A/N: Just in case I should warn you that this chapter contains mention of torture and abuse. Hope you enjoy it and the next one won't be far behind. *runs and hides*
** 12 **
Crouched behind a half destroyed garden wall, his legs quivering and ready to give way, Stokes' fingers flew across his omnitool. A constant barrage of shots peppered the jagged surface above his head, flicking dust in his face and he blinked rapidly to clear his vision. He growled as a grenade exploded and showered him with bits of rock and mortar, forcing him to duck lower. So far his cover had held, but for how much longer.
'Stokes, you good?'
'I'd be fine if these fuckwits would stop shooting for one second.' He looked back to find Buckner poking his head around the corner of the building behind him, forced back by shots from the house. 'If you could keep them down long enough for me to get a reading that would be great.' Their huds had been jammed the moment they came in range of the house so they needed something to give them eyes.
'You heard him.' Buckner opened fire, the team, hiding in whatever spot they could find, followed his lead.
They didn't have a target but he took advantage of the momentary lull to get his scanner working, He scowled at the readout before sending the information to the other members of his team. He couldn't move without taking a bullet. The two shooters on the upper level of the building across the lawn would see to that.
The shooting behind him stopped, Buckner would be issuing orders but he had to stay alive in the meantime. He dropped his knee to the ground to release the tension in his leg as he curled in on himself even tighter. Shots hitting the stone sent grit and dirt across his shoulders. They were whittling down the metre length piece of ornamental rock fencing keeping him alive.
'We're coming, Stokes,' Buckner informed him as he lay down cover fire.
'Next time you can take point.'
He dropped his other knee to the ground and leant on his elbows, moving slightly forward to poke his head out. Shots hitting the ground had him darting back with a mumbled curse. He had nowhere to go. The building behind was too far away, he'd been lucky to make it to the wall when they'd turned the corner and the shooting started. A bigger piece of wall stood across the driveway but making it across the gap without getting hit – he didn't like his chances. The shooters were too good.
'Bet you're wishing you'd never told Anderson about this place.'
'Only if you don't get me out of here,' he grumbled and made himself as comfortable as possible in the small area he had.
Buckner laughed, his voice shaking as he moved. 'Working on it.'
Reigler's recon team had found a major outpost, manned by Cerberus troops with Reaper troops wandering the surrounding land. There were hundreds of survivors herded into makeshift camps. They were working on a plan to get them out. They had, however, picked up incoming signals from outside the area. Stokes had been given the task of finding out where they were coming from.
Discovering intermittent electronic signals from this spot had initially made him think the equipment might be faulty, or his imagination had him seeing things that weren't there. When he asked Tracy to take a look it puzzled her too. Eventually they'd taken it to Anderson who suggested sending a team. Naturally he'd sent Stokes as their tech.
Anderson was frustrated and Stokes understood why. They were fighting a war on two fronts with limited resources, dwindling numbers, no support and no hope of it changing. If it wasn't the Reapers it was Cerberus, working together or not it didn't matter. Taking down Cerberus always gave him pleasure, and destroying their hidey holes meant one less obstacle in their path. Finding the signal had been lucky but now, as he crouched behind his flimsy cover, he wondered if he'd die here or if they'd find something worthwhile. Either way he cursed his curiosity.
It occurred to him that he hadn't heard gunfire for a few minutes. Taking the risk he popped his head above the wall. No bullet to the brain so that's a good thing.
'You can come out now, Stokes,' Buckner said into his ear.
'Roger that.'
His legs complained and his spine cracked as he stood and stretched before trotting across what had once been a well-manicured lawn, the tidy gardens now a jungle of overgrown weeds and ripped up dirt. Zahedi moved in from his left, an unknown face following. Stokes raised his gun but Zahedi pushed it down.
'We are among friends, Mr Stokes.'
'If you say so. Why were they shooting at us then?
'They believed we were Cerberus.'
Glancing sideways he could see their new companion wore an Alliance uniform, dirty, ripped and ill fitting, but still a uniform. Doubt wormed its way into his thoughts. Buckner stood in the foyer as they stepped inside, talking to someone who appeared to be an officer.
'Alliance?' Stokes looked at three other men, all wearing uniforms, all fidgeting and wary. 'Are we sure?'
'Yeah, I went through basic with Somers here.' He indicated the Lieutenant beside him. 'He was an ass but he's all right.' He chuckled as Somers snorted a laugh.
