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God-own
Chapter 25: By blood and bone.
"Move. Your. Assess!" the order thundered out over the sandy landscape as I pounded towards cover, the mission was going wrong, badly wrong and no matter how I looked at it I couldn't shake the feeling that my deepest fears were slowly coming to life all around me.
Two hours previously
"Clearing troposphere at terminal velocity entering atmospheric boundary layer, hold on!" shouted Williams over the onboard-coms as the enter vehicle shuddered and shook at the sudden atmospheric change.
"We need to stop doing this." stuttered Tali loudly as she was shaken about inside her safety harness.
"Standard HALO insertion, nothing to be concerned about." shouted Alenko over the blaring alarms.
"And the last time, was that standard?" Sarcastically countered the quarian as she made mention of our last mission.
"Standard for me" I replied absentminded only to catch the disbelieving looks being sent my way. "What?"
"Remind me never to sign up with you again after this is all over" chuckled Garrus as he let what past for a smile dart across his face.
"Laugh it up Vakarian, laugh it up" I countered dismissively as the mako jarred suddenly to one side.
"What the hell was that?" demanded Wrex as I cast a questioning glance towards a wall mounted display.
"Looks like they know something's up." I commented coldly as I heard the tell-tale sounds of detonating ordinance seeping through from the outside. "Their blind firing the immediate area with flak hoping to hit us"
"So the enemy doesn't know where we are then?" enquired Liara in mild surprise.
"They know that something was dropped into their atmosphere but we should be moving fast enough to get through their defence grid before they pinpoint our location."
"That's a big 'If' agent" Stated the hulking mercenary as he fixed me with a sharp glare.
"We'll know soon enough" I answered as a split-second later the Gunnery chief's voice came barrelling out over the intercom.
"Brace for impact!" the warning couldn't come a moment too soon as the APC slammed into the waiting landscape, for half a moment it seemed that the gamble had paid off as we careered across the empty beach, but that was quickly brought crashing down as an ear-splitting screech filled the air and the world turned black.
"Toddy...Toddy, time to wake up Toddy, wake up and smell the ashes." chuckled the voice inside my head as a faded world flickered before my eyes. "You can't sleep yet Toddy, not yet." I felt myself slipping sideways as shadowy figures flooded all around me. "Wake up Toddy, wake up."
"Wake up!" reality came crashing to the fore as someone slapped me sharply in the face.
"God damn it that hurt!" I bellowed as I dragged myself roughly upright. "What the hell Tali!?" I caught sight of the teenager hastily shifting a hand behind her back. "Did you just backhand me?"
"And with an armored hand no less." chucked Wrex as I carefully played with my aching jaw. "Always fun to watch."
"I don't doubt that." I muttered grudgingly as I glanced down at the reinforced plating covering Tali's right arm "Please don't do that again." I added pointedly.
"Of course Commander." spluttered the teenager as she had the common decency to look embarrassed, but my attention was quickly dragged away as I realized my current situation.
"Lieutenant, report!" the Alliance officer all most seemed to materialize in front of me as I made my way towards the smoldering APC.
"The mako's wrecked Commander." sadly stated the marine as I caught sight of the remaining members of the ground team hastily dragging equipment from the ruined interior.
"Any chance of repairing it?" the man shook his head in silent rejection as he brought up a glowing image on his omni-tool.
"Both rear axles snapped, that's what flipped us" explained the figure as he cast a worried glance my way. "You were knocked unconscious Sir" he pointed towards the back of my head which had been quietly throbbing away. "We gave you a quick scan sir, no brain damage that we could see but you're going to have one hell of a bruise when this is all over."
"To add to My collection. Anyone else injured?"
"Only some cuts and bruises nothing serious." I nodded in solemn acknowledgement as I began to make hasty recalculations to the mission plan.
"Scavenge as much as you can, we need to keep moving." I ordered as I quickly cast my eyes skywards. "It won't be long until enemy drones reach this location."
"Aye Commander." the man snapped off a sharp salute before quickly moving to carry out his instructions, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
"Commander Shepard, are you feeling alright?" which were quickly pushed to one side as the young asari came to a gentle halt by my side.
