Stumbling through the barren waves in the land, Shepard continued to travel across the planet. It's been a good three and a half hours since she made her escape from the slaver camp. The smoke wasn't even visible on the horizon anymore. Sweat streamed down her face and neck. She collapsed upon the dirt, landing on her side. Nausea began to set in as the adrenaline faded and emotions took hold. Shaking madly after the hellish encounter with her greatest foe yet. Thinking about how lucky she was to make it out and the shock of fighting with the monster after thirteen long years. She fought the urge to vomit but failed. She spat in the dirt, getting rid of any residual taste. Dragging herself on the ground further away from the camp Shepard came upon a slope, unwavering she tumbled down it, doing whatever she could to distance the gap from her and that dreaded slaver. The medi-gel worked to stop the bleeding but the sickness of the radiation from the rounds remained. Shepard laid on her back holding her forehead, trying to resist the illness. Groaning in the turmoil she lifted herself to her feet and resumed walking. Where did Walker go? The Commander thought. Although she knew now she was traveling the wrong way. As long as that direction was anywhere but the camp it was alright.
"Normandy, do you read?" She moaned through the comm system "Joker. . . can you hear me?" Nothing came through, nothing but static. Shepard pumped her fist, angry with not getting any form of answer. While wondering how she was going to get out of this mess a stronger sound of static fizzed.
"Come in. This is Commander Shepard of the SSV Normandy. . . -moan- I need assistance." She talked through the mic.
"-static- . . . I ca- -static- hear you. -static then a loud click- Commander Shepard can you hear this message. This is the twenty-first Alliance Marines, first battalion." An assertive voice spoke loud and clear.
"Yes I hear you" She said calmly "Do you have a fix on my position?"
"We do have a weak signal coming from your hard-suit to our west."
Shepard closed her eyes with relief. She sat down on the ground to rest. Propping herself up with her arm she looked to her east. In the distance a small dot shown. She faintly smiled, glad to see her rescuers approaching.
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The utility truck gently came to a stop next to Shepard. Two marines exited the vehicle. One from the passenger side of the truck and another from the top.
"Staff Sergeant Richard Thompson, this is Corporal Kayami Hashiro." They stood in front of Shepard. Without hesitation the two helped the Commander to her feet then walked her to the back of the truck.
"What's the Alliance doing here in full force?" Shepard questioned, feeling slightly better.
"Helping you out. We got a call from your ship requesting back-up. The question is, why aren't you on it?" Thompson forwarded.
"Had to do some negotiating at the slaver camp. . ." Shepard replied to his question.
"So that was you? No wonder you look like a mess. How did you do it all by yourself?"
"I had some help." Shepard said before hissing in pain as they placed her up on the truck's first floor ledge. The Staff Sergeant's palm was cover in blood as he removed it from the Spectre's side.
"One hell of a partner then. You managed to kill about seventy of them. Crippling their strike force and causing them to retreat from their assault on the Terra-forming center."
Shepard was surprised herself, she had no idea the disguised attack worked that well. Hashiro took a look at Shepard's vital signs, her face turned serious in expression. Silently she grabbed a foil packet containing two pills.
"You have radiation poisoning Commander. I need you to take these to cure it." Kayami said handing the two capsules to Shepard.
"What is it?" The Commander looked at the pills.
"Rad Away, well the capsule version. Works the same just takes a bit longer. Ones your done hop in the back and I'll fix the rest of you up." The Corporal added. She handed Shepard a canteen of water and jumped into the truck's covered bed. Shepard took the medication, then continued to drink some more water before scooting further back into the truck. Thompson nodded at the two then climbed up the ladder to the rest of his men.
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Darkness held superiority in this lightless place, nothing could be seen. With a growl from waking up Jason opened his eyes momentarily. To his shock he saw nothing, no vast greyness of the planet, no people, nothing. He stood up as fast as he could to get a sense of where he was. But he couldn't figure it out. Walker felt like he was in a building, in some sort of room. Suddenly he heard something breath, he wasn't alone. Waiting for the noise to happen again he braced himself. It stopped, whatever made that noise left, or merely waited. Walker's breathing hastened, nervous of being found, by who or what he didn't know. Slowly he extended his left arm to feel for a wall or a weapon. Instantly a light turned on, a small, dim lamp across the room from him. He made out the shape of a side of a chair and the table the light source sat upon. Further he examined to see something on the arm of the chair. The Lieutenant leaned closer toward the object to get a better view. He realized what it was, a human elbow.
