Chapter Six: Let the Sky Burn.
Several Days Later
When Tali woke up she noticed her blanket was over her body even though she didn't cover herself when she went to sleep. Also, Zane's spot was empty and the lights in the engine room were a little brighter signaling it was "day" in space. Her HUD told her it was 7:30am she was later than normal usually she woke at 7:00 sharp. She shot up and quickly went to her station.
"Sorry mister Adams I over slept!" She told him fearful of an outrage from him though he didn't seem the type to get angry like that.
"Tali calm down you are not in trouble. I understand why don't you get upstairs and get something to eat and when you are done come down here okay?" He asked her as he worked.
"Yes Sir." She said then left and he smiled as she left.
"Girl is more of a work horse then me." He said as he worked. She made her way to the elevator and pressed the correct button and the slow elevator made its way to the crew deck. She walked into the mess and saw all the specialists at the table. They gave nods to her and went about their business. She saw Zane and grabbed paste and went to sit by him when the blue bosh'tet sat by him. Liara was soon striking up conversation faster than Tali could fathom making him laugh and her in turn. Tali could only feel like she had been brushed off but she didn't know why. It wasn't like she had committed to Zane or anything. Hell, she was still sure the feelings she felt for him were not mutual and more so, she wasn't even sure what to truly make of them. She went by Shepard where everyone else was she was off to the side by the group but not in it. Tali was just about to leave when Shepard got her attention.
"You okay Tali?" He asked and she gave a smile granted he couldn't see it but it was nice to feel noticed.
"Yes as you humans say just peachy." She stated and he smiled and nodded before his attention was turned to Ashley. Then she was forgotten again like always nothing new there, at least after she left for her pilgrimage. Back at the Flotilla she was always noticed to the point she wanted to be invisible. Thanks to who her father was people knew her and tried to cozy up to her be her friend which she liked but their ulterior motives came to light quickly. They always wanted something an easier posting on the ship, a bigger room and so on. Tali went to leave and rounded the corner only to bump into Zane well almost he grabbed her and stopped her from hitting him.
"Hey leaving so soon?" He asked her and Tali felt like she was noticed again. She smiled then felt angry at her own feelings they couldn't think of an emotion and stick to it.
"I have to go to engineering I was late to wake up today and I have already costed Adams enough grief as it is." She said and went to leave only for him to harden his grip it didn't hurt but she couldn't move, not that she wanted to.
"Tali you push yourself to hard you realize you are not late at all right? You don't have to report until like 8:00 and that is at least thirty minutes away. So, chillax, relax, and socialize…and I am the last person to be telling you this." He said with a laugh and she tilted her head in confusion.
"Why is that?"
"Well for one I never socialized when I was growing up. Also, I know that you tried but were…brushed off, and thirdly I wasn't being all that social either." He clarified before letting go almost reluctantly.
"Seemed like you were mighty social with T'Soni." She said and he could hear the anger but didn't give it away that he did hear it. To her credit, it was faint but then again he had heard almost every emotion spoken to him when the person speaking to him faked another one.
"Well she isn't here now, is she? Besides when I saw you leaving I left her she is now chatting with the Commander much to Ashley's displeasure I might add." He said then they simply stood there.
"But if you wish to work please be my guest Adams knows you are the best engineer on the ship." He said as he left but she grabbed his wrist.
"Wait. Okay I guess if I have to socialize it must be with you." She said and he smiled and put his hand over his cheeks.
"Oh Madam nar Rayya you make me blush." He laughed when they went back to the mess hall only for more surprised looks and two angry ones.
…
At first there wasn't much to talk about they simply ate in contempt silence. But then she asked him something that had been bothering her.
"So back at the Consort's her…acolytes seemed to know you why?" And he turned red in the face.
"I thought I told you to not ask?" He said and she nodded but didn't take back her question. He decided to give in.
"I did a favor for them and they have been wanting to 'pay me back' as they call it." He said the innuendo very noticeable.
"What did you do?" Tali requested and he smiled.
"Simply put. I stopped an asshole before he became a problem. The Consort while it may seem like a brothel it is anything but. A human didn't understand that. That first Asari, Letaya, she was the one with the problem. Her specialty is touch well the human wanted a lot of touching. I personally made him learn the errors of his ways."
"You sound like you enjoy fighting. Granted for a good cause but still." Tali noticed and he nodded.
"I do; it runs in my family as well as being competitive we are fighters. Rather it be with our fists, guns, or in debates we love the thrill of proving someone…inferior for lack of a better word." He reasoned and Tali gave a shrug.
