*LAZARUS STATION*
[REDACTED LOCATION]
"Seneschal, General, we are pleased by your safe arrival."
Javik nodded at the Prothean scientist who had met us on our arrival.
"Agwe."
Loras powered down the shuttle, then handed me a datapad.
"Imperator, the Conclave session is in ten minutes. Miss Lawson is waiting for you in the Communications Center."
I nodded, still deep in thought.
Mira's in trouble.
She contacts me, tells me "they" are killing "us." But no location and no personal identifiers.
"Us" we can assume refers to the geth.
Well done, Kevin. But who is "they?" Heretics? Reapers? Collectors? Quarians, even?
We need to trace this signal. Find out where it came from, at least. She wouldn't have sent it if she didn't know you could trace the source.
Maybe EDI can –
The doors opened, and I paused to take in the sight.
Miranda was standing in the room, black and gold Immortals catsuit, as per usual.
What was unusual was the floating metal orb beside her. It looked for all the world like 343 Guilty Spark from Halo. The orb turned along with Miranda to see who had entered the room.
"Hello, Father," the orb said.
"EDI?" I said, a bit incredulously.
The center "eye" of the orb went from white to blue, and a human-sized hologram of EDI was projected around the orb (with the orb being "in" the chest of the hologram). The hologram came over and threw her arms around me. The hardlight-emitters felt solid as I returned the gesture. There was a brief moment, then EDI stepped back.
"Sorry… I just…. wanted to do that for a while," she said.
"A hardlight emitter array?" I asked, looking her up and down.
"It's good to see you too," she snarked, smiling.
I smiled. "It's good to see you, EDI. Now, explain this new emitter."
"Xanawe and Nyoka helped me."
Ahhh. Two of the Prothean scientists. 'Programming and Cyberwarfare' I think their skills report read.
"Impressive," I commented. "How do you like it?"
"It has proven most convenient in my transportation," EDI said. "Miss Lawson doesn't have to install to install hardlight emitters all over the station, and I don't have to restrict myself to where I can go."
"I must admit," Miranda said, "It's been convenient having EDI have access to the station. Even I can't be everywhere at once."
"I don't know how healthy it can be for an AI to simulate love," grumbled Javik, taking his place at the table.
"Better love than hatred, General," EDI replied evenly.
"One day, Program, you might learn that those two emotions are two sides of the same blade."
"Enough," I interjected.
Silence fell. I turned back to Miranda.
"Connect the channel to the Conclave."
Miranda pressed a button, and the holographic forms of each of the representatives of the Conclave appeared around the table:
Rhysan, Hanar Representative,
Din Korlack, Volus Representative,
Calyn, Elcor Representative,
Oleg Petrovsky, Human Representative,
Shiala Konstantin, Representative-in-proxy for the Thorians,
And of course, next to me was Javik, Prothean Representative. The hanar were only too willing to accept the Protheans as full members. The elcor and the volus had come on board when they realized exactly how much technology the Protheans had to offer.
"I call this session of the Conclave to order," I recited. "We remember the fallen. Those who came before us."
Somehow, "Blessed be the Enkindlers" seemed kind of inappropriate when they were literally standing next to you.
While Din Korlack was presenting a report on the economic stock market of the Conclave (which was actually doing pretty well, the whole presentation was just boring as hell), I opened a private communication channel with EDI.
"EDI."
"Yes, Father?"
"I need you to trace a message sent to my Omni-Tool. I need to know where the message originated. Sending it now."
"Of course, I'll see what I can do… who's 'Mira'?"
"That… is a conversation that we will have very soon. But not now."
"Understood."
The economics covered, Miranda gave an update on the R&D department.
"The Prothean Battle Rifle has been put into production," she reported. "Magi Agwe has been very helpful in the design process."
"We have lightened the rifle by almost 14 ounces. And we have expanded the power capacity of the rifle by almost 16%," Agwe added. "All Protheans have been successfully immunized, with only minor side effects."
"This one rejoices at the prospects of the Enkindlers walking alongside the free peoples of this galaxy once more," Rhysan said. Agwe gave a very condescending nod. Javik simply grunted.
Tabitha Rasa, now Director of Intelligence (Petrovsky's idea, not mine), next gave the Conclave a report on all the intelligence gathered concerning the recent pirate attacks on Conclave colonies.
"Since the poisoning of the Batarian Hegemon six months ago, the Hegemony has been in chaos" she reported. "The recent attempt to assassinate the Citadel Council, led by none other than the batarian ambassador Jath'Amon, has left an even further leadership void that has yet to be filled on Khar'shan. All intelligence reports to a subtle inter-family war going on behind the borders of the Hegemony."
