Subject to rewriting.


Highlander, Elevator

1232 EST

The world around me was spinning or maybe I was, hard to tell. I applied medi-gel where I hit my head, some painkillers to ease the pain and after maybe two, three minutes I felt better. The red emergency lighting didn't make it easy to see, wasn't designed for this situation. The geth must have hit us with a virus to disable our ship's systems, and then boarded us.

I wanted to know how specifically they managed it, but theories might have to wait. The special equipment room or SER should have a short-range EM wave jammer. Geth depend on EM signals to communicate between themselves on CQ missions, it will also prevent them from requesting any more ships, I just hope it's not too late.

I came to the elevator doors and tried to pry them open, however, I struggled to move it even an inch, grunting and panting all the while. I struck the door out of frustration.

Wouldn't even budge.

Pointless trying again could be hard-locked if the geth breached the outer hull, which would piss me off.

I turned my attention to the emergency hatch above me, I opened it with the sound of scratching metal making me slightly cringe at the irritating noise. I squeezed through the hatch and closed it behind me, a ladder was located somewhere on the right-hand side of the elevator maintenance corridor. The red lights didn't help at all, I activated an omni-torch for better lighting when I could finally see where I was going, as I decided to head for the fifth-floor, where maintenance, SER and life support is located, something exploded shaking the entire ship. Whatever that was, I have to check it out, sooner or later.

Highlander, 5th Floor

1245 EST

I reached the fifth-floor elevator doors, hanging from the ladder with one hand, the other opening one of the doors. I opened it without much of a fuss, confirming my suspicion on hull breaches down below. Leaping through the entrance, landing smoothly on my feet, I took out a modified M-3 Predator, extended barrel and a retractable holographic sight. I loaded in disruptor rounds for extra damage, geth platforms rely on shields, so I loaded the overload program on my omni-tool.

Not that I could fight them right now, not without significant protection. I'll have to try and be stealthy, not my strongest suit.

The hallways were eerily empty and quiet, they say silence can be deafening, well this just might be it. Markers told me to go right, that's where the jammer should be, I don't spend enough time on my ship anymore, so I had to navigate via signs. I turned off my torch in fear of being spotted, the dim red lights didn't help at all, pitch black darkness would be preferable at this point.

I turned left at the end of a corridor measuring every step I took, checking corners for geth patrols before advancing. I did the same with the other corridor, this time going right, where the special equipment room should be.

I started creeping towards the SER, making sure nothing jumps at me. The doors to the SER unexpectedly swished open, a patrol of geth troops walked in unison towards me. I counted three of them before panicking and hugging the space between the hallway support pillars, hoping that the dark corner will be enough to hide from them. I heard the door close but did not hear any clanking of metal boots. Before I could peak out of my hiding spot, they marched past me, unaware of my existence. Their steps were dead silent, that you could hear a pin drop. They strolled down the way I came, without making a sound. I got lucky here, geth have inbuilt night vision and excellent noise sensors, if they saw or heard me, I would have been filled with holes right now.

Sighing in relief and taking in fresh air, I took my cue to leave, quickly but quietly jogging towards the SER.

Once reaching the door, I notice that it's locked, but I had a plan B.

The ventilation system leading to SER is too small for an adult, which is why we use small multitasking drones for maintenance. They are stored in modules next to the vents, they can be remotely controlled with override codes, just as I just did.

Opening the module I placed the small hovering drone on the ground, I crouched down to the drone and used my override code, the small camera connected to my omni-tool. I opened the vent's grate, using the controls to navigate the drone through to SER.

It reached the other end, using its authority to open the other grate.

There was a geth turret on the other side, scanning for any poor bastard that would stumble in here. Well, it's not going to be me.

I set the drone to open the door and turned off the remote control, readying the overload program, cracking the charge up to maximum. Positioning myself right in front of where the turret should be, outstretching my arm for the kill. I was a tad bit nervous, I've faced death plenty of times, but this was definitely one of my top moments. I had no protection, I only get one shot at this.

The door opened once more, the turret was lightning fast with its lock on. However, I was faster on the trigger, the overload program completely frying its processors, sparks flew in all directions. While the turret was cooking itself, I rushed in the room, the door shutting behind me. My right arm was heating up, the chip probably burned out, thankfully its casing held and didn't melt my hand.