"I'm fine doctor."
"Liara" I raised a questioning eyebrow. "You can call me Liara Commander if you want." stammered the young woman as she caught me mildly surprised expression.
"If that is what you want" I answered as I cast a quick glance over the anxious figure. "But do you mind me asking why?"
"In my culture it's a sign of respect when we allow someone to call us by our first name rather than our family name." I court the slight flush that appeared on the doctors' cheeks as she continued speaking. "And since you were so close to my mother it would be considered rude of me not to request it from you." I nodded in understanding as I caught the subtle undertones in the statement.
"I understand, although if we're being traditional you will need to call me by my surname at least and not by my rank in the future." I commentated as I turned my attention back towards the skies.
"You have a surprisingly deep understanding of Asari culture Shepard." stated Liara as she seemed to take on an air of interest.
"I had good reason to." I whispered as distant memories of things long since lost rose to fore once more. "Not that it matters now."
"You were in love with her weren't you?"
"I was." I let out a sad chuckle "I really was." but even as I said this I felt a slight pressure of a hand on my shoulder as the young woman attempted to reassure me.
"I think that mother would be happy that you remember her so fondly Shepard" Stated Liara "But she wouldn't want either of us to grieve, not while there was still work left to do" I couldn't help but smile slightly at that.
"She would be so proud of you Liara, I know she never said out loud it but see always talked about you when the two of us were alone"
"You think so?" stammered the young woman as she desperately attempted not to cry.
"I know I am Liara" I patted her gently on shoulder. "Now go and help the others"
"Right away Shepard" but the pleasant atmosphere was quickly shattered as I picked up movement on my long range sensors.
"Shit they're already here!" I spun around to face the rest of my team "Move your asses!" I bellowed as I beat a hasty retreat back down the coast away from the approaching contacts.
"There's not a lot of cover out here Shepard" rumbled Wrex as he quickly fell in behind me. "We'll be at a disadvantage if we're backed into a corner."
"I'm well aware of that Wrex." I countered cold as I quickly made a beeline for a section of jungle that stuck out into the shallow sea. "Now shut up and run!"
"You don't have to tell me twice." growled the mercenary, literally throwing himself into cover as I came hurtling in over him a split second later, quickly followed by the remaining members of my ground team.
"Get down, get down!" I threatened as I pressed my whole body into the stinking muck that filled the shallow estuary and not a moment too soon as several dark dots quickly materialized on the skyline.
"Those are camera drones Commander" growled the C-sec officer softly as he hastily glanced in my direction. "We can't stay here."
"I'm well aware of that Vakarian, now shut up and follow me!" I muttered darkly as I slowly pushed my body backwards until I was out of site of the mako.
"What's the plan skipper?" I didn't bother looking back at the speaker as I continued my methodical crawl up the shallow stream on my stomach.
"Keep going until I tell you to stop." I coldly snapped as I pulled myself deep into the island interior.
"It's like being back in basic on Palavin" whispered Garrus from somewhere behind me as we quietly shuffled further and further into the encroaching greenery.
"Well at least the stink is the same." chuckled the mercenary as I cleared a shallow rise in the landscape.
"Cut the chatter." I order sharply as I slowly dragged myself upright. "We're not out of the woods yet so keep your heads on a swivel." there was a chorus of confirmations from my surrounding subordinates as they help each other to their feet.
"I don't think I'm ever going to get the stench out of my suit." muttered Tali as she glanced down at the clinging muck that coated her slender frame.
"Your helmet has built-in odor receptors right, just turn them off." I countered as I trudged off into the relative safety of jungle, my team not far behind.
"I already have, I'm just dreading tomorrow's maintenance." joked the teenager as she fell in beside me as we worked our way towards a known reference point.
"You'll learn to block out the smell eventually." I said disinterestedly as I kept one eye on my long range sensors. "I spent two hours crawling through an open sewer drain once; this is a walk in the park by comparison."
