Chapter 8: The Dukes of Amestis
We arrived in a hanger and inside were group of pirates, boarding a small shuttle; probably trying to escape. They hadn't detected us yet, so I took the initiative. I gave the order and Wrex aimed his missile launcher at the shuttle and fired. The first blast tore open the side and blew off a wing, but Wrex fired again and the shuttle blossomed into an explosion of metal and fire. Some pirates that hadn't boarded the shuttle were send sprawling by the blast and were too stunned to defend themselves as we swept the place clean.
"Clear" Wrex said as he lowered his weapon. I looked over at the hanger's main door and saw the other side of the crevasse. I walked over to the edge and looked over. "Tali" I said into my COM "Come in, over."
"I'm here" She replied tersely, indicating that she was busy.
"How's that bomb rig-up coming?"
"Iiittt's…. Done!" She exclaimed "Bombs are armed and ready for a detonation time."
"Give us 60 minutes."
"Commander" Garrus interrupted "60 minutes isn't enough for us to get anything of worth. We need more time!"
"That's time we don't have" I interjected "We need a contingency plan, and this is it!"
"Commander-"
"Garrus, what did I ask?" There was a pause on the COM, and then Garrus responded "Right, I do. Sorry sir." I looked over the edge of the hanger door again and got another crazy idea. "Garrus" I said "I want you to go to Hanger D-18 and hold there, do you copy?"
"We copy, moving to your mark. Out."
"What are you thinking this time, Shepard?" Wrex asked.
I just smirked.
Using biotics to clear the wreckage, he cleaned the hanger of debris from the destroyed shuttle. "I don't think this is a good idea Commander, are you sure about this?" Kaiden asked as he buckled in. "If we have enough horsepower, there's no reason it shouldn't work" I said "Besides, we don't have any other way across."
"Landing's gonna be rough" Wrex stated.
"So buckle your seatbelt" I said to the Krogan before I turned on my COM "Ash, Tali, Garrus! Status?"
"The hanger is secure" Tali said "What are your orders?"
"Watch your head" I said as I revved the engine of the truck that was parked in the hanger. I slammed on the accelerator and took off. I reached top speed just as we went over the edge. "Hang on!" I yelled over Liara's and Kaiden's yell and Wrex's cheering "We're going in!" We landed in Hanger D-18 at an awkward angle, twisted around, skidding on our side for a second, started rolling, and then smashed into the wall, halting the truck on its side. Liara, Wrex, Kaiden and I all crawled out way out and set our feet in Hanger D-18, where Ashley, Tali and Garrus stood in awe. I brushed myself off and turned to team as they crawled out of the wreck "Is everyone ok?"
"I am… Uninjured" T'Soni said, slightly dazed.
"I'm good" Wrex nonchalantly.
"Thank God for helmets" Kaiden remarked. I turned back to the other three in my squad "You guy's all ok?"
"Permission to speak freely, sir?" Ashley asked.
"Go ahead"
"That really took some real balls to pull off… Sir" She said, still stunned.
"You never cease to amaze me, Shepard" Tali breathed. I noticed a small metal patch that looked like it had been welded onto her suit, just below the left breast. "Tali, are you ok?" I asked "I heard you ran into some problems"
"Garrus and Williams both saved me" She said "And Garrus gave some repairs to my suit." Garrus looked away in what I could have sworn was embarrassment "It was… Nothing. I couldn't just let her die"
"Good work Garrus" I said with a smile "But we have more important issues." Suddenly a round just barely missed my head as another squad of pirates entered the hanger from the other side and fired at us. Everyone raised their weapons, but I waved my hands "Leave'em! We gotta move!" We took off, fire all around us. I got to the door first and fired back while the others went through. But as I did, a trio of 'Carnage' blasts sailed at me. I tried to get out of the way, but one of the shots caught me square in the chest and I was sent sprawling. Now shield-less, I propped myself up and fired back with my pistol, having lost my rifle. I also drew my secondary pistol and fired with that. I always carried two pistols; after all, I have two hands, right? I saw one of my shot take one pirate in the head before I felt a biotic field envelope me and pull me back like I was tied to a race car that had just taken off. I hit the floor and slid under the door just as it closed. And as soon as it was, Tali typed on her Omni-tool, locking the door. I looked up and Kaiden had a hand out. "Thanks" I said as I took it and he helped me up "Guess we're even."
"Looks that way" The L2 biotic said "But I still wanna buy you a beer."
"You know I don't drink"
"Yeah."
"Anyway, C'mon!" I said and we ran for it.
