A/N: Friends! Gamers! Fellow authors! And everyone else in cyberspace! This has been one hell of a ride I must admit, even though I've gone dark for so long it feels good to know that I still have the goods. Hell, even my girl agrees that my stuff is just as good as ever. She's even thinking of starting her own profile on this site sometime soon as a hobby. I fully encourage it.
Anyway, for this installment, like I mentioned last time, is mostly going to be a flashback during the time before the ME2 storyline got started before jumping back to current time in the story. A lot of fights, smack talk, and the answers of how the Illusive Man's head attack dog knows our good friend Alex.
So here it is, lets kick some ass!
I own nothing!
Alexander 'Maverick' Drake
Cerberus Science Installation - Kepler Verg
October 31, 2184 - 04:35 hours
(One Year Ago)
A Cerberus Trooper fell face first to the metal floor dead, blood gushing from the slice made in his neck as he gurgled his last breath before going still.
The air behind where he had been standing shimmered before Alex appeared in full nano suit. Blood knife in hand as he came out of the shadows, shaking the blade off and slipping it back into its sheath before drawing his Harrier rifle.
It had been a month since he and Liara had taken down the Shadow Broker, and tracking down Cerberus operations throughout the galaxy had been rather easy now with the vast information network at their disposal.
The installation the nano soldier was currently on was built into the side of an asteroid orbiting one of the planets in the system, and was responsible for illegal implant experimentations on test subjects. Scientists were using subjects purchased from slavers coming out if the Terminus Systems to test these implants that were said to increase strength and speed.
However, the reports that he had read from the information network informed him that there was only a 21% success rate in the procedures. And those that failed in the experiments either wound up dead or crippled due to damage to their nervous systems. It was more than enough to have Alex gear up and head to the facility where they were performing the experiments and shut it down.
Even though it was in the Attican Traverse close to the Human Alliance boarder, it didn't hinder him in the slightest as he prepared to take Cerberus down another peg.
So far, he'd managed to slip the Wraith into their cargo area cloaked when they brought in a shipping freight full of supplies. From there he'd been sneaking through the facility using the map he had Prophet rip from a local terminal to guide him. Keeping out out sight as he moved from section to section undetected.
His current objective was to do recon and shut the place down. All the while freeing any and all prisoners that were being held. As much as he just wanted to blow the place to hell, he couldn't risk the lives of the unwilling subjects being held there.
The dead Trooper was dragged into a nearby storage room and dumped into a crate out of sight. His current kill count thus far was only five since he had arrived almost an hour ago. Taking out too many of the guards would draw attention and he needed to be full stealth on this op.
Harrier leading him, Alex treaded lightly down the corridor in front of him. His back pressed to the closest wall and one eye always checking his motion tracker to be sure than nothing could sneak up on him. Whatever cameras that might have been in the area couldn't track him since the firewall barrier he and Prophet had perfected last month was active.
"Proximity Alert." warned the AI as a red blip began to close in on his position from around the corner ahead. The nano soldier paused and pressed himself closer to the wall, "Cloak Engaged." he vanished from sight just as another Trooper rounded the corner and followed along the corridor back the way he came.
Still cloaked, he moved slowly around the corner and in the direction of his objective. The nav-point on his HUD leading him to a locked door at the end of the hall that he quickly hacked before slipping inside as his energy meter fell below half.
The nano soldier de-cloaked and stood after checking to be sure that no one was around. The room he had entered was meant to be for the subjects that hadn't been tested yet or were tested and left to see results. Prison cells lined the walls ahead, six on each side big enough to house four people comfortably.
"Damn." he muttered lowering his rifle as he walked down the line of empty cells. The doors were closed, but unlocked, and each window revealed each cell was empty save for a few blood stains on the walls, floor or bed.
A terminal inside an empty security station drew his attention and he stepped inside to find a terminal. Pulling up his omni-tool, Alex sent a hack program into it to figure out where the test subjects were at that moment.
"Connection Established." reported Prophet as data scrolled across the screen on his arm.
"What do you have for me Prophet?" the Post-Human asked as he began reading what was displayed before him.