"Remind me never to go on walks with you in the future Shepard." stated the teenager disgustedly as I let out a low chuckle.
"You do what you have to do for the mission Tali, remember that." I lightly chastised as I manhandled my way forwards. "It may be unpleasant, more than likely disgusting, but if it's the easiest way to complete the objective then you take it." I glanced over my shoulder at the other members of my team. "Isn't that right Vakarian?"
"That's right, I once spent nearly three days hiding out in a trash compacter waiting for a target" the turian grinned evilly at the memory. "The smuggler never saw it coming."
"And your colleagues didn't mind?" asked the quarian.
"Oh they minded alright, hosed me down twice before letting me step foot back in the station, on top of a sanitation shower and standard decontamination protocols." that draw a host of laughter from his team mates as I shook my head in silent sympathy.
"So what's the game plan Shepard?" enquired the armored krogan as he came to a stop behind me.
"Game plan hasn't changed." I muttered resolutely as I pushed a branch out of the way. "We recon with force towards the main complex; either by bypassing enemy installations where possible and destroying them when not." That got the mercenary's' attention as he raised a questioning eye ridge in my direction.
"Are you sure that's a good idea Agent, we've got no way of getting away if things go sideways and without the mako small arms fire is a real threat."
"I'm well aware of that Wrex, but given our current situation I can't see an easier alternative besides splitting up into two teams and trying to bypass the outer ring of the defenses using stealth"
"Which comes with its own risks" muttered the towering figure grimly.
"Indeed" I cast a quick glare skywards as we passed through a open section of canopy. "All we can do is try and open up a gap in their flak cover as we go so that the Normandy can slip through and extract us when the time is right"
"And if they can't?" rumbled the krogen darkly.
"Then we're going to be here for a long time" I stated as we finally reach our first waypoint, a barren patch of rock that jutted out of the surrounding landscape. "Everyone take twenty minutes, grab a drink, grab a bite to eat, we won't be stopping until you reach the next way marker. Wrex, Alenko, a word." I slowly distanced myself from the rest of the group as the two figures came striding over towards me. "How are we doing lieutenant?" I enquired firmly as I cast a calculating glare over the breathless alliance officer.
"Doing fine Commander, everyone seems to be holding up ok, no problems."
"And our supplies, what about them?"
"Fortunately we managed to scavenge most of the field rations from the mako before we had to evacuate, so we're good for several days. Figure we could make them last a week if we're careful."
"And what about the dextro members of the team, what about their rations?" I glanced quickly over towards Garrus and Tali who were chatting away happily to each other. "We can't afford to have them go into anaphylactic shock."
"They're both carrying several days' worth of nutrient paste and I got everyone else to store two additional servings in their backpacks in case of emergency."
"Good." I cast an eye upwards towards the clock in the corner of my heads up display. "We've still got a few hours before twilight and I want to be within striking range of our first target by nightfall." that drew a dismissive snort from Wrex as jerked his head towards the other members of the ground team.
"These people aren't Special Forces Shepard, don't expect them to be still standing by the end of your little hike." chastised the mercenary as he court the cold glare emanating from my current position. "And don't give me that look, if you didn't want my opinion you wouldn't have called me over"
"Point taken" I muttered as I silently dragged a energy bar out of a trouser pocket. "Good thing this coat is waterproof" I thought as I noticed the garments bedraggled state "Don't think Cedric would buy me a new one if this one got wrecked" but the silent dialogue was quickly pushed to one side as I forcefully attempted to keep my mind on track, it wasn't help by the concerned glances being sent my way by certain members of my team. "Can I help you Miss Zorah?" I loudly enquired.
"Your bleeding Commander" quietly commented the lieutenant as he gestured at his nose "Badly?" I question as I investigated with a gloved hand.
"A bit, but nothing to be concerned about" added Alebko as he quickly pulled some medi-gel out of his backpack. "This should take care of it Sir" I silently accepted the coagulant without fuss as I noticed the thick layer of crimson covering my fingers.
"Getting back on track" I stated firmly as I turned the attention back towards the grim looking krogan. "I'm not going to debate this Wrex, we're going to hit the target at midnight, so get ready."
