Ch. 25
I don't really trust a sane person.
Author: Lyle Alzado
We arrive in Flux and I immediately cannot hear a thing, the music is pulsing people are shouting over it to talk to each other. It all gives me a headache. "People actually chose to come to these places," I shout to Shepard.
"I thought you said you always wanted to go clubbing," Shepard shouts back.
"I think I'm into a more quiet type of clubbing," I mumble.
"Look there's the captain," Shepard shouts grabbing my arm. I spot him. He's sitting alone at a table in the corner of the club. We head over to him and Shepard sits in the one open chair at the table.
"I'm glad you came, Shepard," Anderson says, "I heard what happened."
"The Normandy's been grounded," Shepard says getting to the point.
"I know, I'm sorry," Anderson says, "I wanted to warn you, but there was no way to get a message to you before you docked." "I know you're pissed off right now, but you can't give up," Anderson says, "they all think this is over, but we both know it's not." "You have to go to Ilos, you have to stop Saren from using the Conduit," He says with finality.
"Only one ship could get us into the Terminus systems undetected and she's grounded," Shepard says.
"Citadel control's locked out all the Normandy's systems," Anderson admits, "but if we override the ambassador's orders we can get them to bring the Normandy back on-line." "You can be in the Terminus Systems before anyone even knows you're gone," He says.
"If we steal the Normandy, you're the one left holding the bag," Shepard says.
"And if Saren finds the Conduit, life as we know it is over," Anderson replies, "the Reapers will destroy us, humans, asari, everybody." I said the same thing in fewer words. "You're the only one who can stop him, Shepard," he says, "so I'll do whatever it takes to get you on the Normandy and off this station."
"What's the plan," Shepard asks.
"I can unlock the Normandy from one of the consoles in the Citadel control center," Anderson suggests, "you'll have a few minutes before anyone realizes what's happened."
"You'll probably get shot doing that," I say to him, "and how would you get in."
"Leave that to me, just make sure you're in the Normandy when the systems come back on-line," he answers.
"There's got to be a better way," Shepard suggests.
"Ambassador Udina issued the lockdown order," Anderson says, "if I can hack into the computer in his office, maybe I can override it."
"And if he's there you can always punch him out," I say, "I'll endorse that plan."
"Hopefully, he won't be there," Anderson says, "if he is, I'll just have to think of something."
"While I endorse that plan, Udina wont let you off the hook," I say to him, "you'll probably get charged with treason."
"We don't have a lot of options," Anderson says, "I break into the ambassador's computer, or I take my chances with the patrols in Citadel control."
"You'll have a better chance if you go after the ambassador's computer," Shepard says. Yes Udina's gonna get punched in the face.
The captain actually cracks a smile, "I was hoping you'd say that," he says, "the ambassador has made this personal." He turns serious, "You ready to get the hell off this station, Commander," he asks.
"Let's do it," Shepard says.
I actually jump off the ground and punch the air, "Yeah kick some ass." Both of them stare at me, I cough into my hand, "Sorry." We practically run back to the Normandy, well I do. After we arrive the crew is notified of the plan. Shepard gives everyone onboard the option of leaving the ship if they wanted, not a single person left their station. I feel a slight shift as we accelerate, guess that means Udina's got one hell of a headache. I go walk around the ship, and I catch bits and pieces of conversation the most memorable being Pressly.
"I can't believe we stole the Normandy," I overhear him say, "I know we'll all be court-martialed if this doesn't work out, but part of me is loving this." I grin as I pass by.
"Commander," I say as she comes into sight, "you wanted to know about me." A few minutes later we are alone in the conference room. "Ask me anything," I say. I spend the next couple of hours answering questions, and I manage to direct her attention away from my past before the Owner. She gets everything else, everything I knew. Which I now realize is a very small amount of information. "That's all I know," I say after she finishes her questions.
"Wow," was all she could say, "that's a lot to process."
"I was wondering if there might be anyway you could help me," I ask, "and Liana."
"I'll do my best, but I don't know," Shepard says she looks thoughtful, "you'll be safe on the Normandy."
"The short while I have," I mumble. I wasn't 100% certain but I think about one month after the battle of the Citadel is when the Normandy got attacked.
"What," she asks.
"Nothing," I answer, "so who's going with you down to Ilos."
"I was thinking that you and Tali could," Shepard says, "you work well enough together."
"Sounds good to me," I say. I leave the room exhausted, "I need to get some sleep," I say to no one in particular. I try to find an empty patch of ground to lie down on. I manage to find one in the garage, I lie down my cloak is bundled up into a pillow. I stare at the ceiling and let the quiet thrum of the ship carry me away.
A machine grabs a woman and launches her across the room, I turn and try to grapple with him and he easily overpowers me and tosses me across the room separating us from each other. He reaches out and grabs a different woman by the throat holding her off the ground. I hold my hand out in their direction weakly...
I wake up to Tali standing over me, "Time to go," I ask.
"Yes Shepard is waiting for us on the bridge," Tali says.
"Alright then," I say standing up, "ladies first." We head to the elevator, and a short while later we are standing next to Shepard looking over Ilos, which just so happens to be surrounded by a geth fleet.
"Uh commander, we've got company," Joker says.
"I'm really hoping they can't see us," I say, "otherwise we won't have to worry about the Reapers."
"Stealth systems are engaged," Joker says, "unless we get close enough for a visual, they won't have any idea we're here."
"Picking up some strange readings from the planet's surface," Pressly who I now realize was in the room says.
"Take us down, Joker," Shepard orders, "lock in on the coordinates."
"Negative on that, Commander," Pressly says, "the nearest landing zone's two klicks away."
I have no idea how long a klick is so I just stand there quietly. Ash appears, or was she there all along, I'm too distracted. "We'll never make it in time on foot," She says, "get us something closer."
"There is nowhere closer," Pressly argues, "I've looked."
"Drop us in the Mako," Shepard says.
"You need at least a hundred meters of open terrain to pull off a drop like that," Pressly argues, "the most I can find near Saren is twenty."
"Twenty meters," Ashley says, "no way we can make a drop in there."
"We have to do something," I say.
"Find another landing zone," Ashley argues.
"There is no other landing zone," Pressly shouts.
"The descent angle's too steep," Tali adds.
"I believe in Joker," I say knowing how this plays out, "he can do it."
"Joker," Shepard asks.
"I can do it," Joker admits with confidence.
"Gear up and head down to the Mako," Shepard orders us I take off for the garage. I hear Shepard order Joker, "drop us right on top of that bastard.