Chapter 10: Illium
(A/N: This chapter is just taking place on the Normandy while Shepard recurits Thane. sadly no apperance of Thane til the next chapter.)
Illium, haven't been there for a few months. Probably should tell Shepard that Liara is there as well. But then again that was two months ago. She might a packed her bags and left. Still I should mention it to Shepard just in case. "Tex," Shepard said as he came up to the table with his tray of food.
"Commander," I replied.
"Anything we need to be on the look out for on Illium?" he asked.
"Why do you always go to Tex for Intel? I mean there's two other guys here who might have something you need to know," Mike said.
"Alright so you want to tell me what we might face?" Shepard asked.
"Uh it was a rhetorical question," Mike said.
"okay then shut up. Tex?" Shepard asked.
"Let me think, we got an old squad member down on the planet. Least she was there last time I was there, plus plenty of Eclipse soldiers," I said. I sipped my coffee and looked at the schematics I had drawn up for upgrading the suits armor and shields.
"What's that?" Shepard asked.
"Little pet project I'm working on. Trying to find a way to make our suits armor and shielding system better," I said.
"Need anything for it? Had EDI probe some planets while you guys nearly got shot up," Shepard said. Miranda walked by and sat next to us.
"That might help. But I'm not sure how I'd put it to use though. Not used to researching, just give me a rifle, tell me to increase it's power and I'll do that," I said. I put the schematics away finished off my coffee. I left the table and went back to my quarters and found Kasumi fiddling with my helmet. "Yeah I know the design is weird. No need to say it," I said before Kasumi could talk.
"Not that, but I do have to admit it's a bit weird. You take my mission into consideration? No telling when Shepard will green light it," she said.
"I have and the only way I'm doing that is if Shepard orders me too. I don't do too well in those type of missions. Like Mike and Grunt, I prefer to go through the front door with guns blazing, not sneak in," I said. I went to a small container and opened it to find my ammunition safely tucked away.
"Never will understand why you go with that type of ammo. Too bulky and space wasters," she said.
"Just do is all. I am thinking of converting my guns into thermal clip users though. Already got one reconfigured but haven't had time to test it. Hopefully Illium will provide that very opportunity," I replied. She shrugged and left as Miranda entered. I just focused on my work, since I was still trying to figure out my feelings for her. She just worked for Cerberus but was responsible for my brothers hospitalization. So now I was completely torn between my intense distrust of Cerberus and my feelings for Miranda. What a winning combo. I walked back to my armor and pulled out the chest and back portion and quickly began working on the shields. They had taken a beating back on Zorya so had to be more careful now.
"Tex, mind if come in?" Miranda asked.
"Why not?" I asked. She walked in and saw me working on the armor.
"still making upgrades? I thought it was as upgraded as it was going to get," she said.
"No reason I can't try to do it again. I'll either succeed or blow myself up," I joked. She chuckled at the joke and then once again, which won't die, another awkward moment took over. I tried to break the moment by saying she was all bad like I had thought she was when I first met her. But that only created a more awkward atmosphere.
"Tex. Hate to- uh am I interrupting something?" Shepard asked.
"Uh no sir. Just um having a conversation with Miranda. You need something?" I asked. Miranda quickly agreed and put some distance between us. Shepard just looked but then shook his head.
"Ok I get it. Well Tex, sorry to say this but you'll stay on the ship. Can't afford you to keep getting shot. And this might help you and Miranda get closer, not that you are already from what mike tells me," Shepard said with a chuckle. He turned and left.
"Hey Miranda do me a favor and remind to kill Mike sometime during the mission? Cause I think he's digging a grave for himself and it needs to be filled," I said.
"Sure. You shoot and I'll hand you the shovel," she joked. I chuckled as well as I continued to work on my armor.
"Monty, take a look at the power on the Generator. I don't want to electrocute myself," I said as I adjusted some wires.
