Akesh
Beep beep!
An air car drifted just over the squad's head causing Shepard to wince and cover her head with one hand.
And then causing her to bash into a large figure.
"Hey watch it!" the Batarian grunted annoyed checking her out, "stupid human." He finished stalking off.
She felt Paul tense as his hand went to his Hurricane that he had concealed just under his battle armor.
"Easy soldier." She grunted to him.
"He could've recognized you, and I don't care what the alliance did, there still would be bad feelings over what happened at Bahak."
"Probably right." She muttered looking 'down range'.
Only to be a met with a mass of bodies as far as the eye could see, a wall of flesh and organic matter ambling about trying to get to wherever their specific destination is along this windswept boulevard in the middle of the planet's 'rush hour.'
Akesh was a relatively old world. Colonized by a mass of corporate executives and various Terminus Systems interests' right around the time that humanity was taking their first steps on the moon. A meeting place where the various systems of the Terminus could come together and emulate the Citadel species in the event they needed coordination. Similar to Omega in all respects, or even Ilium.
But it never took off. As time went on the place was forgotten about and barely a footnote in the star charts. Omega continued to prosper, Ilium continued to become more palatable, and the rest of the Galaxy continued to turn around other issues of state.
The planet's elders however had kept their time and their patience, slowly constructing emergency shelters and setting aside large resources in the event of an emergency…like a Reaper war.
This made this place invaluable in the aftermath of the conflict with the Reapers. A ready-made infrastructure that was by all accounts undermanned and had seen better days, with still more room to expand because of farming and other resources of space, and they weren't hit by the Reapers. A small force was seen a few Relays away but they never reached this world.
So the refugees had poured in, from all over the Galaxy, effectively doubling the planetary population from two billion, to four.
Perfect place for a wayward Salarian to hide.
Shepard was jarred out of her reverie as she was slammed into by a particularly energetic Hanar floating by. What the?
"This is ridiculous!" She snapped. "There is no way we will be able to find Palin and keep our asses safe if Cerberus decides to jump us out here. Paul go back to the landing port and keep an eye on things there, make sure that we aren't ambushed, Liara stay close."
"Yes Shepard." Liara responded.
Paul nodded quickly before finding a way to dash through the crowd, his arms held high as he nimbly struggled through the que.
"Sensing anything?" Abigail asked her companion.
"It doesn't quite work like that, I wish it did. Though since we started here and bumping into all these creatures I have probably 'embraced eternity' about fifty times now."
Abby shot her a worried look, "That was a joke," Liara assured.
"Picking up EDI's sense of humor?" Abby snorted wryly.
The Asari just shrugged.
"Well," Shepard sighed looking around, "we still have to find a way to find this Salarian in the middle of this mess."
Liara nodded, "my guess is he'll probably be in the most secluded place possible."
"Good deduction there Sherlock." Abby snarled and sighed. "Sorry I just stepped in something." She grunted flexing her leg to let Liara see the yellow goo now pasting her foot.
They continued to make their way through the winding corridors, streets, and sidewalks of the city proper. Paul had reported in that he had now made it to where he was able to view the space port.
But at the end of it they just decided to ask around. And they were finally pointed in the direction of a Salarian who mainly kept to himself, had arrived, gone out only to do some shopping and, best of all, and had a lot of scientific equipment delivered to his house.
That sounded enough like their guy that Shepard began to head with Liara to the lofty loft that the Salarian had adopted.
They moved down the hallway, to the proper apartment, and then stepped through the red curtain/ rug that were draped over the doorway.
The abode was comfy, cozy, painted in rich deep browns and reds, a fine film of smoke hung in the air.
The Salarian himself was standing over a surgically white table, staring into a monitor and then glancing over at a microscope.
Abby smiled finding the motion to be oddly…familiar.
She cleared her throat as the Salarian moved to check his readings again for the fifth time since they were standing there. "Dr. Solus I presume?"
"No not quite yet." He muttered annoyed, and then stiffened turning to look at the two compatriots standing in his doorway.