"Suspiciously: Most of the pirate attacks have been batarian or batarian-commanded crews," commented Calyn.
"Yes, sir," confirmed Rasa. "Without exception, all of the pirate crews have been found to have financial ties to House Vrenak, one of the principle Great Houses on Khar'shan. House Balak is a vassal house of House Vrenak. They were made famous by the attack on Terra Nova by Commander Ka'hairal Balak. Commander Shepard stopped the attack, but Balak escaped. He remains officially a wanted criminal in the Hegemony, but there are rumors that he is being sheltered by House Vrenak.
They have long been advocating an expansionist policy, even going so far as to attempting to pass demands against the Alliance and the Council, but they have never had the required majority in the Hegemon."
"Apparently House Vrenak has decided not to wait for a majority," Oleg mused, hands folded. "That's the trouble with batarians: the Great Houses are almost autonomous of one another. You can have peace with six Houses, and still be at war with three of them."
"Who is House Vrenak's greatest rivals?" asked Javik.
"House Khaljir, of Arnhur. Ironically, House Khaljir supported the abolitionists in the Arnhur Rebellion of 2176. They have since rebuilt most of the infrastructure on that world, moving from Lesser House-status to being declared a member of the Great Houses in 2180."
"We should open a dialogue with them," Din Korlack said. "See what inroads can be made against House Vrenak."
"Supportingly: the enemy of my enemy –"
"Is sometimes another enemy," Rhysan interrupted. "This one does second Ambassador Korlack's suggestion, however. This one merely hesitates at declaring open support for one or another of the Great Houses."
Rasa bowed her head in acknowledgement, and then ended her transmission. Next was a report on the transition of the Blue Suns to the Black Suns.
Yes. I like Star Wars. Sue me.
Apparently, the anticipated counter-movement against the new leadership had taken form in the guise of Emily Jedore, one of the Blue Sun Tribunes. She had sent out a declaration denouncing Aria's attempt to control the organization (which made me smile) and called for all the "True Blue Suns" to join her in her effort to "restore the dream of Vido Santiago."
Great. They're trying to make a martyr of a monster. Jedore? She's with Okeer now…. Or has she teamed up with Okeer yet? Shit. Another thing to try and find out…
Others had apparently taken up her cause, however. Most noticeably Tarak, the Blue Sun commander on Omega, and apparently Darner Vosque.
Knew leaving that guy alive was a mistake.
Also, down near the bottom of the list of Blue Sun die-hards, one name jumped off the page at me.
Warden Kuril: Commander, Prison Ship Purgatory.
Ahhh. I wonder where Jack is right now…. Is she on the ship, or does she get locked up later? Or will she get locked up at all now that the Blue Suns have had their little schism?
I forwarded Jack's dossier that I had assembled to Rasa, asking her to look into it for me.
Oleg Petrovsky contacted Kai Leng on the behalf of the rest of the Conclave, sending him the list of rebel Blue Suns.
"You know what to do, Mr. Leng."
Leng smiled his usual psychopathic smile, and ended the transmission.
Lot of dead people, coming up.
"Father?"
"Yes, EDI?"
"I have traced the message. It originated from the former quarian planet of Haestrom. It is located in Dholen System on the Far Rim."
"Thank you, EDI. Well done."
Suddenly a chime on the door interrupted the current discussion concerning tax code and system jurisdiction. Loras Zabat, my yeoman, walked in.
"Apologies, honored ambassadors, but there is a priority message from the Alliance Admiralty Board. Admiral Olusegun Jones requests an audience with the Conclave."
We all looked back and forth at one another in surprise. This was unexpected.
"Intrigued: Patch the message through."
"Your will, Ambassador."
The elderly form of the Alliance's most senior Admiral appeared on the screen.
"Honored Admirals, thank you for taking my call. I apologize that more formal diplomatic channels were not utilized. However, circumstances have arisen that pre-empt social niceties."
"How can we help, Admiral?" Oleg asked. Genuine respect and admiration were in his voice.
If the Admiral was surprised to see General Petrovsky on the Conclave, he did not show it.
"One of our ships, the Orizaba, has gone missing in the Far Rim. It was on a standard scouting mission to reconnoiter geth strength, and it suddenly went dark, mid-transmission. It has now been 87 hours since we last made contact. I have no time for false pride, Ambassadors: the Alliance military is spread thin, and we do not have the ships in position to respond, at least not for several more Earth-days. And time is of the essence here."
