an exit wound the size of a human fist with bits of ground flesh dangling out. Tali placed Kale's head in her lap as Shepard grabbed his hand and placed it against his chest.
"Kale, what is your first name, I never caught it," Shepard asked trying to change the subject.
"D-D-David," he sputtered staring at something Shepard and Tali couldn't see. Kale's face was pale and his whole body began to shudder. He exhaled a long breath of air and went limp. Tali looked at Shepard's face. He is going back to his past, Akuze, Eden Prime, Vermire… all of his tragic memories are washing over him. Shepard still had Kale's hand; he slowly put it down next to his face. He looked to his right and saw the Asari all staring at the pathetic sight, their faces filled with sorrow.
Tali put a hand on Shepard's face and whispered,"You did everything right… Shepard." He shook his head and stood up offering his hand to Tali who was still sitting on the floor.
"No, I didn't." Tali grabbed his hand and was lifted to her feet. They both looked at Kale's dead body sprawled out on the ice cold cement in the sublevel of a 400 year old fueling depot somewhere in the Milky Way where nobody knew of.
"Commander, Joker here!" The tone of his voice was rushed and scared. "That ship with Ashley on it, it just left the depot. They are going to get away if you are not back on the Normandy in five minutes!"
Snake in the Mud
Chapter 11
Skave hovered behind Kramos screaming into his radio.
"Linder, come in…answer me God damnit!" Skave threw the mic away from his mouth growling. "I swear Shepard is going to suffer!" He looked at the security monitor that had Ashley in view; she was awake and struggling to escape. I have Shepard's prize! I have him, he doesn't have me! Losing my squad mates is all worth it! He slammed his fist into the bulkhead out of pure rage. He took out his pistol, glared at Ashley, and looked at his firearm.
"I will be right back, when we are done refueling… leave." Kramos turned around in his chair and stared at Skave making sure he heard him correctly. Skave glared back at him, "Leave the team if you have to. Go into the asteroid belt and head home. You know the coordinates."
He stormed away from the helm, his mind racing with thoughts. I am going to destroy him. Skave's vision blurred from his rage as he approached the medical bay carrying the pistol at his side. The doors slid open and Ashley's head locked on to him.
"Don't you dare look at me!" Skave strode over to her and pressed his pistol against her forehead. There was no fear in her eyes, only rage and hatred. This lit a fire in the deepest part of Skave. "I ought to pull this trigger right now and blow your rancid head into small pieces!"
"Why don't you do it then you pansy," Ashley screamed into his face. Skave's finger tightened around the trigger.
"You don't speak to me like that you filthy animal!"
"Go to Hell!"
Skave pressed the barrel hard against Ashley's head breaking her skin.
"Shepard isn't dead, is he," she questioned him with a smile across her face.
Calm down Skave! Snap out of it! Her time will come…
The Turian pulled the pistol away from her head and screamed in her face.
"You will die! All of your friends will die! I am going to kill all of them in front of your face: Urdnot Wrex, Garrus Vakarian, Tali'Zorah nar Rayya, Liara T'Soni, and your Shepard! I know all of you, I have been watching you. All of you are going to die today," he finished the last sentence with a chuckle. "You are so ignorant Ashley Williams; you don't see the big picture."
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Shepard's eyes widened.
"Everyone, get back to the Normandy right now!" Shepard yelled into his helmet and began to run up the ramp. Tali followed attaching the sniper on her back and grabbing the shotgun. Slippery bosh'tets!
"What about Kale Shepard!" He stopped in his tracks and looked back at Tali. He stared at Kale lying on the ground lifeless.
"Damn it! Tali help me with him!" The two grabbed Kale by the arms and slung him over their shoulders.
Wrex crackled together in Tali's helmet, "Shepard, do we just leave the people we are fighting?" Tali looked over at him; his face crinkled together trying to make the split second decision.
"Ash is our top priority, we all need to get back to the ship," Shepard ordered them in a strict voice. "Tali, we need to move faster!"
"On it commander!"
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Joker was sitting in his pilots chair trying to get a reading off the ship or at least track it.
"No no… damn it!" He threw his arms in the air out of frustration.
"Commander, you need to hurry up, they have some sophisticated crap on their ship. I can't get a lock on it. They are going to get away in the next several minutes, over!"
"We are closing in! ETA one minute!"
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All of the muscles in Tali's body ached carrying Kale's heavy body. I can't let Shepard down, I need to block out the pain!
"We are almost there Tali, keep it up!" She stared at the grimy floor of the depot attempting to block out the pain. A heavy hand landed on her shoulder and another one grabbed Kale's arm.
"Tali, let me carry him," Wrex's deep voice boomed out of nowhere. She spun her head around to meet Wrex's scarred face.
