A/N Sorry guys wrote this chapter in two halves in two different places ooops… so posted an incomplete chapter twice… arrrgh… this is now complete and as it should be... many thanks for your continued story following.
A/N2 Did a small proof edit there were a few things that were a bit off… sorted now.
Chapter 8
Her teeth were chattering, as if she had just been dropped into an ice bath, her jaw was clenched and she wondered if you could grind your teeth and have them chatter at the same time.
Shepard felt the reflex to cough begin to gain traction in her lungs, not her chest this time, the attempt to clear whatever was flooding her lungs was going to require a much deeper cough… it was going to hurt.
Bright side she seemed to be able to think for a little longer at a time… hold the thoughts running through her mind and begin to string them together, down side all her thoughts were about dying, being trapped and the many different varieties of pain she was feeling across her body.
Nothing that she was thinking was good. She had no idea how long she had been 'out' or 'dreaming', so no idea how long she could reasonably expect to wait until rescue… but she still couldn't remember where she was or what had happened before.
She thought maybe she was re-building her memory, she knew that her head had taken a beating, not just the crack in her helmet but the continuing searing pain… more likely her life was 'flashing before her eyes' though it didn't seem to be running through on fast forward and her eyes were not seeing anything in their current state.
'Shock' she thought 'this shivering its shock setting in… dammit on top of everything else… that's just fuckin dandy.'
Shepard was indeed shivering although she had no sensation of cold; not really, there was numbness and hot shards of agony flowing through every inch of her nervous system… but the sensation of cold was not present.
'Nnngah no no..' the reflex she couldn't stop gained momentum and as her lungs tried in vain to clear themselves the pain brought tears to her eyes, but they weren't only tears of pain, they were tears of frustration, loss, grief.
When the cough came it felt as if she was breathing and coughing glass, she felt warm liquid in her mouth, bubbles forming on her lips as a small rivulet found escape at the corners of her mouth.
'Not long now Shepard… not long' she thought and as she began to settle her mind to stop fighting for each breath, but that call… a siren's call, welled up from deep within her… she had to hold on, she hadn't finished… one more thing to do… but how could she do it here... how would she finish whatever it was she had started… and why was she still alone.
Despair and loneliness threatened to dislodge even the primacy of the pain that filled her consciousness… but as she began drifting down into the abyss she felt the touch of something in her mind. It was almost imperceptible, like a small breath of warm scented air on a still day… but it was there and it just gave her a moment's relief… and in that moment she felt herself drift up and away again; away from her prison and her torture.
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Shepard had been surprised to see Chief Williams waiting to speak to her outside her cabin after the Normandy was set on course for the Mu Relay.
'Commander I really need to speak with you' Williams was doing her best to stand ramrod straight to attention but Shepard could see the physical strain.
'What the hell are you doing here Ash did you get stranded on board, I thought you went to Huerta with the others,' Shepard stared to guide the marine towards the MedBay.
'No ma'am, well yes… I mean I did go to the hospital but I wanted to get back ASAP and once I heard that bastard Udina had put us on lockdown I just knew you would find a way out of it and I wanted to be here' by the time Ash had finished talking they were at the MedBay and Shepard called over Dr Chakwas.
'Doc what the hell is Ash doing her?' Shepard asked with more concern than anger.
'She is a marine and as stubborn as her Commander and there was absolutely nothing I could do, she is on the mend and I can allow her to do light duties but combat in any form is out. Do you hear me Chief?' Dr Chakwas address her final comments to Chief Williams who appeared to grudgingly nod.
'Commander I had to speak to you, to apologise… I was so out of order when I spoke to you after Virmire… in my defence I was pretty high and not really myself…' she broke off as Dr Chakwas chimed in from her desk.
'I can vouch for that Commander, I had to treat her for an infection which also caused some fever and slight delirium.'
'Skipper I was upset of course I was… and I stand by saying you probably got the rough end of the deal losing the LT and keeping me… but ma'am I would, will follow you into hell itself and I just want the chance to prove to you how much I regret… well everything,' she stopped and stood up once more.