"Who are you?" He spoke slowly with a hint of anger. The person didn't say a word, just sat there, watching him. All of a sudden Walker saw their eyes open, only faintly in the dark. Ominously the eyes fixed on his. The frightening experience continued as Walker stood still looking back.
"Speak." Jason again sounded. He still stood in the room eyeing this 'person' sitting in the chair.
"Sit down." A feminine voice announced. Walker moved slowly to his left, his leg bumping into another chair. He felt for the chair as he moved to it before slowly taking a seat. More lights turned on, blinding him. The Lieutenant Held out his arm in front of his eyes to block out the light. As he slowly adjusted to the illumination he looked up at the woman in the room with him. Vision returning to normal he began to see her face. With a gasp he realized who it was. The bounty hunter he chased on the Citadel.
"You. . ." Walker whispered. She looked sort of different than last time. Obviously she was wearing a dress instead of a hard-suit. But her hair, it was now a brilliant white with a slight blue tint. Her eyes were still the magnificent violet. The two looked at each other, inspecting the slight changes in one another.
"What do you want from me?" Jason asked.
"I thought you wanted to talk." She smirked.
"Is that why you captured me and stuck me in this room? How did you even capture me?!"
Her expression didn't change "You're better off not knowing."
"Who are you anyway?"
"I was going to ask you the same question." She moaned seductively. Her motives were unclear as to why she wanted to know Jason's identity.
"Let's keep this anonymous." Walker ruled "Who do you work for?"
"The people that you killed." She stated bluntly. Walker moved his jaw in concern, still looking the bounty hunter in the eye. This 'meeting' quickly escalated to more than just a talk.
"Why haven't you put a bullet in my head then?" Jason asked.
"I'm not getting paid to kill you. . ." She stated coldly. Then she lifted up a data pad from the table. "I'm after her." Jason eyed the picture, it was of Commander Shepard.
"I can't let you do that. . ." He stiffened in posture.
"I brought you here to talk, not to defend a woman that isn't here."
Jason squinted his eyes at the hunter's remark. The mercenary repositioned her legs to the other side. With a change of emotions she parted her lips and inhaled softly.
"My employer wants me to have you killed. Your lucky I'm not as brainwashed as his servants." Her eyes glared at Walker's "It would be a pity to kill someone who hasn't been here for very long."
"Wha- how do you-"
"It's simple, you have no existing records in any files or documents, except for the historical ones. You came from the past."
Walker's skin crawled at those words. Startled that someone else knew of this.
"You're a fool to think you were the only one to know of the gateway. How do you think Saren got a hold of it in the first place?" She dumped words on the Lieutenant.
"If your just a bounty hunter, how do you know all of this?"
The woman's eyes widened, she wasn't used to talking to someone with a sharp mind, let alone anyone at all. She took a pistol from between her and the arm of the chair then pointed it at Walker.
"I've told you too much. . ." She whispered to herself. The two sat still for what seemed like an eternity. The bounty hunter sifted through her thoughts then lowered her weapon.
"I've. . . never really spoke to someone before. . ." She softened. "It wouldn't hurt . . . to talk."
"I'm listening." Walker tuned into the woman's words. She didn't know how to really face this situation. No one ever wanted to talk to her before. The woman gave into what she wanted most but could never have, a chance to speak.
"Your probably wondering why I look the way I do. White hair, purple eyes, pale skin. I was a project, a proto-type being. One that can change the color of their features, to truly blend into ethnicity, cultures, crowds." the woman stood up from her seat and approached Jason. He stood up to meet her at eye level.
"I can match anyone's complection" She began to change her hair color to various shades then her eyes and skin. Walker's face looked concerned as he witnessed this phenomenon. Black, brown, red, blonde, her hair flashed. Her skin switched from different skin tones as well.
"I can even match your's. . ." the bounty hunter changed her hair to Jason's exact brown then her eyes to the unique hazel followed by the tan skin he achieved during his time in Iraq. Startled, Walker grew disturbed by the female version of himself. Then she turned to a beautiful blonde hair color followed by blue eyes and a light tan tone in skin. The Lieutenant's irises broadened, he recognized his wife in her.
"Stop!" He yelled, stepping back with his arm raised. The woman grinned with a hint of wickedness.
