Chapter 36-Abomination
It was hideous. A colossal machine of onyx metal, shaped like some robotic parody of the human skeleton, leered down upon Malleus, Cyralius and Legion as they stepped free of the platform. The tubes that had spread across the last great cavern were holding the creature suspended above them, and it lolled downwards limply like a skeleton in a gibbet. So far, it seemed to be only a torso, a metallic spinal chord running down into nothing, but even half complete the machine was the size of a Warhound.
"So this is what they were building," Cyralius murmured. "What is it?"
"It matches design trends notable on known Reaper craft," Legion said. "Specifically its semi-organic metallic composition."
"This is a Reaper?" Malleus asked. "So that's what they were taking people for; to build another one of their kind."
"It's smaller than the one we saw on Mnemosyne," Cyralius remarked. "Perhaps it was to be used for surface warfare. Or that might just be because it's only half built."
"Regardless, we're here now, and we can destroy this thing," Malleus said. "EDI, do you see this thing? Any idea how we can kill it?"
"The tubes that are holding it aloft can be broken by small arms," EDI said. "The fall should do significant damage. I also detect that you are near the main engines. There should be nearby means with which to overload them; Legion should be able to access them."
"Understood," Malleus said. "Legion, find a way to get into their systems. Cyralius, bring this thing down."
Cyralius frowned, glass splintering and cracking as he gazed upon it, before they shattered one by one, the great skeletal machine hanging limply by one arm before it toppled to the ground with a deep thud.
"And may it never climb free," Malleus remarked as he saw it smash into the ground far below.
"We have access to the station systems," Legion said. The Geth was by a computer console, made of the same metallic-organic fusion as the rest of the ship, and was tapping at the holographic interface. "Shall we begin the overload?"
Malleus was about to give the order, when the vox chime.
"What is it?" he asked. "Who is it? Legion, wait a moment."
"The Illusive Man."
"Oh," Malleus said. "What's this about?"
"I've found out that destroying the station may not be necessary," the Illusive Man said over the vox connection.
"What, so you're saying that we leave whatever means these Collectors use to breed as they are and leave?" Malleus asked. "People have died to get us this far, good people, and if you're suggesting that we simply forget their sacrifice…"
"I am not suggesting that at all," the Illusive Man replied. "But we can blast the base with a radiation pulse, kill all the Collectors aboard and use its technology for ourselves."
"An intriguing idea," Malleus said. "Turn their weapons against their masters. You're right, we should do so. How do we send out the radiation pulse?"
"You should be able manipulate the bases' engines to do so," the Illusive Man said. "Legion should know how. We'll send in salvage ships and strip it down."
"Shall we do this?" Legion asked, chipping on the conversation.
"Do it," Malleus said. "Give us time to escape, though."
"Affirmative."
"I'm glad to see you're willing to do what the situation requires, Malleus," the Illusive Man said. "Illusive Man out."
The connection was cut, and Malleus flicked the vox on once more.
"Titus," he said. "What's the situation?"
"Grim, brother captain," Titus replied over the vox, the sound of gunfire audible. "Half of us are using scavenged weapons for ammo, and there are more Collectors appearing every minute."
"Hold on," Malleus said. "We're nearly out of here."
"I hope so," Titus said. "I'm not sure how much longer we can last."
"Stand firm, brother," Malleus said. "I'll try and get you an extraction. Imperator praesidum."
He flicked the vox on to the Normandy's channel.
"Joker, do you hear me?"
"Loud and clear."
"What's the situation with the engines?"
"Now we've got Gabby and Kenneth back the engines are running and we're lifting off now."
"Glad to hear," Malleus said. "We need an extraction, as soon as possible."
"Wait, an extraction from inside the station? Are you serious?"
"Looking at the cavern we're in, this could easily hold a hundred Normandies," Malleus said. "Blast your way through and pick us up as soon as you can, understand?"
"Understood. Normandy out."
Malleus flicked the vox-bead off with a thought, and glanced over at Legion, before asking; "How goes realigning the engines?"
"It is complete," Legion buzzed back. "We may send off the pulse whenever you wish."
"You might want to hurry it up, then," Cyralius said from behind them.
"Why's that?"
There was a screaming roar from below, and Malleus turned to see an immense, metallic hand grab on to the edge of the platform. An immense, leering skull swung into view, orange burning balefully in its eye sockets, and its other hand, the tips of each finger easily the size of Malleus, grabbed the edge of platform, holding it aloft. It opened its great jaw and roared at them once more, a sound like metal being torn that sent Malleus staggering with its sheer volume.
The Reaper had woken.
