A/N:
I'm so sorry for the lack of updates recently, it's been one thing after a - f*cking - nother, I swear.
Anyways, without further ado, we're off!:
Chapter 33:
September 13th, 2180
So the 'Citadel Invasion Memorial' is a few hours from now, I was given clearance by Vidic to leave the impromptu hospital about thirty minutes ago. When I first left the tent was when I got my first glimpse of the Citadel, post-invasion. It reminded me a lot of what New York City looked like in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, there was smoke and debris everywhere, people where crowding the streets helping wherever they could, doing whatever they could, for whoever they could... But it was on a much larger scale. I'll admit, I don't know the Wards and the Presidium buildings and sky-scrapers as well as I knew the New York Skyline, but I'm pretty sure the Citadel's grounds look a lot more empty than they did a few days ago.
Jorra told me that the preliminary reports for losses were in the upper thousands, not including the Blue Suns, the Turian naval men, or Alliance Marines that got killed out in space. I felt pretty damn bad for all those who were affected, I still do! That's why I ended up tracking down Price and helping out with the cleaning efforts, which pretty much equated to 'Toss the Blue Suns in a pile, put the C-Sec and Civilians in bags'... I would've liked to not be wearing Ghost's mask while I do this - it's stuffy as hell, and it's starting to smell, do you know how heavy Turians are? - but I don't have any other clothes on me, so if I left the mask off and walked around in my Ranger fatigues, it'd be a dead giveaway. Anyways, I don't know what the hell they're planning on doing with the Blue Suns bodies - probably something along the lines of 'Solar Cremation' - but I can thankfully say that, at least where we're working, somewhere on the Zakera Ward, there are less Civilian, C-Sec, and Alliance bodies than Blue Suns. Still though, I can't help but feel a little responsible for these deaths... I mean, I know I've fucking exhausted this topic, but this entire thing, the invasion, the Blue Suns, all of it didn't happen in the original game! So what kind of fucked up Butterfly Effect series of events led me to this? Did I step on Vido Santiago's favorite cockroach? Did I piss someone off? Was it even me? What the hell led to this series of events?
And what the hell brought Solid Snake, and Noble fucking Six into play? What role do they serve? Other than for Six to give me some data chip that's taking forever to download and install onto my Omni-tool. Space-age, 26th century technology my ass!
And Price! I'm still reeling from that! Why the hell did the G-Man bring him here? How the hell does he know me? And, god bless him for putting up with it all, but he's got to be suffering from major culture shock right now. In addition to that, he's also just learned that he, in essence, doesn't exist, and that he's a character from a video game. Normally I'd say I wouldn't believe anyone who'd tell me that, but that would just be stupid now, given my situation, wouldn't it?
"Hey Price." I say, as I step back from the pile of corpses, and the rows of body bags, to straighten my back.
"Yes?" The Brit responds, or... wait, was he Scottish?
"What's your take on this?" I ask, "Not the corpse stacking, or the Citadel invasion... I'm talking about universe jumping." I elaborate, after taking a quick second to confirm that we were the only guys in our little neck of the Citadel.
Price takes a step back as well, and takes a long drag off of one of his cigars, I've no idea where he got those things, but all of a sudden about an hour ago I saw him smoking a thick cigar as he was tossing a Batarian corpse into the pile. "Best way to put it is I'm still coming to terms with things." He said, "But it's not like I've had too much time. One thing you'll learn when you've been in the military as long as I have is to prioritize your actions. When it all began, it was killing Zakhaev." He says; that was Modern Warfare 1, right? The one with the Ghille suit mission? God damn, I just realized how much of the other video games I've forgotten, in lieu of remembering everything I possibly can about Mass Effect. "After that, it was surviving in the Gulag... Then it was killing Makarov, with a quick 'break' to kill Shepard." That I know was Modern Warfare 2, it was the first Call of Duty I'd ever played, and by far was one of my favorites, if only for the masterful DC mission, which, now that I think about, I actually lived through... Partially. "Then it was back to Makarov, at all costs." He shakes his head, and flicks some of the ash off of the cigar, "After he died, and I showed up here... My objective pretty much became surviving until I could learn what the hell I could." He continues, "Now I've finally got time to come to terms with things... The death of my allies, my friends... Jumping from universes... My apparent 'lack' of existence..." He pauses for a moment, before he takes another drag off the cigar, and shrugs, "What's my take? I say I'd just settle for an answer: Why me?"
