A/N: As promised, here is the installment I've been preparing for all of you. Now, there has been a lot of speculation on what the 'twist' I've put in could be, and they're going to be put to rest here an now.
Subtle changes are about to go out the window here, so be ready for it.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Jason 'Maverick' Harlow
Security Op Center - Citadel Tower
November 25, 2180 - 09:11 hours.
Jason was pissed...no, pissed didn't quite cover it.
The fucking Eclipse had gained control of the Citadel via the tower. And now they had one of the councilors held hostage. "What the hell was she doing there in the first place?" he asked looking at Nihlus.
The Spectre looked to the soldier, "Most likely to contact the fleet. But the mercs must have boxed her in along with the ones running the control room." he rubbed his eyes and sighed, "We have to get to her before they kill her. But we also have to secure the rest of the council before the mercs trying to break into the saferoom actually succeed."
A second later, a large squad of C-Sec officers stormed the op center, guns ready only to lower them when they got a good look inside. Chellick led them as they spread out around the room. "We saw your handy work on the way up. Thanks for clearing the way." he said approaching the two.
"We've got a bigger problem." said Jason, pointing to the camera footage showing Tevos strapped to a chair surrounded by Eclipse.
"That's not all." said Chellick bringing up his omni-tool, "Other C-Sec stations across the Citadel are reporting panic throughout the wards. With the arms closed people think there's a crisis occurring, and they're right."
The nano soldier looked over the screens again, mainly the ones for the hallway outside the council safe room and the control room. "We need to split up. One take the mercs outside the safe room, the other the ones holding the Asari councilor."
"We can't have a squad storm the control room, the councilor could be killed in the crossfire." said Nihlus.
"That's why your taking the C-Sec officers to help the council. I'll deal with the control room."said Jason, heading for the door.
"Alone? You can't be serious." said the Spectre following after him.
The nano soldier turned back to him, "No other options. Like you said, a group moving in could cause more harm than good. I can go in silently and secure the area, take out the mercs and extract the councilor before things get out of hand. On top of that, I might be able to access the control panel and get the arms open so we can contact the fleet."
"They'll have an army between here and there." said Chellick wondering if his Human friend was biting off more than he could chew.
"That's never stopped me before." replied Jason before heading out the door.
Nihlus watched the man leave before turning to the C-Sec personnel to start planning their attack for the 30th floor.
X
Jason moved up to the next floor and saw it mostly empty. A handful of mercs patrolling through the halls and cubicals, but none of them saw the shimmer in the air that slipped inside via the stairwell.
The balcony on the outside of the level had three gunships stationed with several guards moving about.
Ducking down behind a wall, the soldier peered out and zoomed his visor in so that he could see better. Six targets total, all mercs with assault rifles, widely spaced apart to cover the space between the three gunships. Add in the mercs inside equaled 12 total.
"Tactical Options Available." Jason tagged each merc and started to plan his attack. Going all out would alert the mercs outside and they would get into the gunships and use them. He needed to take out the ones inside quietly before moving onto the ones on the balcony.
"Cloak Engaged." drawing his knife, he waited for one of the mercs to walk past before pulling him down to the floor and slashing his throat while the others were distracted. Drawing his bow next, he knocked an arrow and aimed at one of the guards farthest away before firing.
The merc went down with a light thud which caught the attention of one of the others who moved to investigate. Jason pulled another arrow and sighted the still moving Eclipse before firing.
When that merc went down with an arrow through his helmet, he folded up his bow and took his knife out again before creeping along the walls toward a merc sitting on a desk having a cigarette. When he breathed out his last puff, Jason grabbed his head and bent him backwards on the desk before burrowing the blade into his throat.
Hiding the body, the nano soldier looked to the last two mercs inside which were standing on the inside of the opening leading to the balcony. Neither of them having seen their comrades being taken out.
"No playing quiet with this one." he muttered as he moved around the room until he was standing infront of a desk that was infront of where they were standing.
