CHAPTER 29

"Joker evasive manoeuvres! Do not engage that ship!" Alex yelled over her comm, "Be ready to get that bomb down here."

Alex headed back to the elevator. She was now positive that Saren was most probably indoctrinated. Where the hell had he found a Reaper? And why hadn't he reported it to the Council or the turians? No scratch that if he had the council or the turian hierarchy would be under the Reapers control by now.

Sometime during their conversation with Sovereign the walkway they had used to get to the office had been raised, with no idea where the controls were they were forced to take a different path back to the main facility and the bomb drop off point.

It also meant that the enemy had concentrated their troops between them and their destination.

"I am detecting a lot off heat dots," whispered Tali, "I can't pinpoint how many geth."

"Of course not." said Alex with a sigh, "It's never easy, why should it be now?" She beckoned Liara over. "I want you to use singularity on something in the middle, I'll warp it. BOOM. Hopefully that will take out some of them. I'll follow that with a shock wave. Them everyone fire."

Liara nodded and took up a position just around the corner from the passage holding most of the opposition.

"NOW!" The first part of the plan went off without a hitch. The biotics dealt with roughly half and injured or damaged more.

The krogan's regenerative abilities and blood rage did cause them problems. A krogan in a blood rage didn't feel pain or go into shock no matter how badly they were hurt. They only dropped when they were dead. And more krogan survived the biotic assault than geth. Alex used her sniper rifle on the charging krogan until the weapon clicked empty. She had to slow them down. Alex biotically charged and Nova'd the closest. Liara put one in stasis and Alex immediately charged it causing another biotic detonation. She didn't see the last krogan charge her until it hit her, slamming them both into a very hard wall. The krogan staggered away as Alex slid down gasping for breath and her head spinning. She had no chance to stop its next attack. Then she witnessed one of the most amazing things she had ever seen.

Abby Williams launching herself at the krogan with her omni blade activated to bury in deep in its throat, her momentum knocked it over and as they landed she emptied an entire clip from her pistol into his face. Then she calmly deactivated her omni blade and holstered her pistol.

Alex flipped up her helmet visor as she finally managed a shaky breath. "Wow."

Abby grinned, "Whenever I don't know what to do I just ask myself what you would do." She walked over and helped her sister-in-law to her feet.

"I've never done that," returned Alex with a laugh as she rolled her shoulders, she was going to be sore in the morning. She led the way to a large gate and hit the 'OPEN' button. It made a loud grating sound as it rose. It led to the bomb location the few geth on guard proved no match for them, once the area was clear Alex radioed Kaidan to check on his progress he reported back that they were just about to blow them.

Alex called Joker to tell him that the LZ was clear, Then ordered all the diversion teams to retreat to the secondary pick up point. Less than a minute later the Normandy roared over head as it circled to to land.

It didn't take long for Ash and the salarian who had armed the device to carry it down the loading ramp.

"Abby go see Karin about your leg," said Alex, slapping the medic on her back. Ash glanced over at that comment, but seeing her sister walking with a definite limp, but under her own steam assured her she was okay.

Some of the teams reported getting to the secondary LZ except Kaidan's.

"Alenko get your ass to the LZ now!"

"We're pinned down on the AA tower. Arm the bomb and GO!"

"Commander we need a few minutes." said the salarian, "You have time to go and get them." The AA tower wasn't that far away.

"Sit tight we're coming to get you." said Alex, tossing her sniper rifle to one of the marines and taking his assault rifle. "Let's move." As they left she heard Ash ordering the marines into a defensive ring.

Luckily part of the way had already been cleared they needed to take a lift to the upper level to reach the AA tower. The stairs were too far away to use. They had to wait for the elevator.

As the doors opened out at the top. Alenko's contacted Ash. "Williams head's up you have a drop ship inbound!"

"It's already here. It's dropping geth all over the bomb site!"

"Ash can you hold?" asked Alex, her hand on the side of her helmet.

"No...we're going to be overrun. Get the Lt and get out of here, the bomb's armed." Military protocol dictated to always saving the superior officer in a situation like this.

"Damn it," snarled Alex, "Tali, Liara get to the AA tower. I'm going back to help Ash. Joker get to the AA tower for pick up then get back to the bomb site."

"You will be in time?" asked Liara.

Alex nodded and glowed blue and dived over the wall, taking the fast way down.