"Let's hope you know what you're doing agent" growled the mercenary darkly as he stomped away into the surrounding undergrowth.
"You're not the only one." I silently whispered as I dismissed the other man with a wave of my hand. "You're not the only one."
The next few hours trudged on by as I lead the little group from one way marker to another, all the while keeping a close eye on several members of my team, who by the fading twilight where already starting to seriously struggle as we cleared yet another tree sheltered hillock.
"We need to slow the pace Shepard." rumbled Wrex's unmistakable tone as he came marching up out of the gloom. "There's no point reaching the enemy on time if everyone is too tired to stand."
"Don't you think I realized that?" I countered bitterly as I quickly glanced back at the drawn out column winding its way up the tangled hillside. "But we're almost there so just keep them going." I could tell that the order wasn't well received by the veteran but to his credit he knew when to bite his tongue as he silently walked off to rejoin the rest of the squad. "Just over a mile to go folks, keep it up, you can all have a good rest when we get there." I stated loudly as I fell back in with rest of my subordinates.
"I'm going to need it" spluttered Tali breathlessly as she came stumbling past "Because I really can't feel my feet."
"Hang on for a little while longer Tali, I'd hate to have to carry you the rest of the way" I grinned slightly as I caught the disapproving scowl flashing across her obscured face.
"You wouldn't dare." stated the woman coldly as she fixed with a withering glare.
"I would." I countered evenly as a wolfish grin spread across my face "After all, the mission comes first." the teenager didn't miss the jab at her earlier strategy.
"Stupid bosh'tet." grumbled the figure weakly as she slapped me on shoulder.
"So you keep saying." I quietly chuckled as we soldiered on towards the lofty looking ridge line that dominated the skyline above us.
"No more, I can't take another step" wheezed a breathless Liara as she came staggering into view over the lip of the hill.
"For once I have to agree with you doc. The tank is officially empty." added Williams tiredly as she dropped to the ground, a sweaty, flustered heap.
"Duly noted." I countered as I wiped the moisture from my brow. "Fortunately we've made good time so I'll give you exactly what you want." turning I cast an eye over my exhausted colleagues. "Three hour break, I want everyone to rest; Alenko make sure everyone's is fed and watered."
"Aye Commander" wheezed the lieutenant from his spot on the floor as I quietly turned my attention back towards the well-lit complex in the darkness below.
"We're ahead of schedule." grumbled the mercenary as he lent on a nearby tree. "Which is good because everyone else is about ready to drop." he added pointedly.
"Your ability to state the obvious is unmatched." I countered as my attention remained fixed on the blot on the landscape. "This is why the actual assault team will just comprise the two of us; with Garrus and Williams giving us sniper cover until we're inside."
"Good" chuckled Wrex as he took a massive bite out of a waiting ration pack. "I was starting to get bored."
"Just try and not get us all killed." I dryly stated as I took a grateful swig from my canteen.
"No promises agent, no promises."
"I think I can live with that" I muttered as I stared off into the encroaching gloom.
The night held sway over this half of the planet as the two of us slowly made our way through the dense vegetation towards our intended target.
"Good thing we left the others behind, this is some mean brush." muttered the krogan angrily over his headset as he manhandled another face full of greenery out of the way.
"Stop whining, we're nearly there." I coldly replied as I ducked down under a fallen tree to get a better view of the installation, all courtesy of my visual enhancements. "Garrus, you and Williams in position yet?" my ear crackled into life as the C-sec officer let out a shallow breath.
"In position Commander, painting targets now." stated the turian quietly as I crouched down next to a jagged outcrop of rock. Several red outlines appeared on my HUD. "We can cover you all the way to the main generators, so whenever you're ready." I glanced over towards my fellow brawler.
"Ready?"
"I was born ready." growled the mercenary as he glared angrily at the metal portal set into the curtain wall.
"Go!" the next few seconds transformed into a mad dash across open terrain as we bore down on the sealed access hatch which quickly gave way under the force of a well-placed satchel charge.