"You mean so you don't get shocked again? If my memory is intact I am counting well over twenty-six times you have shocked yourself," Monty said. Then I recoiled as I shocked myself with a wire. "Twenty-seven," Monty added.
"Hahaha," I said sarcastically," Just make sure to remind me before I actually shock myself again."
"Affirmative. May I also state that Operative Lawson may want to leave due to the fact that possible incineration and maybe even explosions are quite high when Tex is working on his gear," Monty said.
"Monty shut up," I said merely. Miranda chuckled and left to check her messages on her computer.
"May I also state that she has become… attached to you Tex?" Monty added.
"What are you going on about now you crazed A.I.?" I asked not looking from my work.
"When we first arrived she expressed great concern to Commander Shepard about having a dishonorably discharged Marine with a heart condition may not be the best choice for a squad such as his. Also her anger flared slightly when she learned of our hatred toward Cerberus, I assume that she thought all humans should like Cerberus, considering their pro-human," Monty said.
"Yeah well…" I said.
"Also I detected a high yet concealed distrust toward her from you, when you realized she was responsible for the hospitalization of your brother, James. Now that seems to have disappeared and been replaced by a bond of… brotherhood between you two. I'm not sure if that is the right word to use though," Monty said.
"What are you babbling about now?" I asked.
"I detect that Miranda might have, what you humans call, a crush on you. Makes sense though considering how much time you two spend. I, like Mike, am surprised you two haven't-" Monty said.
"Okay I get it. No need to continue. Plus I get what mean, I think I like her as well. But I swear to god you tell her that, I'm getting Tali to fry your circuits. She most likely would agree once I explain to her about A.I. rampancy and how your technically overdue for storage or deletion," I said to Monty.
"Affirmative. Filing recent conversation under top-secret. Secret safe with me and my databanks. Also have received message from Mike and John. Seems that they have an idea for increasing the fighters payload but need your help. Your more familiar with the ships construction than them. I strongly suggest helping otherwise we run the risk of losing the fighter and maybe even the whole Normandy," Monty said.
"Good idea. Plus might need that extra firepower," I said as I smiled at the thought of more missiles and rockets to attach to the jet. I secured my gear and grabbed my toolkit.
"Typical American sense toward extra payload. More firepower to use to blow up more enemies or more buildings. Better than Krogan though," Monty said in his own way of mocking my nationality. wasn't new to me though, since he was based of the mind of a British Field Marshal who always criticized the American General Patton and with no Patton A.I. here, yeah self-explanatory from there on out. I walked to the elevator and stepped on once it stopped.
"Hey Tex, Monty give the message?" Mike asked over our private comm.
"That you need down at the fighter to help with upgrades? Then yeah I got it," I said.
"Nah, your brother, George, apparently he decided to help you try and avenge your old demo team. I think you know he worked with Third Echelon right?" Mike asked.
"Yeah he does, why?" I asked.
"Apparently he knew another Agent tasked with finding out where that Quarian bastard ran off to. Bugger was good at covering his tracks, I'll give him that. But the real money is that he's on Illium. don't know where but George told me to tell you to ask Liara T'Soni. Our old comrade-in-arms. She might know where he's hiding. I'll pass the word to Shepard so you can think about how you'll deal with him," Mike said. My eyes went large and my hands went limp once I heard that my brother had learned of where the traitorous Quarian was hiding. But that passed quickly and was replaced with anger and rage. I lost my whole damn squad to this guy.
Now I've got a shot to avenge all my guys. All my friends who died because he sold us out for creds and god knows what else. I now could feel what Garrus was feeling from when Sidonis betrayed his men. But the only difference, I've felt this way for almost three years now. Hopefully Shepard will green light my vengeance mission. I got down to the deck with my fighter and saw John and Mike already thinking about to put on my bird.
"Should definitely put some flames on this thing," Mike said.