"We'd never keep up," said Tali, sensibly. "Shall we go and save Lt Alenko."

Liara nodded.

MEMEMEMEMEME

Ash had ordered Joker to take off as soon as they detected the drop ship. It would be a sitting duck otherwise. Then she heard her wife's orders to Joker, A rocket blast near her made her concentrate on the incoming geth. One of the marines was already down, their was a prime firing a geth shotgun at them. There was little or no cover, she like many of the others were led prone hoping they wouldn't be hit. Ash was next to the bomb which provided her cover from one side anyway.

The salarian was the next one killed. That left only four of them against the oncoming geth. She rolled up onto one knee and fired off a concussive shot at that pesky prime. The shot staggered it. One of the other geth took advantage of her distraction the ammo it used went straight through her shields and her armour and into her side. The force knocked her onto her back. She heard the gate open and groaned. Not more geth!

The gate was barely two feet up when a steak of blue flashed passed her then she heard the unmistakable sound of a biotic nova, painfully she rolled over to see her wife tear the prime's arm off and smash it into its head. Ash had never just watched her wife in her biotic ninja mode. Alex was moving so fast and with so much power that she was decimating the enemy. The remaining marines fell while Alex killed a geth destroyer. When she looked around for another target she found she had none.

Alex took a deep breath then ran to her wife. Ash was dazed, a quick scan of her suit told her that medi gel had already been administered and her bio's were stabilizing. She gave a silent sigh of relief. "Ash?"

"Owwww!" Alex carefully sat her up. "Liara. Tali?"

"AA tower," replied Alex moving her wife slowly to sit by the wall next to the gate. "That thing's armed? How long?"

"It was set for fifteen minutes, I guess there's eleven or twelve left."

"Well let's not be here when it goes bang." said Alex, "Joker did you get that?"

"Roger that. Picking up team from the AA tower now. Will be with you in seven minutes. Be ready to hustle."

"Talk about cutting it close." muttered Alex, noticing a low humming sound. "Stay here." she added to Ash as she stood up to find the source of the sound. A turian on a hover-board flew over the high wall and towards the bomb. Alex recognised him immediately.

SAREN!

"Congratulations Shepard, my geth were convinced the frontal attack was the real thing. An impressive diversion."

"You betrayed the council. You attacked Eden Prime and I am here to bring you in."

Saren snorted, "This is not a wild west film, Shepard. I have betrayed nobody. My actions will save this galaxy from annihilation. We need to work with them."

"That you talking or the Reaper who like to indoctrinate everyone. The reason you're studying it is because you think it's affecting you, isn't it."

"It needs me, that is my saving grace," retorted Saren, "There is a balance between usefulness and control."

"That'll stop as soon as it gets what it wants. Reapers destroyed the protheans it didn't work with them and they are or rather were more technically advanced than we are."

"You saw the vision from the beacon, the reaper's wiped out the protheans. What chance do we have unless we prove to be useful."

"We can beat them...if we work together." As much as Alex hated to admit it this was so much bigger than bringing one rogue spectre to justice.

"It is too late for that." spat Saren, "You will not get in the way of my plans Shepard." With that Saren started shooting at her. Alex dived out of the way, away from her wife who was in no condition to fight. Her biotics allowed her to dodge most of his attacks until she managed to throw a warp that made the hover-board wobble. A throw sent Saren one way and the board the other. The turian landed with a loud grunt. The large spectre moved with surprising speed and he biotically enhanced his punches. Alex's smaller size came in handy as she ducked under his swing. He adapted quickly proving why he was the best spectre they had. His fist cracked her helmets visor, forcing her to back off and yank her helmet off. She threw it at him then tackled him to the floor, she caught him with a upper cut that snapped one of his mandibles off. Saren howled in pain and then head butted her. Alex was reasonably sure he had just broke her nose from the amount of blood running down her face. The next thing she knew had had one hand around her throat and hoisted her off the ground. He was choking her.

Suddenly bullets impacted into his back, with a snarling growl Saren let go as he turned to Ash who had just shot him, it was then he seemed to noticed the bomb. He ran to his hover board and flew off, Alex walked to Ash and lifted her up into a fireman's lift as the Normandy landed. Alex ran on board as Joker punched it getting them clear of the blast area. The cargo bay had been turned into a hospital, Karin and Abby were treating the injured salarians. Shiala had her arm in a sling assuring Liara that it was just a flesh wound. Tali helped Alex lower Ash onto a vacant cot. Abby came over to see how badly her sister was injured. One of the salarians needed surgery and he was already being taken up to the med bay.