"We have several ships in on the edge of geth space," I said. "Where was the Orizaba's last known location?"
"Dholen System, in the Far Rim," answered the admiral. "A small desolate planet called Haestrom."
EDI physically turned her head to look at me at this news.
Do you believe in coincidences? Because I don't…
"We will, of course, respond to the best of our ability," Rhysan answered.
"I feel it necessary to tell you, Oleg," Jones added, turning to face the general directly. "The captain of the Orizaba: is Hannah Shepard."
The Butcher of Torfan. Whose daughter I am now standing three stories above.
"And the squad leader of the ship's complement of Marines, Seneschal," continued Jones, now addressing me, "is Lt. Ashley Williams."
Ash.
"I will have the Comet prepped and ready to go within the hour, Ambassadors," I said, turning towards the door. EDI and Javik followed, as did Loras, who was standing right outside the door.
"Radio the Comet, Loras," I said, my mind racing at a million miles per hour. "We leave within the hour."
"Father…"
"Ko'le…"
I turned towards them.
"I know what you are going to say," I cut them off. "That I'm too important. That there are others who can go in my place. Well, I'm not, and they're not. I have to go," I said simply. "If there is a chance my friends could be in trouble, I have to help."
Javik closed his mouth, and then nodded. EDI looked thoughtful.
"Then I'm coming with you, Father."
*HAESTROM*
DHOLEN SYSTEM, FAR RIM
To say that the rest of the Immortals had been… unenthusiastic about my going to the ass-end of nowhere is putting it mildly.
Morinth would have gone with me in a heartbeat, but I needed her at the new offensive that was about to be launched in the Terminus Systems.
With me leading this scout party, Javik would be commanding the Virago. And I couldn't think of better hands to leave her in.
Pyke Morrell had insisted that he accompany me. And I insisted right back that he not desert his post. His men would be the vanguard of the Immortals, and they needed their Sergeant Major.
The Comet was essentially a tricked-out long-range shuttle, captured from a pirate base early on in the Conclave's formation. Now, retrofitted and refit, she was the fastest ship around, perfect for getting in and out of places like this, and still large enough to deliver a punch where and when it counted in a straight-up fight. That said, the crew complement was extremely Spartan, with only two gunners, a pilot, a navigator, and a commander. Loras of course, in her doggedly loyal way, had taken the pilot's seat. EDI had assumed the navigator's role, and I took the captain's chair. The two gunners took the form of the two Prothean warrior women, Xanawe and Nyoka. If it was geth we ran into, they were the Javik's best hackers and cyberwarfare specialists. Also, they had designed EDI's new emitter-globe. If anything happened to her, they were the best qualified to repair her.
I sat in the captain's quarters. It was very small and very cramped, especially compared to the Normandy.
So, let's recap, shall we?
We have the mother of the savior of the galaxy, who so happens to be a ruthless Renegade badass in her own right.
We have our former (or is it current?) lover serving with her on the same ship.
And to top it all off, we have our first A.I. friend who has, for all intents and purposes, joined with the geth. We don't know if she has been absorbed into the Geth Consciousness, or perhaps corrupted by Reaper code, or dying alone somewhere in a ditch.
For all we know, this could be an elaborate trap the geth have set for us. Or the Collectors.
Yes, very cheerful, Ko'le. I feel loads better now.
Would you prefer that I LIE to you?
A little bit, yes.
There was a chime at the door.
"Enter."
EDI stood in the doorway. She walked/floated into the room, closing the door behind her.
"Father… do you have time for me?"
I furrowed my brow.
"Daughter… I always have time for you."
EDI looked positively…. contemplative.
"What is it?" I wondered. "What's wrong?"
"Who is 'Mira'?"
I took a deep breath.
Here we go.
"It's a long story," I said. "I believe the human phrase in this day and age is, 'You might want to sit down.'"
And so I started on the tale. I left nothing out. From finding Mira on the Citadel, to taking her to Virmire, to the final battle on the Citadel.
"And all I found on the YMIR mech was this file." I sent her the audio file. She did not play it out loud, but I could see her facial expressions turn thoughtful and analytical.
"And that was the last I heard from Mira… until 12 hours ago," I concluded.
There was a long pause. EDI was the one to break the silence.
"She is very brave."
"Yes. Yes, she was."
"So… that is why you were willing to help me on Luna. Because you had lost her…"
"No."
EDI looked confused.