"All successful test subjects have been moved to another facility for further testing. Those that were deemed 'failures' have been disposed of." said the AI making Alex's blood burn. The data he was reading said the same thing, there were roughly twenty people being held here against their will, and according to the data there were only six successful implant subjects while the rest had either died or was euthanized.
Those surviving six had been shipped off to an undisclosed location the previous day.
The Post-Human put his fist through the terminal in frusteration, sparks shooting out from the destroyed electronics before he turned and made his way back toward the door he came through. The first half of his objective was a no go, but he'd be damned if he let this place stand any longer.
And the best part was, he had no reason to be quiet anymore.
The door slid open revealing two Troopers who responded to the terminal being destroyed and paused when they saw the nano soldier. "What the hell-" Both were cut down when a quick burst of rounds struck them in the head.
Alex pulled up his omni-tool and accessed a file he had highlighted. Pressing the key that popped up, the whole facility shook as a loud explosion ripped through from somewhere close to the center. The lights flickered and went off before red emergency lights came on along with an alarm that rang through the halls.
"Warning! Warning! Power in Sector 5 is now Offline! All Personnel are to Report to their Stations!" warned the station's VI as the sounds of running footsteps could be heard. Alex pulled a grenade from his belt and primed it before tossing it to the corner ahead as the first of the Cerberus Troops came around.
The explosion taking out several of the armed men and throwing others against the wall.
The nano soldier shot them as he passed by, blocking a wide punch aimed for his head sent at him from one of the Troopers that managed to get up and emptying the rest of his thermal clip into his gut at the same time.
Reloading, Alex continued on his path just as a second explosion echoed through the installation. "Power in Sector 4 is now Offline! Technitians are to Report to their Stations for Immediate Repairs!"
Following along the same corridor he had gone through on the way in, the nano soldier took out as many guards as he could as he headed back toward the cargo bay. The explosives he'd set up at the various power units for each sector of the installation were on a timer and would go off within minutes of one another. Each one would shut down a portion of the installation and force the main core into overload from the loss of power distribution to the other sectors. When that happened, there was a fifteen minute window before the core couldn't sustain itself and explode, taking the facility with it.
Given the isolation of the facility, there wouldn't be any innocent casualties when the core went critical. It was the best way to ensure that everything here, including the research data, was destroyed.
A Centurion barreled out of a nearby room, swinging a knife at Alex's head only to have his arm blocked mid-strike. The nano soldier drove his knee into the operative's midsection doubling him over before slamming his rifle into the back of his head hard enough to send him crashing to the floor. A quick burst of gunfire ensured he stayed down as he continued to make his way back to where he left the Wraith.
Passing through the doors that led out into the cargo area, he switched his Harrier for his dual Paladins and shooting two guards that raised their weapons at him as he lept over the railing and landed on the ground floor as a third explosion rippled through the facility.
Alex ignored the VI's broadcast as he fought the Cerberus personnel that engaged him. "Maximum Armor." The Post-Human shot the closest Troopers through the head, their bodies hitting the ground as he jumped over them in a dead sprint while reloading.
Holstering one of the pistols, be brought out his omni-blade and sliced through the shield a Guardian had been holding. Shooting the operative twice in the chest before kicking another Trooper in the face, caving in their helmet. A volley of rounds bounced off the hardened weave of the nano suit from above, two more Troopers were on the catwalk surrounding the cargo area.
The Post-Human's HUD scanned the area and highlighted a small stack of explosive barrels beneath the walkway that he targeted and fired on without thinking twice. The rounds piercing the outer casings and igniting the gas within causing an explosion that destroyed the supports above them and causing the section of catwalk the operatives were standing on to collapse on itself sending the Troopers crashing to the floor below.
Alex eased his stance, the room was cleared for the time being but wouldn't last long with the place about to go critical soon. Out of his field of vision, he caught sight of two lithe forms dropping down on the opposite end of the cargo bay.
Both of them were female with the way their bone-white and black armor hugged their forms, helmets covering their heads with four red slitted eye pieces marking them as Cerberus agents.
"Referrence Scans Complete." said Prophet, information on the Phantom class Cerberus operatives appeared on the left side of his HUD. Strengths, defenses, weaponry and armor listing as Alex raised his Paladin at the duo, omni-blade still at the ready while the Phantoms both drew monomolecular blades and held them in their left hands reverse-blade style. Their right hands extended with their palms facing outward, centers glowing with kinetic energy as they readied to attack.