Drawing his AR, Jason deactivated his cloak making the mercs jump. "What the-!" The soldier kicked the desk as hard as he could. The force ripping it from the floor and sending it flying through the air and colliding with the two guards and sending them smashing through the large window leading to the balcony.
The six mercs on the balcony spun around weapons ready from the attack in time to see Jason charge through the shattered window gun blazing as he began to cut them down one by one.
"Weapon Overheated." the nano soldier vented the rifle when the third merc fell, grabbing one of the remaining guards by the neck and throwing him into another, sending both falling over the railing around the balcony. The last merc made a run for one of the gunships, but barely made five steps before an arrow burst out of his chest.
Jason lowered his bow and put it away before picking up the assault rifle and reloading. "Chellick, Nihlus, got three gunships up here on the next level, ready to use." he said walking toward one of the units.
"The guys fighting the Eclipse on the ground are still getting hammered by those things. Taking them out would probably even the odds a little better." replied Chellick.
Opening the canopy of one of the gunships, Jason climbed inside and began powering it up. "I've got a better idea." His HUD displayed the readout of the ship along with the controls, "Connection Estabished." Grabbing the controls, the nano soldier felt the gunship hover above the ground before taking to the air.
Turning it around, he activated the weapons system and targeted the two remaining units. Two rockets flared to life before launching forward hitting the gunships causing both to explode on contact. "Chellick, two of the ships are down."
"Do I even want to know about the third?" asked the detective.
"I'm sitting in it." Jason said smirking under his helmet as he began to fly around the tower. "I'm going to try and soften these guys up for you on my way up. I'm sending the ship's IFF to you guys so you don't shoot me down by mistake."
"Gotcha. Nihlus is already moving up the tower with seveal squads of officers. They've encountered resistance on the 29th floor."
The nano soldier had the gunship raise higher and saw the firefight between C-Sec and the Eclipse. SECOND linked the nano suit's visor with the ships targeting system allowing Jason to tag the mercs as hostile and the officers as friendlies before squeezing the trigger on the controls before him.
The ship's chainguns roared to life, the heavy rounds shattering the window and ripping though the mercs' ranks, giving C-Sec time to mop up the rest of them. "Thanks for the assist, Maverick." said Nihlus giving him a wave from within the floor.
"Hostile Aerial Unit Detected." The warning system in the ship blared as Jason pitched the gunship to the side. A rocket flew past just barely skimming the armor before blowing up on the side of the tower.
Turning around, the nano soldier sighted another gunship barring down on him with it's guns blazing. The soldier pitched the ship right avoiding the oncoming fire before targeting the other unit.
A volley of rockets flew from under the gunships wings and landing direct hits on the enemy ship, blowing it apart in the air and giving Jason a clear view of two more Eclipse gunships approaching. "Hostile Aerial Units Detected."
"Yeah, I got it." Jason mumbled before firing the ship's chaingun into the oncoming units. Firing the last of his rockets and taking down one of the ships as the second one got within range and fired on him.
The rounds peppered the gunship causing a bit of damage before the soldier could get out of the way in time. Jason fired back as the two gunships circled one another trying to get an opening on each other. "SECOND, I need a weakness." said Jason as he fired on the enemy ship.
A blueprint of the gunship appeared on his HUD and several points were highlighted signifying structural weakness. "Weakness detected." said the AI as one in particular was displayed.
The nano soldier pulled the trigger as the enemy gunship attempted to fly out of range, the chaingun rounds piercing the spot just below the engine on it's side. The unit sputtered, spewing fire out of it's damaged engine.
Firing another salvo of rounds, Jason watched the enemy unit stall in mid air before plummeting to the ground in a deadly spiral. "Let's see if that doesn't give us an edge." said the soldier as he began to ascend the tower.
X
Within the control room, Sedaris observed the panic that was occurring throughout various wards in the station before turning to the bound Asari councilor. "It's amusing to see people so easily terrified when faced with an unknown situation." she said grinning.