"I'm okay, Abs," said Ash, "How's Alex?"

Alex sat down next to her wife, "I'm in one piece, more or less." She linked her fingers through her wife's. "I'm right here."

"Your nose is a mess," commented Abby, handing her an ice pack, "I'll be back as soon as I can." With that she headed back to one of salarians who had a serious stomach wound, from where she was sat Alex thought it was Commander Rentola. It was then she spotted the row of body bags lying in a row along the opposite wall. Quickly she looked around the cargo bay only, Liara, Abby, Shiala and Tali were there from the ground team. None of the body bags were big enough for a turian or a krogan, so Garrus and Wrex were most likely fine.

Jokers voice came over the comm. "Detonation in 3...2...1. Target destroyed."

Tali was wringing her hands nervously. "Hey, Tali you okay?" asked Alex, moving the ice pack for a moment.

"I am so sorry," whispered Tali her voice breaking, "We didn't get there in time...Lt Alenko is dead."

Alex let out a breath she hadn't even known she was holding. "That's not your fault. Come here." Alex patted the floor next to her, she let go of Ash's hand and wrapped the quarian in a gentle hug. For a second Alex wondered if Kaidan would still be alive if they hadn't split up then she dismissed it, No, they wouldn't have got there any faster. She would have lost both of them.

"He was the superior office," whispered Ash huskily. Alex didn't reply, that conversation needed to happen in private. She released Tali and stood up.

"Do you mind staying with Ash? I need to report this to the council."

"I will stay." said Tali, sounding a little better.

"Thanks." Alex left. Captain Kirrahe saluted her as she stepped into the elevator. As the doors closed she lent her head against the wall and shut her eyes. She hated losing people. Considering Kirrahe had made it sound like a suicide mission they'd suffered surprisingly few casualties.

"Commander, you successfully retrieved the STG team and destroyed Saren's cloning factory," said the Sparatus, the turian councillor, "But the use of a nuclear device was excessive." As she finished her verbal report.

"Sir we had limited time and we wouldn't have survived waiting for reinforcements. Once Saren knew we were there he'd have sent everything he had after us."

"You say Saren is indoctrinated?" asked Tevos.

"Yes ma'am I think he is at least partially. "

"You cannot prove that, Shepard," said Sparatus.

"No sir, but I sure as hell wouldn't want to join a race that wiped out another one."

"I think this is all a clever deception," stated Valern, "A hologram to fool anyone who got into the base."

Alex shook her head in disbelief. The salarian was crazy. "Sir I've sent you all the data we collected with all of our helmet cam footage. Then you'll see what we did."

"Thank you Commander." said Tevos, " I presume you are returning to the Citadel to re arm and re supply. Also the STG team need to be debriefed."

"Yes, ma'am. We'll be there in two days. Shepard out."

She needed to check in with Karin or Abby to fix her nose, talk to Ash after she'd also been patched up then she needed Liara to meld with her again to see if the vision made any more sense now. She didn't know why but she felt like they needed to hurry. The only reason Saren hadn't already found the conduit was he'd been studying the effects of indoctrination. Now that she'd helped wipe that facility of the face of Virmire there was nothing stopping him.

"Damn and blast it! I think I shot myself in the foot." Alex went to her cabin to get out of her armour and to shower, catching sight of her back, it was bruised badly from shoulder down to her hips. Her nose was swollen and was throbbing. To top it all off her headache was returning with a vengeance. Alex walked slowly to the comm room by the time she got there she had dancing spots in front of her eyes, she slumped into a chair and rested her head in her hands. The vision from the beacon started running through her mind, she couldn't stop it. Alex had no idea how long she sat there when she felt a hand on her back. "Alex?" The voice belonged to Cassidy.

Alex managed to stammer out the word beacon.

Cassidy called Liara and Abby immediately. Both arrived within minutes. By that time Alex had started to shake.

Cassidy explained the little she knew, when Abby suggested a painkiller Liara stopped her.

"If this is from the second beacon the only solution is a meld and any kind of drugs in her system will hamper it."

"Don't you need Ash and Shiala too." asked Cassidy. Liara nodded, "Then we need to get Alex to the med bay because that's where Ash is."