A shot from Legion's rifle pinged against the back of metallic, fanged maw, but even the high powered anti-materiel rifle had little effect against the monstrous machine. Still supporting itself with its grip on the edge of the platform, it reached forwards, grabbing for the Geth like some petulant, abhorrent infant reaching to throw a toy. Legion moved at once, predicting its path and sprinting directly away from the creature. Realising he had a chance while it was distracted, Malleus drew Gaius' blade, and thumbed the activation stud. Lightning crackled around it, and he thundered forwards. The blade slammed down, slicing through a finger on the Reaper's hand, and Malleus drew it back in time to see the abominable machine's other hand sweep towards him.
He leapt, but was too slow, and the great paw caught in midair. He tumbled away, slamming into the far wall, Gaius' blade skittering to the ground next to him. He tried to rise, but lances of pain drove their way through his stomach and chest. He put his hand to his stomach, the wound Gaius had inflicted upon him flaring in pain, and grimaced as blood came away on the fingers of his gauntlet.
He ignored the pain in his stomach, and placed his hand on the wall, gripping its ridged surface. He pulled, grunting in pain, feeling his ribs grind against each other or dig into his flesh, shifting his legs beneath him, and stood. He limped towards Gaius' sword and picked it up, the movement causing more pain to flare up.
"Pain purifies the body," he muttered. "Pain purifies the soul."
He thumbed it on once more, seeing Cyralius battling the Reaper with fireballs and lightning, and limped towards combat once more.
#
The butt of the Collector's rifle swept towards his helm with lethal speed before Titus caught the weapon mid swing. The Astartes tore it from its wielder's grasp and emptied the magazine into the tightly packed mob of Collectors before him, puncturing flesh and rupturing organs before it ran dry.
Titus threw the weapon to one side and grabbed his combat knife from where it was mag-clamped to his waist, charging forward and slamming it into the neck of Collector before him. Yellow ichor ripped from the wound as he tore it free, and the creature collapsed even as he searched for a new target. Next to him, Urz barrelled into a Collector and knocked it to the ground, the xenos collapsing beneath the beast's weight before its tusks ripped at is throat. Titus punched the Collector next to his pet with enough force to snap its neck, before a hissing, rumbling and a baleful orange glow announced the arrival of Harbinger.
Titus shouldered his way through melee of Collectors, Urz by his side, shoving through the xenos through sheer weight and brawn as he fought to get to the Collector leader beast. Next to him, there was a whining scream, and a beam of white light screamed forth from Hullen's melta, annihilating Harbinger's vessel on an atomic level. Titus glanced over to Hullen, the barrel of his assault cannon lowered, melta held in one hand.
"Nicely done," Titus remarked.
"I try," Hullen replied, clamping his melta back to his waste. "Any more of those crab things, and I'm in business."
Titus nodded to his battle brother, and asked; "How many shots have you got left with that assault cannon?"
Hullen pressed a button and a hologram flicked up.
"Nine hundred and thirty thousand, seven hundred and twenty three," he said. He turned the weapon, barrels whirling around, upon a group of Collectors before him, before it screamed into life and tore them to shreds. "Kullas didn't bother with coolant clips; this is just air cooled."
"Plenty of Collectors to still go through," Titus grinned, grabbing one of the xenos that charged towards them and snapping its neck. "Listen, keep back with the others, that thing's not much good in a melee."
"Just picking off Harbinger before it could cause trouble," Hullen said. "Keep giving 'em hell."
He shouldered his way through the Collectors, slamming his assault cannon left and right in his two handed grip. Bodies were pulverised beneath the attack, and he yelled; "Friendly coming through! Hold your fire!"
He slammed through a break in the crowd of Collectors, towards the spot where the team were making their final stand around the banner. He vaulted the block of muddy metal that they were using as cover, and turned to face them
"Good of you to join us again," Miranda remarked from next to him, before plucking a Collector into midair with a tug of biotic force.
"Well, I figured you'd probably want a hand," Hullen said. "You're probably all helpless without me."
He squeezed the trigger, and his great weapon screamed into life, a tide of firepower sweeping from his weapon as he strafed the crowd of Collectors; carapaces were punctured, organs ruptured, gallons of yellow blood spilt in but a moment as the heavy weapon shrieked its fury. He held the trigger down for a full minute, cleaving a great swathe through the xenos, yelling in fury and bloodthirsty joy.
It powered down with a whine, barrels glowing red and steam hissing off them, and Hullen called for covering fire as he ducked down, murmuring an apology to the machine spirit of the weapon for the suffering the heat was causing it. Collectors pressed forwards in the break in fire, crushing their dead beneath their feet, even as the rest of the team moved to try and compensate for the break in fire, stolen rifles blazing.