With the omni-tool now sacrificed, my chances of survival just went from small to slim.

I realised that geth forces would be converging on my position, so without wasting time I went to work. The tables with CPU chips, wires and just about any other technological junk lying about the jammer would be hard to spot. I started rummaging through the pile of scrap, looking for a small tripod with an extendable antenna.

As useless crap flew through the air, a gunfight could be heard somewhere, I think it came from the maintenance room, perfect distraction.

After a few more seconds of searching, I found it. Tripod, retractable antennae, manual controls. I set the device in the middle of the room and activated the jammer. It started humming in a low tone, only time will tell if it helped.

Now, I need to reach the armoury, should be on the 5th floor if I remember correctly.

I ran out of the SER, shooting the controls behind me, making access that much more difficult. I had to hurry up, the gunfight has finished, I could hear yelling and screams of agony. Whoever was putting up resistance is likely dead by now.

I reached the elevator doors, quickly closing them behind me and climbing back onto the ladder. Shortly after I heard footsteps of geth platforms rushing past the doors.

I now had to check up on the explosion which sounded like it came from somewhere below, so next up was the armoury, I hope Mason's still alive.

Highlander, 7th Floor

- EST

I peeked out of the door, seeing as nothing was going by, I once more entered the hornet's nest. The door to my left was shut tight, according to the wall panel, no oxygen was detected so it went into automatic lockdown. Means that the secondary cargo hold has been spaced, they are looking for something.

I couldn't point out anything that could be of interest to them, except me. Maybe Saren decided to get rid of his competition. Millions of questions, no answers, might have to go a while like this. Not knowing something makes me anxious.

With only one way viable, I beelined straight for the armoury. I couldn't rely on sound anymore for detection since they are incredibly silent, so I was careful as ever. Now waiting a couple of second before advancing.

I turned left, right, left, every corridor was the same, only a couple of cargo containers and disassembled electrical circuits decorated the place. The hallway containing the armoury ended, the door was unlocked and undamaged. I activated the manual override on the console next to the door. It opened with ease, but what I saw froze me in place.

As I set foot in the room, 4 geth platform were standing over 2 men, handcuffed and bloodied. Thinking that I could avoid the situation was a stupid one, one of them started turning towards me. My booster sent adrenaline through my body, time appeared to slow down and military instinct kicked in.

Scanning the room, I noticed that the two furthest geth were raising their rifles, the one between me and the prisoners was going for cover, the nearest one was about to smash my face in.

I grabbed the nearest platform's rifle with one hand, preventing it from killing me, it held onto it refusing to let go, I pulled the geth towards me. Unholstering the M-3 with my other hand, pressing it right under its head. I pulled the trigger, silver liquid splashed out of its head and onto my face, the lightbulb fell from its socket. Parts flew in all directions a hole the size of my fist was left in the destructive aftermath.

The duo of geth troops started shooting at me, frantically, I pressed the dead platform to my chest using it as a shield, shooting the one on my left. Its shield held only for a while, disruptor rounds depleting the kinetic barrier in mere seconds. I shot it through the chest multiple times before it finally fell down, the M-3 overheated so I couldn't fire on my next target, which now hid behind a weapons locker, suppressing my position. I discarded the geth body shield in favour of a support pillar.

The pillar was not wide enough to hide me, one round pierced my right bicep. Time went back to normal, the round managed to cut through my muscle, shredding my tendons. It was a very 'hot' pain and it was so intense it caused me to drop my weapon, my arm became heavy and near useless, as it dangled from my side. After a while it started it feel different, a tingling sense overcame me for a few second than dissipated.

Mercifully the geth soldier stopped firing, I had a quick rundown of my situation. However, when I peeked out from cover, the last two geth were lying face down with a prisoner standing over them.

It was Mason.

"Mason, Christ am I glad to see you in one piece." I breathe out.

"I'm glad to see myself in one piece as well, can't say the same about you though."

I sat down on an ammo box, Mason walked up to me with his omni-tool ready apply medi-gel.

"Ran out of healing mush?"

"Stop with the strange analogies, and stop the bleeding."

"Well someone is on their period." He applied a salve of medi-gel, the cool gel laced with painkillers stopped my arm from feeling like its burning.