'Ash, you choose to come back to the Normandy even though you were still not well enough for duty. When you found out that I was going to risk being declared a deserter and a pirate by the Alliance and the Council you stayed on board, despite what that may do to your family and your attempts to re-instate your family's good name. I think I can forgive a wounded soldier some feverish back chat,' Shepard finished and a huge wave of relief seemed to flow through the Chief and settle on her face, 'but if you ever speak to your commanding officer in those terms again you won't find me so accommodating, are we clear,' Shepard gave Ash a withering look and the Chief snapped a salute and gave a full throated aye, aye ma'am.
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Shepard spent a couple of hours with Liara in her cabin, talking, laughing, even allowing themselves to do a little 'after Saren' planning and, as Shepard put it a little 'fooling around'.
But Shepard insisted that Liara get some sleep.
'I have a couple of things to sort out then I'll come back and slip quietly in next to you, I promise' she kissed Liara and left the room before her lover could mount an argument.
Shepard called Lt Pressley and Chief Williams to the comm room and when they both arrived she got straight to the point.
'Pressley you're an outstanding navigator and good administrative officer but you're not made for combat command' it wasn't a question but she gave space for Pressley to respond.
'Thank you Commander and I agree completely.'
'Good, I will be making another officer my XO and I expect you to support and work with them in the spirit you have always exhibited towards me.'
'Yes ma'am… but we don't… you're not suggesting Lt Moreau' Pressley stammered and looked concerned.
Shepard allowed herself a small chuckle 'No indeed, Joker is a great pilot and trust him with the lives of all on board but…' she turned to Chief Williams and continued 'I am making a battlefield promotion and you will take the rank of first lieutenant Williams, you will also assume the position as my XO,' as she expected the expression on Ash's face flashed from denial, to shock, to awe and back to shock.
'But Commander…' Shepard cut her off before she could go any further.
'Can it Lieutenant you have to get up to speed double time so instead of veering towards challenging another of my command decisions' she flashed a grin at Ash to put her at ease 'you and Pressley need to put your heads together, but I need you to lead on combat command of the Normandy you will not be joining us groundside. Dismissed.'
Both officers snapped salutes which Shepard returned and she was left alone in the comm room. Shepard wanted more than anything to put a call through to her mother at that moment but it would be reckless and unfair to drag the Captain into a mess that was of Shepard's own making. 'I really hope I get a chance to make all this right mum' she said to herself and then went back to her cabin to get at least a couple of hours rest before they hit the Mu Relay.
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Shepard asked Ash to join her in the cockpit in time for the approach to the Mu Relay, they were few minutes out.
'Joker you are going to need to be on your toes when we jump out the other end, I fully expect Saren to have left a little welcome party and I would really rather not alert them to our presence… oh and not run straight into them either,' she finished.
'Understood Commander… just so we're clear... I probably would have tried to keep stealthy and not crash the ship anyway… just saying' Joker smirked up at Shepard and she returned his grin.
Shepard's prediction had been correct there were two Geth ships waiting at the Relay and she was glad once again to have a pilot who was as skilful as his boast.
'ETA Ilos fifteen minutes Commander' he said looking fully pleased with himself.
'OK, now I have something I need both of you to do and this is an order. There will be no discussion on this; I want an affirmative from you both when you know what it is.' Shepard paused for them to take in what she had said and then continued.
'If I don't make it back from the surface or you have confirmation I have been killed,' Shepard raised her hand as both appeared to be on the point of challenging her, 'I have no intention of dying, I have every intention of killing that tormented son of a bitch with my bare hands, but that's beside the point.
'You are to head straight for the fifth fleet and report to Admiral Hackett. I've left a full signed statement in my quarter in which I take complete and absolute responsibility for the actions of all Alliance personnel on the Normandy. I state clearly that I gave the crew no choice in following my orders; but that I am a skilled persuader and everyone may have thought I was offering them a choice. You will both support that statement and do everything you can to help Admiral Hackett to keep this incident off everyone's jacket. Do I make myself clear?' she was steely and fully in command, no one would disagree with her.
'I have never used all that nonsense about my being hero and I think you all know I hate it as I did not at any time accomplish anything on my own. My orders and actions cost the lives of many good women and men of the Alliance and not a few civilians who were in my care. But on this occasion I have, for the first time, explicitly asked that my record be taken into account to protect my crew. I need your confirmation that we will not have any Spartacus moments?' Shepard was once again surprised to see that Ash understood her reference; they both saw the blank look on Joker's face and Ash said she would explain later.