"Those people didn't deserve this!" shouted Tevos. "Why in the Goddess are you doing this? Why did you attack the Presidium?"
"Simple really." said the leader of Eclipse motioning around her, "You councilors think you can police the whole traverse with your laws and morals. You send your Spectres out into jurisdictions that are not your own to complete missions on your behalf."
The Asari's face morphed into one of sadism. "This station once belonged to us, to the Asari. It was our discovery that our ancestors was foolish enough to share with the undeserving, and look at how it has easily fallen."
Sedaris grinned even wider, "And here we are. The Citadel is now in Eclipse's hands and there is nothing any of you assholes can do about it." she hit a few buttons on the control panel as one of his subordinates activated her omni-tool. "Now, it's time to send that message to everyone."
X
Back in the Op Center, Chellick and the other officers stationed there all perked up when all of the screens in the room were suddenly covered in static before clearing up. Revealing the sadistic, grinning face of Jona Sedaris leering back from inside the control room.
"Greetings, worms. We are currently broadcasting live from within the control center of the Citadel Tower. I suppose you're all wondering about how the arms of the station have closed? That was us. The council is no longer in control, we, the Eclipse, have taken control of the tower and are now running the show."
"Sir! This is being broadcasted all around the Citadel!" shouted one of the techs.
"Fuck!" said Chellick getting on his comm, "Maverick, Sedaris' broadcasting a video message all across the station. And since they have one of the councilors in their custody, we both know what might happen and soon."
X
Jason finished killing the last of the mercs on the 35th floor with the gunship's chainguns while he had SECOND hack the broadcast and put it on a small screen on his HUD while it continued to transmit throughout the station.
"For too long the council has believed that they could force their laws and regulations on those who are not under their control. Now we will show them what happens to anyone that tries." Sedaris continued, stepping aside and revealing the bound form of councilor Tevos.
The hull of the gunship shuddered as a dropship flew past with a stationary gun firing on him from the troop compartment. "Weapons System Offline." said SECOND as several lights on the gunships control started blinking red.
"Shit. Gotta get to the councilor before it's too late." Jason gritted out before hitting the ships thrusters and getting to a safe distance as the dropship gave chase. A new plan forming in the back of his mind as he reached his target.
X
On the 30th floor, Nihlus and the C-Sec personnel with him finished off the last of the mercs attempting to break into the council's safe room as the broadcast continued.
"While the rest of the council cowers in fear, their colleague is in our custody. And it is through her that we will send a statement to everyone in the traverse what happens when you fuck with the Eclipse!" The deranged Asari pulled out his sidearm and approached the struggling councilor.
The Turian Spectre was moving in seconds, shouting orders for the C-Sec officers to hold their position no matter what while he entered the stairwell and began ascending two/three steps at a time.
X
Sedaris pressed the barrel of his pistol against Tevos' forehead. The other Asari glared back, defiant even in the face of her demise. "This, will mark the beginning of the end of the council." the leader of the Eclipse sneered.
One of the mercs standing guard looked out the main window and recoiled, "Uh...ma'am!" Sedaris glared at the man when she saw the damaged gunship coming straight at the tower.
Tevos saw the incoming threat and used her biotics to put a barrier around herself as the gunship crashed through the large windows and slammed into the ground sending debris and mercs flying in every direction, tearing up most of the floor before coming to rest against the far wall in a crumpled heap.
Small fires flickering along it's form and the floor around it from the damage the crash had caused. The surviving mercs staggered to their feet and approached the gunship with weapons drawn, wondering who would have been crazy enough to crash a ship into the tower.
As they surrounded the wreck, the canopy exploded outward and a hail of gunfire took the mercs down before they had a chance to register what was happening.