I chuckle lightly, and shake my head, "You and me both... Pal." I say, as another car flies in, loaded to the brim with more Blue Suns corpses. "What do you plan on doing after this?" I ask, "Sell your old guns and ammunition, you could get quite a pretty penny." I mention, "Retire, head somewhere remote..." That sounds nice, actually.
"Chris, you yourself should know that won't happen." Price chuckles, as we start lugging more corpses. "When I joined the SAS, I was pretty much prepared for a lifetime commitment. Jumping universes and into the future doesn't change one's sense of duty." He says.
"So, you're heading back to Earth?" I inquire.
He chuckles, "With what story? 'Hey, name's Price. I'm over two hundred years old and was in the SAS back when it was a barely realized dream to reach to the stars'..." He chuckles again, as he drops a corpse, and takes another drag off his cigar, before he stomps it out, "No, going back to Earth won't really be an option for me."
"So you're going the Mercenary route? Maybe join the Alliance?" I wonder, unintentionally thinking out loud.
"I don't quite like mercs, Chris." Price says.
"I'm hurt." I respond, with a shit eating grin.
Price rolls his eyes, and continues; "And I'll hit the same problem with the Alliance: I technically don't exist here, so they'd probably detain me until they could figure out what to do with me." He explains.
"Well, from what I've been able to learn, technically you did exist... Apparently this universe is an amalgam of the Call of Duty universe - the one you came from - and the Mass Effect universe." I tell him.
He shrugs, "Then I've been missing and dead since twenty-seventeen, it'll still make me look crazy if I try and 'claim' to be John Price." He says.
"You're a real pessimist, aren't you?" I wonder aloud, "Only options left are getting a desk job, or hanging out with me." I chuckle.
"As long as it isn't a bother, I'll probably bunk with you until I get settled on a plan of action." He says.
"Heh, you think you can handle living with a twenty-something, old man?" I ask, the world's worst shit-eating grin plastered all over my face.
Price grinned, "You said the same exact thing when we had to kip it in Afghanistan, when we were hunting for Shepard." He says, that reminds me...
"Speaking of that, can you tell me anything else about... Me?" I ask, "Because I've already told you, I've no damn memory about working with you, or the 141, or any of that. My experience was with Foley and the Rangers, and then here in this universe." I explain.
Price nodded, as we continued working, "You always did mention a Sergeant named Foley, but Soap had given me your file, it said you'd been in the Rangers for a few tours in Afghanistan before you were taken into the 141." He explains, "As to... You... You were a lot like you are now... But a bit taller... More built, physically." He says, "You were there for most major operations after Soap recovered the downed American ACS module. You helped out in springing me from the Gulag, if memory serves."
So I was pretty much present throughout the entire 141 campaign, too. Why can't I remember this? "Was there anything... Different about me?" I ask, there's got to be something I'm missing.
He looks at me for a moment, before he shrugs, "You seemed like you'd seen far more than your fair share of action... More than a few years in Afghanistan would give you, anyways. You'd had your share of late nights too... Nearly woke me, Soap and Roach up in the barracks when you started screamin'." He explains, "I'd asked once about what you'd seen during your service, about what you'd been before you'd joined the 141... But all you'd say was that you were a 'Soldier long past his expiration date'." Price finishes, with another shrug, "Get anything from that?" He inquires.
I shake my head, "Not a damn thing." I tell him, as my Omni-tool goes off, I answer it and it's Pallin, calling Ghost's public account.