"Thank you." She let him take over the hard work.
"The airlock is right ahead, another 100 meters," Liara said out of breath from behind Tali. She put a blue hand on Tali's shoulder eyeing her heaving body.
"Are you hit Tali?" Tali looked at her waist and legs to see them soaked in blood.
"Not mine." Liara's eye's narrowed and she nodded jogging up ahead towards Shepard. Garrus came running around the corner bullets breaking the ground up behind him. She unfolded her shotgun and went behind cover.
"Shepard, keep on going! They are chasing us, we will hold them off," Garrus yelled up ahead kneeling behind a yellow trash compactor to Tali's left.. "Tali, we have two of them coming," he said moving his hand towards the corner. Liara slid behind Tali with her pistol unfolded trained on the corner. A blue face painted with purple tattoos peeked around the polished cement corner. Tali's shotgun roared breaking the cement wall followed by Garrus dumping a curtain of depleted uranium rounds on target. The Asari sprinted from the corner across the hall shielded by a biotic barrier. Tali dumped another shot into the Asari, but her pellets bounced off her shields harmlessly.
"She is going for Garrus!" A blue orb ripped through the stale air and hit Garrus's exposed elbow. His body spun around and was slammed into a wall.
"Garrus!" Liara stood up and Tali could feel static electricity crackling around her as Liara built up a biotic charge. She let it lose and hit the commando in the chest sending her crashing into a table. Her legs got tangled in the metal supports of the table and her body was ripped in half. The shocking image sent a cold chill down Tali's spine.
"Liara, get down!" Tali stood up and fired at a Salarin who exposed himself taking a shot at Liara who was out of cover. Rounds snapped by Tali's face from her six. What in the Hell? She turned around and saw a Turian dressed in red and black armor peek around a corner. Not him, he flanked us from the sublevels! He threw a disk shaped object down the hallway.
"Liara, grenade!" Tali grabbed her by the waist and threw her down. The small disk skid to a halt feet away from Liara and Tali. Everything went into slow motion as she stared at the blinking puck. What am I doing!?
"No Tali," Liara screamed as Tali stood up and grabbed the explosive. She held it in her hand clenching her teeth with her eyes shut and tossed it over the small wall they were hiding behind. What felt like a hammer crashed down on Tali's head along with a piecing ring that circulated through her brain. She crashed to the ground, he vision blocked by a blinding white light.
"Tali, no! Tali!" She cracked open her eyes and saw a blurry blue face and a tan one staring down at her.
"What," she asked them feeling two hands pick her up.
"Are you okay?" She stared at the two faces confused and out of it.
"I can't hear you," her voice was shaking. Am I alive? Tali could make out laughter, but she fell to her to her back side as the two figures tried to help her up.
"Tali," Shepard's voice broke though the confusing thick cloud and ringing. "Look at me, are you okay?"
Tali could spot a smile on his face.
"Yeah, I think so." She looked down at her legs spread out before her on the cement ground. "I can't hear too well." Shepard laughed and picked her up again wrapping his arms around her waist supporting her from falling over.
"Damn Tali, you are one dumb Quarian for doing that," Shepard said raising his voice so she could hear. Tali cracked a small laugh, but pain shot up her side.
"Oh Keelah," she exclaimed looking down at her waist. Oh no!
"Shep-Shepard, my suit is broken open!" Her heart stopped as she stared at her skin on her abdomen.
"Oh no," his voice was filled with fear, "We need to get to the ship now! Everyone haul ass!"
Oh Keelah, oh Keelah! No, no, no! This can't be happening! Shepard!
Her legs trembled and her stomach grumbled with genuine fear; fear that threatened her life.
"Chakwas, bring everything up from the med bay that is required for a Quarian suit breach now!" His arms tightened around Tali comforting her like a little sister.
"Shepard, help," she squeaked as her voice choked up. He scooped her up and sprinted down the hallway as fast as he could. She looked down the hall; the Turian that threw the grenade was lying on the ground with a pool of dark blood accumulating around his head and she spotted Liara leading Garrus into the Normandy's air lock.
"Everyone, clear the airlock, get out of it now!" Liara turned around and saw Shepard running towards her; she closed the door and entered the Normandy. "Hold on Tali. Joker, we are in the airlock and clear to go!" Dr. Chakwas came through the Normandy's interior into the airlock with a blue medical bag. The door shut behind her as she kneeled unzipped a blue medical bag.
"Stand by sore party, decontamination in progress."
Tali's hands were shaking uncontrollably the longer her looked at her skin.
"Keelah," she quivered. The light in the airlock went back and forth zapping all contaminates and bacteria that threatened her life.