From her spot, Tevos' eyes widened as she watched the form of Maverick step out of the downed gunship's cockpit and finish off the few remaining mercs that were still breathing. One came at him with a combat knife only for the vigilante to grab his arm and break it in half like a twig before hurling him into a nearby wall hard enough to leave a dent.
He grabbed the barrel of an assault rifle and ripped it from the shooter's hands before swinging it like a baseball bat and smashing it against his head. Spinning on his heel, he fired the pilfered rifle until it overheated taking down two other mercs in the process.
Unknown to Maverick, the cameras were still broadcasting across the station. Anyone and everyone near a terminal or vid screen watched wide eyed as the vigilante tore through the mercs as though they were insects. Several people cheering the man on as he took control of the situation quickly.
One last merc came at Jason with his combat knife only for said vigiante to grab the outstretced arm in one hand and his throat in the other. Applying pressure, the sound of the merc's armor warping reached his ears before a loud snap followed.
Tossing the body aside, the nano soldier walked over to the still shocked councilor. Taking out his knife and quickly cutting her loose from her binds. "Ma'am, are you alright?" he asked helping her up.
Tevos rubbed her sore wrists as she looked up at the soldier. "Y-Yes. Thank you." she said still not believing that the vigilante that her and the other councilors had been sending people after had saved her life.
Jason nodded. "Warning. Proximity Alert." He grabbed the Asari and leapt aside as a hail of gunfire peppered the ground where they had been standing a moment before.
Drawing his Hammer, the nano soldier peered around the overturned desk he and Tevos were behind to see a bloodied Jona Sedaris glaring in their direction with an assault rifle cluched in her hands. "What are you, a fucking cockroach? How many times do I have to kill you before you stay down!" she roared firing at them again while her biotics blazed around her.
The soldier leapt up and fired several rounds forcing the Asari into cover, "It would help if you actually killed me the first time. Your chances aren't good, Sedaris. Your forces are being taken out floor by floor and you've lost what control you've had on the Presidium. Give up while you still have your life." he called out.
Sedaris leaned out and shot at the vigilante. "I'd rather die you filthy fucking Human!" she bellowed before launching a powerful warp.
"Maximum Armor." Jason covered Tevos as the biotic attack blew their cover apart, venting his rifle when . "Stay down, I'll deal with her." He jumped up firing back at the Eclipse leader.
The psychotic Asari rolled out of cover shooting back before she was encased in a field of dark energy and thrown across the room and into the control panel.
Jason looked back at Tevos as she powered down her own biotics. "I am not as helpless as I seem, Maverick." she said raising an eye ridge.
Sedaris got back to her feet with her weapon raised, a shotgun blast shattering her weakened shields. Nihlus stood in the doorway of the floor with the barrel of his shotgun smoking, "It's over, Sedaris!" the Spectre called out.
The Asari glared at his opposition, realizing that she was outnumbered and outgunned.
An engine powering up behind her made Eclipse leader smirk as she dove aside. The dropship with the stationary gun hovered in the air outside the shattered what was left of the window as a volley of heavy rounds tore through the room.
Nihlus dove into cover while Jason stood infront of the Asari councilor, shielding her with his suit's heavy weave protecting both of them from the hail of gunfire as his energy meter dropped like a lead weight.
Sedaris got up and threw a massive shockwave that tore the remnants of the room to pieces before she leapt out of the window and into the troop compartment of the dropship. "TAKE OFF NOW!" she ordered.
Seeing the Asari making a run for it. Jason used the last bit of energy in his suit to sprint across the room and leap out the shattered window, taking out his knife and stabbing it into the roof of the troop transport to hold on just before it zoomed away from the tower.
Getting back to his feet, Nihlus saw Tevos at the controls as she began to start the process of reopening the station. "Citadel Fleet, this is councilor Tevos. The Presidium is currently under seige, C-Sec has taken heavy casualties. We need fire support immediately." she said into the comm when she established a connection.
"Councilor, this is Captain Verron. We see the station opening and are making our approach now. Sit tight." came the almost immediate reply.