"And the others?" Tali asked still eating.
"Well Milia the Turian. Was being pressured and honestly bullied into a more…Turian line of work I found the men reasonable and gave them a choice. Either leave her alone or find themselves out of work." He said and her eyes expanded with surprise.
"You threatened Turian Military?" She asked shocked, and he nodded with a smile.
"Yep I know people. Many contacts I have made over the years. I could easily make a general turn their attention to these men and they would be heavily demoted or more than likely be out of work. Turians hate it when their soldiers are rowdy or cause any sort of trouble in civilian areas." Zane said eating what humans called cereal.
"Scarlett and Jennifer two human sisters were being disowned by their family due to where they worked. Their family are not fans of aliens of any type. That was a difficult one to do." He said and trailed off.
"Why?" Tali asked.
"I have learned that idiots like them think they are right no matter the evidence to the contrary. I couldn't make them change their minds. I did however get a buddy of mine to hack their banking account and grab as much cash as possible. Now they went from billionaires to only a few hundred thousand credits. Still a lot of money sure but to lose that much money…It will be difficult for them I'm sure. Also, the rich have a hard time living after their funds…disappear." Zane said laughing to himself.
"Won't you be prosecuted by them or won't they at least look into the hack?" Zane shook his head with another laugh.
"That would be hard I am a friend of their attorney, the only 'cops' for them are C-Sec so they won't like that. And to top it all off the hacker was their own nephew so I'm pretty sure I'm fine on that front. As I have said Tali I am very good at what I do." He crossed his arms and winked smugly.
"Bosh'tet." She said as she shook her head with a smile.
…
The two had been talking until Tali actually forgot the time and went to leave when the intercom sounded.
Joker's voice came though shortly after "Commander you may want to get up here urgent message from Hackett." Then the line was cut. The people in the room looked around in confusion and even Zane was confused to an extent. He soon had an idea what was going on. Zane rose from his seat and followed the Commander to the CIC. Shepard already had quite the head start on him.
When Zane opened the door he heard Hackett's voice. "…Stop them Shepard you don't have much time before that thing…"
"I know admiral I'm on it immediately." The link was cut and Shepard turned to Zane a look of fear and hate plastered on his face.
"Batarian terrorists plan on ramming Terra Nova with an asteroid." He said and Zane pretended to have shock on his face.
"Oh shit…we have to stop them." He said and it came off convincingly enough.
"That is the plan. Wrex, Garrus, and I are going down there the rest will remain on board." Shepard began to leave when Zane spoke.
"Wouldn't it be better to bring everyone?" He wanted in on the operation. Balak had to be taken down.
Shepard shook his head. "No, we can't risk the Batarians knowing what we are doing. If they do, then the hostages they have are as good as dead." Shepard then turned and left before Zane could speak again. But Zane was already devising a plan. Balak would not get away from him and the hostages would live…he swore it.
…
Even though they were going at least 130 KPH the team didn't feel anything. Not that they were surprised by it but the thought had crossed their minds. Shepard was at the wheel of the Mako driving towards the first thruster. The terrain while bumpy to be sure was not nearly as bad as back on Therum.
"Shepard damn it man! Could you possibly not hit EVERY bump?" Garrus said hitting his head on the roof for the third time in the span of a few minutes. Shepard kept his laugh down, poor Garrus had no idea just how bad Therum was.
"Quit whining, we are here." He said and motioned for Garrus to get on the guns. The team was not technically at the thrusters just yet. They were however overlooking the base of the thrusters.
"All clear, we can go." Garrus said almost with caution probably fearful of Shepard's driving skills if anyone had to guess. Shepard decided slow and steady was needed here. If anyone was inside the base, it would be best not to alert everyone.
Shepard rolled right up to the doorway and gave a nod of his head. The doors opened and the team exited. Guns out and ready with a silent gesture Shepard ordered them to stack up on the door. Shepard got beside the button and looked at his team waiting for the go ahead. The two nodded and Shepard pressed the button the door hissed open only for them to be greeted by an empty room. On the opposite wall was another door and the squad repeated the process like clockwork. This time however, the squad was greeted by a room full of Batarians and Varren. A small pause happened as the two forces looked at the other. A Batarian gritted his teeth and barked out "Fire!" then the room was lit with weapon fire.
"Get down!" Shepard shouted as he dove for cover. A line of mass accelerated round appearing behind him.
