Chapter 26 - Dana
Dana Shepard stood once again in a great chasm, a chamber which held an abomination, a mockery of life. A putrid writhing sack of green flesh and organs lay suspended from the great ceiling of the catacombs. Dark ichor and sizzling Reaper circuitry jutted out, oozing from the pus-filled behemoth at odd intervals.
"Ready to finally yield Shepard?" demanded the Illusive Man, "a mere human can't take on us. I have ascended!"
"Some godhood," sneered Liara.
Thane nodded, "looks more like something one vomits up after a particularly bad meal."
Dana shook her head, drawing out a Cain missile launcher. The Illusive Man snarled, gesturing with his hand. A biotic field encircled the group, barbs of electricity streaking out to lash against them, scarring their armor. Thane and Liara raised their biotic barriers, as the Illusive Man's large stasis warred against their defenses.
Dana could barely move, but she managed to speak through her comms, "you…in position Kaidan?"
"Affirmative," came the reply, "EDI is lasing the target. Miranda and I were waiting for your mark. FIRE IN THE HOLE!"
Dana closed her eyes, as a series of blasts melted away the ceiling of the catacombs.
The Illusive Man turned, "what in the-"
Kaidan's team had rushed through the base to make the rendezvous coordinates, knowing that Dana was buying them time. As the Illusive Man had focused on Shepard, he had remained unaware; and Miranda and Kaidan blew holes in the great chasm's ceiling with Cain launchers.
"Normandy," said EDI, as she covered the Thorian with her omnitool, "do you have a lock?"
"I read you girl," replied Joker, "here comes the noise!"
A great pillar of light materialized against the Thorian from above, the searing beam coming through the holes that Kaidan's team had made. Before the Illusive Man could utter a curse, the beams widened, becoming a blinding crescendo of molten plasma, as the thanix cannons aboard the Normandy reduced the Thorian into a husk of cinders and sinew.
Dana felt the release, as the Illusive Man lost hold of his biotics. She drew her Cain missile launcher, and aimed.
Her enemy sensed the movement, and turned, seemingly in slow motion, "YOU!"
"Me," said Dana, as she fired her weapon.
The missile rushed forth, ramming into the Illusive Man's chest. The propulsion of the Cain round carried him with it, deep into the heart of the Thorian. Dana shielded her eyes from the explosion.
"Come back from that, you bastard," said Dana.
"Well done Siha," smirked Thane, "one would think the fools would finally learn, and stop trying to defy you."
Dana laughed, and clapped both Thane and Liara on the shoulders. She sighed, her vision going blurry, as two pair of arms cradled her, easing her slide.
"Are you alright?" asked Liara, concern apparent in her voice.
"I'll be fine," said Dana, "Joker…what's the status of the battle?"
"Most of the firing stopped when the thorian went down," said Joker, "must have been the linchpin, the fleets are mopping up the salarian stragglers. How are you down there?
"She's fatigued," said Thane, "we need to get out of here."
"No," said Dana, "we need to see if they got a Conduit working…EDI?"
Over the comms, EDI replied, "yes Shepard. From what XO Lawson and I can gather, that particular branch of research was nearer the surface. We may need a fresh power supply though."
Dana nodded, "then once Joker gets those refugees aboard, have the crew bring some power cells. I won't leave Derrin to face Saren alone…"