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Chapter 6: Eden Prime (Part 2)
We made our way towards the dig site with Shepard in the lead, Ashley and Kaidan on her flank and me at the rear, taking on a sniper role…Shepard's orders, which was fine by me. We carefully made our way forwards, nearing the dig site where the three Geth were waiting for you in the game, the layout was virtually the same, right down to that hill on the right that led up to where the scientists were hiding.
Shepard ordered us to take cover behind some rocks as she moved ahead to a larger rock formation and was soon taking some fire from the synthetics, unfortunately none of us could get a shot in from where we were as Shepard returned fire. I had the barrel of my rifle lying on the rock I was crouched behind as I looked down the scope, my finger resting on the trigger as I took slow breaths to keep my aim steady. A Geth finally appeared from behind a rock, its flashlight head appearing dead in the centre of my sights. I held my breath and squeezed the trigger, watching as my round took its head clean off its body. I smiled and silently thanked Ashley for her training. Shepard had taken down the other two with assists by Ashley and Kaidan and motioned us forward.
"This is the dig site, the beacon was right here." Ashley said as we arrived. "It must have been moved."
"By who, our side or the Geth?" Kaidan asked her, as I watched the exchange finding it hard to believe this was playing out pretty much as I remembered from the game.
"It's hard to say." Ashley replied.
"Do you think anybody made it out of here?" Shepard asked from her spot between the two.
"Maybe up at the campsite, just up there at the top of the ridge." Ashley answered as she pointed to above us.
"Alright, let's move out." Shepard ordered.
As we started moving I expected to hear Nihlus's voice over the com, like in the game before remembering Saren had already shot him and felt guilty that my original shot had missed, if I'd managed to hit him maybe I could have killed him and avoided everything, not that that would have stopped the Reapers, or at the very least I could have saved Nihlus, at least his testimony that Saren was the one that tried to kill him would have made the Council believe us.
I shook my head and refocused as we reached the top of the hill and Kaidan said his line about being careful of an ambush.
"What the hell are those?" He asked, pointing to where the Husks were impaled on the Dragon's Teeth spikes, which caused me to shudder.
"I have no idea." Shepard replied "How about you two, you've been on Eden Prime longer than we have."
I shook my head, as did Ashley "No Ma'am can't say I have." Said Ashley.
The spikes made a grinding noise as they started to lower. "Oh my god, they're still alive." Ashley gasped, but I knew different.
"I…don't think so Chief." I muttered as the first Husk slipped off the spike, its cybernetic skeleton righting itself as I clipped my sniper onto my armour and drew my pistol.
"What did the Geth do to them?" Ashley asked just before the Husk turned to look at us before screeching and charging towards us, the other two quickly following.
I opened fired on the first one with my pistol and watched as Kaidan's body glowed blue just before he thrust his arm out and sent one of the Husk's flying backwards and crashing into a wall. Ashley was peppering the same charging Geth I was with her Avenger while Shepard glowed blue too and lifted the third into the air, before shooting its floating body with a shotgun; evidently she was a Vanguard it seemed.
Mine and Ashley's combined assault dropped the charging Husk just as it was about to release that annoying shock that dropped your shields, it's body sparking slightly before crackling out, leaving the area deathly quiet.
"Well…that was different." I muttered under my breath, as I clipped my pistol only my thigh, choosing to leave it there than on my hip, like most people in the game did, seemed to make more sense to me to have it there. I glanced over to where the shack was where the scientists were hiding in the game and noticed that the lock was engaged.
"Commander, I can't be too sure, since I was running from Geth at the time but I think I might have seen two scientists' run into that shack over there as I passed by." I said, nodding towards the small building.
"The security lock is engaged." Ashley said as we walked over towards it and I watched as Shepard opened her Omni-Tool and started pressing away at it as she hacked the lock. It didn't take her long to do it as the lock flashed orange and green twice before turning solid green and opening. Being a tight space I stayed by the entrance while Shepard, Ashley and Kaidan entered.
"Humans! Thank the maker." I heard the female scientist say, the relief clear in her voice but then blotted out the rest of the conversation, having heard it before many times during my play-through's and soon we we're on the move again.
"What is that?" Kaidan asked once we were overlooking the area where Nihlus and Saren had their confrontation, his gaze of course on the now ascending Reaper.
"It looks like a ship." Ashley gasped.
"Yeah I saw it land, it's huge." I added "And that was from at least a mile or two away from it, god only knows how big it is up close."
Shepard was the first to glance down and see the Geth on the platform "Come on we've got to get to that beacon, Mr Knight, can you snipe that barrel and take out those Geth."