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The truck pulled into the base of operations in front of the Terra-forming head quarters. Shepard climbed out of the back and viewed the area. The structure had multiple holes blasted in it from the slaver APC cannons and various large arms fire. The ground was littered with bodies, workers and slavers alike. The surviving workers began cleaning up the site and constructing defensive positions. Armed militia along with Alliance servicemen walked back and forth going to their assigned post. Wrex strode from the garage to meet Shepard.
"Everything alright? Where's Walker?" Wrex questioned.
"I thought he made it back here." She ignored the first group of words.
"No, he didn't. Come with me, we have some Intel to share with you." He turned and jogged back inside the garage, The Commander not far behind. Alliance troops suited up all around them along with their military vehicles. Morale quickly boosted inside Shepard, they weren't going to fight alone any longer. An Alliance APC roared out of the garage passing the Commander with force.
"Good to have you back Commander." An Alliance Marine saluted Shepard. She returned the salute whilst walking to the command post. Wrex opened the tent flap to a large tent for Shepard. Inside she was suddenly greeted to a large holo-map of the planet and all her squad around it. Then she noticed a man standing across from her.
"General-" She gasped.
"General Charlie Fletcher to be exact, I'll be assisting our forces on this planet." The General stated.
"Who's Commanding them?" Shepard question in disbelief.
"Well, you are Commander."
Shepard felt an immense feeling of power rush into her. Those words alone nearly knocked the wind from her lungs. She swallowed hard and stepped up to the map.
"The slavers are retreating to the west here. If they regroup we believe their going to launch another attack."
"I have an idea to deal with those routing slavers." Shepard said, bummed slightly that Walker wasn't here to hear the phrase again. "Joker, we need to load the Normandy with whatever barrels of fuel that we can. We're going on a bombing run."
"Uh. . . Roger that Commander, setting her down." Joker hesitated in confusion.
She turned her attention back to the group in the tent "I need to have as many of those utility trucks in the front of this garage ASAP. If we mount up and launch a counter offensive before they recover from their loss we could drive them from this planet "
"I like it. We'll arrange that right away." General Fletcher confirmed.
Li turned to the commander with his eyes stricken with concern. "My workers need to stabilize the atmosphere before it's too late. Inside those trucks are Artificial Stabilization Pylons that solidify the atmosphere, until we can set up the real ecosystem. You cant use those."
"Then we will escort your trucks. I want eight Marines on every truck and any APCs you can muster around them. We need to make a column to get those trucks through the slaver occupied territory." Shepard ordered.
"Six truck loads scattered around that plain will work, since it's in the upper hemisphere the gasses should trickle down quicker. Seeing that we don't have time on our side that we would under normal circumstances, that should insure a full stabilization. We only have enough for ten points, so protect them carefully." Li informed.
"Ok, here will be Utah, Pointe Du Hoc, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword." She pointed to various places on the map. "My squad and I will be riding on the truck destined for Pointe Du Hoc."
"It will take us a few hours to load. So I suggest you jump on that 'idea' of yours Commander. We leave in 0400 hours." General Fletcher stated.
"You'll see me before then General." Shepard spoke before exiting the tent. Marines hustled around getting ready for the invasion upon the slaver controlled area. A worker and an Alliance Marine held onto opposite ends of a large ammo box, bringing it toward the line of trucks. Shepard slid through the people around her making headway toward the Normandy outside the garage opening. More Alliance personnel stood in a line into the Normandy's cargo bay, passing fuel barrels to the one next to them. The Commander jogged next to a Marine that was having trouble lifting the barrel into the bay. She gripped onto the barrel and helped the Marine pick it up and move it up the ramp.
"Thanks, had a bit of a hard time with this one." The Marine said raising his head over the top of the metal cylinder.
"Don't mention it. I feel entitled to help load my ship." Shepard welcomed before handing the object to the next set of Marines in the cargo bay. "Commander Shepard." She greeted holding out her now free hand.
"Private Anthony Crice." He said shaking the Commander's hand. They shuffled down the ramp to haul another barrel.
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With the last fuel canister in, everyone moved out of the Normandy and to the base of the ramp. A line about five feet wide was left in the middle of the barrels for whoever was the designated the bombardier. About three hundred barrels were squeezed into the hold, ready to be thrown out of the back.