"My bloody omni-tool implant burnt out, needed to overload a turret."

Mason closed his omni-tool, raising his eyebrows. "You're nuts and that's coming from me."

I looked past him to see a woman sitting on the ground, completely petrified, classic example of a civvie who never saw fighting up until now. The strange part, I didn't know who she was and she wasn't wearing Cerberus clothes.

"Who's the civ?" I asked with suspicion.

"A stowaway, not ours, robots brought her here. She doesn't speak, or she doesn't understand." Mason looked genuinely sad for a moment, PTSD might be to blame there. If there is one thing this man is touchy about, it's his past. "Oh, right forgot to mention, there is an asari bitch here, commands the geth. She questioned me about you."

I saw a fresh scar on his forehead. "Did you say anything?"

Mason was shaking his head. "Don't remember, I blacked out, woke up to a shooting gallery." He glanced back at the woman, crossing his arms.

This was worrying, the asari could have melded with him, forcefully, that never ends well. Although I'm puzzled as to why she kept him alive, what is their game plan here?

"So, boss man, any idea how to get us out of your mess?"

"Not yet." I inspected my wound. The gel has stopped any bleeding and pain coming from it, but I still wouldn't be able to use it properly.

"With only one good hand, my options are sort of limited."

"I'll bet." Said Mason, as he walked over to the door and locked it.

I stood up, walked over to a weapons locker, opened it only for it to be empty.

"Don't tell me they took all the weapons." I checked the locker next to it, empty.

Mason shrugged, not completely sure himself. "Were shit out of luck Limey." Patting my back.

"Fuck you too, Yank."

Mason snickered. "That's the spirit, you're always so damn sombre, the world is not all doom and gloom."

Mason walked up to a locker room, it's where we keep our more serious equipment a new shipment arrived before we set off, Mason was busy training new rookies, could do an inventory of our equipment properly. Its lock didn't appear to be broken. He used his omni-tool to access the room, it beeped, confirming his codes and letting him in.

Meanwhile, I decided to inspect the geth that shot me. Its plating was completely white, it had a different weapon design, bulkier base, second longer barrel and a scope. Geth weapons have a biometric lock. No one can use a geth rifle without extensive modification.

Not finding anything useful on the corpse, I started rummaging through the lockers.

"What have we here." Mason marvelled.

I was looking for something, anything in the lockers, so I couldn't share his discovery. "Found something?"

"Yup!"

I walked over to the bared of room, Mason was walking out of it with a G105 Cyclone. One of the newest additions to our arsenal, made in 2182 by H&K, one of the oldest firearms companies still kicking today.

"Catch." He threw a small circular object at me, I caught it, barely. "It's a compact kinetic emitter, put it on your belt. It can take a few rounds before depleting then you're fucked."

"What about armour?"

Mason scanned the room, flinging his arm in the air. "Bugged cuts, remember?"

"Oh, right, forgot about that."

Mason meant that I didn't bother buying any spare hardsuits at all. I thought that armour is a waste so I only ordered a few for the guards. They either wore them or had them stored in their personal lockers, which were now void of anything useful. Reserves were scrapped or re-distributed throughout my cell.

All I could do is facepalm at this… fuck up. What was I thinking, hunting geth with a barebones crew, undersupplied?

"I really did botch this one up." I muttered.

Mason, annoyingly, snickered again. "That's an understatement."

I scoffed. "Thanks for your input."

"You're welcome."

I decided to ignore my friends' provocations in favour of taking one of those Cyclones. Taking the grade-A death machine was like tasting ice dream after having to deal with dirt. The M-3 was not equipped to deal with the technologically superior geth. The Cyclone was light-weight, rapid fire and had a lot of ammo to spare. Overheating was minimal, on the other hand, accuracy was average at best. Maintenance was also an issue as a bit of dirt could ruin its mechanism.

Armed and protected, I could proceed with making a plan that results in my favour. The bridge and engineering are the most important areas of a ship. The engine room is the most defendable place on this ship, boasting multiple VI supported defences, reinforced doors, barricades and mines. The bridge only has a thick airlock section with kinetic barriers and a weapons locker for the crew in case of emergencies.