"Sure thing Commander." I replied as I knelt down and retrieved the rifle from my back, watching as the gun unfolded itself. I lined up the barrel and waited for both Geth platforms to get close to each other, took a deep breath and fired. The round hit the barrel and exploded, taking out both Geth.
This however caused the Husks on the Dragon's Teeth to attack. "Head's up, we've got company." Shepard said as the Husks started charging up the hill towards us. I tried to snipe one of them, but missed. The thing was too fast for me, so I quickly pressed the button on the grip to collapse the rifle and holstered it, switching back to my pistol and opened fire.
With Shepard and Kaidan's biotics and mine and Ashley's fire power the Husks were quickly dealt with. Shepard and Kaidan went over to where those smuggling farmers were hiding and ordered Ashley and I to check the area, make sure there wasn't any more Geth or Husks lurking around. I didn't think there was considering there wasn't in the game…but then again things were already slightly different than the game already, that Geth sniper that tried to kill Shepard for one thing.
"So…" Ashley said as we carefully started patrolling "I don't remember seeing you around Eden Prime." She said with a slight accusatory tone in her voice.
I shrugged "I've only been here a few days, although I did see you yesterday." I replied.
"You did huh?" She replied, glancing over at me with a frown.
I nodded "Yep, in the bar. I was sitting there when you walked in with your squad and sat down…right behind me actually. And you spoke with them for a bit before, who I assume was your C.O came in and told you something and then you all left."
Ashley stared at me for a moment then nodded "Fair enough." She replied as we continued to walk the perimeter.
"I'm sorry." I said a minute later.
"For what?" She asked.
"Your squad, I just figured…since you're here and they aren't…" I paused as I saw her eyes narrow slightly in anger but with a mixture of sadness, grief and guilt mixed in.
"Thanks, but let's stay focused on the mission."
I nodded as we circled around the outer edge, getting close to the ramp leading up the platform to where Nihlus's body was in the game when I heard a noise coming from behind some nearby crates on the ground below the platform and assumed it was the smuggler guy. Not taking any chances though, we cautiously made our way around the crates and I gasped when I saw what was making the noise, lying on the ground, between some boxes, bleeding heavily was Nihlus.
"A Turian?" Ashley muttered, not exactly hiding the distain in her voice. "I think this is the one that was with Shepard…the Spectre." She added.
"Go get her; he's not in any condition to fight anyway, me or anybody else." I replied as I knelt down next to him and waved my Omni-Tool over the wound, applying all the Medi-Gel I had, as Ashley ran to get Shepard.
My Omni-Tool's scan showed that Nihlus was in a bad way, based on the slow beating of his heart, according to what I could tell. I was so focused on the scan that I nearly jumped out of my skin when his hand shot up and grasped mine.
"You…" He gasped before coughing up some blood.
"Whoa, easy man, save your strength." I replied as I saw Shepard, Alenko and Ashley running towards us.
"I…saw….you…" He coughed again, struggling to breathe before passing out as the trio joined us.
"Shit, Nihlus." Shepard muttered as she crouched down next to me.
"He's in a bad way Commander, I gave him all the Medi-Gel I had but it's not enough." I said.
She nodded and waved her Omni-Tool over him, applying whatever she had too and ordered Alenko and Ashley to do the same.
"What are we going to do Commander?" Alenko asked.
"You guys go ahead." I replied, causing all of them to turn to look at me. "You guys are trained Alliance Marines; I'm just a guy who happens to have a good aim with a pistol and a sniper rifle…besides you really want leave this guy here to die?"
Shepard sighed then nodded "You're right." She said as she brought her hand up to her head "Shepard to Normandy, we need an emergency evac at this location, Nihlus is injured and needs immediate medical attention."
I couldn't hear what was said on the other end of the conversation but she nodded "Yes sir, a civilian who has been assisting us will be waiting with him sir…Robert Knight is his name…understood sir."
She turned back to me "Okay the Normandy is on its way, but we'll probably have to move him since the ship can't land here."
"He's in no condition to be moved, at least not yet." Kaidan said.
I glanced down at the Turian and winced at the wound, knowing how bad it was. "Don't worry about him, I'll figure it out, you guys go and do whatever it is you need to with that beacon." I replied.
Shepard nodded "Let's go." She said, and I watched as they turned and jogged up the ramp, before hearing them talk to someone, no doubt that smuggler guy. Glancing down at Nihlus I sighed, hoping that the Turian would make it through and make things easier on us, assuming I managed to stay on the team that is.
It must have been a good five minutes or so before I heard the gunfire coming from just above and ahead of me; in fact I could see Shepard and her team fighting along that long path towards the elevator but from my position couldn't do much to help them. I was brought out of my thoughts by the sound of coughing beside me and glanced to see Nihlus's eyes blink open slowly before turning to look at me.