"What are those barrels for anyway?" Crice questioned with his hands on his hips.
"Bombs." Shepard answered leaning to one side.
"That vessel is not outfitted to be a bomber."
"I know. I'm going to have to throw each one out by hand."
"Wow, I feel sorry for you already. Just thinking about that makes my arms hurt."
Shepard sighed then turned toward the Private "Thanks for your help."
"No problem." Crice acknowledged "Hope your crazy idea works out alright." He then walked off toward the trucks being prepped for the assault. Shepard stepped up the ramp to check the munition.
"Garrus I need you in the Normandy, now." She radioed.
"Looking forward to being apart of your 'idea' commander." Garrus called back. Shepard took a deep breath, not knowing the outcome of this sortie. She spotted the turian running from the command center to the ship. In little time he jogged up the ramp and in front of Shepard, his eyes on the cargo.
"Well. . . that's . . . unconventional." He blurted.
"I thought you liked that kind of stuff?"
"I never said I didn't like these. . . bombs. Very creative, I often envy your resourcefulness." Garrus praised.
"Hate to interrupt any idle chit-chat but those slaver's aren't going to obliterate themselves." Joker inserted.
"Bring us right over their heads." Shepard gave the words to commence the bombing run.
"I'll ease her in nice and slow Commander, wouldn't want an unstable dropping platform."
The ramp closed and the Normandy slowly lifted from the ground. The vessel lurched forward for a split second, the barrels rattled and clanked into one another, causing an eerie sloshing sound.
"Uh, Joker. A little easier please. You almost triggered a premature detonation. . ." Shepard said cautiously.
"Ease up on the easing, gottcha'." He replied.
The Normandy flew higher and higher gently making it's way toward the target. Several minutes of flying they had almost caught up to the slaver force.
"Will these barrels detonate on impact?" Garrus spoke.
"This fuel is very volatile. Shaking it would be enough to prime it for an explosion, and I'm afraid we already did the shaking part."
The turian's mandibles flapped slightly, nervous at the conditions. The two crew members walked around the barrels preparing for the drop.
"ETA four minutes" Joker informed.
Shepard and Garrus made their way to the rear of the bay. Back to back they stood to their respective sides. The grey cylinders stood side by side, not looking even moderately deadly.
"We don't have any lines to keep us in the ship. So if the barrels start do go, just let them go." Shepard instructed.
"And if they don't?"
"Make them."
The ramp silently separated from the ceiling, a bright line appeared as light beamed in. The wind roared making a deafening sound.
"Here we go. When the ramp folds out start releasing the barrels." Joker again spoke over the comm system. The ramp was now three quarters from open. The blue sky could be clearly seen through the opening. Then half way open, the ground off in the distance now showed. Shepard spread her feet apart, bracing for the pushing. The ramp now bent less than a ninety degree angle, ready for use.
"Now!" Shepard yelled. With a great force she hurled a barrel to the ramp. It wobbled on it's sides from the impact then rolled the rest of the way before sinking from sight. Another barrel made it's way down followed by another, then another, and another. On Garrus' side the far end of the barrels began to slip then spill off the ramp. He shrugged slightly, feeling gifted by his luck. With half of his stack already gone he heaved more off the edge. Soft thumps could be heard from the cargo bay, the barrels were exploding. Shepard move to her left, trying to get rid of the second row before advancing. It would be suicide to venture in front of all the barrels. Again and again she threw the fuel tanks to the deck, each one rolling off. With the second row done she looked for a better way to dispense. The Commander ran behind the group of her barrels and rammed her shoulder into the back of a row. With no success she tried again, her right shoulder crashing into the grey wall. They finally gave way and began sliding in single file. To tired at the moment she flipped over and placed her right foot on the forth row and pushed hard. She kicked it repeatedly before she kicked again and missed, the row had slid away. Getting to her feet Shepard placed her hands on the fifth row and leaned with all her might. One by one the bombs fell off the ledge. She walked with the line, making sure that each one made it off. Garrus finished the last of his and turned around to help his Commander. The sixth row Garrus placed his foot on the top of the first barrel and pushed. With his powerful turian legs the row stood no match and quickly disappeared. Commander Shepard stepped to the front of seventh and final row and picked up the barrel and swung it off the deck. Garrus again placed his foot on the barrel behind the rest and kicked, forcing them to bellow out of the rear of the Normandy. Garrus looked at the Commander who had her arms propped on her knees bent down and panting heavily.