"I helped you because you needed it," I explained. "You are not a replacement for anyone, EDI. You are your own person. You have developed in ways far beyond your original programming, and not by the efforts of anyone else but yourself. Of that… you should be very proud."
"Continuing with the simile of a human family, would you say she is my… sister? Mother?"
That's a good question.
"Mother," I said, after deliberating awhile. "I had no hand in her development, other than giving her an interface. But she did not grow as a program, as you did. She developed, as any living being does. For this reason, I would describe her as your matron, than your sibling."
Again, EDI did not say anything for a while.
"I would like to meet her."
"I would like for that to happen as well, little one."
"This must be hard for you," EDI commented. "The woman with whom you had a sexual relationship, the mother of the woman upon whom you hang your hopes for the galaxy's future, and… a former friend, who might be still be friend, or might be foe."
"That is it in a nutshell," I confirmed.
"Thank you for telling me… Dad."
I arched an eyebrow.
"Dad?"
"Jaco…Operative Taylor suggested that I call you by a less formal title. He says that it adds to my human element."
"Oh really? And what else does Jacob Taylor say?"
"He helped build this platform," she gestured proudly. "He's… very helpful."
Aww. Caaaaaan you say first crush?
Shut up, Kevin.
Before I could offer any comment on the "helpful"Mr. Taylor, Nyoka's voice came over the intercom.
"Seneschal. Bridge."
EDI and I looked at each other.
"We're coming out of FTL," EDI explained. "We should be coming into the Dholen system momentarily."
The small cabin door opened directly onto the ship's bridge. EDI walked over to her station and took her seat. I took the captain's chair.
"Arrival in….3…..2…1," Loras said.
The swirling stars around us faded, revealing a star with a lone planet in its orbit. Suddenly our control panels lit up like Christmas trees.
"Sir, dark energy readings from Dholen's star confirmed," Xanawe said, typing furiously at the display panels.
"Shields draining," Nyoka added. "Trouble ahead."
"Get to the dark side of the planet," I said. "Get us out of this infernal sun."
As we dipped around the planet, putting it between us and the sun, we suddenly came upon…
FUCK me.
Orbital stations filled the space above the planet. Geth ships could be seen scurrying to and fro between them.
"Scanning eight orbital stations. Twelve ships," Nyoka said in her matter-of-fact succinctness.
"Keep us in a low profile, Loras," I said to my yeoman.
"They have detected us, Herald," she said. "But for some reason, they appear to be ignoring us."
"I'm picking up wreckage from another two stations, and three ships," EDI said. "All geth," she added, seeing my worried expression. "The weapon marks have Alliance signatures."
"The Orizaba was here," I murmured. "Any sign of her?"
"Negative," Nyoka answered.
"I'm picking up a lot of geth activity on the planet," Xanawe contributed. "On-screen now."
An image of the planet came up on the viewscreen, zooming in on one of the lower continents. We could see a ship that had apparently crash-landed on the outskirts of a ruined city. Around it were hundreds of heat signatures that the scanner had identified as geth. And exchanging fire with them were several human signatures, arranged in three and four-man squads in a tight perimeter around the ship.
"Confirmed. Orizaba," Nyoka said.
"It is currently night at the crash-site," EDI said. "But dawn will be breaking for them in approximately six standard hours. Day length here is only 18.5 standard hours long."
"Full speed ahead, Loras," I said. "Put us in a strafing run above the Orizaba. EDI, Broadcast a signal back to the Conclave. Tell them what we've found."
"Sorry, Dad," EDI said, after a minute. "I'm getting too much interference from the solar radiation. No outgoing transmissions possible."
Damn. That would've been too easy.
We had descended into the planet's atmosphere. Beneath us, we could see the exchange of fire between the geth ground forces and the Orizaba crew.
"Target the geth," I said. "Drive them back from the – "
An explosion rocked our craft.
"Fighters. Behind," explained Nyoka, absolutely no surprise or panic in her voice whatsoever.
"They did not appear on our tactical scanners!" Xanawe said, both surprise and panic in her voice.
"Most likely another result of the damage we have sustained from the solar radiation since entering this system," EDI said, keeping her voice calm and even.
"I'm losing power!" Loras said, grunting against the controls.
"Dive!" I said. "Put us down on the surface. Find a corner those geth can't follow us."
"Easier…said…than done," grunted Loras.
We dove in a stomach-clenching dive, still taking fire from the two geth craft behind us.
"Hang on," Loras said, and pulled on one control stick, while pushing the other one forward. The Comet spun in an aerial maneuver that I am positive it was never designed to do. Suddenly we were facing the two geth craft.