They both nodded in agreement and Shepard headed for the CIC and to check on the final preparations.
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The Normandy was approaching Ilos and Shepard was once again in the cockpit standing next to Joker, Ash was sitting in the co-pilot seat, Tali at a console off to one side with Liara and Garrus standing by the entrance.
As expected Saren had beaten them to the plant and his Geth fleet were in attendance, but no sign of Sovereign. Shepard didn't know whether she was disappointed or relieved.
The Normandy's stealth systems guaranteed they would not be spotted, but they still approached slowly, moving through the Geth to get into low altitude so they could run some scans.
'Looks like a lot of activity centred on a cluster of ruins Commander' Tali said 'and we have two Geth drop ships returning from the surface. My guess is we are not very far behind the landing,' she finished.
'Scans just completed and we have a topographical map Commander, looks as if the main landing party are heading for one place, an underground entrance of some sort' Pressley came through on the comms from the CIC.
'OK then that's where we need to be, Joker how close can you get the Mako' Shepard asked.
'The other side of the taller building, wouldn't be too far, but its right in the middle of a group of Geth that seem to be digging in Commander' Joker answered.
'Well drop us on this side of the building that will give us a few moments of cover to get our bearings,' she said and continued 'fire team with me lets head for the Mako. She's all yours Lieutenant take good care of her.'
'Aye, aye Commander' Ash responded with a nod.
Once they were all secured in the Mako they didn't have long to wait, Joker dropped them with pin point accuracy and as soon as the Mako had pulled up to a stop their agreed combat plan was put into action.
Shepard had ensured all weapons had enhanced scanning mods as the Geth would be jamming all frequencies.
For heavy weapons she had also equipped Garrus and Wrex with heat seeking missile launchers, they were limited to ten missiles each but that would take down quite a few heavies with a bit of coordination. She and Liara were equipped with rapid fire grenade launchers.
The plan on hitting groundside was for her two remaining marines, Stevens and Brewster to stay in the Mako making use of the heavy turret and cannon; Tali would remain in the Mako and carry out hacking and damping.
The rest of them would fan out from the armoured vehicle and work as a team to take down larger Geth targets, dropping any troopers, hoppers and rocket troopers with their assault rifles and shotguns equipped with disrupter ammo.
With their enhanced scanning mods and Tali's damping field they could at least 'see' Geth targets that were within the immediate vicinity and honed in on two Armatures that appeared to be sitting guard on their route to the underground entrance that was their destination.
The Mako had to keep moving as it was vulnerable to the Armatures but Shepard's team found cover and sent three waves of missiles at each of the Geth heavies before they could get more than one round off at the Mako from their pulse cannons.
Shepard and Liara focussed on the foot soldiers that accompanied the Armatures using both grenades and biotics to take down nearly half a platoon with the Mako doing its fair share of damage.
Once the Armatures were destroyed and the rest of the ground troops supporting them taken out the Mako moved forward with Shepard and her team walking in its wake using it for cover while Tali was working hard to clean up the continued jamming to give them early 'eyes' on nearby hostiles.
'Commander' Tali's voice came over the comm in Shepard's helmet 'I don't believe this is Geth jamming, the signature is different and it is interfering not only with our comms to the Normandy but also Geth comms to their ships.'
'So chances are the Geth are as blind as we are and they won't be calling in reinforcements?' Shepard asked hoping the answer would come in the affirmative.
'They are certainly as jammed as we are' Tali replied.
'No guarantee they won't drop more shit on our heads though' Wrex's deep rumbling voice held a hint of a laugh, he was hoping for more action.
They made steady progress at walking pace and dispatched another group of Geth troopers but then ran into some serious trouble as Tali raised the warning of a Geth prime and two Geth destroyers standing guard on the doors to the underground entrance.
Shepard stopped the Mako and moved her squad forward on foot, Tali now joining them. She deployed her team to the right and left of the entrance with Wrex, Tali and Liara making up one team, Shepard and Garrus the other. They found high ground on the ruined and overgrown buildings which meant they could get fairly close and had the advantage of both crossfire and cover.
