We passed Corinthus, charging across the base towards the main barricade. Our boots kicked up dust as we ran, pounding towards the ladder at the end of the base. Shepard reached the ladder first, her gloved hands taking hold of the rungs as she pulled herself up. I followed, hauling myself after her until I reached the top.
"Amiee, get on the gun," she ordered, pointing towards the large turret in the centre of the wall.
"Wait, what? Why can't you do it?" I asked, terrified of the monstrous weapon.
She turned, glaring at me. "Get. On. The. Gun. Now," she snarled, taking position. Her biotics flared, coating her in a violet haze. "I'm using my biotics to keep them off the barricade, Garrus is a better sniper than you, and James has his carnage, so get on the gun and shut your damn mouth."
"Alright, alright. Jesus," I grumbled, taking the handles into my hands and pointing the barrel towards the cavern in front of us. The height made me pause, but I shook my head, pushing aside the vertigo as James and Garrus took position on either side of me.
"Here they come!" she shouted. Her biotics rippling as she pulled the energy up into her palms and launched it. The warp threw one of the husks back, sending it crashing into a wall, where it slumped down, dead on the floor. "Fire!" she screamed at me. "Don't let them get up here!"
It's adventure time! Ignoring my brains sarcasm, I nodded, pulling the dual trigger and wincing as the bullets began to fly. The turret nearly vibrated me off the platform, until I braced my legs, clutching the trigger mechanism for dear life. I swung it round, trying to aim the uncooperative machine. Judging by the husk that splintered apart, I succeeded.
Fuck yeah, donkey! I totally got this shit.
"Left," Garrus bellowed over the sound of the turret, directing me to a thick knot of husks. They started scrambling up the walls, screaming their terrible calls. I turned the turret, straining under its weight, squeezing the trigger and snarling as husk after husk plummeted, killed by my rounds spraying the walls.
"Muñeca, centre!" James shouted, throwing his frag grenades, before reloading.
"Jesus. Bloody. Christ. I have eyes dammit. I can frickin' see!" I screamed. "Shut the fuck up!"
I finished another cluster, before the gun emptied, making me curse. Precious seconds were wasted while I reloaded-after figuring out where the hell to put the heatsinks-giving the husks a chance to gain ground. "C'mon, c'mon," I muttered, squeezing the triggers once more. I blasted the husks on the barricade, driving them back, giving the others time to finish off the last few.
"Just picking them off. Maybe I can do three at a time. Wahoo!" My jarhead ... whatever he is, shouted. I grinned, watching as more fireballs fell, dropping husks. I found myself actually enjoying it, the thrill of the adrenaline coursing through my veins, setting me ablaze with energy.
Garrus landed a mid-mid air shot, killing one of the zombie things before it even landed. "Okay, come one, who's next?" he shouted, the same energy in his voice.
"They're on the barricade!"
Twisting around at Shepard's shout, I watched as she sent a shockwave along the ridge on her side of the wall, throwing husks for me and the boys to kill.
"Heads up, here comes another wave!"
My bullets left tiny lines of fire as I spun again, slamming the new wave with bullets, picking them off easily. James threw a grenade, killing as many I did. His shouts made me laugh. He sounded like he was having the time of his life. "Yeah! Like fish in a barrel!"
Garrus fought his way towards Shepard as a heapin' pile of husks charged. I began to panic. I'd not noticed the husks climbing the wall, too busy trying to clear the new wave. He took three, while she took two, and I cleared the last, trusting James to watch my back.
"What?" Garrus asked, turning to James.
"Old human saying. Like fish in a barrel," the marine explained, ducking down as a huge explosion shook us.
A fireball, bigger than any I'd seen so far landed, mere meters from us. As the flames dissipated, a huge creature came into view through the smoke. I froze, hearing James shouting questions, but I couldn't answer, fear disabled me. My body shook, ripples of fear slamming me as I met its malicious, metallic eyes. It stood, like a bear rearing in challenge, showing thick, ropy muscles, all laced with wiring. On the end of its arm, a huge claw, looking sharp enough to rip a person in two, slammed into the ground.
