Running away while sending mercenaries after them was hardly thrilling. Hell it wasn't even much of a challenge. If this was the extent of her supposed clones plans Vi found herself sorely disappointed. It didn't take much to have a proper plan in place. Really she did it all the time. On the fly even.
So if this thing wanted to even have a hope of passing as her it needed to step up its tactics. By at least ten fold. Even Javik was growing tired of the easily predictable tactics which were being tossed at them. Wrex was far too busy enjoying a chance to go on a killing spree to care much. And hey all the others seemed to be having a good time. But they were not her, nor did they even understand the workings of her inner mind.
Had they any inkling as to her though process at this very moment it was very likely they would have knocked her out. Or at least removed her from this mission. Impersonating her was one thing. Disgracing her name and intelligence by coming up with something as piss poor as this was another. It just struck a cord with her. A horrifically violent one for some reason. Vi hardly care to answer why at the moment.
All she craved was a bit of a challenge.
"Vi a bit of trouble came up. They've got us pinned down. Mind lending a hand?"
"On my way Garrus."
One swift the motion later she was over a tube then running down one of the ramps.
"We've got Shepard's squad surrounded!" A voice called over the comm.
"Like hell you do!" Vi snarled viciously before taking a shot.
The fool never had a chance. Not when her sights had been trained upon his head. His corpse flopped hard to the ground. Oddly it wasn't enough to draw the attention of the others. She remedied that rather quickly. With a biotic charge she collided a body into another. Together they staggered only to turn around and meet a swift end.
As the first fell down dead the second was not so lucky. Grabbed firmly he was placed in front of her as a shield. It would figure the other mercenaries didn't care if holes riddled the idiots body yet still he clung to life. With one hand Vi Slammed two men at once before returning to snap the neck of the one hostage in her hands. Silently she was thankful he had suffered. He'd done a stupid thing by agreeing to side with that bitch.
One more attempted to sneak in for an attack. Did he think himself sneaky up there? Damned fool was in black armor against steel colored metal. Javik seemed more than happy to take care of him with a simple shot. After she jerked her head for Wrex and he to climb the latter. Getting them out first was priority one.
A bullet pinged off her Inferno armor. Growling deeply the woman sent him flailing into the air before unloading five bullets into him. More closed in while she changed her clip. Not good even she could see the odds were against her now. Fighting was her only way out. And Gods help her if she died here. Vi wished hard that she'd have given Thane one more kiss before coming here.
"Hey ass holes!" James hollered.
"What the-?" her gaze turned upwards.
Holy. Crap. Was this happening? Apparently so. Because all ten of those who'd accompanied her were suddenly aiming their sights down upon the few who were attempting to kill Vi. Was damn loud and impressive.
Now clear to ascend the latter Shepard didn't hesitate in doing so.
"This is why I love hanging out with you guys! Why shoot something once when you can shoot it 46 more times?" Wrex sounded like a child in a candy store.
"Well that's what they get for messing with Shepard, they mess with us. Unless we're climbing a latter." James boasted.
"Spirits. Is anyone beside me and Tali going to see if Vi is alright?" Garrus asked.
"No. I already know she is." Answered Wrex.
"Shit sorry. You okay Lola?"
"Fine. Leg is burning a small bit." She grumbled. "Hell of an inconvenient time for it."
She hissed and growled through the pain while her body trembled. This was seriously going to be the biggest hurtle of them all. Pain medications would only last so long. And depending on them so heavily meant they'd stop working after a bit. But right now she needed something. Looking up she sighed.
"Glyph!"
"Yes Commander? How may I help you?"
"Apply the numbing gel please. Then return to following my clone."
"As you wish."
The side of her armor made a whirling sound before a splash of cold hit her skin. Though the effects took only seconds to Vi it seemed an eternity. With a content sigh she righted her back and nodded. Alright she was ready for this now.
"Shepard what was that?" Liara asked.
"I have a small bit of numbing gel on my leg. Pulling off armor and putting it on takes time. So I rigged mine to simply plop it on the burn via remote control. Of which is stored in Glyph. It's a one shot thing however. After this is gone I got nothing."
"How long will this last?"
"An hour tops. After that I'm useless. So we need to move and quick."
"Understood Commander. Same teams?"
"Same teams. Move out."
Didn't take long for them to find trouble again. Or perhaps trouble found those poor mercenaries. Either way they were dispatched easily enough. Though not before a few hilarious comments about Wrex were made. God she loved having him on the team again. After all no one taunted foes in the same way as he would.
And leave it to Javik to insult Glyph after one flub. Needless to say she snarked back at him. It earned the amusement of the Prothean and what she thought was perhaps his own version of flirting. When it came to him however she never could tell. Either way he at least vowed to remain silent after that exchange. Was a nice change in pace.
Seemed the mercenaries were starting to understand how wrong they'd been to oppose her team in the first place. Didn't mean they laid down their guns however. No, just attempted to use an Atlas on them. Ended in failure just as she figured it would. In total failure. Whatever happened next didn't matter with them racing against time every pointless battle meant one less second before she became incapacitated.
That drove her to do better. Kill quicker. Move faster. Anything to make up for lost ground. The stupid message given to her by Glyph from her clone only angered her. Little brat thought she could taunt her like this?
She would pay.