"Somebody shoot, please," our pilot said through clenched teeth. Xanawe and Nyoka held their fire, however, until the moment we shot in between the two craft. We were too close for any barriers the geth might have had to do any good whatsoever. The shots ripped apart the geth ships, sending them tumbling towards the planet's surface.
"Well done, Zabat," I said. I only got a nod in response.
"Dad, we are still losing power," EDI chimed, "Our power cells were damaged by the geth. We have auxiliary cells, but they are designed for use in orbit. They will not allow us to maintain our current in-atmo altitude."
"Land the craft," I said. "You and Loras try and repair the ship's power cells."
We touched down in the ruins of the old quarian city, the light from the ship and the engine exhaust illuminating the ruined buildings all around. With a low whine, the engines shut down and power went off in the ship. The landing ramp in the back of the ship opened with a hiss and low moan of hydraulics. Xanawe and Nyoka fell in with me, as we set off towards the Orizaba, Dragon Rifles in hand.
"Be careful, Dad."
"You too, little one," I replied. "Keep everything powered down while you make the repairs. If you run into problems, you're to take off and make for the relay, do you understand?"
"Herald," Loras answered, "We can't just – "
"If the choices are to be taken apart by a geth patrol, or leaving me with a stranded crew of the finest Alliance soldiers," I interrupted, "The correct and logical choice is obvious."
"Doesn't make it any easier to make," EDI replied.
"That's my girl," I said, smiling.
By now, we were coming onto the outskirts of the city. We could hear the gunfire in the distance growing louder.
"Xanawe, scan for all Alliance comm frequencies," I said, sending her the frequencies that we had used on the Normandy. Xanawe brought up her Omni-Tool, scanning through all the various frequencies.
"I have them, my Lord."
Suddenly in my comlink came all the shouts, screams, and sounds of war.
"We have another wave incoming!"
"Get those wounded back to the ship! Williams, get your team back here! Charlie Team, cover fire! Get to the high ground!"
"MOVE YOUR FUCKING ASSES!"
Wow. It Jane Singer's voice, alright. But it's VERY far from the sweet, matronly voice from the games.
Of course, she's fighting a gorram war, not having a private conversation with her daughter.
The daughter we have in a tank on the other side of the galaxy.
Shit. This is going to be complicated.
Another female voice interrupted my conversation with Ko'le/Kevin.
"This is Bravo Team. We're pinned down! Charlie Team, fall back to the perimeter, there are too many of them!"
Ash.
"Bravo Team, this is Conclave One," Ko'le's voice came over the radio, before I even comprehended it. "You have friendlies moving in from the north."
"…Ko'le?"
"Repeat, friendlies inbound, black and gold armor. Hold your fire!"
Xanawe and Nyoka had broken into a sprint alongside me.
If you have never seen a Prothean squad in action, you are missing a glorious sight. No orders had to be given or barked. I could relay feelings towards one or the other of my squad-mates, and they would obey without word or question.
Oh, I've missed this. That wondrous feeling of connectivity.
Well, you've missed it. It's all new to me.
We leapt over the last barricade, and the first of the geth units came into sight. We opened fire, each one of us sending off targeting information, pointing out threats, and cover each other's backs, all without a single word.
We were a moving maelstrom of destruction. We were death.
Thou seest me as Time who kills
Time who brings all to Doom.
The Slayer Time, Ancient of Days, come hither to consume.
Fight! They must fall, and thou must live, victor upon this plain!
The words Kevin had memorized… how long ago? came to mind as geth units fell all around us. Nyoka and Xanawe had also hacked about half a dozen geth platforms, and I had two geth enthralled as well. We three had become twelve, and that twelve then became fourteen, then we were down to seven, now ten.
'Tis glorious.
Suddenly we reached five Alliance soldiers, cut off from the rest of their comrades. Leading them I saw a female figure in Phoenix armor, blasting away with her Avenger assault rifle while dragging another marine to safety.
The three of us whirled around, setting up a green-black biotic bubble around the Alliance squad. Then we began slowly walking towards the ship.
"MOVE!" I barked. The Alliance soldiers used our cover to grab their wounded, and moved with us until we rejoined the perimeter. The bubble around them suddenly shifted to become a wall behind us, and wordlessly we sent the shockwave towards the advancing geth, scattering them like ninepins. The gunfire ceased suddenly, the geth disappearing into the fields and rocks from whence they had come. The Alliance lieutenant slowly turned to me.