"Well, shall we dance?" he asked the two just as kinetic projectiles fired from their hands a heartbeat later. "Maximum Armor." Alex rolled out of the way of the rounds and returned fire, the Phantoms separated and sprinted at him in different directions. Their swords flashing through the air only to be met with emptiness as the nano soldier dropped low to avoid them.
His omni-blade slashed upward at the closest Phantom, the operative flipping away at the last second as their partner took a second swing.
Alex saw the movement in his peripheral vison and leaned back, the monomolecular blade passing just over his visor by very little as he snapped his Paladin up and fired three rounds. The Phantom jumped back when her attack failed and flared a biotic barrier to absorb the rounds before they could hit their target.
The Post-Human soon found himself in a dance of death against the two assassins. His enhanced speed and reflexes helping him avoid being impaled on their swords as he ducked and dodged around them. Slashing back with his omni-blade or shooting his pistol whenever an opening presented itself.
But the Phantoms were just as quick, their implants, training and minor biotics making them were practically what this universe would consider cyborg-ninjas, continuing to fight them close-quarters would be a disaster. So he needed to think outside the box to take these two out and quickly.
Flipping away from another strike aimed to behead him, Alex did a quick scan of the surrounding area for anything that could give him an edge. Seeing a few crates and explosive tanks scattered around he faced his opponents as he put away his Paladin and omni-blade.
"Tactical Options Available." He pulled out his bow as the Phantoms charged again. One of them firing their kinetic gauntlet forcing him to dodge while the other came around the other direction. He fired an arrow at the one closing in, the operative flipped out of the way as the bolt flew past, but it was just what he was expecting to happen as he fired a second at the ground inbetween them when she landed beside her partner.
The eezo-arrow burst open creating a miniature singularity that ensnared the Phantoms and pulled them into the air making both struggle not that they were vulnerable. Alex switched arrow clips and fired a regular bolt into the first one's head and killing her instantly. He pulled back the second arrow when the singularity faded at the other Phantom was released.
Slashing her sword through the air and cutting the bolt in half before it could hit its target, she snapped her hand out and firing a charged kinetic round from her gauntlet that the Post-Human managed duck under at the last possible second. The projectile impacting the crate that was behind him and putting a deep dent in the dense metal.
Alex fired another arrow, then another, keeping the operative on the defense as he charged at her while she sliced the bolts from the air one after another. When the clip ran out, he jumped up and used a crate as leverage to leap even higher, flying up over the Phantom before coming down with his fist cocked back.
Still thrown back from the onslaught, the Phantom barely had a chance to put up a defense as the Post-Human slammed his fist into the ground at her feet. A shockwave of energy bursting out from his body striking her full force and throwing her back. Allowing Alex time to take out his combat knife and lunge forward, driving the blade into her throat through the weak part of her armor.
The sound of her sword clattering to the ground could be heard over the blar of the alarms before the agile operative collapsed to the ground with blood pooling out around her. The Post-Human regarded the corpse briefly, shaking blood off his knife and resheathing it before making his way over to the Wraith. The vessel de-cloaking as he drew closer.
"Impressive." he stopped mid-step, looking back over his shoulder and seeing someone step out of a dark hallway into the emergency lights. Black armor baring the Cerberus insignia in the center of the chest piece. Long black hair pulled up into a high pony-tail with a cybernetic visor covering his eyes unable to hide his asian heritage.
His movements were percise and smooth and almost cat-like, the signs of an assassin. And the way he held the short katana, which Alex could tell was a High Vibration Blade, proved that he was a highly trained killer. There was only one person that fit the profile he was seeing.
"Seeing your skills first hand, I can see why the Illusive Man sent me to confront you personally, Maverick." said Kai Leng as he stopped in front of the railing and leered down at the nano soldier.
"Is that so?" Alex said back, turning to face the man with his newly reloaded bow at the ready. "And to what do I owe this meeting with Cerberus' head attack dog? The Illusive Man must be getting pretty nervous if he sent out a psychopath like you."
The assassin vaulted over the railing and landed on the floor, the two faced one another and started pacing in a wide circle around each other. "The Illusive Man offered you a place in our organization. Instead, you not only turn it down, you also lay waste to countless operatives and various facilities. For what purpose exactly?"