On the given signal Tali would hack on of the destroyers while Wrex and Garrus would use their remaining missiles on the prime, Liara would also focus on the prime with biotics and Shepard concentrating fire on the un-hacked destroyer. They would switch firepower to another target once their own was taken out. The Mako would begin a run in once they had engaged the deathly trio and hopefully get in close enough to hit the prime with the cannon while it was distracted.
Shepard counted them in over the comms and on the 'go' all hell broke loose with the earth and ear shattering sound of missile explosions, pulse cannon and shotgun from the Geth and the fire team, the sound of the assault rifle lost amongst the louder weapons.. Tali did a semi successful hack of one of the destroyers which didn't exactly attack the prime but was so disoriented that it just stumbled around not firing at anything, which was a result as far as Shepard was concerned.
Both destroyers were down and only the prime remained, the Mako had just made it within range and the prime was going down fast but its last cannon shot found its mark and hit the ruins where Wrex, Tali and Liara were located bringing it crashing down.
Shepard was so enraged that it had hit half her squad not to mention Liara that she moved out from her cover and stood like a sentinel on the top of the ruin that had previously been her shelter and sent a hail of ordnance at the now very damaged Geth she didn't stop and Garrus also stood and joined in the stream of non-stop assault rifle fire. A final shot from the Mako finished it off and once it was down Shepard and Garrus rushed to where the rest of their team had been thrown by the blast.
Wrex was already on his feet and moving debris off the body of a very crumpled looking Quarian, Liara was sitting up with her helmeted head in hands clearly shaken. But it was Tali that Shepard moved towards first while saying 'Liara sitrep, are you injured?
'No Commander… I do not think so… just winded… see to Tali,' Liara said also looking across at Tali who was still laying lifeless on the ground.
'Wrex are you OK?' Shepard asked as she helped him to clear the remaining stones and began checking life signs with her OT.
'Ha,' he barked 'did I ever tell you about the time an entire building fell on me?'
'Try the Normandy again Garrus, she's out cold and it doesn't look good, looks like she has damage to her armour and her enviro suit has been breached… let's get her into the Mako… Liara get as much medigel as you can into her and then try to seal up the armour… secure her at the rear of the Mako... we are…' Shepard's words were cut short by a comm call from the Mako which was now parked close to the doors that they still had to open.
'Commander we have more incoming, slow moving but coming our way, looks like Geth troopers but also at least two heavies of some description.'
'Still can't get through to the Normandy Shepard' Garrus updated her.
'Right, Brewster on the Mako guns, but keep the vehicle facing towards the door… Wrex up to the position that Garrus and I had… Garrus take cover down here if it gets too hot fall back behind the Mako… Liara you're with me' as Shepard was speaking they were carrying Tali into the Mako and taking up positions as allocated.
Shepard and Liara moved towards the doors to the underground complex and saw the security station on the left that Saren had obviously used to access their controls. The exterior doors had been blown off, no easy task and it must have held him up for some time.
As they moved into the even deeper darkness of the interior Shepard and Liara took positions mirroring each other, hugging the side wall of the corridor, in a slight crouch and scanning left, right, up and down with their weapons, Shepard using her trusty Mattock and Liara her Pinnacle pistol (a present from Shepard).
Shepard allowed her mind the split seconds to smile to herself that Liara was becoming quite the soldier and that her basic Asari commando training, that had obviously kept her safe on those lone dig's, was melding with the marine way of doing things and creating an effective and deadly mix.
At the end of the corridor the room opened up and they could see that the far end of the room was the most likely place for consoles and controls, but they had to get there. Again Saren had cleared out what looked like two rows of security turrets that had obviously activated, even after all this time, given the scorch marks and destroyed Geth.
However, in their place he had left a couple of troopers and a destroyer.
Shepard moved across and joined Liara, signalling that she stay behind her. They didn't have enough firepower to make creating cross fire worth the risk. Much better they stick together and take the enemy down one at a time.
They quietly hugged the left hand wall and moved so that they were just parallel with the Geth squad, who seemed to be in 'off' mode. But Shepard wasn't going to have them between her and the exit if they decided not to remain 'off' she communicated her plan to Liara.