"Y…you shot at…Saren." He muttered before passing out again.
I scanned him again and as best as I could tell the Medi-Gel had slowed the bleeding, but his vitals were still dropping. I cursed under breath and glanced upward to see if I could see the Normandy but nothing. I did however hear the familiar sound of Geth and peeked over the crates we were behind and spotted a group of about 15 of them emerge from the treeline, maybe they were the ones that were sent to investigate my crashed shuttle, it was hard to tell, either way I was in trouble.
I opted to go with the Sniper rifle first and lined up a shot on one of them, knowing that there was no way I was going to be able to sneak my way out of here, not with the half-dead Turian with me. I squeezed the trigger and cursed as my shot went wide, causing the Geth to immediately fire on me. I crouched down behind the crate and heard their shots pinging off of it. I quickly knelt up and lined up another shot and fired, this time hitting one of them in the chest, dropping it. Followed by another, this time with a headshot and ducked back down as the group tightened their formation.
This might work to my advantage. I returned my rifle to its spot on my back and instead went for the Avenger next to it, despite my inaccuracy with it, that close together a few were bound to hit the mark. Kneeling up again I fired a spray of rounds towards them before crouching back down as they returned fire, peeking out to see that I'd only managed to take out two of them on the end of their group, which was more than a little disappointing, I'll admit.
As I was taking pot shots at the Geth, I didn't notice Nihlus come too again until he was leaning up against the crates, to see what was going on, but I could tell he wasn't in any position to help even with just a quick glance in his direction. Now using my pistol I managed to drop a few more Geth, but was distracted by a sound overhead and glanced up to see the Normandy appear, smiling as the rear hatch opened and some Marines started firing down on the Geth, quickly taking them out.
Luckily my armour had a built in radio, which the old Ashley had turned into Alliance frequencies, including the ones she knew the Normandy might use, and was surprised when I heard Keith David's…well Anderson's voice through it.
"Hello? Can you hear me?" He said.
"Yes, yes I can." I replied.
"You must be Mr. Knight, how's Nihlus?" He asked.
"Yes sir I am." I answered as I glanced over at the Turian "He's in a bad way sir, he's conscious for now but he's been drifting in an out, he's lost a lot of blood too."
"Okay son, we can't land here and the closest place is just to the south of here just past the dig site…" Great back where Shepard started I thought "…Do you think you can make it there?" He asked.
I glanced at Nihlus whose eyes were drooping "We'll try sir." I said as I wrapped on of his arms around my neck and lifted him up, watching as the Normandy took off and headed back towards the beacon.
It took us almost ten minutes just to make it up the small hill back that lead back towards the little camp where the scientists were but at least there were no Geth around. I could see Nihlus's head drooping but I could tell he was fighting to stay conscious as best he could and decided to try and help him.
"So I assume Saren is that other Turian." I said as we slowly made our way along the small path, back towards the camp, the orange glow of the burning buildings there already glowing nearby.
"Y…yes, he was a f…friend and fellow Spectre, the best of us." Nihlus whispered.
"A friend and a Spectre? What would he be doing here? And working with the Geth?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
"I don't know, but the Council must be told." He replied.
"Yeah." I muttered, already knowing how that conversation might go if Nihlus died.
Before we could continue our conversation, a shot whizzed over our heads and I cursed as we ducked behind a rock near one of the buildings at the camp.
"Fuck, more Geth." I cursed as I took out my pistol and returned fire, doing my best to ignore the shots that hit the rock or the fact that it was slowly being weathered away by them. I was so focused on the Geth that I didn't see Nihlus pull a grenade out of somewhere on him and throw it at the Geth, watching as it exploded and blew them into pieces.
"Nice throw." I muttered "Come on, there's probably more of them nearby."
I picked him up and started moving again but only made it two steps before he collapsed, shaking his head.
"I won't make it…" He whispered "Go on without me…" He paused and coughed, bringing up more blood.
"No way, I'm not leaving you here." I replied.
"S…save yourself, tell the Council about Saren." He countered.
"Right a Spectre comes with a group of Humans and doesn't make it back alive, then tells the council that another Spectre, their best according to you was the one that killed him and attacked a Human colony, without any proof besides my word and Shepard's, do you really think they'll believe any of it?" I asked.
Nihlus paused for a moment and blinked several times as he tried to stay awake "…Probably not." He muttered.
"Then let's go otherwise he'll probably get away with it." I said as I lifted him up again, but knew he wasn't going to be going anywhere under his own power.
"I…don't have…the strength." He muttered.
"Then I guess I'll have to carry you." I groaned as I crouched lower and slipped another arm between his legs and hoisted him up onto my shoulders and started jogging towards the hill that lead down to the dig site, thankful that that long month of training with Ashley and the usage of medium armour had bulked me up a bit and made me stronger, although he was still really heavy.