'No worse than you.'
'Are you in charge?' Stokes asked, glancing around at the closed wooden doors leading off the foyer.
'Nah, that would be the captain.' He pointed to the stairway, 'he's up there, I'll take you to him.'
'Williams, Cooper, wait here.' Buckner didn't need to tell them to stay alert, they still had their weapons in their hands, their eyes flitting around the room.
Stokes, Buckner and Zahedi followed Somers to the upper floor, past several armed men in uniform who watched them walk past . They might claim to be alliance but Stokes' somethings not right itch flared to life. Zahedi stayed by his side and from his narrowed eyes Stokes guessed he doubted too. Entering a room at the front of the house Somers stopped and saluted the man standing beside a large wooden desk.
'We have visitors, sir.'
'So I see.' The blue eyes that fell on them were questioning as the dark haired captain looked them over. 'I'm Captain Alenko and you are?'
'Lieutenants Buckner, Stokes and Zahedi, sir.' Buckner snapped off a salute.
'Not that I don't appreciate the company, but why are you here and where did you come from?'
'We're looking for survivors,' Stokes spoke before Buckner could open his mouth.
'Well you found some.' Alenko frowned at them. 'Now you can tell me the truth, before I start to doubt your intentions.'
'Admiral Anderson sent us to check out an intermittent electronic signal from this area.' Buckner threw a puzzled glance at Stokes. 'We thought it might be Cerberus.'
'It's good to know someone is still out there fighting besides us.' Alenko's demeanour changed in an instant but Stokes couldn't quite believe the sudden turn around. 'You said Admiral Anderson.'
'Yes sir,' Buckner responded with a nod. 'He's leading the resistance.'
'Well damn.' The captain sat back against the edge of his desk and dropped his head. 'That's the best news I've heard in weeks.' He lifted his eyes, 'where is he?'
'We can take you to him,' Stokes said, ignoring the glare from Buckner. 'But we need to get a medical team out here before we can.'
'Why, we're not sick?' Alenko straightened up and his eyes darkened.
'No sir,' Stokes replied, 'it's to check for indoctrination.'
'None of my men are indoctrinated, Lieutenant.' He stepped towards Stokes who held his ground.
'We thought that too, sir.' Stokes met the captain's stare. 'Seems we were wrong.'
'And if we refuse?'
'We can give you supplies and leave you here.'
Alenko kept his eyes locked on Stokes who refused to look away, neither men moved. Buckner broke the silent stalemate by clearing his throat and Alenko turned his dark glare on him.
'It's just a precaution, sir, we all went through it.' He shrugged and continued, 'if we were joining your squad I'm sure you'd keep your eye on us for a while to be sure you could trust us.'
'Point taken.'
'Zahedi, contact Anderson and let him know what we've found.'
Zahedi nodded and headed outside to where he could get a clear signal.
'You might want to tell him we've got survivors here, about thirty men, women and children.' The captain yelled after him.
'Sir. I have news of your son.' Stokes cleared his throat.
'You do?' The captain turned his gaze back to Stokes but his eyes held no emotion, no excitement or hope.
'Duncan is alive, he's back at base.'
'That's great news.' He smiled but Stokes' blood ran cold. 'I look forward to seeing him again.'
His worst fears confirmed Stokes thought he did well to hide his suspicions, especially as his stomach contents had fallen into his boots.
'Our huds were jammed when we approached, did you do that?' Stokes half expected him not to answer.
'Yes we did, it's our only line of defence when unknown enemies approach.'
'Do you also have a radio transmitter?' He may as well push his luck.
'Yes, but it doesn't work, otherwise we'd be aware there were others out there like us.' He sat back on his desk, 'we'd be able to find out about who's still alive and where they are.'
'Have you been attempting to fix it?'
'Yes.' He narrowed his eyes, 'why are you asking?'
'Can I see it, sir?'
'Somers, take them to the radio room.' The captain looked at them in turn, 'I expect some answers Lieutenants but I'm giving you access because Anderson sent you.'
Stokes turned and followed Somers from the room, Buckner on his heels. A small study at the other end of the building had been turned into a radio room where they found a man in civilian clothes who sat amid parts and wires.
'Brody,' Somers spoke to the man and his head lifted. 'Show Stokes the radio.'
'It doesn't work,' Brody said, holding up a collection of wires.
