New chapter! Tried to turn this one around more quickly. I have to do a bunch of things over the next week for my wedding (which is next summer!) so there might be a little bit of a delay for the next chapter, but I will write as quickly as possible.
Thanks to all of you who review and follow and favorite. I appreciate your support and your comments really inform the direction of my writing. If there's something you want to see happen, or see more of, let me know!
All copyright belongs to Bioware; I'm just taking a spin through their universe.
Chapter 12
The next morning, Shepard woke up, read her messages, and reviewed the Convict's dossier. In other words, she got to work. The panic and fear and regret that had been swirling around inside her had been laid to rest on Alchera. Now was time to move forward. She had a mission to complete, and she would be damned if she did not do it to the best of her capabilities.
After a shower, she went down to the mess, sitting amongst a different group of crewmembers. The initial wariness dispersed again as she sat there quietly, smiling at their jokes, asking about their family and their work. She headed up to the galaxy map, plotted their course to the Hourglass Nebula and the prison ship that housed Jack. She asked Miranda to give her a more in-depth tour of the ship and Shepard stopped to greet every person she saw, committing them to memory. If Miranda was impatient, she hid it well. Instead she watched with a raised eyebrow as Shepard integrated herself into the ship. She even chuckled at Shepard's awe as Jacob explained in more depth the breadth of their armory and the upgrades that were available.
"Miranda?" asked Shepard as they rode the elevator down to the crewdeck. "Have you completed the report to the Illusive Man on our acquisitions of the Professor, Archangel and the merc?"
"Now that Archangel has been stabilized, his report is ready for your review," replied Miranda. "I have also completed the summary of our work to retain Mordin Solus. I am almost done with Zaeed."
"You're efficient," complimented Shepard, opening the door as the elevator stopped. "Send them to my console and I'll review them. I'll let you send them to Tim."
"Tim?" repeated Miranda, frowning.
Shepard grinned. "TIM. The Illusive Man. TIM is much easier to say than that long ass, arrogant title, don't you think?"
Miranda did not look as amused. "I'm not sure I'm in a position to say, Commander. I'll get those reports to you right away."
"We should be at the prison ship in three hours. I'll be in the cargo bay working. Ask Jacob and Zaeed to suit up. They'll be joining me when we pick up Jack. Let's put Massani through his paces and see if he can play nice with others."
"I doubt it," said Miranda dryly, heading to her cabin.
"Felt the need for some back up, Shepard? A real man to protect you from the big, bad criminal?" jeered Massani as they loaded into the transport.
Shepard just smiled at him. "That's why I brought Jacob with me," she said sweetly.
That made the old merc guffaw as he sat down. "You're a smart ass, Shepard. I'll give you that."
"She's also the Commander. Show some respect," said Jacob, his jaw tight.
Zaeed just closed his eyes, leaning his head back against the wall.
"All right, we're all set. Let's head out…What the fuck?" she suddenly grumbled, standing and climbing out. "I'm sorry, but what do you think you're doing?"
Garrus stepped off the elevator, his sniper in hand, his blue and white armor mostly restored except for the scarring up by the cowl. "Coming with you. I'm sick of staring at the battery, as advanced a piece of technology as it is," he replied, moving to step onboard.
Shepard held her hand out, bracing it against his chestplate. She instantly wanted to pull her hand away, her arm suddenly tingling from the contact. Instead she glared.
"Oh no, we are not starting this again. You were blown up. By a rocket. Fairly recently, I might add. And only one of us has nanites swarming through their body repairing shit."
"I'll be fine," argued Garrus. "I'll stay by the transport in case this criminal decides he'd like a hostage. We'll see how he feels with a bullet between his eyes."
"Not helping, Garrus," said Shepard. "Zaeed's got firepower and Jacob's got a mean biotic pull. And then there's my charming smile. Jack doesn't stand a chance. I'm sure he'll be so grateful Cerberus has paid big bucks to set him free he'll be more than willing to help us with this mission."
"What if he doesn't want to come on board? What if he takes off?"
"Then he leaves." Shepard shrugged. "I won't keep the man a slave. Cerberus paid to set him free though. Most people would imagine they owe something after that."
"Yes, that seems to be the understanding around here." His blue eyes penetrated into hers and she swallowed, looking away.
"You're not coming, Vakarian. End of discussion. When the good doctor tells me you're clear for duty, you can come with. But not before." Shepard turned and climbed back into the transport, letting the door close behind her. Jacob watched the exchange with a tilted head, observing the quiet breath she let out in the silence of the transport.