"Ghost, the Memorial is beginning in an hour, the Council wants us there as soon as possible, so we can prepare. I'm sending a squad car over." He says.
"Alright," I respond, "I'll be waiting." I say, before he cuts the call.
Just as I'm about to cut the Omni-tool off and get back to work, it goes off again, but with that light 'ping' noise that lets me know that it's finished installing stuff. It's probably that data chip Six gave me, which reminds me, I'm going to have to do some digging on the Extra-net, maybe hit up my information guys, or the Broker, see if I can find those two and talk to 'em. Anyways, I open up the list of all the files I got from the data chip.
Damn! This thing was loaded! It's got combat programs, like Incinerate and Overload, among others, it's got virtual and augmented reality programs, there's even some fucking Omni-weapons programmed into this thing. As I continue to scroll through the list, I see that there's even a video file stored in the thing, but when I click on it, it just gives me a noise similar to the 'X' noise from family feud, nothing else. Seriously though, this thing's fucking loaded with stuff! And unlike my damn HUD Glasses, I can actually see some text files, so it's got an instruction manual to boot!
Seeing as how I've probably got only a few minutes until Pallin and his cronies get here, I decide to open up the Omni-weapons file and mess around there. I open it up, and I'm immediately treated to a rather short list of three weapons, each apparently tied to a gesture I've got to do when the tool's active. There's a blade, a... Prod? The fuck is a Prod? And there's a shield... These things can make shields?! What the fuck, Bioware? You were holding out on us! I'd much rather have an Omni-shield than a double Omni-blade, or whatever it was that Sentinels - my preferred class, mostly because of the Tech Armor - got. Anyways, I clicked on the 'Blade' option, and a quick animation played, it depicted a vertical chop, and then the appeared. I shrug, and do the chop as instructed, and almost immediately the Omni-tool gains three pounds as the blade flash-forges itself and extends from the tool itself.
"Whoa!" I shout, as I examine the blade.
"What is that?" Asked Price, moving away from the rows of body bags to come look at my new toy.
"It's an Omni-blade." I deadpan, "The game developer's excuse for saying they upgraded the melee combat system in the third game." I explain, as I touch the blade itself; I immediately rip my hand away from the blade, fucking thing's scalding hot! I'm pretty sure I'd be losing a few layers of skin if I hadn't been wearing my gauntlets, "It's fuckin' hot too." I add, as I give it a few experimental swings.
"Where do I get one?" Price asks, "That thing's the ultimate concealed weapon... A knife they can confiscate and detect, but a virtual blade? They'd have to access the thing's files in order to find it." He muses.
I dig the data chip out from my back pocket, and hand it to Price with my left hand, "Knock yourself out, just hook it into your tool and it'll do the rest." I say, after I unclench my fist, and the Omni-tool disappears.
The sound of police sirens tells me Pallin's guys have arrived. "Alright Price, I'll be back." I say.
"Good luck, 'Ghost'." Said Price, as I step into the car.
It's been about a half hour since I've gotten here, in some building in the Presidium Tower; right now I'm leaning against a wall in some waiting-room with Executor Pallin and Garrus. There's a television hung up on a wall, broadcasting Tevos' memorial speech, she'd been chosen as the speaker because she'd been the only councilor that hadn't been evacuated.
"So… Ghost…" Says Garrus, I look up to see him looking at me, an uncomfortable look in his eyes.
"Yeah?"
"Why'd you do it? I saw you run in front of those guns and take the bullets for that human child… Any other mercenary I know would have used her as a living shield, or would have just let her get shot. But you got shot for her… Why?" He asks.
Well, Garrus, maybe you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. "I'm not some asshole mercenary, man." I say after a few moments deliberation, "You remember Blue Suns activity got banned after I took down the Underground?" I'm careful not to say 'Took Down Tor', seeing as how he's alive. Garrus nods, "Well I learned - through sources unnamed - that that's a reason why the Blue Suns took whatever funds from whomever funded them, because they'd been banned and they were pissed. So in a way, this -" I nod to the TV, and cross my arms, " This death, this senseless slaughter, it's my fault. It'd be the least I should do to give my life to protect the ones I've put in danger." I tell him.