The Post Human matched him step per step, "Isn't it obvious? Cerberus is nothing but a bunch of Human extremists with dreams of dominion that they have no hope at ever achieving. Yet they destroy countless lives for the sake of those ideals that Humanity deserves more than the rest. You are a perfect example of that."
"What person in their right mind would employ a sociopath who cares nothing for those that he kills? The Alliance locked you away for the things you've done, and TIM busts you out and offers you a job? I can't honestly tell which of you is worse."
Leng smirked sadistically, "My skills were wasted. The Alliance never understood that we could be so much more than those filthy xenos that inhabit the galaxy." he spun his sword and pointed the tip at Alex as they continued to walk around each other. "Though I doubt someone like you would understand our goals."
"Your blinded by worthless ideals and morals. Thinking that the universe can be brought together while fighting for the safety of those that should be beneath us. You waste your own potential standing beside aliens, it's pathetic."
Both men finally stopped, staring at each other. "That's a lot of talk, coming from someone who's nothing more than a glorified hitman." Alex said coldly. "I know all about your mission to track down Greyson after what the Illusive Man had done to him. Your boss is out of his mind messing with Reaper tech like that. Whatever the hell he's after, it's not worth the outcome."
He smirked under his visor as he motioned to the assassin's legs. "By the way, how are the legs after Anderson shot them out from under you?"
Leng's face remained neutral as he stood with his weapon poised. Another explosion signaling the power going out in sector 2 of the installation echoed around them over the alarms. "Your death would have been quick. But now," he flipped his sword around and held it behind him, bending his legs shoulder-length apart with his open palm held outward, "Now, it will be slow and agonizing."
Alex drew his bow string back and held it ready. "Then bring it on."
The assassin was moving before the nano soldier finished his sentence. His speed making him almost a blur as his cybernetic enhanced legs carried him forward like a bullet. The Post-Human fired the arrow, then the second just as it finished loading only for Leng to moved around them without faltering his momentum.
[SLOW MOTION]
Leaping back when the assassin reached striking range, Alex could hear the low hum of the HVB as it passed by his covered face. The air distorting slightly from the speed of the swing as the tip of the blade came dangerously close to scratching his visor.
[SLOW MOTION END]
He dropped and fired another arrow. Leng shot his hand out and caught the bolt in mid-air before spinning on the ball of his foot and delivering a hard kick to the nano soldier's chest sending him skidding back a step. Following up with a leap and spin in the air with his blade ready to cleave the other man in half.
"Maximum Armor." Alex dove out of the way as the sword sliced a grove in the floor. Firing another arrow when he rolled back to his feet. The assassin flipped out of the way of the projectile and fired one of his own from the kinetic gauntlet in his other hand.
The round impacted hard against the Post Human's chest, his energy meter being cut in half as he staggered back from the blow. "Cloak Engaged." he vanished from sight making Leng pause before he could initiate his next attack.
Eyes scanning the room, theh assassin couldn't locate where his target had gone. Remaining motionless, scanning every square-inch of the space around him for any sign of the nano soldier.
A small noise on his left had him spinning, his blade slashing through the air, but finding no purchase. The air distorted behind him and he turned to redirect, but got a hard punch to the face instead that snapped his head to the side.
Alex swung his other arm which held his combat knife but Leng managed to block the attacking arm with his forearm. Driving his elbow into the Post-Human's stomach before aiming at his exposed face with his kinetic gauntlet.
The nano soldier swung his other arm out and swatted the attacking limb aside, the kinetic round going wide and impacting a wall before launching his knee upward and landing a hit against the assassin's chin.
Leaping apart, the combatants glared at one another just as another explosion could be heard followed by the VI's new warning. "Attention! Main Power Core is Reaching Critical Levels! All Personnel are to Evacuate the Facility Immediately! I repeat, Full Evacutation is now in Effect!"
A countdown starting at 15 minutes flared to life on Alex's HUD in the top-right corner. But he paid it no attention as he completely focused on Leng. The assassin doing the same as he flipped his sword to reverse-blade in his left hand before sprinting at him.