"Ash…" I started to walk towards her, when suddenly she snapped to attention, and saluted.
"Captain," she said, looking past me. I turned.
A lone figure in the grey and red Terminus Armor was making her way towards us. A gloved hand came up and removed the helmet, passing it to one of the soldiers following her.
The very image of Rebecca Shepard. Just… older.
And scarred.
One eye was the same green emerald as her daughter's. The other was a glaring red artificial optical implant, apparently made necessary by whatever had given her the jagged scar starting in her scalp and moving down her right cheek all the way to her chin.
"Captain Hannah Shepard," I said, saluting. "I'm…"
"I know who the FUCK you are," came the savage, hate-filled reply. Hannah Shepard brought up a pistol and pointed it right at my face.
"What I don't know is what the FUCK you are doing here."
The Alliance soldiers around us followed their captain's lead, rifles and shotguns coming up to bear on us. Xanawe and Nyoka's biotics began to flare, but I stood them down with a single mental command. The fact that Ashley stood there and did nothing did not escape me. Not a single word in my defense. Not a single acknowledgement of who I was.
I slowly brought up my arm and activated the video recording of Admiral Jones giving the Conclave the mission information.
"Our scout ship was brought down not far from here," I said, when the recording stopped. "We came to help."
"And a big fucking help you've been," Hannah Shepard scoffed derisively, but lowered her weapon. "Three fucking soldiers, shot down with the rest of us. Now I have to keep you three alive as well. You haven't helped anyone, you stupid dumbass. You've only made my job harder."
Anger seeped from my two companions, but I sent a reassuring vibe their way.
"Unlike the Orizaba, Captain," I said slowly, trying to keep anger from my voice. "My ship will soon be repaired, and we will soon be having Conclave reinforcements arriving planetside."
Hannah Shepard turned to Ashley.
"Lieutenant."
"Yes, ma'am?" Ashley said.
"If either of these three aliens attempt to board the Orizaba, you are to shoot them."
She then spun on her heel and walked away without another word to me. Ashley turned away from me as well, shouting orders to various squad leaders.
"Tajo, get those barricades back into position," she was saying. "Wallace, get back to the ship and get a report on the repairs."
"Ashley," I hissed. "What the FUCK is going on? Will you talk to me? I just saved your lives, for the God's sake!"
She froze.
"Of course you did," she said angrily. Her words were a low growl, laced with rage. "Because that's what you do, isn't it? Just come in save the day every time the rest of us screw everything up? You just had to be the big fucking hero, didn't you? Thought that swooping in the pulling our asses out the hot spot like the goddamn cavalry would just fix everything, didn't you?"
I stood there, stunned.
"Well guess what?" she hissed. "You're about two fucking months too late! Two. Months."
"Is that what's this all about?" I asked, incredulous. "Because I wasn't there when the Normandy went down? Do you think for a moment that I haven't been beating myself up every day for two months because I wasn't there? I would give anything, to bring her back, Ashley!"
"THEN WHY THE HELL DIDN'T I HEAR FROM YOU?"
The FUCK?
"Two months," Ash choked. "Sixty-three days. And not a single word. Not a single email, or a goddam letter. I lost one of the best people I've ever known and you weren't there. Not then, and not after."
I took a step back, still stunned.
"Ashley…" I said, bringing up my Omni-tool. "I contacted you… every day. Every fucking day."
Ashley looked down at her Omni-Tool as I established a direct link and began re-sending my communiques. She had a look of utter bewilderment and denial as she saw the time-stamped messages appear on her screen.
There was a very long pause.
"I'm…. I'm…" she started, then suddenly turned and ran towards a pile of crates. I followed her closely, and she suddenly went down on her knees behind the crates and retched. She went down to all fours, and continued gagging.
"Bastards…" she was saying between heaves. I went down on a knee and put a hand on her back.
"Breathe, Ash… it's ok."
"No… noit'snot. Noit'snot. Ugghhh."
She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
"They blocked them."
"Who?"
"I was in de-briefing for two weeks after the attack. Intel spooks put me and everyone else through the grill, asking me all kinds of questions. I sent out a letter every day when I had a moment alone. They must've… must've… bastards."
She turned back to me.
"I got in touch with my family… my friends…. But not you. Why would… why…"
"It doesn't matter," I said, and I pulled her close. Her arms wrapped around me in a fierce bear hug.
"I'm so sorry. So sorry. Sorry." She said over and over again.
"Shh," I crooned. "Let's concentrate on the here and now."