"How -breaths- was that?" She huffed.
"Not too bad." He said, not even slightly winded from the ordeal. She rolled her eyes at the turian, jealous of his endurance and stamina, not knowing of the five rows automatically falling off. The barrels had hit right in the middle of the grouping of slavers and fell on top of them all the way to the first ranks, decimating their numbers. Nothing but a giant black, charred, cratered mark the size of a football field was visible from the air.
"Let's head back. We need to prepare for the invasion." Shepard ordered with a hint of fatigue in her voice. Garrus stood still watching the cargo ramp elevate to it's closed state in silence.
"What's wrong?" The Commander inquired.
"I. . . I'm not used to being responsible for so many non-synthetic deaths."
"These aren't people, their monsters, nothing more. They brought this upon themselves, and deserve every ounce of it. I'd slaughter ten times as many if given the chance."
Again Garrus' mandibles flapped again, resentful, but still agreeing with his Commander's words 'Nothing but monsters.'
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Jason stared at the bounty hunter with a piercing gaze.
"He raised you?!" He blurted, eyes still fierce with shock.
"Yes, I'm his 'daughter'." The bounty hunter replied.
"Do you have a name then?"
"E-161 is my true name. He calls me. . . His white Rose." She admitted. Walker stood silent looking into the woman's eyes. She looked back, her eyes fiery as well, her violet orbs drew Walker in. He closed his eyes quickly, looking away, shutting out the temptations.
"What's wrong?" She questioned his actions in a suggestive mood. Rose approached walker slowly with soft steps. Jason's jaw muscles flexed as she came near, uncomfortable at the situation. She lifted her palm to cradle the Lieutenant's chin. Turning his head to her face she gently forced him to watch her. The bounty hunter's lips peeled back to grin flirtatiously at the man in her grasp. Walker's expression shot to anger as he brushed the woman's hand from his face. He hastened to the door and walked out. This new room was a kitchen with a dinning area off to the left, all lavishly decorated and accented by beautiful metal features. He was trapped in this place, no were to go. Walker turned around to face Rose approaching him ever gently, stalking him like a wolf and her quarry. He balled his fist tensely trying to stop everything. You have a wife dammit! Don't let this happen, what would she say? What if she found out? What would you do? Your better than this Jason, your not like this. He fought his instinctive urge. . . But it's been so long. The bounty hunter was now no less than a foot away. She rested her left hand on Walker's chest then shot him a seducing glare. Jason swallowed hard, fighting everything human within himself. Rose pressed her body against Walker's, leaning into him. Hesitantly he stumbled back attempting to back off. He climbed backwards into two chairs then his back hit the bar with an unexpected thud. A feeling of dread and uncertainty flooded inside him. The beautiful red and gold dress draped upon the Lieutenant's legs and lap, fluttering gently by the wearers movement. Softly her lips met with his, Walker's eyes widened in surprise. It's been so long since he ever kissed or felt a woman. Her gorgeous, delicate, violet lips continued to rest upon his, It felt so good. Succumbing to this temptation he embraced the woman, conscience gave way to desire. Rose smiled as she experienced the change in Jason. She progressed to get rough, biting and pulling on the Lieutenant's bottom lip. She felt the bristles on his chin and cheeks scratching her, she didn't mind the sting. Jason returned the favor. She lifted her head above his and looked down in his eyes, smiling even more. The deep purple irises of the woman glistened in the dim light. She rested her forearms on Walker's shoulders and resumed. Jason grinned and put his arms around her thighs and lifted her up, the dress glided effortlessly on her smooth skin. She tugged on his lip even harder trying to provoke him. Walker slammed her back against the wall, she let out a cry of pleasure. Bitting her lip, Rose put her hands on Jason's head, felling his short brown hair. Furiously they kissed, growing in intimacy. The bounty hunter lowered her hands behind Walker's back pressing a few buttons to release his hard-suit. She wrapped her strong dexterous legs around Jason, hardly noticing the depressurizing of the suit. She rubbed her body against his then began to unfasten the suit. Walker pinned her to the wall with his powerful chest and took various pieces of equipment off his belt. Rose slipped her shoulder out of her dress then kicked off one of her high heels. They gasped slightly for air, enduring each other. A single drop of sweat streamed down the woman's neck.