Completely prepped for the next mission, Shepard walked up to the cockpit to see if they arrived first or not. She got her answer without asking the question.
"And there are the folks who answered the distress call." Joker mumbled before he noticed Shepard standing behind him. "Cerberus cruiser. At least a dozen fighters on blockade duty." He said to her. "Too many for us in a straight-up fight. They must want this place bad."
"Incoming transmission." EDI stated. Her mechanical body was sitting next to Joker.
"Let's hear it, EDI."
"SVV Normandy, this is Kahlee Sanders, Director of Grissom Academy. We need immediate assistance." She sounded panicked "Cerberus is attacking the facility. They're after my students." Sanders continued.
"This is Commander Shepard. We're blocked on a direct approach."
"I know. They've taken control of our docking bays."
"Any alternatives?"
"There is an auxiliary cargo port I could probably open." Shepard looked at Joker and he nodded.
"All right. We'll come by in a shuttle and get your students out of there. Joker, can you give me a diversion?"
"Boy, can I!" A huge grin appeared on his face.
Shepard quickly went to the shuttle where Vega, Garrus and Cortez waited for her.
"We have a go guys, let's move on!" The four of them boarded the Kodiak and left the Normandy. With their stealth system on, they hovered in space while waiting for Joker to create a diversion.
"Everybody hold on!" Joker said through their headsets. Shepard stood next to Cortez in the cockpit and watched how Joker made a 180 degrees roll with the Normandy and let 'his girl' make a nose dive towards the Academy. It didn't take long for Cerberus fighters to see the Normandy coming at them like a maniac. Joker plumbed the Normandy through one of the gaps in the design of the space station, Cerberus fighters were not far behind and a cruiser joined them.
"WWWWWWHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYY! Come and get me baby!" Joker sounded like a kid. Shepard rolled her eyes, but couldn't suppress a grin. God he is such a boy! A boy with his toy. How will Traynor hold on? Shepard wondered. Despite the artificial gravity, there is no way she won't feel it. She noticed she actually felt concerned for her, even though she wasn't in real danger.
After the Normandy went into FTL, Shepard ordered Cortez to dock the shuttle.
"Stay in position, we'll be back soon." They left the Kodiak and walked through the airlock.
"Commander Shepard, I'm locked in a server room around the corner." Sanders informed her. "Cerberus troops are trying to get in." She continued while the squad passed the next door, nearing Sanders's room. A few Cerberus soldiers were busy trying to bust through the locked door Sanders was hiding behind. They didn't notice that Shepard, Garrus and Vega were standing behind them. Instead of firing her gun, she decided to toss them around with her biotics before slitting their throats.
"Sanders, we're clear. It's me." Shepard told Sanders. The director of the Academy opened the door while aiming her gun at them, just in case.
"Wow… easy, easy… It is us, it's all good."
"Commander, thank you. Admiral Anderson always said you were the best. And with Cerberus coming for my students, I need the best."
"Euh… Thanks. I guess?" Shepard said awkwardly. "How many of you are there?"
"Fewer than 20. Most of them were sent home when word of the Reaper invasion spread." She walked to a console while talking. "But a few volunteered to stay, some are prototyping tech for the Alliance. Others are biotics. They've been training for military operations, working together as a biotic artillery."
"Is that really a good idea?" Shepard asked skeptically "Knocking over a few dummies doesn't prep them for a war."
"I agree, but the Alliance need every resource they can get, and our students are unique… resources." She looked away when she said that. "Those kids, they wanted to help. How could we say no with the whole galaxy falling apart?" She walked to a console. "Hang on Shepard, I've been trying to get communications working."
"Traynor, could you help with the comms here?"
"Already in the system Commander."
"This is Froeberg! There're students trapped in Orion Hall! Cerberus has us boxed in. They are closing in fast!" He sounded terrified.
"Damn it!" Sanders hit the console out of frustration.
"Orion Hall?" Shepard asked.
"Down the hallway, I can open the door for you."
"I'll bring them back here, and we'll make a run for the shuttle."
"Thank you, Commander. I'll stay put. With andy luck I can regain control of some of our system."
"Contact Specialist Traynor, she may be able to help you from the Normandy." Shepard, Garrus and Vega walked out of Sanders office and down the hallway. As she had said, Sanders opened the door leading to Orion Hall. When they entered the hall, they saw three Cerberus soldiers dragging a student.
"Really? Kids? Don't they have a soul or something?!" Vega sounded pissed off.
"They never played by any moral code." Garrus answered while shooking his head.
They moved on to the next door. When it opened, they heard a soldier yelling to a student.
"Reiley Bellarmine, drop the barrier now!"
How the hell do they know that student's name? Vega and Garrus simultaneously shot both solders down. Shepard walked up to the boy and asked him to let his barrier down. After a few moments of hesitation, he finally complied.
"There might be more soldiers nearby. Play dead until it's safe, then go to Sanders at security."
"Yes ma'am, but my sister Seanne is out here somewhere, too." He replied while he laid down.