A wave of biotic force ripped through the xenos, shattering more Collector bodies, and Jack stepped forwards, azure energy coalescing around her arms. A shield of energy burst up, and she yelled; "Hurry up and cool that thing, I can't keep this up for long!"
Fire rippled and burst against it, and she snarled as it did so, face a mask of determined fury. The others moved away, providing support elsewhere, and Hullen stood up next to her and ordered; "Drop it."
Instead, the barrier rippled forwards, knocking Collectors from their feet, snapping bone and pulverising organs. Jack ducked back behind the wall, panting from her exertions while Hullen's assault cannon screamed in her ear.
"Hey Hullen," she called over the din.
"What?"
"You think we can win this?"
"Don't know," Hullen called back. "Don't care. As long as we give these things hell, we'll have done our duty. That's enough for me."
Jack just snorted derisively at this, before Hullen ducked down next to her, the barrels glowing once more.
"Cover us," he said. "Get the shield out."
"Can't do that," Jack said. "Nowhere enough energy."
"We need covering fire," Hullen voxed to the rest of the team. "Get us some cover!"
"We can't do that!" Miranda called. "We're too pressed."
Hullen glanced over his cover, looking at the Collectors advancing towards them with alarming rapidity, and then back at the still red hot barrels of his weapon. It wasn't going to cool any time soon.
"Oh frak."
#
The great hand slammed down after Malleus, clanging on the platform's surface and sending the Brother Captain stumbling with its force. Hurriedly, he gathered himself and sliced downwards into the great hand, cutting through the metal. The Reaper drew its paw up, shrieking in mechanical rage, before it opened its great maw and sent bolts of energy arcing towards Malleus.
He avoided the first two, but the final one slammed into his shoulder pad with enough force to send him stumbling, before the Reaper grabbed at him once more. There was a crack and the creature shrieked as a round from Legion's rifle slammed into its eye, shattering lenses, fist involuntarily clenching and missing Malleus by a hair's breadth.
The brother captain saw his chance and hacked down once more, an entire finger falling free in a spray of sparks and oil. The machine swatted him away, knocking the wind from his body and sending Gaius' blade skittering away. Malleus pulled himself to his feet, grunting in pain as agony lanced through his stomach, to see the immense hand reaching towards him.
A barrier of psychic energy stopped it in its tracks, and Cyralius yelled; "Move! I can't hold it for long!"
Malleus scrambled free as the immense fingers strained to reach him, the Reaper shrieking and roaring in fury as it tried to grasp and crush him. Cyralius released the barrier, the Reaper swinging forwards at empty air, before the backswing sent Malleus flying once more.
It raised its hand to slam it down in an attempt to swat Cyralius away, who countered with a blast of lightning that stunned the great fist long enough for him to move. It slammed down a moment later, sending Cyralius tumbling away as well.
Malleus grabbed Gaius' blade from where it lay, and rose, ignoring the burning pain within his midriff.
"Enough!" he roared at the machine. "We are not flies to be merely swatted! We are Astartes, the worthiest foe you shall ever face! Treat us with the respect we are due, abomination, lest I am forced to teach it to you!"
The machine turned to face him, roaring a challenge, and Malleus charged, blade raised. Its fist slammed down next to him, but he ignored the impact, thundering forward, roaring in fury. His twin hearts pounded in his chest as the Reaper screamed at him, and he silently prayed to the Emperor for aid in what he was about to do. He reached the edge of the platform, and leapt with a screamed prayer, the remaining purity seals on his armour fluttering in the wind.
In a moment of sudden, clear calm, he knew that this was it, this was what it truly mean to be Astartes; unbowed, unbroken, defiant despite the wounds inflicted upon his form, the pain ravaging his body. To not surrender, to never give up, to keep fighting even as the myriad monstrosities of the galaxy lined up to take his life. And only for him to strike them down, in spite of the wounds, in spite of the pain. He was the Emperor's Angel of Death, unstoppable, implacable and merciless.
Realising his intent, the Reaper reared backwards, but Malleus' sheer momentum kept him going and he landed on its chest. The blade slammed home, and the creature shrieked in pain as Malleus ripped it free and stabbed again and again, sparks and oil flying. It raised its hand to smash him free, but a volley of rifle shots and psychic attacks drove it away.
Slamming his feet into the rib shaped curves upon its chest, Malleus stabbed the blade home and pulled, dragging himself towards it chest with only one arm. The Reaper shook and twisted as it tried to get him free, but Malleus activated the magnets within his boots and smiled as he felt them grip onto whatever metal the blasphemous machine was made of. Slowly, he began to climb, Gaius' blade a piton that tore at its armoured hide, boots locking him in place. He reached its shoulder, its hand kept at bay through the efforts of Legion and Cyralius, and scrambled onto the back of its neck.