"Tali, you are going to be okay. Tali… Tali look at me!" She tore her eyes away from her exposed abdomen looking deep into Shepard's caring eyes.
"I'm scared Shepard."
"No! There is no reason to be. The Doc is going to fix you up." He looked at her wound, anti biotics were spilling from the gaping hole. Chakwas wiped her hands off with a disposable sterile wipe and pulled blue gloves over her hands.
"I have some medication that should boost your immune system," she intelligently said flicking a needle. "Tali, is it best to inject it there," she pointed towards her skin, "or do I need to put it through your tubes?"
"Put it through my stomach." The Doc stared at her foreign skin half intrigued, half nervous; her hand rubbed an alcohol patch on her bare skin. Tali gasped not being used to anything touch her skin directly.
"It's cold!"
"It is supposed to be like that Tali," Shepard informed her like it was nothing extraordinary staring at the breach interested. Next, she could feel the sharp needle sting and the medication push into her blood stream. Her arm squeezed tight around Shepard's waste, her skin was hyper sensitive from being neglected for twenty two straight years.
"Ow, ow, ow!"
"You are doing well Tali," her commander reinforced her.
"Why is it I am always unlucky with explosives?"
"Well, you are a deadly grenade thrower yourself, so…what comes around goes around."
"What?" Shepard pulled his gaze away from her wound and looked past her mask scanning the dull glow of her eyes through her purple veil. Tali blushed as she thought about the human phrase he just introduced to her.
"Oh… I get it." She stared into his eyes. His conversation isn't taking my mind off the fact I can die. Doctor Chakwas filled the hole with white foam and it hardened after a few seconds.
"Good as new," Chakwas commented putting the foam canister back in the medical bag. Tali looked down at her wound staring at the foam.
"This should hold until we get Ashley back," Tali commented to herself. Shepard squeezed her arm and stared into her face.
"You are sitting this one out Tali!" His voice was stern and protective. Tali chuckled and shook her head.
"You don't get, do you Shepard. Nothing gets past that thick skull of yours, does it," she said taking her long finger and poking his forehead. He cocked his head confused. "I am coming with you. We are finishing this…together." Tali held out one of her fingers. "Make a pinky promise. Promise me that you won't lock me in the med bay." Chakwas looked at the two completely lost. Shepard looked at her shaking finger that was hooked inches away from his face, a small smile crept across his lips as his gloved armored pinky wrapped around hers.
"I promise I won't lock you in the medical bay. I pinky promise," he said amused at the situation.
"Now remember, if you break that, you have to kill yourself," Tali sarcastically said getting out of Shepard's lap attempting to stand up. She stumbled, but Shepard grabbed her by the waist catching her. Tali looked down at his hands on her hips. Priceless. Shepard let go of her and for some reason Tali felt he could hear what she was thinking.
"Tali, you need to sit down. The concussion of the blast probably messed with the fluids in your ears, or whatever you have."
"Something along those line Shepard," her voice was almost flirty. What am I doing?
"You know… messed with your equilibrium," he continued, twirling his finger beside his head simulating sloshing fluid. His face turned a little red.
"Shepard, I need you in the cockpit whenever you are done in there. How is Tali," Joker's voice spilled out of the com and splashed into the airlock.
"She is stabilized Joker, open the door and let us through," he quickly fired back breaking the awkward silence. The door hissed and shot open; on the other side was the ground team anxiously waiting for the three to come out.
"Tali, are you okay?" Liara rushed over to Tali eyeing the foam.
"I can barely hear you Liara, speak up!"
"Are you okay," her quiet voice was still a whisper even as she tried to raise her voice.
"Liara, I still can't hear you," she said laughing. "I am worried about Garrus, where is he?" Her Turian friend walked around the corner with the armor on his arm torn off.
"I am fine," he calmly stated.
"Tali, the medication should fight off infection for close to an hour. Anything past that time will probably kill you if you aren't back to the med-bay," Chakwas bluntly said exiting the airlock. Tali looked at Shepard, his face was concerned and angry.
"Okay," she looked down at her wound grabbing Shepard's shoulder as her world began to spin faster.
"Tali, take this seat next to Joker." Shepard led Tali over and sat her down to the right of the pilot's seat. "Joker, what is going on?" He leaned on Joker's chair looking out the window.
"They are trying to flee with the Chief," he pointed out the window, "you see that orange glow ahead of us?"
"Yeah."
"That is Balor's asteroid belt. They are going to try and lose us in there." Joker looked up at his commander. "Only an idiot would go in there… or a really good pilot." The commander looked down at Joker; his hand took his blue SR1 hat and spun it backwards.
"Well, this is where you live and breathe Joker. Chase them down."
Joker sat strait up in his chair.
"Everyone hold on to something or strap in, we are in for a bumpy ride!"