"Is this all you've got!" bellowed the scarred veteran as we stormed into the central courtyard, weapons blazing.
"Stay focused!" I loudly chastised as I slipped in under a shock troopers guard and buried a combat blade into the things chest cavity, coating my lower arm in white, synthetic fluid.
"I am!" roared Wrex loudly as he unloaded on a couple of geth troopers who came sprinting out of the nearby doorway. "See, focused" he added as he cut another assailant nearly in half with a well-placed shot.
"Remind me why I pay you." I replied tersely as I crushed a trooper's exposed head with an outstretched hand.
"I had information about Saren that you needed at the time and you decided a krogan Battlemaster was a good ally to have. I also make a mean varren stew." chuckled the alien as I emptied my hand cannon into a rocket troopers central processing unit, sending it tumbling backwards in a spray of milky white hydraulic fluid.
"You guys need to get a move on!" barked the gunnery chief over the com-link as I sure a well place head shot hit home, decapitating a particularly stubborn assailant on top of a nearby roof. "Movement on the long range sensors looks like enemy reinforcements are on route."
"How long?" I demanded as I quickly made a mad dash past the intimidating artillery piece set into the center of the complex and instead aimed for a squat looking building built into one side of the outer fortification.
"Ten minutes tops, whoever they are they really want you gone." explained the marine hastily as I caught the trepidation in her tone.
"Roger that." I stated as I tore my gaze away from the objective just in the nick of time as Wrex's warning thundered across the open space, unfortunately I couldn't react fast enough as a swirling ball of plasma detonated mere inches from my feet throwing me backwards into a nearby wall
"Shepard!" the terrified yell echoed out over the com-link as I dragged myself upright, a metallic taste coating my tongue.
"Geth prime!" bellowed the krogan as he slammed into the imposing assailant like a ton of bricks, sending the struggling pair slamming into the earth with a bone shattering crash as the two massive titans struggled for dominance. "Take your time Shepard." roared the hulking brute gleefully as he slammed an elbow into the opponents large optical lens which cracked under the force of the impact. "I could do this all day." I spat a congealing mass of crimson from between my lips as I staggered back towards the open doorway.
"Keep him occupied I'm going blow the primary generator." I shouted loudly as I jammed a stick of semtex in under an exposed piece of engine housing before quickly piercing the clay colored block with a thin, pencil like detonator.
"You've got to move Commander!" Stated the unseen turian in my ear as I beat a hasty retreat back the way I'd come.
"I'm working on it." I snapped coldly as I was quickly joined by the bedraggled but beaming figure of Wrex, who steadily fell in behind me as we forcefully cut our way back out through the defenders crumbling defenses and into the clinging safety of the surrounding darkness.
"Vakarian, Williams we're clear get yourselves to the rendezvous point, the rest of the team will meet you there"
"What about you skipper, aren't you coming with us?" Frantically enquired the gunnery chief as I brought up a new reference point on my internal heads up display.
"We'll meet you at the next waypoint, get going!" I barked back down the line as I glanced back towards my trailing colleague. "You ready for this Wrex?" I asked as I caught the unmistakable roar of engines in the distance as the long awaited reinforcements came charging onto the scene in the form of several bulky looking drop ships that came rumbling over the horizon menacingly.
"I'm always ready" was the confident reply as we slipped back into the surrounding jungle. "Was half expecting an explosion though." grumbled the mercenary as he looked back at the rapidly dwindling location with mild disappointment, which quickly dissipated in the face of the withering fireball that turned the surrounding world white as it cooked off the stored energy that had been built up in the generators ruined storage units.
"Good enough for you?" I stated disinterestedly as I increased my pace once more, knowing all too well what the detonation would mean in the long run for my team.
"Not as fun as an orbital strike, but a good start." replied the krogan as we scrambled up a steep hillside on our hands and knees. "Can't wait to see what you do next." I didn't dignify the statement with an answer as I slid down the opposite side of incline at a break neck speed, until I came to a screeching halt in the ankle deep marshland muck that stretched out in front of us as the far as eye could see.