"Tex won't like though. I think he's more of a skull and cross-bones kind of guy. You know like the 'Jolly Roger' pirates put on their rigs hundreds of years ago," John said.
"For a Spartan John, you sure like to joke," I said walking up to the two.
"Sorry we got caught up in trying out ideas for… decal for your bird," John said.
"Hmm, well your not very far off with the Jolly Roger though. But I was thinking more of the Spartan Insignia," I said.
"What? The eagle with the arrows and lightning bolts?" John asked.
"Yep. Now you guys wanted to increase the amount of payload the 38 can carry into battle?" I asked.
"Yeah. Just carrying four sidewinders on the wings, two bombs and regular ammo isn't enough. Well then there's also the optional four Hellfire bombs, torpedo and regular ammo but still. I think we can not only have the bombs and torpedo on but the sidewinders on as well. It'll take awhile," Mike said.
"Wait why are you asking for my permission? Shouldn't you be asking Shepard?" I asked.
"Yeah we're not big on paperwork, so we just went for the sure thing," Mike said.
"You mean you're not big on paperwork. I would've been fine with sending the commander form but you had to-" John said.
"Okay. Come on lets get it over with. What's the idea?" I asked.
"Remember the F-22 Raptor? It kept its rockets tucked away within its structure. I figure we gut the wings enough, we can add a turn-stile effect and allow the fighter to switch from anti-air to anti-ship on a whim. But instead of keeping the weapons on the inside, we just put it on the top part of the wing. Sidewinders on the top, bombs on the bottom and then the torpedo on the under carriage," Mike said.
"Might slow the bird down but hey I've never been one to say no to more firepower," I said.
"Who does nowadays?" Mike said. We quickly got to work on the adjustments and John started to wire some new fire controls to the cockpit. Mike and I quickly put together two missile racks for the top of the wings and helped John install them. Well the whole operation took us several hours and in that time, Shepard and the team he took out were able to recruit Thane. After blasting their way through a shit load of security troops to get to Thane's target a few minutes before he got there.
"Miranda said I could find you guys down here. Also said that you working on the X-38. What's the upgrade and how's it going to help?" Shepard asked.
"Hi to you too sir," Mike said.
"The upgrade is merely to increase the payload the jet takes into combat. Merely putting on extra missile racks on the top of wings so it doesn't conflict with the structure of the ship itself. Or at least it's interior anyway," I said.
"Good. Oh and we got the new member of our team onboard now. we'll head back down to grab another member soon. Tex, your on the squad. This time try not to end up in the infirmary this time. We're debating on whether to just designate a bed in there for you or not," Shepard joked.
"Yeah Tex, don't get shot this time," Mike said.
"Mike, remember I still have a pistol on me? And I'm pretty good shot with it," I said.
"Mike stop the remarks until we get back. Tex, suit up now," Shepard said as he walked off. I met Shepard at the elevator who told about his thoughts on the mission to after the Quarian.
"Tex, I know how you feel about losing your whole squad. I went through the same thing on Akuze, remember? Going after this man and killing him… that won't bring your people back," he said.
"First of all, I remember that you lost your people on Akuze but you went through that once. I went through it twice, Demo team and Infantry on Eden Prime. And I haven't decided on whether to kill the fucker or not. I just want to know why he sold out my friends. Then I'll decided whether to cap him or just wound him. 'til then, you don't have to worry," I said.
"Well, I'm green lighting the mission. Miranda will go with you, so will Tali and Mike. Just don't let your anger get the best of you soldier. I hope you make the right decision on the mission," Shepard said as the elevator arrived. We stepped on and hit our respected floors.
"Don't worry about me sir. Like I said, I just want to know why. But thanks for your concern," I said. The elevator slowly climbed but I reached my floor after several minutes. I stepped off and headed for my quarters. I was finally going to get retribution for my friends. I suited up and grabbed my weapons. Now all I had to do was fly down, ask Liara where he was and then face the asshole. Simple but as always easier said than done.