However, we still had one issue.

I walked over to the door. "Mason, what about the woman?" I opened it and checked for approaching geth, when I saw nothing was coming Mason came up behind me, with the woman in his arms.

"We could put her in the freezer, inconspicuous, safe. All we have to do is turn it off."

Not a bad idea, only the kitchen is on the 4th floor, the elevator is not an ideal way to travel with a scared civilian that is barely cognitive.

"I've not a better idea, move out."

Highlander, 4th Floor

- EST

"Clear."

The hallways were eerily empty again, making me think that whatever vessel they used couldn't have been bigger than a corvette, or a dropship.

"Clear." Mason sounded off.

The way here was relatively quiet, normally civilians are noisy, aggravating creatures. What surprised me is the girl's silent conformity, despite her movements resembling a wet noodle. She must be completely drained, I don't want to know what was done to her, according to Mason's medical analysis, her health is worsening by the minute. Neurological damage, malnutrition, weakened immune system. She won't live for long.

"The kitchen is down that corridor, stay close."

Mason took the woman on his back, in case any geth appear at the last moment. We walked over to the kitchen door without being noticed, opening the door revealed an abandoned soup for our crew.

Mason mockingly sniffed. "Smells nice, you hungry?"

"Mason..."

"It's fine, it's fine, I jest. Why do you have a stick up your ass all the time?" Mason said, as he walked over to the freezer door.

"Look. I've had a rough day, my head nearly got shot off, my ship is boarded, people are dead. So just give me some slack."

Mason wisely zipped up his mouth, so I could focus on getting the freezer turned off. I came to a panel, which was already open. The electrical wires were cut, meaning someone already turned it off.

I called out to Mason. "Mason? Someone was already here, open the freezer."

Mason sat down the girl and complied. Opening the freezer with ease. As soon as he opened it a powerful scent overcame me.

"Phooo! The fuck is that smell?!" I heard him exclaim.

I heard him coughing, wheezing. I came around the corner where the freezer door was open. The smell was in that instant was known to me. Dead rotting bodies, human. I immediately wanted to gag.

"Those assholes… These are our people!" Mason yelled again in anger. His voice echoed throughout the kitchen.

"Mason, get out of there. This position is compromised." I ordered.

Mason stumbled out of the freezer with his hand covering his face. "Fuck, Allen this is bad."

"Who's… in there?" I hesitantly asked him.

I closed the door behind Mason, he took a while to get his breath back. "Aw shit, I saw the Doc, some guards, couldn't recognize the rest, badly decomposed, I estimate around 20 people."

That would be a quarter of our crew gone, this day keeps getting better and better.

"Keep it together Mason."

"Don't worry, I'll live…" He looked at the woman, who was now drooling. Her eyes were closed shut and her breaths were irregular. "…but she won't."

He was right. We had no time to keep her stable, Alex is dead, the ship's panic room is not finished yet, and the freezer is a mass grave. If the geth were to find her, she'll either be captured or killed. Sometimes death is a mercy.

"You know what comes now, don't you?" I said to him.

Mason took out his combat knife, inspecting it with weary eyes.

"Déjà vu?" I asked.

Mason sagely nodded.

When it came to killing, one way or another I use to justify it. Be it an Alliance soldier or a nameless crock, I had a good reason for it, I'm sure Mason did so too, the justifying part. I could understand why he would be hesitant to kill an innocent woman. On the other hand, I considered myself beyond redemption.

"I'll do it. Give me the knife, we have to get going."

Mason silently complied, handing me his knife. It was completely black, with a stainless steel fixed blade, this was a knife made for fighting without apologies. The grip of it was impressive and it barely weighed anything. So when I was about to use it on this poor defenceless girl, second thoughts were a guarantee.

I could not watch my own handy-work. Just before slitting her throat, I closed my eyes. Trying not to think of her as warm blood sprayed my hands. I could feel her body go limp, I slowly placed her on the ground, then leaving the kitchen in a hurry. I focused my thoughts on different things. Like why was she here in the first place, who was she and how did she end up in geth hands.

The old me wanted reckoning for this injustice. The new me fought the desire to stay calm. I haven't felt like this for a long time.

In the end, I choose to keep myself cold and emotionless.