He blinked staring directly at her, and she smiled friendly. He stiffened again turning to face her fully. "Well, should've expected that it would be you who was going to find me."
Abby furrowed her brows stepping forward. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh nothing." Palin muttered toggling his omni tool.
Uh-oh arched through Shepard, "now wait just a minute!" She said trying to close the distance between them, but before she could do so her vision was blotted out by a white flash of light and she felt a physical force slamming into her hard knocking her back.
She groaned and rolled over trying to blink the temporary blindness out of her eyes, trying to get her senses back under control, the proper information flowing.
Abigail blinked a few more times as slowly her surroundings began to catch back up with her and she saw a pale black orb drift in front of her face, and then further form two pale orbs peering at her.
"Shepard!" Anderson yelled in her face, surprising her.
"Shepard?" Liara asked as Anderson's face drifted away to be replaced by Liara's. The senses snapping back on, Abby's eyes watered.
"Yeah, I'm fine." She groaned. "Where's Palin?"
Liara hesitated, "I think he headed out a back door that we didn't see on the way in."
Abby winced, "OK let's get on the way."
Shepard grunted as the Asari lifted her up using her weight, and biotics.
They ran out the back and tore off after the wayward Salarian scientist.
Her fist started to glow and her ear piece started to emit a shrill beeping indicating that she had an incoming message.
She activated her visor display before answering, uncorking her Valkyrie Assault Rifle off her back, the weapon that had given her nickname to her during the war.
"Yeah go ahead Paul." She said into the active com link.
"Do you have the Salarian in control?" Paul asked.
"No he took off out of a back room escape before we could get him, seemed to do so upon seeing me."
"Damn," Paul sighed, "Well we've got a problem a ship just landed and deposited Cerberus Assault Troopers. What's both a blessing and a curse though the foot traffic has dissipated just a bit over the last several minutes giving them clear running lanes, but we have clear firing lanes."
"Thank you Chief." She traded a look with Liara. "Come on we have to get a move on."
"Right sir, I'm maneuvering." Paul acknowledged taking off.
"So if you were a Salarian who didn't want to be found where would you go?" Abby asked Liara.
She shrugged. "I don't know, if I were to guess it would probably be to ground."
Abby nodded, "Makes sense, space port is a likely place to look for him, look in the unlikely place, besides Paul would probably catch him if he tried it."
"Commander," Paul's voice drifted back over the com link.
"Speaking of the devil." She muttered.
"I don't think I will be able to reconnect with you, going to find a good position to assume over watch."
"Copy that Chief." She said launching herself over a low hanging wall and then leaping across a slight break in the path.
Slowly her and Liara began to head their way ever increasingly in a 'down' direction. Leaping and jumping all the way Shepard keeping her eyes open for any possible threat, the Valkyrie swinging in her cradled arms ready to come up.
"Damnit, this isn't going to work, if he is going to be heading for the spaceport, Liara, break up tell Cortez to keep an eye out."
"Right." Liara said as she broke off, leaving Shepard all alone.
She leapt down another flight of steps her Valkyrie lurching dangerously in her arms from the jarring impact but she ignored it and continued running jumping across another low pass heading for near ground level.
"Let go of me!" She heard. Curious she adjusted her course heading over for the disturbance.
Only to see six Cerberus soldiers surrounding an irate Salarian, trying to close in on him and threaten him.
"Paul you seeing this?" She asked into the com link.
"Yeah, got a good spot for over watch."
"Good, get ready." She ordered moving onto the low metal wall over the street at the bottom.
"Dr. Solus please come with us, it's not safe, and please it's for your own safety."
The Salarian bristled. "I know who you are; I know what you've done. And you worked with Shepard, I will not go anywhere with the likes of you."
"Then you may not have much of a choice, for your own good Dr. Solus."
What the? Abigail wondered as she took in the exchange, but she had to ignore it, it would be something that she could ask Palin when they had a moment.
She hitched her Valkyrie assault rifle to her back and equipped her Black Widow Sniper Rifle, aiming down its sights, hoping that Paul would follow her lead.