It arched and twisted further trying to shake him free, but Malleus held firm, digging the blade into the spine of the beast, forcing it to stay in place. Swiftly, he tore it free and before it could move he leapt forwards, landing atop its skull. With a yell of "Ave Imperator!" he spun the blade around in his grasp, and slammed it home.
The Reaper screamed, shaking and writhing, and Malleus gripped the blade with all his strength, balancing upon the thing's skull as it died. Suddenly, its struggles ceased, the baleful orange light in its eyes winked out, and it began to slowly fall backwards into the abyss. Malleus ripped blade free and sprinted forwards, leaping into midair. He slammed down on the platform, rolling with the impact, as the dead Reaper lost its grip and toppled away with an immense thud.
Malleus rose, gasping as the adrenaline already began to fade, and looked over the edge. The Reaper lay at the bottom of the cavern, electricity arcing round its form as its systems finally died.
"May it never rise again," he said.
And that was when the wall of the great cavern exploded, and the Normandy entered.
#
"Come on!" Titus yelled. "Keep fighting! KEEP FIGHTING!"
They were pinned, trapped, forced back, stuck. Nowhere to run, fire on all sides, no cover, only biotic shields keeping them safe and not much energy left in the biotics themselves. All weapons out of ammo, only stolen rifles and Hullen's assault cannon keeping the enemy at bay.
"We are the manifestation of the Emperor's Will!" Titus roared over the din, his stolen rifles blazing as he cut down Collectors. "We are His angels, His lights that shall breach the darkness and burn all within. We are the lightning of His hate! We are the thunder of His wrath!"
The cry was echoed by his brothers as they fired, repeated again and again. Something in it gave them spirit, and the team seemed to redouble their efforts, their resolve building through battle prayers.
There was booming roar behind them, and the entire station rocked as the walls of the cavern exploded outwards. Sleek and swift as a dagger, the Normandy slid through, and the combat paused as both the team and their hideous foes turned to regard the new threat.
The Thunderhawk swooped in in the ship's wake, speeding towards the platform where Titus and the team were making their last stand, and it slowed, hovering on the platform in front of them. Its heavy bolters blazed, tearing through the Collectors even as they turned their weapons upon the heavily armoured gunship in a futile act of defiance, and the ramp at the front of the vessel lowered to reveal Zaeed standing there, a heavy machine gun mounted upon a tripod in front of him. He grinned and waved at the team before adding his firepower to the heavy bolters, punching yet more Collectors from their feet.
Half a dozen hellstrike missiles screamed from beneath its wings and slammed into the Collectors, fire blossoming around the xenos. Many were killed outright in the blast, and their impact was enough to send the doors they were using as entry points tumbling down beneath an avalanche of rubble from the walls. The last Collectors were cut down by the team, yelling in defiant joy at having survived, before the Thunderhawk pulled down next to them.
"All aboard!" Zaeed called, and the team hurried into the gunship as the mercenary stowed the machine gun away, Titus grabbing the now bullet-pockmarked banner. "Come on!"
The gunship closed its ramp and lifted away, drifting into the Normandy's hangar and landing once more. It opened to reveal the insides of the starship, and the team disembarked with cheers and smiles.
"We did it!" Garrus exclaimed, quills splayed in triumph. "Hah!"
Titus smiled, clapping his hands together, before he realised something.
"Where's Malleus?" he asked.
"And Cyril," Jack added.
"Here, old friend," Malleus said, clapping his gauntlet on Titus' shoulder. "Shuttle picked us up. Knew I'd kept it for a reason."
"Just good to see you in one piece," Titus grinned.
"Same for you," Malleus said, before flicking on the vox. "Joker, get us out of here."
"Aye, aye, captain," Joker said over the intercom. "Let's go."
The Normandy turned beneath their feet, before there was a shock, and the sound of its engines powering up. It flew free of the corridor its cannons had created, into the void beyond, sweeping away from the Collector station. Malleus nodded to Legion.
"Purge it."
A wave of focussed radiation tore through the station, unstoppable and inexorable. Collectors simply withered away in its path, plates falling from their body as it ravaged their forms. In the bowels of the ship, thousands of eggs were sterilised and killed, while the hideous egg laying beasts that the Collectors used to breed were stripped away to their bones. None were spared, flesh stripped to bone, and across the station thousands of limp husks toppled to the ground.
"Done," Legion announced.
"That's it," Malleus said, beginning to smile. "We've beaten them. We've won!"
A cheer went up from the team, as the realisation sunk in. The Collectors were gone, the colonist they had taken avenged, their sickening creation destroyed. They were done.
Victory.