"Release the Varren." A Batarian ordered and he heard chains unlock before the howling of beasts. Shepard peaked out of cover and saw a Varren running straight at him. In a flash, he aimed and fired mainly at the head of the animal. The Varren fell right away but was replaced by another. He went to fire again when he got pinned down. He heard a high caliber shot sound and the Varren falling beside him. To his left he saw Garrus reloading his sniper rifle before firing again. Wrex then charged past the horde of Varren and jumped on one of the Batarians. He grabbed another's head with his hand as he aimed his shotgun at another before pulling the trigger. Wrex proceeded to slam the Batarian he held into the ground before caving the terrorist's head inward with a single stomp.
Shepard rose from his current cover and sprinted for another. "Go keep going!" He shouted as a Varren took another sniper round from Garrus. Shepard looked up and on a balcony was another Batarian. With another burst of gunfire, the terrorist fell down. Shepard breathed slowly hearing for any other movement. When he couldn't hear any he moved up a flight of stairs. Upstairs, he opened a door a voice whispering from a console.
"Hello? Is anyone there?" Shepard approached the console and pressed a button to first shut off the engines then another for him to speak
"This is Commander Shepard of the Normandy. Who is this?" The voice gave a sigh of relief before speaking again.
"My name is Kate Bowman I am an engineer here. Please help we are trapped."
"Where are you Miss Bowman?"
"We are…" Another voice interrupted them. Batarian from the sound.
"What do we have here? Asking for help human? That is a no, no and now someone must pay." The link was then cut.
"Damn it we have to hurry!" Shepard shouted then ran for the exit but was stopped by a squad of Batarians.
"Not so fast! Where do you think, you are going?"
"Shepard we have to hurry." Shepard agreed and thought about reasoning with the Batarian. However, that would just take too long. Shepard grabbed his pistol and shot the Batarian in the head then threw a frag grenade. It detonated precisely in the center of the group.
"Come on we don't have much longer." Shepard said and the squad followed him out.
…
The squad cleared out the second area with relative ease though now the enemy was getting smarter planting mines. As well as some turrets, it wouldn't help them not from them. At the end of the building was a similar console. Shepard followed the same pattern as before and whispered into the console and prayed it was going to where the hostages were.
"Kate…Kate are you there? I need to know where you are." No answer came. At least not immediately.
"They…they killed my brother because I spoke to you once. Said they would kill more next time." She spoke in such a way that told Shepard she been crying or at least holding back tears.
"I know I am trying to help please Kate."
"We are…they are coming back." The link was cut before she could finish he cursed and ran for the Mako to go to the last site.
…
Like a tidal wave the squad cleared out the last building and the remains of Batarians and Varren laid at their feet. Shepard went to the last console and shut off the engines. He thought about contacting Kate again. Was it a good idea? She may be dead because of him. He pressed the corresponding button and spoke.
"Kate…Location now… please." He hoped she was alive and if she wasn't hopefully another hostage would do what he requested. The console beeped with what looked like coordinates.
"There Commander." The link was then cut for a final time. Shepard recorded the coordinates into his omni-tool and ran for the Mako. He prayed that he was not too late. The engines were shut off, no doubt the terrorists were aware of that. They now had to have an exit strategy. Take the hostages for a bargaining chip? Kill them to tie up loose ends and maybe many other possibilities. They could not be allowed to get away however. If they did, they may start somewhere else and the pattern would only continue.
…
So many mines and so many turrets destroyed thanks to Garrus' excellent shooting but now the task remained. Find and kill the leader as well as get the hostages out of here alive. The team made it into an arena type of area. A large dome-shaped room, lots of cover and lots of Batarians. Wrex sent two Batarians into the nearest wall crushing their bones from the force of the impact. Shepard threw his last grenade into a trio of Batarians then detonated it at the perfect time. Garrus zoomed into his scoped rifle then fired at a barrel that blew up sending two Batarians over a guard rail. The room seemed clear so Shepard went to find the hostages. Then he heard clapping behind him.
"Excellent absolutely excellent. Humanity's poster boy ripped through a terrorist plot with such efficiency that even I am impressed." A Batarian spoke the same voice from before
"And who exactly are you?" Shepard asked rifle pointed at the Batarian, his guards had their weapons pointed at the squad as well.
"My name is Balak but that doesn't matter. Now it ends Shepard right here right now." He said grinning his left hand in a fist.
"Why do this? Why kill billions?" Shepard asked a sociopath who really deserved a bullet to the head rather than a chance to spew nonsense.
"Your people have a saying, an eye for an eye. Well that is what this is. Thanks to your expansion my people have been forced to toil amongst each other like we are Krogan. We were once great now we are men with stones and axes. I am giving what my people need most…hope." He still grinned and Shepard could only admit that Balak was indeed crazy. Shepard aimed his rifle at Balak's head about to pull the trigger.