Nihlus looked from the controls to the window Maverick had disappeared through. His prayers going out to the vigilante.
X
Jason held on for dear life as the dropship swerved left and right through the air around the tower. Inside, Sedaris aimed her assault rifle at the ceiling hearing the soldier on the roof. "Shake this fucker off!" swhe shouted to the pilot as the small ship went into a dive.
The nano soldier struggled to hold on, "Alright SECOND, time to see if those new upgrades actually work." he said activating something new.
"Magnetic Boots Engaged." He began to stand up slowly as the powerful magnets in the soles of his suit's boots that he had worked on with the AI stuck to the roof of the dropship. Allowing him to pull his knife free and resheath it as he stood upright.
One of the doors to the troop compartment opened and an Asari merc leaned out with a shotgun, attempting to get a lock on him.
Jason kicked the weapon out of the blue woman's hands before grabbing the front of her armor and throwing her off the ship. "Gotta bring this thing down." he said as he spun around and grabbed the edge of the dropship. Flipping himself inside feet first and kicking both the gunner and another merc out of the other opened door and into the open air outside.
A biotic warp struck him in the chest, the impact and the burning feeling that followed washed over him painfully but he managed to grab the nearby wall to avoid being thrown from the shuttle.
"Why can't you just fucking DIE!" Sedaris screeched, swinging her rifle to bare tried to shoot the soldier.
The weapon was smacked aside, the rounds peppering the metal wall before the Asari was struck in the face by the soldier's fist, dropping the weapon all together.
"It's over, Sedaris!" Jason shouted. The merc leader pulled a long sword from her lower back and swung at the nano soldier. "Maximum Armor" the sword's blade struck the hardened weave when Jason brought his arm up to block the strike. A small group of black, hexagon-shaped scales dispersed on contact as the shape blade bounced back.
"The only thing over is your fucking life!" Sedaris shouted as she spun around and went to stab the sword forward, her biotics flared giving her extra strength. Jason sidestepped the attack and drove his elbow into the Asari's face just as the dropship pitched to the side making both combatants stagger.
Distracted, Sedaris couldn't stop the heavy fist from connecting with the side of her head and the knee to her chest that sent her slamming into the wall next to the cockpit's door.
"You've caused the people of the Citadel enough trouble, bitch. This ends now!" Jason roared charging the Eclipse leader.
X
Seveal ships from the Citadel fleet moved in, their weapons firing and taking down the remaining drop and gunships still in the air around the Presidium. Troops were dispatched throughout the sector, aiding C-Sec to help clear out the mercs that were still standing.
Captain Verron stood on the bridge of his cruiser surveying the attack as they began to retake the Presidium. "Sir! We have a rogue dropship flying around close to the tower. IFF marks it as Eclipse." said one of the techs nearby.
The Turian Captain's eyes narrowed, "Take it out. These bastards will pay for their attack on the Citadel."
"Powering up anti-air weapons now sir." said the co-pilot.
X
Jason shook off the biotic-enhanced punch he got to the face and slammed Sedaris into the wall of the troop compartment when the sound that rivaled a thunder clap echoed. The dropship pitched to the side again sending the Asari crashing to the floor and causing the nano soldier to stagger a bit.
Looking out the open doorway, a Turian cruiser that was close to the tower began powering it's anti-aircraft guns again. Getting a lock on the smaller craft.
Another loud boom resounded and the ship shook violently as a round skimmed the small vessle's engine causing it to fail. Shuttering a moment before it started to drop from the sky and toward the ground.
Jason grabbed onto a hand rail as the vessel began to roll out of control in it's decent.
Sedaris did the same, but quickly lost her grip and reached out and latched a hand onto the nano soldier's boot as the ship started to spin out of control, "If I'm going down, I'm taking you with me!" she shouted over all the noise.
Glaring down at the deranged Asari, Jason grabbed his Hammer and aimed it down at her face.