"I'll keep an eye out for her." Garrus replied.
"I just got an emergency message from the students in Orion Hall." Sanders said. "One of our instructors is with them, but she can't hold out much longer."
They picked up their pace, hoping that this instructor and the students could hold on a little longer. The last door opened, and a few Cerberus soldiers flew through the room they entered.
"Eat this!" Someone said. Hmm that voice sounds familiar… Shepard continued down the hall.
"Jack?"
"Shepard?" Jack sounded surprised.
"Commander, I picked up some comm chatter. They are sending in an Atlas." Traynor's warning was almost too late. A door already opened.
"Everyone get down!" Jack shouted to the students. "This thing's outta your league! Shepard, keep it off us!" This time her shouting was directed at Shepard. She nodded at her and send Garrus and Vega to tactical points in the hall so they could surround the Atlas, just like like they did on Tuchanka. Jack and the students ran out of their way, putting up a barrier to protect them.
Being in such a confined place, it was hard for them to keep circling the Atlas. After a while Shepard, Garrus and Vega were pinned down between the wall and a few chairs. Fuck my life! She used her biotic powers more than ever. She didn't like to use them, they took so much energy from her. She basically only used them for stealth advantages or in a situation like this. After fighting the Atlas for a while, pushing it back with biotics and shooting it, they finally took it down." Shepard exhailled happily and she hoped to have some time to regain energy.
"GET READY! MORE INCOMING." Jack shouted from the balcony. The students were still holding up the barrier, which impressed Shepard. Wow still got it up eh? These are some talented kids, indeed valuable… resources. Shepard took a deep breath, readying herself for the next wave. It was just a handful of soldiers and Garrus and Vega did the most part, as they knew Shepard's energy level was running low.
"Well well well, I knew Kahlee said she was putting out an SOS. No idea that the queen of the girl scouts would show up." Jack said mockingly, while she jumped down the balcony and walked up to Shepard. Out of nowhere she punched Shepard in the face.
"Damn it! How many times did I tell you not to trust Cerberus?" Jack said furiously.
"Hi Jack, good to see you too." Shepard snarled at her. "Still punch like a girl eh." Shepard curled up her fist, ready to launch, but Garrus interrupted.
"Ahhhh Jack, still as charming as ever I see."
"Good to see you again, Garrus. Face still looks like shit." She grinned. "Okay, right now all I care about is getting my guys out of here."
"Your guys?"
"Yeah. I guess so." Jack sighed, hating herself for caring more for them than she ever planned to.
How the hell did you end up teaching a bunch of kids?"
"You say it like you think I'm gonna make them explode or something. The Alliance brass knew I helped you. They offered me this and apparently the students respond well to my teaching style." She said arrogantly
"The psychotic biotic." Ensign Prangley mocked.
"I will destroy you!" Ensign Rodriguez continued
"Go drink your juice, Rodriguez. You couldn't destroy wet tissue paper!" Jack replied angrily
"Cortez to extraction team. The Cerberus cruiser is coming back."
"How long have we got?"
"Two minutes tops, Commander. After that, there's no way we'll get past them." Cortez replied. Shepard looked up at the students, still trying to refill their energy with high carbs drink and food.
"Get out of here and go back to the Normandy. We'll find another way off the station."
"Roger that. Good luck, ma'am."
"Shepard to Sanders. The kids are safe, but the shuttle's a no-go."
"Understood, I might know another way off the station." She replied. "But I need station-wide camera access. Can you disable the Cerberus station override? It's routed through Orion hall, so you should be nearby."
"How does camera access get us off this station?" Shepard wondered out loud.
"We need to get our hands on a Cerberus shuttle. The cruiser won't fire at a friendly one. Give me camera access and I'll find you a path to the shuttle bay without Cerberus boxing you in."
"LOLA!" Vega shouted. "I found a laptop here… Looks like it controls the video feed."
"Can you disable it?" Shepard asked. Vega dropped it on the floor and stomped on it.
"Done." He grinned. Sigh… Men… Shepard rolled her eyes. She walked to the door leading to the Atrium, but the door jammed. Garrus took the liberty to pull it open.
"Ladies first." Garrus said to Shepard while snickering.
"Ok everybody, be ready. We'll go in first and draw their fire." Shepard told the students.
"We'll shadow you from the second floor and hit those fu…. guys from above." Jack replied to Shepard, who tried not to laugh at her. Aaahh how cute… Jack trying to be civil. She tried to resist, but in the end a grin did escape her lips. Jack shot her a murderous glance. Shepard quickly looked away.
"It gives them some cover too, Shepard." Garrus said. Shepard agreed.
"Just time your shots and stay safe!" Shepard told the stundents before taking off with Garrus and Vega towards the atrium. When they arrived there, they were overwhelmed by the amount of Cerberus soldiers.
"They really really really want those kids badly." Vega whispered.
"Shepard, we need to watch our right flank." Garrus adviced.
"Can you lay cover fire on the right Vega?" Shepard asked.
"Sure Lola."