We made it down the hill and past the dig site and were back where I had first met Ashley, Shepard and Kaidan before remembering I had to now get up that hill and cursed, deciding to go full steam ahead and straight up it, laughing when I made it to the top without falling down.
"Geth…behind." I heard Nihlus whisper and glanced over my shoulder in time to see more Geth behind me.
"Where the hell did they come from?" I asked as I increased my speed as best I could and made it for those trees just before what I assumed was that rock filled bit where Jenkins was killed by the drones.
"Knight to Normandy." I said, thankful that the armour's radio was voice activated.
"Go ahead." Captain Anderson's voice said.
"We're close by sir, Nihlus is weak I had to carry him and we're being pursued by Geth." I panted as I tried to ignore my burning lungs.
"Okay hang on, I'm sending some marines to help." He replied.
I continued running and could just see Jenkins body ahead of us when I felt an incredibly sharp and painful feeling in my shoulder, which caused me to scream out in pain and stagger forward, somehow not managing to fall over, but it hurt like hell.
I ducked behind a large rock and placed Nihlus down, seeing that he was unconscious before glancing at my right shoulder where the agonising pain was and first saw the red blood flowing down the wound, then the hole in the armour and cursed under my breath. I'd been shot, and fuck did it hurt.
What was even worse though was that I'm right handed and I couldn't use it, which meant I couldn't shoot, and I'd used all my Medi-Gel on Nihlus, I could try shooting with my left hand but it would be pointless since I knew every shot would go wide. Great, I'm going to die and I haven't even made it off Eden Prime…why did I even think I could do this? I'm not a soldier, I'm a computer tech, I fix computers, not fight battles. I thought as I heard the Geth approaching from behind me.
I was about to resign myself to my fate, and my failure when I saw the Marines Anderson had sent round the corner where Shepard had come from in the game, watching as they opened fire on the Geth behind me as they approached. Most of them took cover behind some rocks as they fired at the Geth while two more approached us.
One of them looked at me "Are you alright sir?" he asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine, worry about him." I answered, nodding at Nihlus.
The other Marine had already picked Nihlus up and turned around to start heading back to the ship, as the other took the spot beside me and started shooting back.
"Go, I'll cover you." He said.
"Thanks." I said as I stayed low and started crouch running behind the one carrying Nihlus, with my left hand pressing against my own wound, thankful that the adrenaline was still fuelling me and keeping me from freaking out about my first gunshot wound.
I could hear the gunfire behind me and wondered just how many Geth were back there and glanced over my shoulder to see the soldier I had spoken too walking backwards just behind me, literally covering my back until we were around the corner and away from the gunfire, where both the Marine carrying Nihlus and I stood up and started running properly. We turned the corner back to where the Normandy had dropped Shepard off at the start of the game and I couldn't help but smile as I saw the ship there.
I watched as several people came rushing down the ramp as we got closer, including Dr Chakwas and Captain Anderson. I slowed down as we got close and I watched as Chakwas told the Marine to take him to the med bay before looking at me and walking over.
"Are you okay?" She asked with a warm smile.
"Nothing a little Medi-Gel won't fix…I hope." I answered with a grin.
"Let me take a look." She replied and looked at it when I removed my hand and waved her Omni-Tool over it. I could feel the cool gel being applied to the wound and shivered slightly. "Well you're right; it's a clean wound so you should be fine, just a little sore for a few days."
I nodded "Thank you Doctor."
I watched as she quickly turned around and headed back into the ship, before turning my attention to Captain Anderson.
"You must be Mr Knight." He said.
"Yes sir and please call me Robert." I answered.
He smiled and nodded "Very well Robert, I'm Captain David Anderson, commander of the Normandy here, please come aboard, we have some things to discuss."
I nodded and followed the Captain up the ramp, glancing over my shoulder to see the other Marines returning, having defeated the Geth no doubt. We stepped into the elevator and I followed the Captain out into the Mess and then over to his room, feeling my heart rate rise as the door closed. This was it; this was the moment of truth, where I would have to try to convince Anderson, at least for now that I could help on the mission.
Luckily before he could start, I heard Joker's voice over the Com that Shepard was down and they needed go pick her up too. Anderson told me to go to the Med bay and wait for Chakwas and dismissed me, saying we would talk later. I nodded and followed him out of the room, before walking over to the smaller med bay and took a seat on one of the beds furthest away from the bed that Chakwas was working on Nihlus, especially considering the fact Shepard was going to be joining us soon, still at least that meant that for the time being I was staying on the Normandy, now only time would tell what was going to happen to me and if Nihlus would survive or not...