"Don't do that Shepard otherwise your hostages go boom." Balak held out his left hand and opened it slightly inside was a device.
"A Deadman's switch…monster." Shepard said and Balak only laughed.
"Perhaps but who is the real monster? You have two choices now. Be the monster that killed a monster but let innocents die. Or be the monster that saved innocents but allowed a monster to escape…questions, questions, questions." Shepard thought long and hard and was about to let his weapon go when a voice spoke.
"I vote choice C." Then two shots rang out killing the two guards beside Balak. Balak growled and let go of the switch.
"No!" Shepard closed his eyes but nothing happened. No explosion, no screams, nothing.
"What the…?" Behind Shepard from the shadows Zane showed up gun pointed at Balak's head.
"Go get the hostages only the switch was disabled not the bombs." Zane said his eyes piercing into Balak's face. Balak shouted in anger.
"Kill them!" Then he ran for the exit Zane chasing after him Shepard went to follow but Garrus stopped him.
"The bombs Shepard we have to get those!" Shepard nodded but had a nagging thought in his head.
"How did Zane get here?" As if Joker had heard him his comm went off.
"Uh Commander we just found out an escape pod went off about an hour ago and we lost Zane." Shepard didn't answer and simply cursed.
One hour ago
…
Take me home where the restless go!
Reckless till the day I rest my bones.
There's no use trying to save my soul,
There's no use trying to save my soul.
Another personal favorite of Zane's he bobbed his head to the beat as he got in the escape pod. He disconnected the alarm for when it went off and hoped no one would be looking out a window when he fired it. And hoped Shepard would not be looking up. He pressed a few buttons and immediately was sent rocketing to the asteroid below.
Soon as he had landed on the rocky asteroid he immediately began tapping into Shepard's communications.
"This is Commander Shepard of the Normandy. Who is this?" Shepard asked and Zane grinned.
"I still have time." He then looked for a man Zane couldn't remember his name but that wasn't the point. After a short conversation, he knew what he had to do. He had to find the man's colleagues that were still out here. In exchange the man would give Zane the coordinates to where the hostages were.
Finding the bodies was easy enough not many hostiles were by the bodies. But the bodies told stories of their own. Most were killed execution style. Balak would pay if Zane had any say in the matter.
…
Zane shortly gave the news to the man about his friends. He processed it quickly mostly out of anger.
"What do you need?" He asked Zane.
"Two things, number one the coordinates to where your friends are." The man was surprised Zane have never told him he was a part of Shepard's team.
"You will need a tank to…" Zane held out a hand.
"I have my ways now the coordinates." In no time at all, the coordinates were transferred to his omni-tool. "Also…got any way I can cut the link between a Deadman's switch and its bomb's?" The man thought and snapped his fingers.
"A small concentrated EMP field should do it."
"Do it." Zane said and the man added a program to his omni-tool. The man turned to grab a reward but when he turned around Zane was nowhere to be found.
…
"Zane, where are you? You bosh'tet!" Tali shouted at him in his omni-tool thankfully he was nowhere near the Batarians.
"Helping Shepard in my own way."
"He is going to kill you! No never mind I am going to kill you! I think I am to only one who has also noticed that an escape pod is gone. As for your disappearance, many are noticing." Tali said and Zane thought about what to do.
"Tali, I need you to keep them busy just for a little bit. Soon as Shepard's learns of this my cover can be blown in so many ways I would need a year to list them to you. Trust me when I reveal myself then you can voice your thoughts. Please Tali a terrorist might get away or many innocents may die." Silence was his answer for a short while.
"Fine." Zane gave a sigh of relief before finding what he was looking for a chink in the facilities' armor. Dodging the turrets and mines was easy. But the bitch was finding a way in. In this case that was in the form of an emergency exit. He hacked into it and opened it. No alarm went off and he kept his rifle out. He put it away to put a Batarian into a choke hold then he snapped the Batarian's neck. Followed by stabbing another in the neck. It didn't take long for him to find the perfect hiding spot. The best part was that it was in the way of the bomb and where Balak would be.
…
Not long after that Shepard showed up and kicked ass as he usually did. Zane remained as still as he could, the shadows covering him like a cloak. His breathing was slow and methodical. Zane grabbed his rifle and waited patiently for Balak.
He didn't disappoint Zane as Balak soon showed up. Zane thought about just putting a bullet in the monster's head and being done with it. But he wanted Balak to feel fear, pain, the feelings people get when hunted. Zane first activated the EMP field and aimed at the two guards' head.