Pulling out his Harrier, the Post-Human fired a barrage of rounds. Each one either dodged or absorbed by a barrier that flared to life when they managed to hit.
[SLOW MOTION]
Leng slashed horizontally, taking the barrel of the rifle clean off before slashing again at an upward angle.
Alex dropped his ruined gun and summoned his omni-blade, bringing it up in time to deflect the attack and sending it to the side slicing a small cut in his arm. The HVB piercing the nano suit's weave and nearly reaching the flesh underneath as it passed through.
[SLOW MOTION END]
"Suit Integrity Compromised. Beginning Repairs." said Prophet. But the Post-Human gave no indication that he heard the AI as he dodged another stirke. Countering with one of his own as the two exchanged attacks back and forth in a flurry of movement.
Both of them oblivious to the continued alarms and the small explosions resounding from within the installation. Their only focus being to take down and eliminate the other.
Alex drew his knife in his free hand after deflecting another slash. Swinging the blade upward forcing Leng to lean backwards just enough to avoid it. The assassin following up by bringing both legs into the air and double kicking the nano soldier in the chest putting distance between the two of them.
Leng landed back on his feet and lunged forward, creating an overload in the palm of his hand and launched it into the Post-Human.
"EMP Assault Detected! Armor Mode and Cloaking Disabled!" Prophet announced. The HUD flickered from the overload and the energy meter flashed red meaning Alex would have to wait for the effects to wear off to use the suits functions.
Charging his own tech attack, he fired an incinerate at the assassin. The ball of burning plasma being sliced in half by the man's HVB before it even got close as he made another lunge at his target. The nano soldier slashed with his omni-blade in a faking maneuver while swinging his combat knife in a reverse direction.
A smirk appeared on Leng's face as he avoided the glowing blade and swung his sword, cutting the knife in half at the hilt. Seeing an opening, the assassin made to stab forward, intending on impaling the Post-Human where he stood.
At the same time, the overload's effects had worn off and the nano suits energy replenished. Alex saw the attack coming and acted quickly. "Maximum Armor." He moved right, the HVB missing his side by only an inch, bringing his arm down and entrapping the assassin's arm within his own.
"Got you, you slippery bastard." he growled, headbutting Leng hard and making him recoil before slashing his omni-blade at him.
Leng snapped his hand out, firing a kinetic round point blank into the nano soldier's solar plexus. The hardened weave taking the full impact, but draining all the energy in the suit at the same time as he was thrown back. The tip of his omni-blade missing its intended target, but carving a path up the side of the assassin's face and slicing through his visor.
They leapt apart, Alex putting a hand to his chest feeling the massive bruise that was forming beneath the suit while Leng held the now bleeding side of his face.
The ground shook violently beneath them in that moment, the whole facility rumbling from various explosions coming from different directions. The counter on Alex's HUD was now at 5 minutes, the whole place was going to blow and him along with it if he didn't get out.
His opponent looked to be thinking the same thing as he sheathed his sword. "This is far from over." he said darkly before pulling a grenade from his belt and tossing it to the floor between them. The device detonating in a flash of light and smoke that blinded the nano soldier long enough for him to escape.
Everything faded back to normal in moments, Alex found himself alone in the battle ravaged cargo hold. After making sure that Leng was gone, he made a b-line for the Wraith and leapt inside. Firing up the thrusters and pulling the shuttle out of the installation before punching the acceleration.
When the counter on his HUD hit zero, the section of the asteroid that housed the Cerberus facility blew apart in a mighty blast that cracked the large space rock in half. The Wraith shuttered from the concussion blast of the explosion, but maintained its course as it entered FTL.
Sitting back in his seat, Alex pulled his helmet off and set in the co-pilot chair before taking a deep breath. "Prophet? Contact the base and the Shadow Broker ship at Hagalaz, the others need to know what happened out here."
"Acknowledged." replied the AI as the Post-Human let himself relax, though his mind was a tempest of thoughts.
The very last thing he had expected was to run into Kai Leng of all people. He knew the man's reputation, and that the Illusive Man only sent him out if he wanted a job done with results. The fact that Harper had sent one of his lead agents after him means that the tycoon wanted him out of the picture, he'd have to watch his back more closely from now on with that psychopath lurking around.
Though he had a strong feeling that the two of them would be seeing each other again very soon.