Shepard would hack the destroyer to confuse and slow it, she was not a patch of Tali but Alliance hacking and damping tech was a major asset and all marines could do the basics. Shepard was much more expert as she had, after all, started taking training from before she understood what everyone was talking about. Liara would target first one trooper and then the next as would Shepard; they would use a combination of biotics and Shepard's assault rifle and disruptor ammo. Then they would then change their position and focus on the destroyer.
Counting them in Shepard allowed herself a moment to lock her eyes with Liara's and felt the familiar jolt in her body as a smile flashed across both their mouths almost in unison.
The troopers went down fairly quickly but the destroyer was more of a pain. The hack worked but the destroyer was still fast enough to fire shots that came very close to taking Shepard's head off. She ordered Liara to move slowly to the top of the room and start working on finding a way to unlock the access door while Shepard drew the thing towards her and by using cover managed to get another hack in to drop its shields dealing more damage with her rifle and in the end allowing her to get in close enough to use a sticky grenade.
Shepard could stand it no longer and removed her helmet, and she made her way to join Liara, who had also removed her helmet, at the consoles.
Once she knew Shepard was safe and immediate danger dispatched Liara was giving herself a chance to marvel at the ruins which had only been ravaged by time. When Shepard joined her she couldn't help dropping into archaeologist speech and tell her human companion how unique and amazing the design within the room its construction and talked about returning with a full team to fully explore the whole of this fascinating Prothean site.
'Ah you used to find me fascinating and worthy of study, now I'm replaced by a bunch of old ruins' Shepard said in mock sad tones.
Liara playfully pushed Shepard in the shoulder and moved in close so that they could feel each other's breath on their faces and said 'you will never lose your fascination for me Shepard I will study you for eternity' Liara cupped Shepard's face and kissed her deeply on the lips. Shepard used the hand not holding her rifle to pull the Asari to her.
When they broke apart they moved straight back to business and as Shepard walked past an interface set into the consoles it jumped to life and a broken, patchy, glitchy miniature body that was very difficult to make out was speaking.
It was difficult to make out whole sentences but she could pick out words and short phrases like ' our time ending' 'devastation' 'hide' 'keep secure' 'reapers' 'then end of civilisation'.
'It sounds like a warning signal' Shepard said turning to Liara who then stared back at her almost open mouthed.
'You… you can understand… Shepard that was not a modern galactic language, my guess is that it was Prothean' she said her look changing to puzzled.
'What… how could I… Liara are you sure… I'm even struggling to learn Asari how the fuck can I just suddenly know Prothean' and Shepard stared at the still speaking VI.
'Perhaps the effects of the Beacons and the Cipher… it' but Liara's words were cut by Garrus's voice over the comms.
'Shepard are you two OK in there we heard some explosions and knew it had to be you?' Garrus was trying to keep it light but he sounded worried.
'Yep all good Garrus, what's your situation?' Shepard replied lightly.
'We have company but we are taking them out, dropped the two Armatures and now dealing with troopers' he finished.
'Copy that' Shepard looked at Liara who was working deftly at one of the consoles and a smile flashed across her face.
'That is it Commander, it should now be open.'
'Garrus is the door the underground complex open' she asked over the comm.
'Affirmative Shepard we are good to go.'
'Outstanding, Wrex, Garrus hit the Mako… Garrus you drive, Wrex on the guns' Shepard said as she and Liara ran towards the exit and the Mako.
Once inside Shepard ordered them to make all speed and smash through anything in their way, she moved to the back of the vehicle where Tali was still lifeless and spoke to Stevens who was the closest thing they had to a medic and who was tending to Tali as best he could.
'I have sedated her Commander, we pumped in medigel and sealed the breach in the armour but the infection will already be in there and I think she had either broken or crushed bones in her leg. I don't believe she took a direct hit from the plasma cannon, that would have taken half her body off, but some kind of ricochet maybe. Hard to tell,' he finished looking down at his charge.
'Well we can't call the Normandy for a pick up… but even if we could… we have to prioritise the mission,' Shepard said with an edge of sadness but with her full command commitment sounding through. 'So we have a really good reason to finish that bastard in double quick time… actually we have a galaxy full but let's just focus on the one in front of us for now.'
Everyone in the Mako gave a quick look at their fallen comrade and a renewed resolve settled on all inside the vehicle as Garrus gunned the engine into life and headed straight into the underground complex and whatever little surprised Saren had left in their way.