I caught up with Mason, handing him the bloody knife.

"What's done is done, let's get to the bridge."

"You're a cold bastard, you know that right?"

His question would go unanswered, as I did not know the answer he wanted. I thought myself pragmatic, it might have not been true before, but times do change.

Highlander, 1st Floor

- EST

We entered the corridor. Since I killed the woman, Mason didn't utter a word. I'm honestly glad that he didn't. I didn't feel like talking. Especially with my whole body hurting since getting shot by geth.

A buzzing sound echoed through the corridor, I came to a halt turning to Mason.

"Mason." I whispered.

"Huh?"

"You hear that?"

The 1st floor was where the CIC, Bridge and Main Airlock resided. The entire place was locked down, with some marks of forcible entry.

I could hear the buzzing noise of a plasma torch, trying to cut through pure 15cm's of molecularly reinforce titanium. Not an easy task.

Mason's hearing was not very sensitive, even with implants he had some sort of defect from birth. He would need expensive gene therapy to improve it.

"Is it like a… faint buzzing?"

"Plasma torch, I think it's this way."

We crawled around a corner to our right, which was splattered with blood. Some of the emergency LED's were shot to pieces, barricades littered our way towards the bridge. We moved from cover to cover, cautious of our every step. Soon we came to a sealed door, with a man-sized hole in the middle.

They cut through the inferior iron-aluminium alloy like butter. I did forget that the Highlander was still a prototype and that the schedule for completion is tomorrow.

"What is this ship made of again?" He asked.

"Keep moving."

Mason grumbled something incomprehensible. I was in no mood for his jokes, even if he can't help himself.

We went through the door, the buzzing sound much stronger. I crept up next to the left corner and peeked out to see ten geth platforms trying barge their way in my bridge.

"Mason, ten targets, one of them is halfway done with the plasma torch. Two right next to him, the other seven are behind deployed kinetic barriers."

I took a second look, the geth were all just standing there lifelessly. Staring into the abyss.

"We're outnumbered, outgunned. We might have to create a distraction, could use one some…"

"Grenades?" Mason said, with his hand outstretched.

Of course, he would have those

I took the grenade he offered me without hesitation.

"On the count of three. 1…2…3"

Mason and I jumped out of the corner. The geth responded with lightning fast reactions, hiding behind their barriers.

I threw one grenade, Mason another one. The grenades rolled right next to the geth. I had no time to admire our destruction. Quickly hiding behind the corner as cover. Mason did the same with the one on my right.

Before the geth could recover from our swift attack, Mason started spraying their position with a stream of rounds. My hand was still in no condition for regular use. Instead of crouching down, I went prone, stabilising my weapon. I switched in to burst mode, firing 5 bullets at a time.

We fired at the platforms that were still functioning. Mason killed one instantaneously, ripping its torso apart with the G105, it subsequently fell, joining 4 others that were torn apart by our grenades. Their forces were halved, now we had a chance at surviving.

Two geth platforms deployed new barriers, the other two used the space between the corridor pillars. Our last geth was still frivolously burning through the door.

"Mason!" I shouted over the sound of gunfire. "Any more surprises?"

"Nope, only had two." He replied, continuing to suppress the geth squad.

They were now firing back at us, Mason got hit two times, his barriers lit up in protest. One of them poked its head out. I held my breath for better precision and pulled the trigger. The burst penetrated its depleted shields, drilling a hole in its central processor. One down, four to go.

Mason's weapon overheated, he retreated to cover, leaving me to deal with the rest.

Now I had the attention of the others, spraying my position with constant gunfire, effectively suppressing me. Now I had to hide behind the corner as well. I looked at Mason's position, only he wasn't there.

"Mason! Where the hell are you?!" I yelled.

The geth started slowly moving up, all the while keeping me suppressed.

Mason suddenly came back from the dark hallway, with a fire extinguisher. He threw it in the corridor where the geth were. One of them inspected the red canister, seemingly curious. Mason quickly popped out of cover and shot it, causing it to release its cloud of smoke that filled our surroundings. I couldn't see an inch in front of me, the whole place was bathed in white, I did not dare move in fear of friendly fire.

