A/N: Its good to be back! I'm glad you're all enjoying the return of Sentinel! And to the the doubters, the nonbelievers, though who say that in all logic of the world that this fic cannot possibly happen, well, this is FICTION. Reality is meant to be bended, and at times broken. I've already done thus several times in this fic, and believe me, I intend to do it many more. I'm sorry I haven't updated this in so long! Terribly sorry! I've been so very busy with work, but now, here it is...
...the next chapter of Sentinel!
"Vengeance is mine, you filthy creatures!"
~Near.
Fear not the Flame
"Vengeance is mine, you filthy creatures!"
Garrus Vakarian had seen many a terror in his day, but nothing could-or would-ever compared to this crazed little girl wielding the flamethrower. He silently made a note never to bring up spiders in her prescence, ever again. His armour wouldn't do him much good if he was charred to a crisp...
"Commander...
Shepard had chosen to give the little reaper a wide berth after they'd discovered the heavy weapons in the catacombs. Fortunately for them-unfortunately for the rachni-those heavy weapons were flamethrowers. Now, gone was the petrified little girl. In her place stood an avenging goddess of death and destruction, sheathing the tunnels in fire and flame with each pull of the trigger. Ravagers and husks alike fled from her wrath; not because she was a reaper, nor out of fright, but sheer terror of this evil little girl!
"Mwahahahaha!" She cackled, spewing flame as she ran. "Fear me lesser creatures for I have fire! FEAR ME!"
"She does know she's going to run out of ammunition eventuallly, right?" He whispered, nudging Sentinel aside. The elder reaper had proven to be a great deal more amicable of late; certainly moreso than the cackling child wreaking havoc around their ears.
Sentinel shrugged.
"That is not my concern." The synthetic sighed. "Although...
"Although?"
A tiny smile broke out on his chiseled face, like a crack etching along a stone surface.
"I am pleased to see that she is enjoying herself."
Garrus blanched.
"If you call that enjoyment...
Naruto shot him a sharp look.
"Is it so strange that I would derive amusement from watching her enjoyment?" Without waiting for Garrus's response, he turned his attention back to Near. "I gave her flesh and form for a purpose, Vakarian. You think my kind to be mere machines like Sovereign; harbingers or your destruction. This is not so. We were created for the sole purpose of exterminating sentient life from the cosmos. But as I have told you we are each more than the sum our parts; each a nation, independent of weakness. Is it so surprising to think some like myself might've grown weary of this endless cycle? Of this endless pain and hatred? Perhaps once Near realizes this once she understands you and your kind mean her no harm, she too, will feel the same."
"You're betting an awful lot on some misconception, there." the scarred Turian frowned
The proto-reaper waggled an eyebrow in answerment.
"Sh!" Shepard hushed the turian and reaper. "Both of you! I want to watch."
Near was still laughing when the flamethrower abruptly sputtered, and died. She spat a curse and squeezed the trigger, but all that emerged a soft, despairing slick. Slowly, ever so slowly the ravager horde turned, regarding the now impotent child those with eerie intensity. Recognizing at last the gravity of the situation, the child-like reaper took a small step backward. It was a mistake. Scarce had she stepped back, than the throng of mutants came surging forward. Shepard swore, raising the barrel of her rifle to fire-
Sentinel was already there. Even as her first shot rang through the cavern the godlike synthetic had moved past her, throwing himself, before his fellow synthetic with a speed improbable even for the most advanced of his kind. In one swift movement he reached down, plucking Near from the ground, slinging her onto a broad shoulder. Near uttered a supersonic squeal of surprise but she made no effort to dissuade her comrade as he raised the barrel of his arm cannon and brought it to bear on the slavering throng before them.
"Down!" He shouted, and then there was only hellfire.
