MASS EFFECT ANDROMEDA SERIES II: CHAPTER 11
"So this is it?" Garrus joked as he held up the rough looking old armor that Wrex came back with and was going stuff into his locker. "All that trouble with the pirates and now that you have it, you are putting it away?"
Wrex shrugged as he looked on. "I can't believe my ancestors ever wore this piece of crap. But at least I've got it back." He took it away and continued to place it in his locker haphazardly.
Garrus laughed and shook his head. "I didn't know the Krogan were so sentimental."
"We're not," Wrex shot back.
"Keelah. What is that thing?" Tali asked as she walked over. It was hard to see her eyes through her darkened visor. Her respirator lit up with each word.
"Just armor." Wrex shut his locker door in hopes that if he had the piece out of sight, it would no longer be the focal point of the conversation.
"I wanted to thank you, Wrex, for helping Shepard and I with fulfilling my pilgrimage. The geth data I obtained will be crucial in my people finding a way to retake our homeworld." Tali rubbed her fingers nervously. Her people were so use to be isolated by society that she wasn't accustomed just yet in striking up conversations with other races besides with fellow Quarians. Most of the Quarians resided in the safety of their Flotilla before and after their pilgrimage was complete. While on their pilgrimage they kept to their selves but not by choice. A lot of species didn't want to be in contact with them due to their past history with the Geth creation. They were considered to be outcasts among the galaxies even worse than the Batarians.
"That's right. Since you completed your pilgrimage, will you be leaving us now, Tali?" Garrus inquired.
"No and that's actually why I came here. Shepard said we were approaching the planet, Virmire, and he asked me to get you to come along, Garrus."
"I'm on my way," Garrus moved over to his locker to get his gear. "Sorry, Wrex, maybe next time."
Wrex pouted and leaned up against the wall with his arms crossed as he watched his teammate. "Watch yourself out there, Vakarian. A down Salarian recon team is not a good sign. They are clever pyjacks."
"I fought tons of Geth now, Wrex," Garrus teased back as he suited up. "I mean what's next? Krogan and Geth?"
"No Krogan would follow Saren," Wrex obviously missed the joke.
"Good. Geth and Rachni are bad enough."
"Dead Rachni," Wrex corrected with a smirk, knowing he would strike a nerve, but Garrus shook it off. The debate about what happened on Noveria was over with. Finally, after weeks of waiting, they would reach Saren's location and he would find Andromeda. Though it had been weeks, he worried about what kind of state would he find her in.
"That's one gatehouse unlocked," Tali cheered as they re-entered the Mako from their first ground attack against the Geth stationed. Their welcoming party was becoming tiresome. Shepard and his team were pretty weary of encountering Geth at every corner. Just how large was the Geth army? Course with being machines, the Geth could easily manufacture more troops in less than the time it took for any military to recruit and train new soldiers.
"You know this planet is pretty peaceful and serene…minus the Geth," Garrus speculated as he turned to look at the radar.
"Yeah, I'll have to book a vacation here when I'm done," Shepard grinned as he punched the throttle and the Mako's wheels splattered water as it rolled forward through the shallow water that carved the path to their destination.
Suddenly a large blip showed up on the radar, Garrus knew it was too big to be Geth troopers. "Um, Commander?"
"Yes?" Shepard called out loudly over the Mako's engines.
"We, uh, may want to slow down."
"Why?" Shepard decreased the throttle just as they rounded a bend. Up ahead, a Colossus raised up from detecting them and began to walk their way. "Oh…"
"Bosh'tet. Not a Colossus." Tali saw the Colossus' light on their image screen.
"It's firing!" Garrus yelled. "Evasive maneuvers!"
"Roger," Shepard quickly slammed the Mako in reverse and then engaged the thrusters to try to avoid the blast. The blast sheered their shields just passing by and the Mako violently shook. "Damnit!"
"Shields down to sixty-five percent," Tali reported from the gauges.
"Just from that?!" Garrus was shocked. He couldn't imagine where they would be if the blast hit them dead on.
"It will take seconds for it to charge up another blast, Commander." Tali pointed out.
"Already on it," Shepard aimed the Mako's main cannon and blasted their own weapon. The blast hit the Colossus knocking it back a bit. The metallic structure shook and then approached the Mako like a varren stalking its prey.
"Direct hit! Shields down to seventy-five percent for the Colossus, Commander!" Garrus excitedly gasped.
"He's next so let's make ourselves a smaller target," Shepard placed the Mako further in reverse and maneuvered around the bend just before the Colossus could fire once again. Luckily the rover was more agile than the Colossus.
"Main cannon charged." Tali spoke out as she tried to look around the bend on the image screen.
"We will have a three second window once we are in sight before it can take aim. Let's do this," Shepard hit the thruster and came at the Colossus fast and fired the cannon while moving. The ion blast struck the Colossus again head on.
"Keelah! Shields down to forty-five percent, Commander! One more and that should do it!"
"Hang on. We are going around it before it can fire," Shepard gritted his teeth as he raced the rover close by the Colossus' legs then whirled to approach it from the rear. The Colossus' head pivoted to find its target and began to move around to locate it once more. Shepard was determined not to give it that opportunity. "Got you, you son of a bitch." He fired again and the blast breached the Colossus' exterior. It shuddered and then collapsed to the ground out of order.
"Let's get to that Salarian campsite," Garrus relaxed a bit in his seat as he confirmed visually that there were no more blips on the screen as the rover went on to the next gatehouse.
"If there are any of them left…" Tali worriedly spoke out.