What the hell is it? I ... oh god, we can't ... I couldn't think past the icy fear in my chest. A lump of anxiety squeezing off my breathing. Its eyes left mine, focusing instead, on the platform I cowered behind.
It dropped down, its thick shoulders rolling as it charged, swinging its giant claw, hitting the barricade. The blow threw me, sending me tumbling to the ground. I landed a second later, air rushing from my chest as my body impacted, crushing rocks into my chest plate. Dazed, I tried to crawl, to move away from the beast, instinct driving me towards the rocks on my left.
It stood again, beating its chest, charging towards me. I wheezed, fighting for breath. I'd lost my Viper, but I still had my shotgun. Reaching behind me, I pulled the heavy gun, trying to unhook it, but my hands trembled so hard it made the task almost impossible.
Time slowed, and I faced my death, struggling to bring my weapon around in time to fight.
"Amiee!" James shouted, running forward to stand in front of me. He pulled his weapon up, pumping the beast full of bullets, giving me time to get up. "Move. Get to cover," he ordered, as the beasts head shook. It rounded on him, losing interest in me in favor of James.
I stood, pulling strength from some unknown well inside me, and yanked my shotgun off my back. Side by side, James and I plugged rounds into its face, driving it back so we could roll away, him diving left, me diving right as it charged, swinging its claw again.
It roared, the giant limb catching me and sending me flying. Pain seared up my hip. I rolled and staggered to my feet. Limping away, I joined Shepard and Garrus. James gave us a distraction, running around it, calling for its attention while we regrouped.
"Grenades," Shepard said, analyzing it as it spun, trying to catch James. "I'll use my lift grenades, Garrus, use proximity and your concussive shot. Amiee, keep blasting it with your shotgun, use cryo ammo, see if we can slow it down," she ordered. "James, frag!"
The Marine nodded, throwing two under its feet and diving towards us. We all took a side, surrounding it, all throwing our attacks over and over, weakening it. Sweat poured down my face as it turned, facing me again. "What? I smell like brute-nip or somethin'? C'mon fucker, play with me," I snarled, bringing my shotgun up. "You ugly fuck, C'mon now, don't be scared."
Don't fucking taunt the thing, Amiee. It's gonna kill you, then what will ya do huh? Oh right, nothing ... cause you'll be dead. Now. Run!
Following my own advice, I emptied my weapon, listening for Shepard. She'd been throwing orders, keeping us in formation, and I knew she needed a second's distraction; hence the taunting. Backing away, I reached the wall, realizing I had nowhere else to go. I could hear James and Garrus, calling my name, both hoarse from smoke and shouting, but it didn't matter, there was only one voice I needed right now.
C'mon, Shep, before it smashes me into pulp. I reached into my ammo belt, only to curse.I didn't have any clips left. Oh, you dickhead. I ground my teeth, as my hands searched my waist again, pausing over the hard lumps on my hips. I'd forgotten about my grenades.
"You're in for it now," I said, grinning. I knew I stood too close, but I had no choice, not now. It was this, or get pinned against the wall and eaten. I wanted to come up with some smart ass line, you know, something really badass, but my brain had blanked, preparing, I think, for the pain to come. I depressed the activation buttons, throwing my last two grenades under its bloody stomach. Closing my eyes, the last I heard was its brutal roar, followed by the sound of the explosion ... Then ... silence.
"Amiee. Amiee, wake up. C'mon, baby, open your eyes for me."
The words reached me through the foggy haze in my head, the voice comforting, pulling me from the dark. I tried to open my eyes, to move, to ... breathe, but pain ripped through my chest.
"Just hold on, let the meds work," James whispered, running gentle fingers over my face. "Damn, woman, don't scare me like that again. Okay?"
The fear, vulnerability and tint of anger in his tone brought my eyes snapping open. I'm not dead?I met his dark eyes, tracing his face, taking in his pinched features. "I'm not dead?"
He smiled, cupping my chin and kissing me softly. "No, you're definitely not dead," he whispered against my lips. "But, you're gonna be in pain for a while."
No shit, Sherlock. Without expressing the retort my spazzy brain came up with, I sat up. Oh. My. Fuck. I groaned, unable to help the ragged sound. Whatever meds I'd been given hadn't worked as much as I'd like, and I could feel the bones of my ribs grinding. "I'm guessing I cracked a rib or two?" I gasped.