Warden Kuril was a pain in the ass, Shepard had decided. While the credits cleared the account, he seemed determined to showcase his hell of a prison. Shepard knew rationally that these were some of the worst, most violent criminals in the galaxy; they had each done something horrible to deserve this fate. That did not make seeing beatings and horrid conditions any easier to swallow. But she focused on Kuril's back and kept walking. She could not solve all the galaxy's ills. At least she would be saving Jack from his frozen state.
Fortunately, Kuril had been smart enough to back off when his guards had tried to force her to relinquish their weapons.
"I'm not handing over my gun. Period," said Shepard.
Kuril had measured her and her squad then shrugged. "We're more than prepared to handle three armed soldiers. This is our standard procedure, but we are grateful to Cerberus for their willingness to take Jack off our hands and provide us with significant resources. It will be a gesture of good faith then. Shall I take you to where your package is being prepped?"
Package. Even now the word left a bad taste in Shepard's mouth. Like Jack was nothing more than a piece of meat she had bought at market. Well she meant what she said. No one would be a slave on board her ship. If Jack refused to cooperate, she would hand him over to the Alliance for safe keeping. She wasn't about to let a criminal roam the galaxy freely either. The only loss would be to Cerberus bank accounts.
"I've sent a few people to prison," bragged Zaeed as they walked. "Government bounties can be lucrative, and if you can deliver them yourself there's usually a bonus in it. Maybe I'll see some old friends."
"I doubt they'd call you friend, mercenary," said Jacob.
"Getting testy, boy? Just give me a time and place," growled Zaeed.
"Enough," Shepard ordered sharply. "The last thing I need is for the two of you to wind up in here. Let's just get Jack and get out of here."
"At least we'll be getting the poor bastard out of this hell hole," continued Zaeed. "Torture and beatings—useless way to get information. No one walks away unchanged, not the guard, not the criminal. What's the point?"
Shepard turned to look at him as they walked. "I'm surprised. Hardened merc like you, torture doesn't seem outside the realm of possibility."
"There's a lot your little dossier doesn't cover, Shepard. Stop by my new quarters down by the cargo hold and maybe I'll tell you some stories."
"Yeah, if you want nightmares," muttered Jacob.
"Outprocessing is just down that hallway," pointed Kuril from up ahead. "I need to return to my duties. Once the package is ready, you can take Jack into your custody from there. It's been a pleasure, Shepard."
The commander watched him go, her eyes narrowed. He was watching her too…intently.
Her omnitool activated and she typed out a message. Jacob and Zaeed read it across their helmets.
Be ready.
Jacob's already serious visage became even darker and he glared at the guards that were following them. Shepard resisted the urge to roll her eyes, making a note that the soldier did not have a good poker face. Zaeed looked completely unruffled, but Shepard did spy his hands swinging a little more freely, closer to his gun.
Entering the outprocessing room, the technician looked distinctly nervous. Shepard just nodded pleasantly, making for the door on the other side of the room—which opened to show a cell.
"Bastard," spat Zaeed, already pulling his gun out.
"Sorry, Shepard," came Kuril's voice over the comm. "You're worth more as a prisoner than as a customer. I hope you understand. It's just good business."
"Business, huh? So now you're trading lives to make a profit?" demanded Shepard. "Who's your buyer?"
"Well, I have to admit you have some of the highest bidders I've ever seen," said Kuril. "I had someone representing a very unusual buyer. The Collectors are rarely seen but they do like to purchase things of value. But in the end, an asari agent for the Shadow Broker had the best deal. She's en route, and I'd hate to disappoint her. Go into the cell, Shepard. You won't be harmed."
"And my companions? And my ship? You think any of us are about to let this happen?"
"They don't have much of a choice. A ship can be taken over, a crew disposed of. Nothing but an inconvenience. Now step inside."
"Go to hell." Shepard pulled her gun out, aiming at the guard peering around the corner. "I'll send you there myself."
"Restrain her!"
Shepard's gunfire echoed through the small room. The technician ducked and ran as FENRIS mechs ran in on all fours, followed by guards. Zaeed charged forward, flipping a table over to take cover behind. Jacob's pull was effective in pulling the mechs toward them, making them explode against the wall.
"EDI, where is Jack being held?" yelled Shepard over the gunfire, taking out the knees of one guard.