'Have you turned it on at all?' Stokes rummaged through the parts, his skin crawling as he ran his omnitool over everything and reality became obvious.
'Once or twice.' Brody shrugged, 'couldn't get it to stay on though.'
'This isn't it.' Stokes looked to Buckner before turning to Somers. 'Is your jammer still on?' When he answered in the affirmative Stokes continued, 'turn it off please.'
'We need to get permission from the captain.' He indicated they should return to his office.
'What's going on Stokes?' Buckner spoke softly as they walked a few steps behind Somers.
'Something's not right. This is where the signal originated but what they've got in there couldn't do it. There's something else going on here.' More closed doors caught his attention before he added, 'and that is not Captain David Marcus Alenko.'
'Hey, Somers, how long have you been with the captain?' Buckner asked and Stokes appreciated his trust.
'Met up with him about two weeks ago. We were on a cold climate training mission up north when the world went to hell. Made our way south, lost most of my team along the way, and came across the captain and his men loading survivors into trucks, said we needed to get to Vancouver and join the resistance.' He frowned at Buckner and Stokes resisted the urge to reach for his pistol. 'Why?'
'Just asking. We haven't seen many Alliance officers this side of the mountains.'
A lie, but Somers seemed to believe him. The number of Alliance troops in the bunker slowly increased, but every time they went out to check on leads they ran the risk of finding traitors or indoctrinated soldiers. Seems they'd found some this time and they hadn't been looking. How many, other than Alenko, weren't who they appeared to be.
'Where's the rest of your team?' Buckner continued.
'Out on patrol, captain sent them out this morning with some of his men.'
Stokes and Buckner shared a look, the chances of his team coming back alive were slim to none.
They reached the office to find the captain talking to someone they hadn't seen before, standing with their heads close together as if sharing a secret. The unknown man nodded, ignored them as he pushed past and disappeared down the stairs.
'Sir, the lieutenant has requested that we turn off the jammer.' Somers stood before the desk.
'Of course,' the captain waved his hand in the air. 'We need to let them contact their people.'
'Thank you sir.' Somers led them back downstairs.
The hair on Stokes neck stood up like porcupine quills. He'd draw blood if he rubbed them. The unknown man stepped out of a room and looked up in surprise. Stokes peered past him as he quickly closed the door but the darkness beyond revealed nothing. He followed Somers into the kitchen at the back of the house.
'I should go and check on Zahedi, let him know he can come back to the house.' Stokes stopped in the doorway. 'You don't need me to turn off your equipment.' He tilted his chin over his shoulder at Buckner and hoped he understood.
'Roger that. I'll keep Somers company till you get back.
Stokes turned on his heel and walked back the way they'd come. He reached the room they'd passed to find it unguarded. Glancing around to make sure he wasn't being watched he moved in front of it and casually turned the handle. He almost stumbled as it opened easily but he managed to control his footing and stepped into the room, the soft click of the latch sealing him in.
He stood against the wall, waiting for his eyes to adjust, eventually making out shadows in the sliver of light coming from the windows. They were boarded up but the covering wasn't perfect. It provided enough light to make out shapes on the floor. He closed his eyes for a moment and allowed his senses to expand, to gather information from the room. Breathing. He heard breathing.
Opening his eyes he looked at the mounds on the floor, they were people. They were silent and still. His heart beat double time in his ears as he moved towards the closest body. He fought to control the tremble in his hand as he reached out and touched a shoulder. The body didn't react in any way.
Taking the chance he turned on his flashlight. A quick count told him there were twenty people in the room. All the furniture had been removed from the room. Men, women and children lay on the floor, asleep, as if they were in bed, some even covered in blankets. Reaching out again he felt for a pulse in the nearest person. It was slow and relaxed. He guessed they'd been sedated. Why?
Their clothes were torn and dirty, even in the dim light he could see dark patches. Blood. Shining the light on several of the closest, uncovered bodies revealed bruising, one appeared to have an untreated broken arm. He ground his teeth as his fingers curled and he took deep breaths through his nose. They didn't deserve this.
A sound at the door forced him to move. Quickly shutting down his light he stood back against the wall and waited but no-one entered. Gently turning the knob he listened before popping his head out into the corridor. In one movement he stepped out and closed the door, keeping his momentum going he moved into the foyer, nodding at Williams and Cooper as he passed. He waited for someone to call him out but it never came.