"What do you think they'll send after us?" I questioned as we slowly started to make our way across the stinking landscape.
"If we're lucky they'll just send some geth" I raised an eyebrow.
"And if we're unlucky?" I added.
"Then they'll send professional hunters after us, probably blood pack kill teams with varren trackers." muttered the veteran as he cast a watchful eye back over his shoulder at the shrinking black cloud of smoke in the distance.
"So business as usual then." I muttered grimly as I trudged on into the clinging darkness, seemingly unaffected by the declaration from my subordinate behind me. "Nice to see that some things never change."
"Reminds me of that time on Omega; wasn't I supposed to be tracking you then as well?" asked the grinning mercenary as he caught the sour look on my face. "I take that as a yes then." laughed the krogen heartily as he came stomping up beside me in high spirits. "Good fight that one; we chased each other up and down that damn station for nearly three days until Aria got sick and tired of the whole thing and kicked us out the nearest airlock."
"Speak for yourself." I replied bitterly as I pulled my ruined boot out of a filthy puddle of water "I had to hijack a blue sun mercenary shuttle and escape before that damn asari had me scalped!"
"I would have paid to see that" chortled Wrex as I unleashed a scathing glare at the remark.
"Remind me why I shouldn't just leave you here in this swamp?" I questioned pointedly as I cast my eyes around to get a better sense of our location within the bleak landscape.
"Because it's easier to escape from one group of pursuers then from two. I'm also less than a foot from you and have a shotgun." countered the veteran darkly as we eyed each other up in silent contemplation, which was quickly broken by my towering colleague when he tore his gaze away from me.
"Do you hear that?" he sharply whispered as the two of us glanced back the way we'd come.
"You mean the clicking?" I closed my eyes as I attempt to pinpoint the noise. "It's pretty far off but it's getting close."
"That's what I thought" muttered the krogen as we exchanged looks.
"We need to move!" I snapped as I picked up the pace.
"Don't need to tell me twice" came the muttered response as we struggled our way across the barren space, but with every passing minute the sounds of our pursuers grew louder and our fatigue more noticeable.
"We can't keep this up Shepard." stated Wrex breathlessly as I finally drew a bead on the relative safety of the tree line that rose up to meet us on the horizon.
"I thought you were supposed to be a krogan, not a girl scout." I criticized loudly as I dragged my tired body onwards.
"You dare!" Growled the mercenary threateningly as he took a step towards me.
"I dare, so shut up and march!" I bellowed as I stomped off towards our intended destination.
Then immediately froze when I felt the barrel of Wrexs' shotgun making contact with my the back of my head. "I've followed your orders because you sign my checks and things have been fun. But I've seen more than you can even imagine in four hundred years of life and I refuse to be insulted by some dreg who thinks metal arms and a fancy gun makes him better than me. Mind your tone human, I'm getting tired of it."
"And I'm getting tired of having to mended your fucking ego every time it gets pricked!" I countered heated as I spun around to slap the loaded weapon out of the way. "And for the recorded Wrex I did beat you, twice as I recall or was me tackling you out of that third story window on omega just a figment of my imagination?" the mercenary let out a low snarl.
"You think you can kill me agent" stated the krogen as he drew himself up to his full height.
"Maybe, maybe not, but I do know that the victor won't be around long enough to brag about it" I added coldly as I japed my head back towards the way we'd come. "Not if the geth have anything to say about it at any rate"
"Point. Taken " growled Wrex grimly as he slowly returned the shotgun to its holster. "But when all of this mess with Saren is finished with Shepard we're going to settle the score"
"looking forward to it" I replied firmly as we set off into the early morning gloom.
The hours trudged by as we pulled ourselves over the inhospitable terrain, all the while trying to shrug off our pursuers with little to no success.
"We can't keep this up Agent" muttered my colleague wearily as he slumped down onto a moss covered rock. "We're going to have to face them" I dropped down next to him.
"I know, I was hoping that we could outpace them, but it's one of the benefits of allying with the Geth, their soldiers just don't stop" I commented resignedly as dragged my side arm out of its holster. "So how do you want to do this?" the krogan grinned mocking as he heard this.