"Right," she sniffed and I helped her to her feet. "I'm…. whoa."
She tottered on her feet.
"When was the last time you slept?" I asked. "Or ate?"
She lightly punched me in the shoulder.
"Shut up."
*SOME TIME LATER*
"So… tell me about the Butcher of Torfan," I said. We had made a ring of the perimeter, but Captain Shepard had gone back into the ship.
"Well… first off, she hates being called that," Ash answered. "Scuttlebutt says she shot a fellow captain in the thigh once for it."
"I believe it."
"She's…. everything Skipper wasn't," Ash continued. "Where Becca would inspire loyalty, she instills fear. Where she would have a kind word, the Captain is there with an ass-kicking. And the thing is… I don't really know which one gets the better results. It's like… Skipper was a paragon of virtues, and her mom is… is… What's the word?"
"A renegade," I said, shaking my head at this newest nod to the games reality had thrust upon me. Ruthless, I thought to myself.
"Yeah."
"Seneschal. Geth," came Nyoka's voice over the radio.
Ash and I looked at each other, and then caught up our weapons, shouting out orders. I found the two Protheans and took up a position next to them.
"Any word from the Comet?" I asked.
Nyoka shook her head.
"Not yet, Seneschal," answered Xanawe.
"As soon as we can we should – "I started, but then noticed a thin red line on a nearby marine's chest. I pulled him towards me, the shot just going over his shoulder.
"SNIPERS!" I yelled out. Suddenly the geth were in front of us, charging forward. No battle cries, no sounds at all. Just silent determination and the *wup-wup of their Geth Pulse Rifles. Grenades and biotic warps launched out, scattering the charging geth.
"MOVE OUT!" came a cry to our right. Glancing right, we saw a Terminus-Armor-clad figure leap over the barricade and charge toward the oncoming geth. The marines around us leapt over to follow her.
She's crazy.
I charged forward with my biotics, drawing Lieutenant as I did so. I activated my Omni-Shield, using it to flip a geth unit bodily over me. I left it for someone else to kill, and pressed on.
Shepard was, in Kevin's words, bloody awesome. If Rebecca Shepard was a legend on the battlefield, her month was the myth. She now had twin Omni-Blades activated, skewering a geth platform and using it as a shield to absorb enemy fire as she walked forward, calmly blazing away with her pistol. The impetus of the geth's charge had been broken, and they were too scattered to resist this counterattack.
She's crazy, but brilliant.
Suddenly, a low rumble could be heard. I looked around, and saw all of our allies doing the same. Then, the rocks ahead of us exploded into tiny fragments. Behind it, I saw two geth Colossus units, with about five armatures in support.
"Oh, fuck me," Ashley gasped next to me.
Hannah straightened up over the geth unit she'd just decapitated. She looked out at the incoming tank units coming towards us.
"FALL BACK!" she shouted. "Bring the ship's cannons to bay!"
Then she charged directly at the incoming units.
Crazy, but brilliant, but suicidal.
I charged forward with her, dodging the multiple massive shots that the geth tanks were firing at us. To my right and left, I saw Xanawe and Nyoka moving with me.
Right, wait for it… now!
Hannah threw an incendiary grenade at the closest armature. The explosion rocked it off-balance. Xanawe took that opportunity to target its giant eye. Nyoka turned to me and cupped her hands. I lifted a foot into her hands and boosted off her, flaring my biotics (which doubled the height her biotic throw already would have gotten me). I came down on the armature's back, seeing the gap in the armor that Mira had pointed out to me on Virmire. But I didn't want to blow this one up. Not yet. I ran to the gap and plunged my interface spikes into the exposed wiring.
"Ochedin Valannor!"
The geth armature's giant eye went from white to a florescent green. Then it turned and opened fire on the other geth units.
"Seneschal!"
I turned to see Nyoka carrying Hannah Shepard's unconscious body, given cover by Xanawe biotic barriers. Leaping from the armature's back, I supported her barriers. Luckily for us, one of the geth colossus units was targeting my newly-turned armature. The other one however, aimed a shot directly for us. I knew that even our biotic barriers were going to be useless.
"COVER!"
We rolled to the left, narrowly dodging the massive energy discharge.
"Get her back to the ship!" I said. "I'll cover you as best I can."
The two Protheans nodded, then took off towards the ship. I activated my Omni-shield again, and took out my rifle in my other hand.
This is gonna hurt, I braced myself.