X
Derelict Reaper - Thorne System
November 2, 2185 - 10:01 hours
(Present Day)
Jane stepped out of the door that led to the Reaper's core in time to see a Cerberus Trooper thrown viciously into the wall beside it. Thane and Jack bringing up the rear holding the disabled Geth they had found inside before taking down the core as they watched Grunt and Samara engaging the terrorists.
"Fuck! Cerberus!" Jack cursed as she flared her biotics dangerously.
"Commander?! You guys still out there?!" Joker shouted over the comms over the sounds of gunfire.
"We're here Joker." said the Commander, gunning down an operative that turned in their direction.
"I'm coming down with the Wraith to pick you guys up. Clear me a landing zone would ya?"
Grunt let out a bellowing roar as he crushed one of the Cerberus operatives under his large foot before blasting another away with his Claymore. The Justicar not too far away held out her hands and blasted a Phantom off the platform they were on as she charged her with her sword out. The rest of the team joined the fray and began tearing through the attacking force, all the while trying to keep the Husks at bay.
"Where's Alex?" Jane asked bashing the butt of her assault rifle into a synthetic-zombie that came at her from the side.
"He's fighting against the one leading these men." said Samara throwing a shockwave with Jack taking out Husks and Cerberus personnel alike.
A small explosion punctuated her statement as the nano soldier appeared firing arrows at Kai Leng. The assassin ducking and weaving around the bolts before attacking with his HVB. The solar winds whiping around them as the dead Reaper continued its descent into the brown dwarf.
"This encounter won't go as last time. You won't be leaving here alive." said Leng firing a kinetic round at the Post-Human from his gauntlet.
"None of us will at this rate." Alex fired back as he ducked behind a crate to avoid the projectile. "Incase you haven't noticed, we're on a dead Reaper falling out of the fucking sky into a planet!" he jumped up and fired a frag-arrow that caused the crate beside the assassin to explode into shrapnel.
"Guess that mean's I'll have to kick your ass fast." he commented while rushing Leng at full speed firing another arrow. The projectile was swatted aside by the other man's sword, firing an overload with his other hand that missed its target when the nano soldier slid across the ground having it pass over him.
Firing another explosive bolt when he got to his feet, Leng deflected the bow with the hilt of his sword making the arrow go wide and detonate off the side of a scaffolding. But the assassin wasn't able to block the foot that connected with his midsection that made him skid backwards. Regaining himself before lunging back at Alex.
X
While all the fighting was going on, the black armored form of the Wraith descended through the clouds at high velocity. At the helm, Joker maneuvered the small craft close to the falling Reaper where EDI had picked up their signals, seeing two Cerberus Kodiacs in the area, he didn't even think twice as he activated the ship's guns and opened up on them.
One of the enemy shuttles lost a thruster before pitching out of control into the abyss below. The second turned to intercept but had its cockpit riddled with heavy machinegun fire before it exploded in a fireball and vanished from sight.
"Yeah! That's what you get for messing with the best, assholes!" Joker shouted as he brought the ship in close to pick up the team. "Commander, you're all clear!"
X
Jane finished off the last of the Cerberus personnel and looked up to see Joker bringing the Wraith in. "Alright everyone, mount up and let's get the hell out of here!" she called out before looking toward where Alex was still fighting the Cerberus leader.
Unfolding her sniper rifle, she put the scope to her eye and waited for the right moment.
X
Alex locked his omni-blade with Leng's HVB, sparks shooting out from where the weapons were connected as they tried to overpower one another. "You won't escape us forever." the assassin growled. "You and Shepard will both pay for what you've done to Cerberus. And I'm going to personally make sure that both of your heads are brought to the Illusive Man."
Out of the corner of his eye, the nano soldier saw something shine and smirked, "You sure about that?" he pushed himself away just as a sniper rifle discharged.
Leng had seen the same thing he had and avoided the bullet, but he failed to see the large foot coming at him until it connected with his chin making him stagger. Alex followed up with an uppercut that launched the assassin to the far side of the platform before making a run for the shuttle.
As much as he wanted to finish Leng off, he didn't have enough time to do so. And dying on the derelict Reaper with the bastard wasn't something he planned to do.