"I thought you knew what you were doing" he stated as he pulled a hip flask out from a hidden pocket. "Drink?" I raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Is it ryncol?" yet another grin.
"Why, can't handle your liquor?" Teased Wrex as he gently shoved me with his shoulder. "Or are you scared."
"Hardly" I replied disinterestedly as I excepted the metal container "I just like being able to shoot straight, that's all" I took a deep swig and immediately regretted it as I felt the clear liquid burn its way down my gullet.
"Good stuff huh" chucked the veteran as he patted me on the back as I began coughing uncontrollably.
"What the hell is this?" I enquired hoarsely as I took another sip.
"Something you humans make called PoitÃn" I let out a surprised splutter "Came across it a few years back while working for this bloke on the Citadel, good stuff right?"
"Damn straight" I wheezed. "Still doesn't answer the question though, how are we going to do this?"
"What was your plan?" Challenged the figure as he downed what was left in one go.
"Staggered retreat, one covering the other as we fall back."
"Sounds good to me" replied the veteran as he began flexing his muscles in anticipation.
"I'll take point, get your ass up the slope" ordered the krogan as he got himself into cover.
"I'll be waiting at the top, don't be late!" I shouted back as I struggled up the hillside, it didn't take me long to reach the top, which was rather fortunate because no sooner had I gotten into position then there came a deafening crescendo of explosions as Wrex opened up on the enemy vanguard with what little explosives he had left.
"Get go" I ordered as I settled myself into a better firing position.
"Roger that." came the reply over the com-link as I sure the small dot in the distance broke into a mad dash up the incline, with what looked like the entirety of the geth nation on his heels.
"What I wouldn't give for a good old Mattock" I grumbled as I began pouring rounds down range into the enemy.
"Heads up!" bellowed the imposing figure as he came rushing by. "They got reinforcements!"
"You don't say!" I shouted over the roar of battle as I glimpsed as second wave advancing up the slope, their pristine white armor glinting in the sun. "It's going to be one of those days." I whispered bitterly as I resigned myself to a long fight. Sometimes I hate being right.
"Switch!" the call echoed in my ears as I stiffly rolled out from behind yet another rocky outcrop and limped as fast as I could towards my waiting colleague, who like myself was looking rather the worse for wear.
"You look like shit Shepard" weakly chuckled the mercenary as he took in my bruised and battered appearance.
"Look who's talking." I countered wearily as I noticed the streams of orange liquid leaking out from in between cracks in his hard suit. "How bad?" I added somberly as I pulled the last of my medi-gel out from a back pocket.
"Save it" muttered the veteran as he stopped me with a raised hand. "Besides by the looks of things you need it more than I do." he added pointedly as he noticed the warm fluid that coated the inside of one of my right hand.
"It's nothing, just a scratch." I replied distractedly as I cast a tired eye over our dwindling supplies.
"Like I've never heard that one before" Stated the krogan snidely as I caught him staring at my side. "But seriously how bad?" his tone didn't broach any argument.
"Bullet nicked a rib, but didn't hit anything important, so stop worrying." I instructed as I pulled myself up to look out of cover.
"So how many do we have left?" Groaned Wrex as he staggered up next to me.
"Well let's put it this way." I answered grimly as I court site of advancing troopers. "We're not going be bored." but the lively conversation was quickly brought crashing to the ground as a rocket came sailing in over our heads.
"You know what would be great right about now." dryly commented the krogan as we ducked back down into cover.
"No, what?" I questioned as I readied my weapon.
"The rest of the ground team!" snarled the veteran angrily as he began laying fire into the attackers, the tungsten rounds chewing through them with frightening easy.
"Well I would!" I shouted irritably as I lobbed a grenade into a knot of enemies that were trying to force their way across open ground. "Except they jammed the com-link!"
"Well it sucks to be us then!" replied the mercenary bitterly as he blasted a troop captain off its feet with a well-placed round.
"Indeed, we could..." but my sharp retort was quickly cut short as something slammed into my chest sending me slamming backwards into the dirt.