"I will carry her," offered Liara, "Abby please find Shiala." The asari carefully picked the spectre up and proceeded to the med bay. Cassidy trailed behind.

Karin was still in the operating room with Luke working on Commander Rentola, Ash was led on one of the bio-beds. Abby had treated her wound, one of the salarians who had medical training was helping with the other patients. Ash sat up with a wince when they entered.

"What's wrong with her?" She asked worriedly as Liara gently put Alex down next to her wife.

"We think it's something to do with the beacon down there," replied Cassidy. "That's the only thing she's said since I found her like this." She backed away when Shiala came in. "If you need me I'll be in the mess."

Abby pulled the curtains around the bed to give them some privacy. "I'll be out here."

Ash held held Alex close as the asari initiated the meld. This time was easier and Alex was already focused on the vision. Liara was able to sort it into it's proper order filling in the gaps with the new information. There was more astronomical data this time, unknown systems and planets until it settled on a jungle world full of prothean ruins. Liara stayed in the meld long enough for Alex to be able to push the vision to the back of her mind. Then she and Shiala let the meld fade.

"Thanks," said Alex with a sigh of relief as she noticed the pain had completely gone.

"Ilos," said Liara. "The conduit is on Ilos, that is why Saren needed the location of the Mu Relay, that is the only way to get there."

"And he's probably on his way there right now," groaned Alex, feeling Ash's arms tighten around her.

"Maybe not," countered Shiala. "Saren had the information from both beacons before I was given to the Thorian. To my knowledge he never mentioned Ilos, I think that was why he tried to abduct Liara and failing that thought it was better that neither side had her if he could not."

"Is there anyone else who could figure out it's Ilos?" asked Ash.

"There is one professor at Serrice University who could if she was shown the whole vision," admitted Liara.

"So now he knows I'm snapping at his heels he's going to head straight there." said Alex, sitting up.

"How do you know?" Liara looked confused.

"Because that's what I'd do." Alex took a deep breath, "Liara can you and Cassidy figure out the co-ordinates and give them to Joker." Liara nodded and went to find Cassidy. "Shiala can you find out there are any ships in the area that can give our salarian guests a ride to the Citadel, I realise the worst injured may have to stay on board." The older asari nodded and left.

"What are you thinking?" asked Ash.

"I'm going to call Captain Anderson and ask him how likely it is we'll get any help. Tevos is the only one who believes me, but that means the other two can out vote her. If they're just going to faff around which gives Saren a head start...I say we turn this ship around and pray for a miracle to somehow stop him from whatever the hell he's trying to do."

"What if they order you back?"

"Then it's my duty to save their collective asses, even if it means I have to steal this ship."

"That's mutiny." stated Ash, softly. "And treason."

"I know." replied Alex, "But if Saren succeeds at bringing the reapers back... We won't stand a chance." As her wife had seen the vision too she didn't have to explain.

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," said Ash, "But if it does I'm with you."

Alex nodded and wrapped her wife in a bear hug, kissed her, "Thanks, that means the world to me."

"You tend to get in trouble when I'm not around," teased Ash, "So if things go pear shaped, how are you going to get the salarians off the Normandy without raising suspicion?"

"I'm going to use my Spectre card. By the time anyone knows what we're doing we should be too far away to stop."

"What about the crew?"

"I can't give them a choice this time, but I can and will take full responsibility for this. I'd prefer if you, Abby, Karin and the rest went on record protesting this."

Ash snorted, "They'd never believe I'd do that or Abby. We have a till death do us part kinda deal." She didn't say this mission was definitely that dangerous out loud.

"Yes we do," agreed Alex, "We'll cross that bridge when we have too."

"Yes we will together."

Alex nodded and went to call Captain Anderson on a private channel that she hoped wasn't being monitored. She must have woke him up because Kahlee Sanders answered. After apologising profusely for disturbing them she told Anderson what they'd discovered so far and asked what Udina and the Council would want to do?

"I honestly don't know," replied Anderson, " The Terminus systems don't like spectres. And I'd guess the council would say they were worried about starting a war. I'm sure Udina will know you're heading back here tomorrow, I'll see if I can find out anything and send you a message. Whatever the course of action I will back you up as much as I can. I'm proud of you. You've always trusted your instincts and it's never let you down. Do what you think is right."

"Thank you sir." Alex went back to the med bay to see if Ash was well enough to move back to their cabin for the night, they had a lot to talk about and plans to make.

TBC...