Dropping a cluster of grenades in his wake to insure he wasn't followed, the Post-Human caught up to the Commander and nodded to her just as more Cerberus shuttles began to arrive. "Let's go!" he shouted as they ran for the Wraith.
Leng got back to his feet, glaring at the retreating backs of his targets as they made their get away. A shuttle coming up behind him with the hatch opening for him to get on. But before he did, he looked down to see one of the Phantoms that had accompanied him laying dead on the walkway.
Monomolecular sword still held in her limp hand.
X
The duo had just made it to the shuttle and jumped inside, the Commander telling Joker to take off when Prophet alerted Alex.
"Incoming Projectile!" His head snapped up to see something coming their way fast...headed straight for Jane!
Time slowed down as he shoved her out of the way just as a monomolecular blade flew into the compartment like a mini javilin. The blade piercing through the side of the Post-Human's stomach and out his back since he was standing in the place she had occupied a moment before.
His blood splashed on the other side of the small space and everyone froze as he stumbled back, using the wall for support as the sword remained impaled through his midsection. "ALEX!" Jane screamed as he flopped back into a seat. The hatch closing just as the Cerberus assassin that had thrown the weapon stepped on to his own shuttle as it took off toward their frigate.
Joker punched the acceleration, activating the Wraith's stealth systems to keep them out of sight as he took them back toward the Normandy. Unaware of what had transpired a moment ago.
"Son of a bitch!" Alex exclaimed as he ripped his helmet off and tossed it aside, his other hand grasping the handle of the monomolecular blade in his stomach.
"How bad is it?" The Commander asked worried.
"Nothing vital was hit. Hurts like a bitch though." the nano soldier grunted as he pulled with a good amount of strength. The sword came free with a wet sound spraying a little more blood inside the compartment, he tossed the weapon to the floor before applying medi-gel to help with the healing. "Nanites are already repairing the damage, and Prophet's fixing the suit. Nothing to worry about."
He looked up at the faces around him, all of them oblivious to the disabled Geth that laid on the floor of the shuttle. Jane's eyes still had worry in them that was easily read through the visor of her helmet. Alex just smiled and touched the side where her face was, "I'm alright." he said honestly putting just a sliver of relief into her.
"Who the fuck was that guy anyway?" asked Jack bluntly.
"Long story, I'll tell you all when we get back to the Normandy." Alex replied as they all settled in waiting for the shuttle to dock.
His hand held his side, even though the pain had faded and it had already started healing. He'd be back up to full in about two hours or so, but no one else needed to know that if the blade was only another seven or so inches higher he would have been dead when the sword went through his heart.
Especially Jane, she worried enough about everything else as it was.
But the truth of the matter was, nano soldier or not, he wasn't invincible. And with how much more aggressive their enemies were getting, he'd need to be more careful to avoid anything potentially life threatening.
Alex's thoughts soon started to drift into what had happened back there. It wasn't a coincidence that Kai Leng and Cerberus had shown up on the Reaper. Even though it had been way out of the main storyline for the series. But it was to be expected with all the changes he'd made thus far. And it was a safe bet that his prior knowledge was useless at this point save for a few small things.
Though he never really banked on that knowledge in the first place. His skills and quick thinking were more than enough to see him through.
Now that Cerberus is showing how extreme they are willing to go, he'd need to up his game even more to see that everyone made it through all this in one piece. And with the Collector base one step closer, there wasn't anymore room for fuck ups from here on out.
Eyes hardening, Alex made a vow that before the end of everything with the Reapers, he'd make sure that both Kai Leng and the Illusive Man died by his hands once and for all.
A/N: Annnnnnnnnnnd...Break! I wanted the fight between those two on the Reaper to be longer, but given that the thing was falling toward something that would crush it and everything on it indefinitely I kind of had to be realistic.
(P.S.: Try playing 'Monsoon's Theme song' from Metal Gear Revengeance during the 'past fight scene', it'll make it a bit more dynamic.)
But that's one issue solved, another step toward the Collector base, but so many new questions appearing about the future. And with several more loyalty missions before they take on the Collectors, you know that this ride is far from over.
Send your reviews, and as an added bonus here's the title for the next chapter.
Next time: Chapter 28: "Guilty Until Proven Innocent"