He wrapped his arm around me, lifting me, infinite care in each movement. "More than one. So. No more fightin' Brutes. Kay?" he whispered, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
"Kay," I answered, as he stood, helping me to my feet. "I can fight?" I asked, gently pressing my hand to my ribs. I could feel them throbbing, but the pain wouldn't disable me. I mean, yeah, it would bloody hurt, but I could move, and fight. I just hoped, no, prayed, there wasn't more to this mission.
"Don't need to. The commander and Scars went ahead. I've gotta look after you," he said, wrapping his arm around me and helping me limp towards the ladder to get back to the base. "We'll be going back to the Normandy." He boosted me up, using his considerable size and strength to lift me half way up the ladder.
I didn't complain about his hands on my butt, one, cause yeah, it's James, and two, I really needed the lift. I ached, my whole body feeling as if it'd been seared by molten lava. I bit my lip, trying not to make any sudden movements as I climbed. Reaching the lip, I pulled myself over, scrambling to my knees and staggering to my feet. I watched James's head appear, admiring the ease in his movements.
"C'mon, let's get to the shuttle," I sighed, once we'd gotten off the platform. The base was a mess, turians running around, barking orders, checking crates and handing out weapons, but we ignored it. I took James's hand, needing the comfort of the contact. I worried about Shepard and Garrus, but I knew I was in no state to fight. "James ... she'll be okay, right?"
He looked down at me as we passed the barricade, heading to the shuttle. I felt odd, almost bereft, leaving my commander behind, but I couldn't fight the screams of my body. "She'll be fine, she's the commander. Don't worry, Muñeca."
Nodding my head, I let him lift me into the shuttle, not complaining as he sat me down, his hand stroking my hair for a second. He moved to the pilots area and sat down. The pilot-Cortez, I think-nodded, and the two filled each other in on the mission and Shepard's location.
I don't even remember the journey back to theNormandy, I just sat there, letting the adrenaline fade from my system, leaving me exhausted. I heard them talking, something about EDI the ship's AI. I didn't really know much about her to be honest, I mean, talking to aliens freaked me out enough, I didn't need to be talking to human-voiced ... things. Ugh, no, that ... yeah, too much even for me.
"You okay back there, Amiee?" Cortez called, as we docked with the ship. He turned in his seat, smiling at me. "You look like you've taken a beating. James said you took on a brute?"
I looked at him, my eyes half mast. "I'm just glad it didn't try 'n' eat me or some shit," I said, tilting my lips in what I hoped was a smile, rather than a grimace. Crap, now I'm hurtin'. Now the adrenalin left my body, I could feel every single broken bone, and knew I wouldn't be able to stand again unaided. "Hey, Action Man. Wanna help a girl out?"
James grinned, moving from the front of the shuttle and scooping me up into his arms princess style. "Your carriage awaits, Muñeca. You never know, if you're lucky, you can ride me later too," he whispered, bending to nuzzle my hair.
I winced as the action compressed my aching ribs.
"Maybe after you've seen the doc," he said, frowning.
I nodded, resting my head on the hard plating of his armor, the cool metal soothing my slightly charred skin. I listened to him breathe as he carried me, my arms around his neck. Even the long elevator ride passed without me threatening to blow it up out of boredom. I didn't care that people were looking; I hurt too bad, and needed drugs, stat.
"Ah, Amiee. Shepard called ahead, I've been expecting you," Doctor Chakwas said as we entered the medbay. The graying, motherly woman beamed at us, turning in her chair to get a better look. "Well, it certainly does looks like you've been playing with Shepard."
I cocked my head as James sat me on the bed and began removing my armour. "James, I can do that," I protested, pushing his hands away. I mean, its not like he'd not seen me undressed before, but in front of Chakwas? Yeah, lil' awkward.
The doctor tutted, her hands on her hips. "James, please wait outside. I've been patching Shepard up long enough to know how to remove armour," she said, a teasing glare on her face. "Go. Shoo, I'll call you when she's decent." She made little shooing gestures and I grinned as the huge warrior left like a scolded child.