Sedaris had a moment of horror cross her face before her eyes suddenly changed, going from a dark-blue to a glowing-crimson in a blink.
"YOU DELAY THE INEVITABLE. THE HARVEST WILL BEGIN SOON."
The booming voice that echoed from Sedaris' mouth stunned the nano soldier to his core. Everything going on around him faded to white noise in the background as his visor locked with the glowing eyes of the possessed Asari. That's when he connected the dots.
An impossible attack on the Citadel with no chance of success. Blindly going after the council despite heavy losses...even for Sedaris it made no sense...now he understood. And only one name came to mind when he put everything together...
"...Sovereign."
"BE WARNED, HYBRID. YOU CANNOT STOP THE CYCLE. YOU WILL WITHER AND DIE LIKE THE COUNTLESS BEFORE YOU."
Jason snapped back to reality, gritting his teeth and pressing the barrel of his pistol to the possessed woman's forehead. "Not today, you son of a bitch!" The gun fired, Sedaris' forehead blowing inward a split second before her crest exploded outward with purple blood and grey matter spraying the air. Her eyes snapped back to their original color just before her body slipping from the nano soldier's boot as it flew out of the doomed shuttle.
Surveying his situation, Jason realized that he didn't have enough time to escape with the ground approaching as fast as it was. He only had one chance to make it through this.
"I hope this fucking works!" he said to himself as the ground drew closer. "Maximum Arm-"
The dropship struck the ground and crumpled like a tin can on contact. Sliding for several meters before flipping on it's side and coming to rest in the middle of a street.
X
Chellick
Citadel Tower - Presidium
November 25, 2180 - 09:59 hours
It had taken a good deal of time to finish clearing out the tower and getting many of it's systems back online. The councilors and ambassadors were safe, Nihlus having arrived at the safe room with a bruised, but alive, councilor Tevos just before the fleet's forces moved in to assist.
With the Citadel's forces now in the fight, defeating the remaining Eclipse had been rather easy. The casualties of C-Sec were high, but those men and women died making sure that the Presidium and the Citadel itself didn't fall into the mercs' hands.
Searches for survivors and the dead had already begun. Chellick assisted as well with his fellow officers as they combed over every inch of the tower and the surrounding area.
At the same time he had been looking for Jason. When Nihlus told them that 'Maverick' jumped out of an open window and onto a dropship after Jona Sedaris fled no one had seen him. The detective knew that his Human friend was out there somewhere and did what he could to locate him.
After helping a couple of wounded officers to a medical tent that had been set up, Chellick noticed several people running in one direction. "What's going on?" he asked a passing officer.
"It's Maverick! They found him!" the officer shouted. Chellick was moving as fast as he could. Roughly ten blocks away from the Citadel tower, he saw a large group of people surrounding the wreckage of an Eclipse dropship as five officers went through the wreckage and pulled the large suited form of the vigilante from the twisted metal.
They laid him down on the ground as three EMTs surrounded him and began running their omni-tools over his form. "Four broken ribs, broken left femur, dislocated left shoulder, hairline skull fracture." one of the medics read off getting a diagnosis and becoming more concerned as the list went on.
"His heart's flatlined, we need to get him to the hospital!" shouted another.
The gathered crowd stood on edge as the medics attempted to do what they could for the suited man. Chellick kept his eyes trained on his friend, praying to all the Spirits that he would wake up.
X
"...Damage Assessment in Progress..."
"Suit Integrity: 47%."
"Bone and Tissue Damage Detected."
"Heartrate Flatlining."
"Evaluating...Direct Nanite Reconfiguration Required..."
"Nanite Reconfiguration Complete."
"Commencing Suit Repairs and Operator Recovery..."
"..."
"Suit Integrity Increased to: 59%."
"Bone and Tissue Repairs 20% Complete."
"System Rebooting."
"Activating Defibrilators."