"Garrus, stay at the back, and shoot their heads off. I'll take cover in the front, next the stairs."
"Commander." Traynor said. "I'm picking up some of their communications. They are placing turrets around you. please, look out… Quinn." Shepard stopped breathing for a second when Traynor said that.
"I will Sam. Don't worry." Shepard was pulled back in the fight after a missile from an Atlas flew past her head.
"FUCK YOU!" Shepard yelled at the Atlas. She threw all the grenades she found on her way to the atrium at it. "JUST DIE MOTHERFUCKER!"
The last grenade shattered the glass shield around the soldier. Shepard grabbed her assault rifle again and shot him to pieces before running towards it. She threw out the bloody body and placed herself in the seat and took the controls. She first aimed at a group who were closing in on Vega. Short burst of five shots at a time, that decimated them quickly. Now she focused on the Centurions, who were equipped with heavy armor. She fired one missile per person. Garrus and Vega distracted the turrets so Shepard had time to sweep the rest of the atrium clean.
"Jack, how are you holding up, up there?"
"Rodriguez took one in her arm, cause she didn't watch her barrier." Shepard could only imagine the face she was giving the poor girl right now.
"Commander, I reached the Cerberus shuttles without being detected. They know what we are doing though, you need to hurry."
"Commander, Sanders is right. They just gave issued an order to pull back to the shuttle bay." Traynor said.
"Thank you, Specialist."
On their way to the shuttle bay they found a few more scared students and sent them up to join the rest. They passed a few more doors. Behind one of the last doors there was an empty Atlas. Another Atlas? How many did they bring? Shepard gave the order to Vega and Garrus to take out the two guards standing next to it while she ran to take it. She took it to the last room before the shuttle bay. Shepard saw Jack on the second floor with the students, who were running two by two to the shuttle bay.
"Shepard! Watch your ass!" Jack shouted. Shepard turned around and saw Cerberus running in the room. She fired her gun in burst mode again and after each reload she punched the missile button. Bang bang boom, bang bang boom sounded through the room. One by one the Centurions and soldiers dropped on the floor.
"Okay, we're clear! Move your ass before backup arrives!" Jack shouted. Shepard made sure Vega and Garrus had a clear path to the door to the shuttle bay. After they reached the door they laid cover fire from behind it, so Shepard could exit the Atlas safely and make a run for it to join all of them.
"Hurry Commander! The Normandy has pulled the cruiser out of position. We need to leave now!" Sanders shouted to them.
"Sanders, how's it coming?"
"Shuttles are unlocked." At that moment one of the shuttles' door opened, and some students ran straight into it.
"Take the controls, and get the students aboard!" Shepard ordered Sanders.
"WAIT!" Jack shouted. "Where the hell is Rodriguez?" At that same moment shots were fired on the other side of the shuttle bay. Through the window they saw Rodriguez running from some Cerberus soldiers. She dove into the first cover she could see, but the soldiers closed in quickly.
"She needs covering fire now!" Shepard yelled, while smashing the window that separated Rodriguez and her.
"She needs more than that!" Jack ran up the window and blasted it to pieces with her biotics. The blast was so strong that the soldiers were blown away. Shepard ran to Rodriguez, picked her up and ran back with her. Jack helped them when they passed the wall that used to hold a window once. The shuttle's door closed just in time before the soldiers could get a hold of it.
"Joker, we flew out on a Cerberus fighter. Watch your fire."
"Right, got you on our sensors. Should just be a minute." Joker replied.
"Thank you Commander. We'd have never gotten of that station if you hadn't come." Sanders told Shepard.
"Fu… Forget that. We kicked some ass! Next place we dock, you're all getting inked! My treat." Jack said proudly. Shepard looked at her. She had never thought that she would see her care for anyone, let alone a group of kids.
"What do you guys want?" Jack continued. "Ascension Project logo? Glowing fist? Maybe a unicorn for Rodriguez?" She snickered.
"SCREW YOU, ma'am!" Rodriguez replied. Everybody, including Jack laughed.
Sanders started talking to Shepard. "I can't believe we got them out alive. I was going to suggest that they stick to support roles, but perhaps they are ready, after all…" Shepard looked at Jack before replying. Jack's expression was clear to her.
"They are definitely ready… but the Alliance needs them in a support role." Shepard was sure she heard Jack sigh in relief.
"Commander, we've got a visual on you now. Preparing to dock." Joker's voice echoed through the PA system. "Hey Jack, now you're in the military, you gonna wear a uniform? Or are you just getting the officer's bars tattooed on?" Joker laughed.
"Screw you! F… flight lieutenant." Jack held back.
"Uuuhhh what the hell was that?!" Joker asked surprised.
"Jack promised to watch her language in order to maintain the necessary professionalism we need from our teachers."
"What, does she have a swearing jar or something? Cause I bet if we emptied that thing, we could afford another cruiser." Joker mocked.
"Cover your ears kids!" Jack started a swearing serenade that lasted as long as the docking procedure took. The only thing Shepard could do, was looking at her in awe.