He met Zahedi on his way back towards the house as their coms flared back into life. Stokes flinched as chatter sounded in his ears and he typed out a message. He wasn't taking the chance on conversation being overheard.
'The Admiral is sending a medical team and re-enforcements,' Zahedi said as they met on the lawn. 'There is something wrong here.'
'Yeah there is.' Stokes kept his back to the house as he told Zahedi what he'd found.
'Then it is a good thing your instincts are true Mr Stokes.' The biotic took a deep breath, blowing it out through his nose. 'I sensed your discomfort and trusted it. Admiral Anderson also trusted it.'
'I just hope I'm not wrong or this could all go FUBAR.' Stokes lifted his face to the sun, closing his eyes, absorbing the heat and wishing it would wipe away the cold that had settled in his gut.
'Did you find the signal?'
'No, I don't think I will. It was intended to get us out here.' He opened his eyes and turned to study the house. It looked like an ordinary house, large, two storey, painted white, a covered entry and a double garage, just like all the other houses in the street, except this one had a secret. 'Why though?'
'I believe we will have our answer soon enough.' Zahedi started moving back to the house and Stokes followed.
'Yeah, but I'm not sure we'll like what we find?'
Stokes wished he could stand outside in the sun until the shuttles arrived. Cold spread into his bones the closer they got to the house, but they couldn't leave Buckner or their team with the enemy. The front door was unguarded when they entered. Where were Williams and Cooper? His stomach churned as they hurried towards the back of the house to find Buckner.
'That's far enough.' Somers barked as they stepped into the kitchen. 'Drop your weapons or he dies.' The knife digging into Buckner's neck drew blood as it dug into his skin.
Six assault rifles aimed at them and another three appearing behind, held by men in full armour including helmets left little choice. Stokes met the calm eyes of Buckner, who had a nasty cut to his head. The slight shake of Stokes' head made creases form around Buckner's eyes as he silently questioned. Buckner would die for them but Stokes wasn't going to let him die today, not if he could help it. Together he and Zahedi removed their weapons, placed them on the kitchen counter and stepped back.
'Somers, what's going on?' His voice sounded calm even though adrenaline cursed through him.
'Captain wants to know where Anderson is.'
'We're going to take you to him.'
'Why, so you can indoctrinate us too?'
'Anderson is not indoctrinated.' Stokes watched the faces of the men holding guns, none of them even blinked.
'Captain says he is, says you all are.'
'The captain is lying.' Stokes stared straight at Somers whose eyes narrowed, unlike his comrades. 'That man isn't even a captain and he's definitely not Alenko.'
'What?' Somers' grip on the knife shifted.
'Well done, lieutenant.' The captain stepped into the room from behind them. 'Unfortunately for you that means you're useless to me. I know Anderson's men would never give him up.' He moved into Stokes personal space and spoke softly, 'guess that means you all die.'
'What's going on?' Somers released his hold on Buckner.
'I'm guessing these people are Cerberus,' Buckner said as he rubbed his neck. 'They're working with the Reapers and they want Anderson dead.'
'But you have survivors here, you're saving lives.' Somers glanced around the room.
'You mean the ones sedated in the room by the stairs?' Stokes ground out through gritted teeth. 'The ones they're probably going to hand over to the Reapers.'
He slammed face first into the kitchen counter, his eyes watering as pain shot up his nose and he tasted blood. The captains hand dug gouges into the back of his head as he held him down. There was pure hatred in the man's eyes as he dropped his head and almost touched foreheads. The heat of his breath on Stokes cheek made him shiver.
'Enough out of you.' The captain spit in his face. 'Think you're so smart don't you.'
'What are you doing?' Somers stepped forward grabbing the captains attention.
'Someone shut him up.'
The man closest to him turned and fired a single shot. Somers tumbled to the floor in a heap, a bullet hole through his forehead.
The captain straightened up, letting go of Stokes. 'Take them outside.'
More men appeared and manhandled them through the doorway as they struggled and made their job more difficult, shoving them up against the back wall of the house. Williams and Cooper were lying on the ground, unconscious or dead. The captain stood behind his men, a smile on his face. Stokes curled his hands into fists, his jaw clenched tight as he met his eyes. He wanted to kill him.
Rifles lifted towards them. Stokes' thoughts wandered. Would it would hurt? Would Tracy forgive him if he didn't come home. He closed his eyes, took a deep, calming breath and felt the sun on his face, easing the ache in bruised tissue, as he waited for the shot that would end his life.