I can see Garrus' eyes glint at the prospect of pinning the entire attack on me, but his next words make me consider other options, " That's very noble... Human. I know very few people who would be willing to do that, most of them Turian." He pauses, "But for what you've done, you have my respect." He extends one clawed hand, in an obvious gesture, I accept it and we shake, " I believe the human phrase is… 'Water under the bridge'?"
I nod, and when we release our grip, " Yeah man, it's alright."
"Now that you two women have kissed and made up, we've got to head out." Says Pallin, who nods to the TV, I look to it and see Tevos, most likely hitting the end of her speech. "I just got pinged, she'll be making the … 'casting call' here in a few minutes, we're expected to arrive when she calls us." He says.
"What, is this a show? Let's show up when we want, waltz in nine hours late, act like we own the place, maybe steal some CD's, a couple stereos, maybe some food." I chuckle, apparently Garrus at least understands I was joking, as he chuckles too, but Pallin, being the stick in the mud he is, just scowls at me.
"When you are called upon by a representative of the species that was the founding member of the Citadel Council, you will show up on time, Mercenary. Now come on." Did I just trade enemies? Garrus for the Executor?
I guess it doesn't matter really, Garrus, Pallin and I walk out of the waiting room, and Pallin leads us through a long series of hallways. After ascending a flight of stairs, we arrive at a door, with a Salarian woman waiting for us.
"Are you the three we've been waiting for?" She asks, slightly irritably.
"We're right on time." Defends Pallin.
"I've considered telling Madame Councilor to extend the speech four times because of your lack of pre-emptive arrival. Make haste, she'll be signaling you in a minute." She presses a button on the data pad, and the TV on the wall next to us un-mutes itself so we can wait for our 'signal'.
"Alas…" I hear her say, "While I am unable to thank everyone who helped to defend our glorious Citadel, I have four people who were instrumental in it's defense and liberation." Speaking of the fourth person, where in god's name is Shepard?
"Where is the fourth woman!?" Demands the Salarian, suddenly.
"Right here!" I hear Jennifer Hale, or, sorry, Alison Shepard call, as she rounds the corner, dressed in her Alliance uniform. "Sorry I'm late, took a little too long to finish ironing." She says, running her hand through her red hair.
"First, is the Executor for Citadel Security, Venari Pallin, for his glorious efforts in coordinating the defense of the Citadel's populace, counter-attacks against the Suns, and the minimization of civilian death." Says Tevos, before the Salarian slaps the holo-plate, the door opens, and Pallin steps out to be greeted with mild applause.
"You clean up good Shepard, it's hard to recognize you without all the armor, blood and gore." I comment.
Shepard chuckles, "Don't get used to it Ghost, I'm not too used to being outside of my armor."
"The next would be C-Sec Detective Garrus Vakarian, for his marksmanship accomplishments, and his instrumental role in the recapture of the Presidium Tower." Another applause, Garrus walks out to wave to the crowd, and take his place next to Pallin, they both are standing on some kind of circular platform to Tevos' right.
"You and I are going to have to talk, though." If she's about to suggest what I think she's going to… "I'm quite curious about your biotics." Oh… Fuck.
"The third person I'd like to thank is Lieutenant Commander Alison Shepard, for her vital role in my rescue and defense." Says Tevos, before Shepard steps past me and out into the room. I may be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure when we met up she was a 'lieutenant', did she get promoted? That'd explain a few things, actually.
"You're all that's left. I'd brace for a reaction, by the way." Says The Salarian.
"Why?"
"Because you're the one they'll recognize."