Her friends split up as they closed in. A poor move in her eyes. But she'd never speak that aloud. They were perfectly capable of doing whatever they believed to be best. Brooks however proved once more to be a liability. God why had she let this woman come again? Didn't matter.
What did however was the trap she'd very suddenly stepped into.
"This isn't good." She looked around. "No over ride I can see. What about you two?"
"Nothing." Wrex huffed.
"Agreed. Perhaps another method is best used to escape."
"Don't bother. You'll be joining your friends soon enough." Her clone explained. "I'm sure you'll all enjoy it. After all I've heard Iridium Vaults are very nice to be trapped in for well...forever."
"Doubtful. Others know about this."
"Do they? What says you Brooks?"
"Wouldn't know I don't work for them."
"Then who in the hell are you and what makes you so certain I won't hunt you down?"
"Well my name hardly matters. Don't keep it for more than a few days. However if the illusive man hasn't found me you won't."
"Cerberus?"
"Use to be. I put together the dossiers for your team. They were all mistakes."
"Take that back." Vi hissed clenching her fists.
"Hm. The Drell lover would defend aliens. You're just as big of a mistake Shepard." she shook her head. "All we ever needed was your Specter codes. Sad you had to survive that hit we had for you. Even with a gimp leg. Impressive really."
"I'm hardly impressed. There was a small doubt in my mind from the start. You come out of no where just in time to warn me? The only one I can speak to while I'm being hunted? You're piss poor at your job. So don't count me out just yet you idiots."
"Yet here you are. Caught in our trap."
"Am I?" Vi's voice became rather serious then. A smirk spread over her face, one which out matched the sneer her clone was giving them. "Perhaps I'm simply making this worth my while now."
She took one step closer to them her tone never wavering. "When I'm free I will find you. And I will kill you. Slowly. Painfully. Your screams will be the sweetest music I've heard in years." A low chuckle slipped past her lips a second step made it so she was nearly touching the blue barrier. "Not before I've had my fun drawing out this little game. I will teach you how to beg. Make you plead for mercy. Your little body will welcome death when I'm done with you both." The two looked at each other uncertainly. "But it'll never come. Every day will be a new hell for you. And death will be but a sweet paradise you can only dream about. So run. Get a head start while you can. Because now the true hunt has begun."
"Empty threats. I suppose that shouldn't shock me it's all you can do."
"My threats are never empty child." Shepard answered coolly. "...Run..." She chuckled.
The clone seemed angry. Not that she cared. All that mattered was watching her leave. Brooks – or whoever – followed behind as if nothing more than a personal lap dog. Shepard stepped while the container shifted a bit. This would not hold her. Not now not ever.
"Didn't we use to win these things?" Wrex wondered aloud.
"It isn't over yet Wrex. Just allow me a moment please."
"Alright Shepard. You haven't lead me wrong so far."
Everything in her mind was a tornado of chaos. Those words she'd spoken. They weren't really what she wanted to do where they? Why did it seem like it was becoming harder and hard to keep this side of herself contained. Her will power just didn't seem to be enough these days. If the others had heard those words...Gods they would have been disgusted.
There was a split second where she felt the male behind her. He was clearly enjoying the moment before he acted. But what did the fool want now? Hands grabbed at her hard. One held her shoulder while its brother forced her head back. Her heart skipped a beat at the display of dominance he was forcing upon her right then. Perhaps this was how they treated women back in his cycle.
So then why did it excite her ever so slightly? God she was even more fucked up than she thought! Javik was just right there. His mouth hovering dangerously close to her own. She could feel his warm breath coming in heavy pants. Was...had she aroused him some how?
"Such beautiful words Commander." he whispered. "Too bad they were all hallow."
There was a second, where he dared to move in closer, that her mind curiously pondered what kissing him might have felt like. She saw how badly he desired it. And the tiniest bit of her was curious as well. Being unfaithful was something she could never do. Even if she was slowly slipping to become some murderous monster. She could however afford to tease him a little bit.
"I meant those words Javik. Every. Last. One." She answered.
Whatever rippled through out his entire form made her chuckle. Softly like velvet to his ears. She had no idea just how badly he wished to claim her as his own. The Drell could never do a warrior like this justice. Yet as she pushed herself away from him Javik realized the timing was poor. For the moment his desires would have to wait.
But not before so selfishly baiting a hook for the woman.
"Prove it."
"...Glyph."
"Yes Commander?"
"Unlock this thing at once. Then find and free the others. We've a target to hunt."
"You just fired me! Dishonorable discharge for conduct unbecoming! You kicked me off the ship with hardly enough time to grab my toothbrush." Traynor huffed at her.
"Cision pro mark 4 right? Uses mass effect fields to break up plaque I know this because I'm the real Shepard. That woman was a clone. Blame Cerberus, I'll explain later. Right now I need into the ship. Your toothbrush will be the key in helping me retake what rightfully is mine."
"It will?"
"What sort of Commander would I be if I didn't know my own ship had an emergency exit hatch? I've looked it over and trust me when I say I'll need the mass effect field your toothbrush generates."
"How can you remember all of this?"
"I'll explain that latter as well. Please Traynor." Shepard held out her hand. "On my word I'll get you a new one as soon as this is all over."
"You'll give her what she has coming to her?"
"And then some."
"I'll be allowed back on the ship?"
"Yes."
Traynor heaved a heavy sigh.
"Alright. And good luck."
"Thanks."
That stupid clone had better be ready. Because this ended now.