"Down the hallway on the left. The controls to the cryogenic tank are there," came the smooth voice over the radio.
"Do what you can to scramble their response," Shepard ordered. "And keep them off the Normandy. That's priority number one. Mobilize the crew. Damnit!" She ducked as the guard threw a grenade. She threw up a barrier to protect her squad, wincing as the blast shook her biotics. "I have had enough." She stood, her heavy pistol firing quickly. One guard dropped and she reloaded, Jacob coming up beside her. Zaeed's rifle peppered any who tried to enter. Shepard and Jacob burst out into the hallway, mowing down those in their way.
"Shepard, slow down!" called Jacob, taking cover.
But Shepard continued down the walkway, firing quickly and hurling warps ahead of her.
"On your right!"
The warning was a second too late. The gunfire burst through her shields, making her stagger and then cry out as a bullet hit her recently wounded arm.
Cursing breathlessly, Shepard ducked for cover. Zaeed came up behind them, taking out the turian guard who had wounded her.
"You all right?" he demanded.
"I'll be fine," said Shepard through gritted teeth. "But Dr. Chakwas is going to kill me." Already medigel was sinking into her system, taking the edge off and slowing the bleeding. "Let's just get the hell out of here."
They made it down the hallway without any more incident and into the control room. "EDI, what am I looking at here?"
"These controls keep Jack in a cryogenic state. I can hack into the system and release the prisoner. Warning: hacking into these controls will also compromise all cellblocks in this system."
"That's going to release all the prisoners on this ward," said Jacob.
"Well, it will give the guards something else to chase besides us. Do it, EDI," Shepard ordered.
Shepard and her team moved over to the windows overlooking the cell. A large tank stood in the middle of the room. As the tank began to move into a new position, preparing to open, the guns from the ceiling activated, turning to train on the tank. And three YMIR mechs suddenly whirred to life by the door.
"Shit. He's going to be decimated, we've got to get down there," said Shepard, starting to move toward the door. But then she froze, captivated by the sight of the tank as it slid open, a cloud of frozen gas dissipating to reveal the form within.
Shepard first caught sight of the bald head. No, not bald, shaved. And decorated in tattoos.
"Holy hell," Zaeed said, staring. "Is that…?"
"Yes. Jack is a woman," replied Shepard, eyes wide.
Her outfit did not leave anything to the imagination, or any question as to her identity. Her tattoos were practically the only clothing she wore, with strategically placed belts holding her breasts and baring just about everything else. Low-slung pants ended in heavy boots. Her face looked delicate: heavy lidded eyes and full lips. Those eyes suddenly shot open. Shepard expected fear or disorientation, at the very least. But this woman was immediately and thoroughly pissed.
With no sign of bewilderment, Jack was ripping open the shackles that held her confined. The mechs staggered forward. Jack snarled, dropping to the floor. Then she looked up and her body suddenly and instantly glowed with blue power. It was brighter than any Shepard had ever seen. The woman charged and she disappeared from view, the sounds of destruction following.
"We've got to get down there. Now." Shepard and her team ran for the door, alarms already blaring. Skipping over stairs, Shepard stumbled as the floor suddenly rocked beneath her. Emergency red lights came on and she skidded into what had been Jack's cell.
The mechs lay in crumpled pieces all around them and a large hole had been blasted into the wall.
"Guess we know where she went," commented Zaeed, already following.
"Following a path of destruction. She seems like my style," said Shepard with a smirk, loading her pistol.
"The Illusive Man is not going to be pleased about this. And how did the Shadow Broker learn about you? He does not give up easily," said Jacob.
"No kidding," said Shepard darkly. "Are you thinking of anything in particular?"
"Yeah. When he tried to acquire you before us," said Jacob.
That brought Shepard up short. "What are you talking about?" she demanded.
Jacob looked a little uncomfortable but pushed forward. "Cerberus wanted to recover you, but the Shadow Broker's agents got there first. Your friend Liara T'Soni helped rescue you. The Broker had a buyer, but we haven't learned who."
"I'll give you one guess," said Zaeed. "Looks like the Collectors decided to cut out the middle man."
"What do they want with me? And what do you mean, Liara helped you? She gave me—my body—to Cerberus? After everything she knows about you?" Shepard could feel hot anger burning through her. Yes, Cerberus had saved her but she hated them. And Liara knew that. Goddamnit, before she died she had asked Liara to dig up everything she could on Cerberus so Shepard could take on the terrorist group. And she had willingly given her to them?