"The last, but certainly not least person I'd like to recognize, would be for his tireless efforts at saving Citadel Civilian life, my own life, and for his efforts at re-opening the station, all at the very clear, and very present risk to his own life." Oh boy, she's giving me the extended speech-treatment, god damn it, I've never been comfortable with people talking... Good... About me. I was always the asshole class-clown in highschool, I had a small group of friends, and most everyone else thought I was deniably insane. "We know not his name, his face, or his race, only the mask with which he identifies, and the name which he identifies himself with. Ghost."
The Salarian motions me forward, and the door opens, the room is silent as I walk forward. I'm damn glad for this mask, because I'm pretty sure if everyone in the room saw the ridiculously anxious expression I was wearing, the silence would be replaced with laughter. When I reach the Asari councilor, and she shakes my hand, is when the first man - a Turian - stands up to clap, he is quickly followed by an Asari, who is quickly followed by a human, and slowly the entire room is on it's feet, clapping, some go so far to cheer and whistle.
I take my place next to Shepard my arms go behind my back, Shepard is in a similar stance to mine, she leans towards me, "Got yourself quite a fan-base, Ghost. What's your secret?"
I grin, "You'll find out."
When the crowd goes quiet, Tevos continues her speech, and cuts Shepard off, "These four were irreplaceably vital to the liberation of the Citadel, following the invasion of the Suns." She says, her voice magnified by some sort of machine extending from her ear... Hole... I keep forgetting that Asari don't have ears. "There were others, many others, who fought, and many more who were injured during the station's defense, and while we may never be able to recognize them all, we shall name the Galactic Standard Date of the attack, a Citadel holiday, to be spent in silence, in remembrance of those who have fallen in this attack." She pauses, "If you would please, bow your heads in a moment of silence."
The entirety of the room - most likely the station as well - falls utterly silent as they bow their heads.
"Thank you." Says Tevos after a few moments; an Asari - who I quickly recognize as Sha'ira! - enters the room, carrying a small but wide rectangular case.
Sha'ira gives Tevos the case, the two bow to each other, and Sha'ira descends the stairs to take her seat. Tevos takes the case and moves to Pallin.
"C-Sec Executor Pallin, for your work in the coordination of the Citadel's Defense forces, and the defense of the station's people, I award you with the Zaarn." She takes out a medal in the shape of a sun, I assume 'Zaarn' is the name of said sun?
"Thank you, Councilor, I accept this humbly." Says the Executor, as the medal is pinned to his uniform.
Tevos moves to Garrus, "Detective Garrus Vakarian, for your actions in the recapture of the Citadel Tower, I award you with the Citadel Shield." She removes another golden medal, the shape of the gold and the design of said material reminds me heavily of a Spartan's shield.
"Thank you, Madam Councilor." Says Garrus.
The councilor nods, and moves to Shepard, "Lieutenant Commander Alison Shepard, for your actions in my rescue and defense, I award you with the Nashna." Again with the un-translated words?
"Thank you, Madam Councilor." Shepard nods.
Tevos moves to me, she's actually just a few inches taller than me, now that I have a good look at her. "Ghost, for your actions in defending the Citadel, it's people, and for the liberation of the Citadel Tower, I award you with the Serpent of the Station." She pulls out a medal, which looks like the Citadel, save for the snake running it's way through the wards; I guess some animals are universal.
"Thank you Councilor, it is an honor to accept such a reward, and I do so with great humility." I say, as she finishes pinning it to my Ranger Fatigues.
Tevos nods, and moves back to her original position to our front-left, "For these reasons, and many more, we recognize these four for their actions in the defense and liberation of the Citadel from Blue Suns hands. Let us never forget that day, and let us never forget the sacrifices of the men and women who would go on to give and risk their lives to save the lives of others." Says Tevos, before she nods, and bids the crowd farewell.
It didn't take too long for the room to clear out, Shepard, and I found ourselves in the waiting room not long after, Garrus having fled in a squad car, and Pallin having taken his own vehicle to return home.
"So, what class did you graduate in?" Shepard asks.