She could feel her adrenaline pique as her visor added the necessary adjustments for her aim; it was all so simple really. She activated her adrenaline rush adjusting her aim, swinging her rifle around to acquire the target, planning what she had to do.
Time slowed, and she fired, the first shot boomed out and slammed into the back of the head of the Assault Trooper, his body jerked and then slammed into the ground.
She adjusts her aim moving left and fired again, and then again acquiring the leading Centurion in the line.
"What the?" He gasped as the bullets found their mark, one imbedding in his shoulder spinning him around and then the other bullet finding his back.
A Guardian swung his shotgun up to her trying to debate whether or not it was worth it to shoot her. But while he was deciding he was nailed in the back by Paul's Valliant fire.
Another Centurion met a similar fate as he was caught in between the two threats.
Abigail nodded to herself taking advantage of the mounting confusion to attach her Black Widow to its port on her back as she leapt to the street below, summoning her omni-blade to hand with a simple command. She swung at one of the remaining trooper's impaling him through the neck; he gasped and gurgled shocked that he was assaulted in such a personal manner.
The final trooper swung on her position bringing his Hornet to bear on her, trying to shoot her through his compatriot. But she was faster.
She ripped the Eagle out of her hip holster and fired on him, with a sudden burst of bullets that slammed into his chest causing him to be splayed out, then for good measure she shot the other trooper in the chest twice, checking the area for anymore threats.
She was satisfied by her appraisal and turned to where Paul's bullets coming from her hands going up to her ear to communicate with him. "Go Paul! Get back to the extraction point. I'll take care of Palin."
"Ma'am you sure?" He challenged.
"Yeah Paul, I'll be fine, now go."
After he had done so she went over to Palin, picking up the cowering Salarian off the ground and dragging him to his feet.
"Come on get up!" She yelled at him.
"You can't do this I am a free being."
"Yes, you are, and I am here to try and get you out of here." She explained.
"They said the same thing." He said nodding at the dead Assault Trooper.
"Good for them." She said beginning to drag him off, while also prepping her assault rifle once again.
They began to travel out bound heading for the extraction point; she constantly scanned their surroundings for the least threat imaginable. Anything could be threatening. And they had to get back to the shuttle if her mission was to be a success. She heard something to her left.
She spun throwing Palin to the ground bringing her weapon up quickly and firing three bursts of warp ammo. They hit their target who screamed and crumpled.
"Slit eyes?" Palin asked disbelievingly. "This doesn't make sense what would the Disciples have to want with my work…or Cerberus!"
"I guess this proves that they aren't a peaceful religious order after all." Shepard grunted, and then she looked at the Salarian who still wasn't convinced. "Well what did you expect messing around with Reaper genetic material? What were you thinking Doctor? You know people would kill for that information."
"I know a great many things which is why I hid." He remarked.
"So you knew this was dangerous and you still pursued your research?" She challenged walking up to him getting up into his face. "Why?"
"Think of the good that could come out of this!" Palin spat. "But no the Council and the Alliance are too small to see any benefit, they just fear."
"Their fear is justified, the Reapers bring nothing but death and control, it is something that is a part of their being. Apart of their genetic makeup if you will."
"But good could still come out of this, all this horror, all the destruction. We need to justify it…make it have meaning." Palin whimpered.
"And how will learning their code help you do that? It just sounds like you want to use their technology!"
"But imagine the Reapers represent the genetic codes of a combined millions upon millions upon millions of years. Countless species, thousands of cycles, who knows what secrets could be unlocked. What advancements in biotics, or cures for various ailments! The Reapers have been nightmares for so long maybe they can be put to good use. Even just the pure scientific curiosity of learning about those who came before justifies it."
She sighed, "Not to the Alliance. And I know you have some problem with me and frankly I don't care. But right now who would you rather give your research to, the Alliance or Cerberus?"
"Tough call." He sniffed. "But I'll come along."
Shepard nodded satisfied with that outcome, whatever else she could deal with later.
She nodded to herself and headed off; at least Palin was seemingly coming along on his own power following her.