I heard a G105, firing off a salvo, a metallic thunk followed suit. Another geth down. I saw a humanoid form approaching me, weapon raised. The light from its head gave it away, I slowly raised my rifle, aimed at its head and pulled the trigger.

The light switched off, the body fell to the ground, faceplanting in front of my feet.

I heard a struggle, Mason was wrestling the last attacking platform, but I could not see him.

"Gah! Fuck you tin can." Mason blurted out.

I followed the rough directing his voice came from, the fire extinguisher spray started dissipating, improving visibility. I heard a loud garble of a geth platform to my right. Stumbling out of the smoke and on to the ground was Mason, bleeding from his wrist, weaponless. The geth was right behind him, with Mason's knife in its hand.

I didn't it give time to react, lined up my rifle, switched it to full-auto and released the deadly volley.

Its shield wasn't recharged, making the kill that much easier. The platform fell to the ground, my weapon tearing its vital components apart.

Mason picked himself up, his wrist already patched up.

"Too close for comfort." He mumbled under his breath. He walked over to where his Cyclone was lying on the ground.

Our fire extinguisher cloud was now reduced to a light mist, I could see that the geth was still slaving away with his plasma torch. It barely made any progress. Deciding not to wait for it to realize its predicament I sent two bursts right in the back of its head. With a dying distorted noise, the last geth was neutralized.

I was exhausted, more so than ever. Sweating profusely since arriving here on the first floor. My arm kept feeling number and number. I was losing control over it despite being patched up, the damage must be worse than I anticipated. My legs were strangely also giving out, it felt like I was back in boot camp.

Overall my movements felt slower, thinking was harder, the skin irritation from Mason's little experiment doesn't help either. I'm glad that we replaced the more toxic powder ones, having an itch is the least of my problems.

"Mason." I slightly wheeze. "Get the door open, I need a minute to catch my breath."

"Sure." He said walking past me, whilst I sat down on the ground to rest.

I heard Mason bang on the bridge door. "Open up you mongrels, the cavalry's here."

My breathing became irregular, as did my heartbeat. I felt horrible, this wasn't exhaustion. No longer could I stand up

"Mas-Mason." I wheezed again.

My head became heavy, the world came to a halt, Retro came before me. His mouth moved but didn't utter a sound. Other people surrounded me but I could not properly recognize them. I felt tired like I could sleep for a whole week. The people around me tried to keep me awake by any means necessary. Two of them helped me up and started dragging me to the bridge.

I closed my eyes and could not open them again and everything became surrounded in darkness.

Undisclosed Location

- EST

I awoke to a blindling bright light, panicking I took a gasp for air. My gasp turned into a coughing fit, the fire in my lungs didn't help me, both of my eyes burned, my hands were heavy and I could barely remember what happened.

Stabilising my breathing I could look around. This was not my ship and it was definitely not heaven, memories came back to me in a confused manner while I was inspecting the room I was in.

It reminded me of the Minuteman Station med-bay only with more medical equipment stored across the room. To my right were machines, turned off and under a thin white blanket, to my left were medical stretchers with no one on them. The door was there as well, a classic Cerberus logo printed on the side.

As far as I could tell, there was no one in sight, not even in the observation room.

I looked at the clothing I was wearing, and it was my trench coat over my hospital gown. Weird. Inspecting the pockets I found nothing, my belt was also empty and the door had a locked haptic interface.

Out of curiosity, I checked for an omni-tool. The satisfying appearance of an orange screen made me smile, all of my data was here too. Wait. That means someone has access to my backup files, which are in a data safe. What's going on here?

The door unlocked from the outside, revealing a man with hands behind his back. His eyes were an electronic blue, black business suit with an unbuttoned top, revealing a white shirt underneath. Black boots, black trousers and a stern expression on his face. He started walking towards me, I still laid on the bed being unable to move a muscle.

"Reid, It had been far too long."

"Illusive Man?" I said with a hoarse voice.

"I except you have many questions."

That was putting it mildly, so might as well start with the obvious.

"Where… where am I?"

He stopped right next to the bed that was to the left of me. "Cronos Station, the Headquarters of Cerberus."

"How long?"

"You've been in a coma for five months and 21 days, a lot has happened since then."

Five months, just… gone. So many things could have gone wrong in that time, I better not waste anymore.

"So...what did happend while I was gone?"