"Shepard!"
"I'm fine, worry about you." I spluttered as I dragged myself into the relative safety of a rocky outcrop. "I can look after myself, just keep them at bay!"
"Just don't fucking die." bellowed the krogan as he blazed away with his assault rifle at the slowly encroaching shock troopers. "You hear me!"
"I hear you!" I counted heatedly as I empty the contents of my stomach onto the ground, it was a lot redder then I would have liked. "Shit that hurt." I muttered as I ran a hand over my breastplate, trying to find any holes. "You've got to love reinforced ceramic plating." I grunted as I found the shallow dent in the right chest plate.
"You still alive Shepard?" enquired my colleague loudly as I glanced back over towards the source of this voice.
"Just about, you?" the mercenary groaned at the question as he came stumbling into view, blood dripping from multiple holes in his suit.
"Been better."
"Me too" we both grinned wearily at each other as he helped me up right.
"So heroic last stand then?" stated the warrior evenly as we caught sight of the next wave encroaching upon our position.
"Only the good ones die Wrex, you know that." I answered steadily as I ran one last check on my internal systems. "Do we look like good guys to you?"
"No, but being good is overrated." came the reply as we began throwing our last explosive charges at the lead units.
"Have to agree with you there." I muttered as the explosions lit up the early morning skyline, sending bodies and broken limbs raining down all around us. "So, want to do the honors?"
"With pleasure!" Snarled the veteran as he strolled out to meet the enemy head on, shotgun blazing, with me close on his heels, picking off the disorientated stragglers left and right.
"Is this it, is this all you got!" I roared as I unloaded one round after another into the synthetic horde. "I'm fucking insulted!" In hindsight it probably wasn't wise to trash talk the opposition and if to reinforce the point there came an all-too-familiar whine as something unmistakable came stomping into view. "Geth Armature!" I stated frantically as I caught site of the towering construct.
"I see it, I see it!" Snapped the figure as he slammed a biotic punch into a shock troopers startled optics.
"Stop seeing it and kill it!" I demanded angrily as I pistol whipped an enemy off its feet before curb stomping it into the floor.
"I'm trying!" countered the mercenary as he threw a ball of burning energy in the things face, only to be rewarded with a siege pulse that sent him flying backwards out of site.
"Well, shit" I muttered as I faced down the imposing walker. "This could be bad" but I didn't have much time to contemplate my fate as a sudden, throbbing pain reverberated down my spine as I felt something jab me sharply in the back. "Seriously!" I snapped as I glanced over my shoulder just in time to catch the geth in question pulling a vicious looking spiked bayonet out of my body, ready for another go. "Piss off!" the remark was accompanied by a savage elbow to the face before quickly following up with a single, solid slice that effortlessly sent the troopers head tumbling to the floor below; but the triumph was short lived as something burningly bright slammed into my unguarded chest, ripping open my armor and sending me crashing into the waiting earth, which was quickly turning red as I struggled to right myself, blood running in streams down my front.
"Is that the best you've got?" I chuckled manically as I spat the gore covered contents of my mouth all over the surrounding floor. "Because I'm extremely disappointed." I levelled my side arm at the advancing Armature and began pounding away at the gleaming construct, every hit cutting into its shields like a hot knife through butter, which would have been rather beneficial if not for the fact that the towering opponent was also armed with a heavy caliber machine gun, which it duly used to strafe my position with frightening efficiency as I quickly found out as several of them hammered home into my failing body, braking bones and gouging holes.
"Welp that hurt" I whispered weakly as I felt my legs give out from under me. I crumpled into a bloody mess onto the broken earth below, battered, bleeding and broken as the last few moments of my life slowly slipped away from me.
"Time to sleep Toddy." chuckled the dark tone that seeped softly out of the reassess of my mind. "Time to dream." reality started to fad and I found myself effortlessly carried away in its wake, near blinded to the sights and sounds around me as numerous hands reached out and took hold.
There you go folks, hope you liked it, let me know how the story is going in your opinion.
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God-own