Honestly, he puts sad puppies to shame.
I shook my head, waiting until the door slid shut behind him before turning to Chakwas. "So, what's up doc?" I asked, wondering if the reference meant anything to her. When she didn't respond, I sighed. Don't give up, you'll get them to recognize somethin' soon.I don't know why I bothered really, I mean, what did it matter if they knew about Bugs Bunny, Doctor Who or Dragonage?
"Let's get that off you, then I'll do a quick blood test. The results won't take long. You can have a rest before I check on your ribs, then we'll see what we can do about those burns," she said, her voice warm and gentle. She helped me remove the armour, that by now felt like it weighed three tons. Under the metal, I wore my undersuit, which she helped me wriggle out of before setting it aside. Once I was naked, blushing and wincing, she handed me a gown, which I slipped on.
I sat on the bed, watching her. "So, how do you need me?" I asked. I shuffled back, pulling my legs up and lay back against the pillows. I wanted to find out if Shepard had gotten back with the Primarch.
"Hmm. If you're anything like Jane, I'd say not long. I can never get her to be still," she said, chuckling. "Now, wait there." After giving me a stern look, the graying doctor left me to my own devices while she hurried off to do ... well, doctory things, I guess.
Glancing around, I quickly grew bored. You'd think they'd have somethin' to look at in here. Lifting my omni-tool, I activated it, and frowned. Who the hell's messaging me?
"Ah, here we are," Chakwas said, more to herself than me. She muttered a little more, rustling around, gathering supplies, but I didn't hear the doctors words. I stared at my omni-tool.
System Message.
Username: Lady K.
We regret to inform you that there has been a critical error in the exit subroutines for Mass Effect 3 Online. We are unable to manually disconnect you at this time, due to the risk to your health. Emergency Personnel have been notified, and are working with our technicians to fix the error and disconnect you safely. Your health is our first priority, so you have been moved to a hospital where specialists are giving you, and others trapped within the game, the very best of care. Your family have been notified, and arrangements have been made for your son.
At this point in time, we have been unable to determine the effects of death in the game. Players are advised to execute extreme caution in navigating the game world until more information can be obtained.
We believe that the final exit protocols are still in working order, so completion of the game will exit you from the system. We are terribly sorry for the oversight of this error, and we doing everything we can to return you safely. Further updates on the status of correcting this error will sent as we have them.
Be Safe.
Sincerely,
Bioware Community Team.
I read the message, over and over, my breathing becoming agonising, as my breath sawed through my lips. My ribs protested, and my eyes blurred.
"No. Please, God, no." My words were a plea, helpless, broken and swollen with tears. After the third time, I broke down, unable to quell the sobs ripping from my throat. Pressing the exit button, I received nothing more than a little beep and an error message.
"Please. Please. I have to go back." I wept, tears streaking down my face as my hand dropped. Ragged holes ripped into my heart, images of my sons face burning through my mind. I began to scream. Panic filled me, and my voice broke as I choked on it. I suffocated, unable to breathe, gasping and breaking.
Hands reached me, hot against my icy skin. A sharp pain hit me in the side of the neck, and soothing words were breathed into my ear. A hazy shroud fell over my body and my screams died. With no air left in my body, I wept.
I tucked myself into a ball, trying to hold myself together. My body didn't feel like my own, numbness spreading over my limbs. I almost begged for it to spread to my chest, to block out the ache, but no mercy would come. I felt every single slice, every single tear as I heard his voice, saw his eyes, felt his skin under my fingers.
Would I ever see him again? Would I ever be able to hold him in my arms? Stroke his cheek, kiss his soft forehead? The questions swirled, pummeling me, battering down any defence I had left.Will he be okay? Who's gonna tuck him in? Will they remember to give him Larry? He can't ... he can't sleep without his Larry. Take me back, please, someone, just ... take me back. He needs me, he needs his mummy. Please...
I heard voices, murmuring my name my name, asking if I was okay, but I couldn't answer. I had no words, no way to express the crushing weight of my pain. James's gentle hands cupped my face, his voice whispering words of comfort. With no way home, dark sorrow washed me away, the arms holding me as insignificant as the world: my prison.