The cavern shook as red light erupted from his arm, searing across the gaggle of grotesque creatures, rattle the walls and the ceiling alike. Smoke and dust kicked up, spattering the squad's helmets and armor. When it finally cleared, Shepard half-expected an open path to stretch out before them. To her complete and utter dismay, she found even more ravagers and reaper creatures, crawling out of the woodwork; worming their way through the hole Sentinel had wrought in the middle of the cavern. There were...more of them than she'd expected. Hundreds. Thousands. They couldn't possibly fight this many!
"S-S-SPIDER!" Near yelped as one of the smaller creatures fell from the ceiling onto her back; eliciting complete and utter panic. Dropping the now empty flamethrower, she clamored onto Sentinel's back; latching onto him like a spider monkey crawling atop his shoulders as the horde encroached still further. "SPIDERS! More spiders! Get them off! Get them off get them off get them off!" Naruto rounded on the nearest wall and swung outward with his fist, shattering the hardened rock to reveal the passage beyond.
"Shepard!" Grunt's voice crackled through the comlink. "What the hell was that?!"
"That was our...friend." Isabelle grimaced as Naruto brought the barrel to bear upon the gaping hole. "Stay where you are!" She shouted over the rising thrum of the weapon. "Its about to get hot!"
A low hiss left the lips of the synthesized organic as he saw still more of the creatures at their backs. He placed one foot into the opening he'd created and fired for a second time, causing the cavern itself to shudder, as though it were a creature of the living. Somewhere in the distance, something screamed. Naruto exchanged a glance with Shepard, his smoldering arm assuming human form once more. Near gibbered something about spiders and the tunnels trembled yet again, eliciting a worried retort from Garrus.
"Shepard...
"What?"
"I think now would be a good time to run!"
And thus, they ran, delving into the opening Sentinel had created...
...into the heart of darkness itself.
A/N:Alright, don't kill me! The tragedy takes place NEXT chappy. This one is purely filler! Belive me, you're going to appreciate this happy little chap when you find out what happens next chapter; that tragedy that takes place? It isn't going to pretty, to say the least. Hopefully ya'll won't come after me with torches and pitchforks... Only I
This story is going to be a tale unlike any other, as I'm sure you've guessed by now. Thank you again for all of your support! This story wouldn't be what it was without all of your wonderful reviews! Alright, now that I have five minutes left, I've got to get to work once more, so in the immortal words of Atlas...
...Review, would you kindly?
I'll even provide a *may or may not* preview of a scene coming up in distant chapters...
Preview:
This time Shepard thought she was prepared when Sentinel reformatted the reaper core. She was not. Light streamed across every inch of the cargo hold, blinding her to all else. When it finally settled she found herself looking at what might've been an older version of Near/Hanabi...assuming her body would grow someday. Pale eyes flashed with fury, a heartshaped face framed by blure hair so dark it was nearly midnight black. Their eyes locked, Sentinel's and that of the woman standing across from him.
The woman yowled in surprise, a string of alien garble leaving her lips. Incredibly, Isabelle understood every word of it. Unlike Hanabi's birth she could comprehend everything words, syllables, and even the tone of the woman's voice as she looked frantically from her self to the one who had created her.
"What have you done?" She stepped forward, eyes accusing. "What. Have. You. Done!"
"I have restored you." Sentinel responded, flatly.
The woman slapped him.
Hard.
"You have not restored!" The woman snapped, her soft face twisted into a sneer of derision. "You have sullied! Why have you given me this form?!"
"Commander this one calls itself Far." Naruto introduced, ignoring the woman's hiss of exasperation, continuing unabated as she spat obscenities.
The woman slapped him again.
"Ah." He blinked, as though he'd only just remembered something, as if the blow had knock the knowledge loose. "Ah. This one was called Hinata. She was also the wife of this unit when he was human."
"Wait, so she's your wife?" Shepard exclaimed.
"Was." Naruto began, but a soft click interrupted him.
Far had leveled the long barrel of her now armed arm at her fellow synthetic-shepard distantly recognized it as some sort of sniperesque weapon-and now, to Shepard's horror she pulled the trigger.
"Die." She hissed...
...and Sentinel's head exploded.
Le gasp! Is Sentinel dead?!
R&R! =D