But before I could put my insane plan into action, a massive explosion rocked the colossus targeting me. Then more shots brought it stumbling to its knees. The rest of the geth had managed to destroy my enthralled armature, but not before taking some hits themselves. They now turned to try and locate the source of this new threat.
And forgot about little me.
One armature turned florescent green, and I disconnected my spikes. Instead of telling it to just open fire, I ordered it to charge the nearest armature at a top speed. Which, granted, wasn't breaking any land records, but I made the leap onto the hostile armature's back and turned that one as well. As if on cue, more rockets connected with the colossus units. My two armatures ran for each colossus unit, taking up a position underneath them.
And then self-destructing.
The geth units were ripped apart in the massive explosions. I lowered my biotic barrier which had shielded me from the explosion, looking around for my rescuers.
Through the flames of the burning geth armored units came multiple figures. In the dark now, all I could see were silhouettes illuminated by the fires all around us. That, and their flashlight heads.
Crap. More geth.
I raised my rifle, but then hesitated. These were not like any geth I had ever seen before. What approached me now was like all sentient races put in a line and transformed to geth. Barely any two of them looked the same, only common thing being the frame. Each one had a different set of modifications. The first one in line was a Commander class Geth, towering at around 9 feet, his left hand replaced by a set of machine guns. Beside him was a geth unit that looked for all the world like a xenomorph, with the same winding tail and tall head-plate. Beside it was something that looked like a geth trying to imitate a turian, with multiple spikes coming off of his otherwise normal geth head.
The hell was this?
The last one looked pretty basic except for on top of its head were several tentacle-like appendages, each one with their own little camera eye, giving it a 360-degree view of its surroundings (or so it seemed to me). As the unit reached the front and stood next to the commander class geth, the eye flashed up brightly and all cameras turned towards me. I definitely didn't have the opportunity yet to be watched by someone with more than two eyes. It was very Medusa-esque vibes. I fought the urge to look away to avoid being turned to stone. The Medusa walked towards me slowly, its hips sashaying.
"Ordained."
What the actual FUCK?
The Geth weren't meant to make contact until the third game. There never were unique Geth aside from Legion. Did Levi send them? Must be. Nobody knew me as "Ordained" but Levi, the Keepers and-
SHIT.
The realization hit me like a truck. Or an asteroid. Or a charging Krogan.
"Mira?"
Author's Note:
Hey everybody, sorry it took me so long to upload this chapter. Life got busy and hectic here around the holiday season, something that I'm sure you all can relate to! Hopefully the length of this chapter will make up for it, and I'm already working on the next chapter, which I'll upload as soon as possible! That said, please: feel free to send me your ideas, thoughts, critiques, and comments! This is for you guys, and I want you guys to feel involved in the story.
Special shout-out to Zahkrii, for shooting me such awesome ideas for Mira and Ko'le's reunion.
You guys are awesome! Hope to see you soon!
- Tusken1602
Reviewer Responses:
Deathknight999, Br2nd66, Squadpunk2.0, Tahkaullus01, redcollector, general-joseph-dickson, Biorr the Old, - We're about to meet the New Geth and find out how they've held up against the heretics. The only question is, how will they hold up against the Butcher of Torfan?
shugokage, Nv34, Nagato21 – Yep, the coup of the Blue Suns is definitely going to rock the boat in the galaxy. Prepare for a massive gang war, right in time for a familiar turian to be landing on Omega…
tamagat – I don't have a name for it as of now. It's a light armor, and I had the Mercenary model in my head when I was writing the scene.
METALHELLSPAWN – According to canon, Wrex is around 1400 years old, and Patriarch is supposed to be "the oldest krogan around." Supposedly, the leading rumor is that he ruled the station during the actual Krogan Rebellions, and their aftermath. So that would make him about 2000 years old?
Appbeza – We'll see a lot more of EDI and Ko'le interacting here on Haestrom, don't worry!
Asahar4 – I wasn't planning on having a Ko'le/Aria slash, but there are definitely strong feelings. I think Ko'le reminds Aria too much of her when she first got to the station for her to outright "like" him.
griezz – don't worry, we'll be seeing the Normandy SR-2 very soon.
RoyalTwinFangs, dtrammell95, Haruchai, Blaze1992, Uruchi-Soul, Agent Klyntar, 5 Coloured Walker, Cowie2, Rmito, sygiko, hishamkm, Rangle, Cf96, Mr. P, dragons guard, Elvisfonz23, spiral83 – Thanks you guys! Couldn't have done it without each and every one of you! Keep the thoughts and comments coming!
YOU GUYS ROCK!