But that was a conversation for another day. And one she would have to have with Garrus. First things first: recover Jack. Take out Kuril. Then Garrus and the Citadel. It was time for answers.
Zaeed's own sniper shot turned out to be quite impressive. While Shepard and Jacob had ducked and dodged dozens of guards and two YMIR mechs, the merc had snuck around the battlefield, taking out the pylons powering the Warden's impressive shielding. As much as Shepard wanted to be the one to take out the two bit slave trader, it was Zaeed's sniper rifle that took the turian out right between the eyes. Jacob had taken a graze across the side but had held up well, returning fire coolly and pulling guards out from behind cover.
"Now where?" panted Shepard.
"We keep following the holes in the wall," said Zaeed dryly, pointing across the room.
"She certainly knows how to leave a trail," commented Jacob.
"Yes. She does." But Shepard's eyes were not on the hole, but on the half disintegrated guards that lined the pathway to it. A few escaped prisoners were crumpled around them: it appeared that they had been thrown so hard into the wall that their spines had shattered. Grimly, the commander led the way around the bodies and into another corridor.
Finally, they encountered Jack. The woman was pacing frantically, grasping at her shaved head and staring at the Normandy out a window. She was muttering and cursing to herself, completely distracted. Shepard's shot to kill the guard sneaking up on her finally got her attention.
"What the hell do you want?" Jack demanded, her fists lighting up. Shepard felt some small relief to see the woman was not completely unaffected by her long incarceration and subsequent rampage. Sweat dotted her forehead and her arms were beginning to tremble. But Shepard had a feeling this woman would quite literally rather die than admit weakness. Her large brown eyes watched Shepard angrily and suspiciously. It was like staring down a cornered wolf: frightened but ready to fight to the death.
"I'm Commander Shepard. This is Jacob and Zaeed. We're here to get you off this ship," said Shepard slowly.
"I'm not going anywhere with you. You're Cerberus," Jack hissed, eyes zeroing on the symbol on Jacob's chest. Her biotics flared and Jacob's lit up in response.
"Good, someone with a healthy suspicion of Cerberus. That makes me like you already," drawled Shepard, lowering her gun. It was enough to catch Jack's attention and she frowned.
"Then why the hell did you come here on a Cerberus frigate?"
"It's not a Cerberus frigate, it's my ship. They just wrote the check," said Shepard with a shrug. "I'm here to ask for your help. And since you've blown several holes in some very important locations on this vessel, my ship is the only way out."
"Looks like we both want something then," said Jack, crossing her arms.
"Join my team and I'll do what I can for you. Your choice, Jack. Come aboard, learn what we're going up against. If you're interested, you stay."
"Payment?"
"They pay damn well," chimed in Zaeed.
Jack raised one finely arched eyebrow. "I want files," she said abruptly as an explosion rocked the hallway. "Anything Cerberus has on me, it's mine. You give me what I want and I'll stay on your ship, help out."
"You don't even know what the mission is," said Jacob.
"Judging by your firepower, must be something big. If it gives me a chance to keep racking up my body count, I'm good."
"I like her," declared Zaeed.
Shepard frowned. "Let's make one thing clear: that body count is not to include any innocent civilians. You will be on your best behavior and follow orders or I'll make sure your ass winds up back in custody. Am I understood?"
Jack scoffed. "I'd like to see you try."
Suddenly Shepard threw up a barrier and hurled a blue-green warp at the convict. Shocked, Jack still managed to throw up a strong enough barrier of her own that the warp dissipated when it struck. Then Shepard was right in front of her, standing a few inches over Jack, the commander rippling with her green tinged biotics.
"I don't make idle threats. Only promises. So I'll ask again: am I understood?"
Jack stared back. "What the fuck?" she murmured, staring at the green energy lining the commander's arms. Then she shrugged and nodded, heading for the airlock. "Why the hell are we still standing here?"
Shepard sighed, looking at Jacob mournfully. "Miranda is not going to like this."
"No," said Jacob, his eyes going back and forth between the commander's fading green and Jack's back. "No, she is not."
Comments, suggestions and reviews are always welcome! Next time, Shepard gathers her courage and returns to the Citadel. What's going to happen next for Shepard and Garrus? Is Shepard going to confess her actual feelings? Stay tuned :)
Thanks for reading.