X
Everyone took a step back when Maverick's body suddently jerked. "What the hell was that?" asked one of the EMTs.
The vigilante's body jerked again while the medics scanned him. "That's...impossible." said an Asari medic in shock. "His body and suit are repairing themselves."
The prone form shook one last time before a large intake of breath was heard, Maverick laying still for several moments before he slowly started to sit up.
"Sir, you need to lay down, your injured." said one of the medics trying to make him lay back down.
Jason shrugged them off as he staggered to his feet, ignoring the pain rippling through his body and surveyed everything around him.
All of the C-Sec personnel standing there watched him with wide eyes as he stood tall before them. His red visor looking to each of them before settling on Chellick. "Did we win?" he asked simply.
Chellick smirked, "We did, thanks to you." Jason nodded at his Turian friend, fighting back a groan as his entire body ached.
The nano suit saved his life, and the nanites in his blood were making repairs to the damage done to his body while the suit repaired itself like it usually did. The pain wasn't something new, the soldier had grown used to it back in the Crysis Universe from his various adventures.
A small commotion drew everyone's attention. Executor Pallin approached them with a large squad of armed C-Sec officers. They stopped within the group as Pallin stood before Jason eye to eye. "Maverick." said the Turian.
"Executor." the nano soldier spoke back, getting ready to activate his cloak and make an escape despite his injuries.
"I should arrest you right here and now. You're still on the wanted lists for your acts as a vigilante." Pallin gave the Turian equivalent of a smirk, "But seeing you stick your neck on the line for not only my men, but the ambassadors and the council as well, you've given me a lot to rethink about."
Jason smirked under his helmet, "I know you and the council don't agree with my methods. But I needed to act quickly in order to save as many lives as I could."
Pallin nodded before realizing something. "The data detective Chellick found...your the one that left it for us to find weren't you?"
The crowd's eyes looked from the Executor to the vigilante in shock as he nodded, "I discovered the secrets to their plans. And I made sure that you all were prepared for the worst if I couldn't stop it in time."
The Executor nodded back, "As much as I hate to say it, if it wasn't for your crusade against the Eclipse, things could have turned out a lot worse." he held out his hand to the vigilante. Jason regarded it before shaking the man's hand. "Thank you."
"My pleasure, Executor. I'll always be there to help C-Sec if they ever should need it."
"I'll speak to the council. And I'm pretty sure that a lot of others will as well. I'll make damn sure that this witch hunt against you is put to an end." said Pallin before pointing a taloned finger at the soldier. "Don't make me regret doing this, Maverick."
With a nod, Jason looked off to the side as a flock of news reporters began making their way through the battle scarred Presidium toward the group, all of them firing question after question.
"Executor Pallin! What has happened to the Presidium?"
"Is it true that the Eclipse gained control of the Citadel?"
"What of the council? Do they have anything to say for what has happened here?"
Pallin held up his hands and quieting the group, "Ladies and gentlemen, all of your questions will be answered. But let me assure you that the situation is over and the public is safe." he said loudly with authority.
Emily Wong pushed her way to the front, "Executor Pallin, all of the Citadel witnessed Maverick saving the Asari councilor from execution from the Eclipse leader. Any comments on this?"
"Ask him yourself, he's right over-" Pallin turned around and saw that the viglante was gone. "Where the hell did he go?" he asked all of the officers gathered. But none of them had seen the man disappear.
Chellick shook his head at Jason's theatrics.
X
Reena had been sitting on the couch watching everything unfolding on the news. She was terrified for both Chellick and Jason who both had been in the Presidium fighting the mercs while she worried about them in the safety of the apartment.
She wanted to be out there helping them, she was good with an assault rifle and a pistol. And her hacking skills could have been useful. Yet they took off without her leaving her pissed off and afraid for their well being.
Seeing Jason save the Asari councilor had made her heart nearly stop. And seeing him leap out of the window after the leader of the mercs attacking the tower caused her to pale and wonder if he even survived.