"I vote choice C." Then he pulled the trigger twice the Batarians falling in short order. Zane began to walk out when Balak let go of the switch. He prayed the plan worked and when no explosion was heard he grinned. It didn't take long for Balak to figure out he was fucked.
"Go get the hostages only the switch was disabled not the bombs." Zane shouted as Balak began to run and Zane followed. Zane put his rifle on his back and gave chase. In front of him were two Batarians aiming their rifles at him so he pulled out his pistol and shot twice. Both shots killing them instantly with headshots. He vaulted over the crates they used as cover and followed Balak. Balak soon became hard to follow with his fast speed even in heavy armor. Zane broke off by shattering glass into a room with stairs. He climbed the stairs three steps at a time then he found himself over the hallway that Balak was using. Batarians began shooting at him but each shot was missing. Two more guards looked at him and they began to aim their rifles. In a flash, Zane grabbed one's rifle as he broke the alien's leg then Zane pulled the Batarian's own rifle from his grip. Zane proceeded to hit the other in the head with it before flipping him over the guard rail. Then Zane smashed the other Batarian's head with the rifle he took. Zane ran again for where Balak was sure to go…the hanger. He saw the giant doors that led to the hanger wide open and just behind them was Balak and in front of the doors were a bunch of guards. Zane pulled out his pistol again and fired at the console for the hanger doors that caused the hanger doors to begin to close. Zane then stepped on the guard rail and jumped. The Batarians fired at him but to no avail and just as the doors closed he was through and was heading straight for Balak. His omni-blade out and ready to meet the terrorist's neck. Zane landed on Balak and the two fell down rolling over one another many times. Before Balak was on top. The two continued to struggle Balak using his weight and strength to his advantage as Zane's own blade began to close in on his neck.
"Now you die human." Zane managed to turn the tables and was on top.
"Not today I think Balak." And Zane got closer and closer to violent gratification. Balak smiled for a moment as he managed to break an arm free from Zane's grasp and punch Zane in the mouth. Zane relinquished for a moment too soon for Balak to capitalize on the reprievable before Zane. In anger and rage pushed both of Balak's arms above his head and stuck the searing hot blade into his neck.
"May you find the glory you wanted in life in death. Rest in Peace Balak." Zane got up just as the doors to the hanger opened Zane raised his rifle only for Shepard to be there alone. His gun was also up however a tense moment befell the hanger when neither man put the weapons down.
"Shepard…put the gun down." Zane said and Shepard only pressed a button making the gun hiss ready to fire.
"You almost killed many innocents today." Shepard began and Zane shook his head and laughed.
"They were never in danger I made sure of it. And if I hadn't shown up one of two possibilities would have taken place. Either you would have killed them by shooting Balak or Balak would have gotten away now it is neither. This was the best outcome." Zane said aiming at Shepard's right leg.
"You don't know that…"
"Yes I do! I saw you about to put your gun down. And if you would have shot him the innocents would have died! This was the only way Shepard and you know it." Zane tried to persuade Shepard hoping to get through his thick skull.
"You went AWOL, went on a killing spree, and nearly cost us not only the engineer's lives. But also the life of my squad why shouldn't I end this relationship right now? You are an unknown quantity, a vigilante, a soon-to-be-problem!" Shepard shouted but Zane wouldn't have it not from him.
"Because you need me. You need all the help you can get. And I would never endanger anyone. Innocents or crew members alike. What I did here today was stop a madman from leaving to commit other atrocities in the future!"
"We could have gotten him then!" Zane shook his head at Shepard's naïveté.
"No Shepard you wouldn't have. Because after today he would have been extra careful he would never be hands on like this again. From the shadows he would strike and there would be nothing anyone could do about it before it was too late." Shepard processed what was said and Zane put his gun down. He would not shoot Shepard but would Shepard shoot him?
"Fine…but never again Zane or so help me…" Shepard tried to intimate Zane who smiled behind the mask.
"You think I don't understand your predicament? That I don't know what it is like to not know what is going on at all time? I know that feeling just as well as you. But know that I am willing to do anything and everything to help everyone. If I need your permission to do that than your priorities are more fucked then mine." Shepard gave a look of warning and Zane was sure to give one back. Neither backed down until Garrus walked in.
"Uh... Commander we got the hostages a Kate Bowman is asking for you. And Zane a guy came here as well asked for 'the guy in the hood' I assumed it was you." Zane nodded before walking out of the room.
A/N Song: Hollywood Undead: Take Me Home