They quickly traveled along the winding roads up to the space ports, encountering minimal resistance along the way as a few more groups of Disciples engaged them only to retreat under a barrage of avenging Valkyrie fire.
She was concerned about that but decided to ignore her instincts about the matter. Whatever the threat was they were going to ignore it and just continue moving on to the next target.
She vaulted over the next set of panels onto the main boulevard proper that led to and from the space port where they arrived, as they crested the hill they saw the shuttle was hovering there waiting for them to rendezvous with them.
She saw Paul and smiled, they had made it for another day. But the Marine's eyes widened as he brought up his weapon, as did Liara's.
Paul brought his N7 Hurricane up and fired a stream of bullets at the incoming targets, Liara launched a singularity downrange and then joined in with her own storm of machine gun fire.
Shepard turned around and saw that they were shooting at small groups of Disciples that were cresting the edge that they had just traveled along, while others poured out of the bays and shops along the space port converging on their position.
The N7 turned back to the shuttle and saw Palin jolt for the exit trying to run, she cursed before launching a concussive shot at the fleeing scientist.
"Paul! Get him in the shuttle!" She snapped to her subordinate.
He moved to comply but Shepard was too busy worrying about the Disciples that were about to overrun her position.
She brought her assault rifle up and began to acquire the targets on their right flank slowly falling back to the shuttle as she did so in a combat crouch.
Leading the first target was easy since he was coming straight at her, she fired and launched several bursts at the target, and the bullets impacted his chest and flayed him out. She reloaded and swiveled to a new target and continued to launch the fire at the enemy.
This continued for nearly a minute, her shields were impacted and she rolled to some cover, reloaded, let her shields recharge, pop up, throw a grenade, and get back to her firing.
Meanwhile Liara and Paul continued to lend their own fire support.
Their enemies may have been many, but they were breaking on the solid rock of counter fire.
Liara unleashed another burst of biotic energy forming another singularity catching up the last two of the Disciples that were around her.
Shepard launched her own Concussive shot at the last of them caught in the beam; it caught him solidly in the chest. Screaming he flew backwards arms flailing caught in the explosion falling towards his death.
Abby smirked once more checking the area to ensure that no one else was around.
Satisfied she turned to the shuttle and began to head on over. "OK Steve wrap it up, we've got a ship to get back to."
She was about to say something when she saw something out of the corner of her eye catching her attention. Curious she began to look trying to determine if it was yet another threat.
Only to be met with a bang….CRASH…
She screamed as the sniper bullet crashed through her shields causing them to fail instantly and slam through her shoulder piece causing it to collapse, and for her to fall backwards into the shuttle.
Paul slammed the door release home, "Get us out of here Cortez!"
"Argh! What the hell!" She cursed. "Get this thing off." She felt like her shoulder was on fire and she just had to get out of the armor, "Liara get some medi-gel"
The Asari nodded heading off in one direction to do just that.
She toggled her omni-tool and her armor hissed in response.
Paul ripped off her chest plate and then instantly went to her shoulder pad tossing both pieces of armor aside, then Liara handed him the medi-gel and he sprinkled some of the solution on her shoulder, as it to hissed perceptibly and burned, but Shepard knew that it was healing, as the medi-gel slowly numbed the wound.
Paul hit the com panel on the wall. "Ground team to Normandy. Package is secured but alert Chakwas that we have wounded."
"Right chief…who is it?" Ashley asked over the com.
"It's Shepard ma'am. It's not bad."
"Right." Ashley sighed.
"What the hell did they hit you with?" Liara asked craning down to look at it.
"Only one rifle that I know that can do that much damage to a standard piece of N7 armor." Paul mused turning away from the screen.
She nodded and groaned. "Yeah…a Widow…probably fully loaded, modded, and armed with…disruptor ammo." She said the last checking the bullet hole in her shoulder.
Paul shrugged. "Or even Warp ammo."
"Yeah…someone must really hate me. Someone who can fire a Widow, that's not exactly a comforting, thought." Shepard sighed as she waited for the shuttle to get back to the Normandy.