The door to the apartment opened making her jump, spinning around in her seat to see the nano soldier stumbled inside, knocking over a table as he collapsed to the floor. "JASON!" she screamed running over to him. "What's happened? What's wrong?"
"Sh-Shuttle crashed...nanites fixing damage...in a lot of pain." he managed to wheeze out as he attempted to get back to his feet.
The Quarian brought up her omni-tool and applied a good amount of medi-gel to ease whatever pain he may have been in and helped him up. Jason's much larger size making her shutter beneath him, but she managed to keep him steady as they moved slowly to his room. "What do you need? Let me help." she asked.
Jason staggered toward his bed and collapsed onto it. The frame creeking from the weight of the nano suit combined with his own. "Suit's...helping me heal...needs to stay on to...finish." he said groggily as the pain medication from the medi-gel started to kick in.
Reena walked toward him and removed his helmet, setting it aside before putting a pillow under his head. "Then rest. Let your body finish healing. I'll call Chellick and have him come by to make sure everything's alright."
"Thanks...Reena..." the nano soldier's eyes slid closed as he slipped into unconciousness.
The Quarian left the room and shut the door quietly before bringing up her omni-tool and making a call. "Chellick here." came the familiar voice.
"It's me hesh'la." said Reena. "Jason just arrived. We was pretty banged up when he got here."
"I know. The EMTs on sight gave a rundown of his injuries. I'm surprised he was even able to stand up, let alone make his way back to your guys' place." said the detective.
"He's resting now. His suit's helping him heal. I'm not exactly sure how that's possible, but I'm pretty sure he'll explain everything when he wakes back up. I just thought I'd give you a heads up for when you come here later." said the Quarian.
"I'm stopping by after I'm finished up here. The mercs are pretty much all moped up but there's a lot of clean up to do around the Presidium." said Chellick.
Reena nodded, "Alright. I called Thrax and had him give me and Jason a week off so that we could all take a breather. And Jason will probably need that time to finish healing. I'll see you when you get here."
"See you soon, babe." said Chellick ending the call.
Closing her omni-tool, Reena looked back at the closed bedroom door and smiled. His selflessness in trying to save the people of the Citadel had saved them all. And she couldn't have been more proud of her Human friend.
X
Jason 'Maverick' Harlow
Unknown Location
Unknown Date and Time
Jason groaned as he slowly opened his eyes. Shocked when he realized when he felt no pain at all. Looking around he saw that he was in a familiar metal structure, on a balcony that overlooked the large expanse of blue sky with moving metal buildings in the distance.
"Back here again...this can't be good." he muttered as he stood up.
"Not quite, Jason." he turned and saw the Librarian standing before him.
"Librarian. I haven't heard from you since I was sent to the Crysis Universe." Jason looked around a moment. "Did I die again?"
The Librarian smiled, "No, you still live. This was my only means of contacting you. Your body is currently healing from the trauma it has sustained from your battle with the mercenaries. Your suit his doing quite well with assisting in the process."
Jason chuckled, "It really is something else. Gotta give CryNet some credit for it's creation." He turned serious as he regarded the ethreal being. "So why am I here? It must be something important."
The Librarian nodded, "Indeed, young one. I have watched your progress thus far, and I am impressed with what you have accomplished. My belief in you completing your mission is looking more and more accurate with each passing day."
"I feel a 'but' coming." Jason commented.
"Remember when I told you in the beginning of your journey? About the gifts I bestowed upon you?" she asked. The soldier nodded thinking back to that moment in time. "I believe it's about time I explained those gifts to you. And tell you how they will help you complete your goals that much easier."
The nano soldier had a strong feeling that a lot more was about to be laid upon him.
A/N: Now, how's that for a twist? I've been planning this alteration in the story for some time, and it will set the ground work for things to come in the near future.
I'll keep the updates coming as best I can, considering I may or may not have peeked more than a few interests. Keep the reviews coming folks!