Class of '12? "I'm sorry?"
"Your class. Which one did you graduate in?" Her jovial mood from before is gone, replaced with this cold sophisticated one.
"A little more specific."
"Alison Shepard: Psionic Graduation Class Alpha." She recites, as if she's memorized it.
"Um… I don't have one?"
Slowly her calm demeanor is turning to one of cautious, hidden hostility, "Ghost, I know you're a Psion, what I did in the chambers wouldn't have worked if you weren't."
What she did in the chambers? "You mean the chest pat thing?" She nods, oh fuck, she must be one of those Psions I keep hearing about, but have yet to learn anything about; and from the way she recited her ID, I get the feeling that any lie I make up will be caught and called out instantly, probably with a gun.
Screw it, let's see how far the truth takes me, "Sorry Shep, I've no clue what you're talking about."
"Then explain this." She opens her Omni-tool, and pulls up footage of the battle in the Council Chambers, when I made a barrier in between the fountains and in front of the terminals. "First off, you should have dropped the bullets, carrying them like that drains your energy a lot faster." I can drop them? " But I'd also like this to be explained.." Next a helmet-cam video is pulled up, the corridor the guy's in looks familiar, and the suits the guys around him are wearing tell me this was at Tor's compound.
There I am, I fling my arm up and the bullets freeze in front of me, I whip my arm back and shove it forward, and the shockwave tears through the corridor and disintegrates all of the thugs. "This too." Next she pulls up footage from Kai Leng's escape, "You've no idea how hard it was to get this uncorrupted." She says, and despite her word, the image is still chopped up and blurry at points.
From the recording, I see Kai Leng sprint forward like a bullet, his fist flies towards my face, but my arm whips up at imperceptible speeds to block and deflect his attack, before my fist tears through the air to be met by his head, also at imperceptible speeds.
"Psionic Suppression, light-bending energy barriers, Time dilation, Psionic Destruction Waves… All skills exclusive to the Psion Program. The last two, exclusive to only a few 'lucky' Psions." Shepard says, the look in her eyes screams 'Don't fuck with me!'. "So would you care to explain how a mercenary obtained these abilities?"
Seriously lady, I've no clue!
I shrug.
In response, the air around her ripples with light-bending energy, and a scowl forms on her face, not from anger, but it looks like from concentration. "Ghost, that's beyond top-secret alliance Black Ops tech you're playing with. I am well within my rights - as an Alliance operative and as a Psion - to arrest you, right here, right now, unless you tell me where you got them." She says.
"I've no clue where I got them." I say, slowly, loudly, and clearly, "I woke up one day, a doctor told me I'd been augmented -"
"You went to a doctor about this!?" Shepard demands, "You can be charged with Treason!"
"Let me finish, lady!" I almost shout, "The doctor told me I'd been augmented - but they both had no damn clue what the augmentations did, or to what extent. Then one day I was fighting that guy, and managed to spit hot fire. Then I was in Tor's compound and I disintegrated everyone with my mind. Then on the eleventh I stopped bullets in their tracks. I've barely any understanding about how this works." I tell her, "All I know is that one day I was a normal nineteen year old, next I was moving shit with my mind."
"So you're telling me you just woke up one day with Alliance hyper-military grade augmentations." She restates.
"Yes!" I shout, happy that the two of us are finally on the same page.
Then the fucking door explodes.
Minutes Earlier
"You all know your targets." Said the team's leader, as they moved down the long hallway, their persons masked by the light-bending tactical cloaks, and their noise masked by the sound-suppressors in their boots. "Dylan, you've got the device?" He asked, his voice inaudible outside his helmet, instead being broadcasted directly into the communicators of his team.
"Yes sir. Right here." Dylan pulled out a small, golden sphere from a pouch he'd had attached to his black and white armor. Immediately upon removal the sphere began to light up and pulse with energy.
"Keep it under control." Warned the leader, "Target door, one O' Clock, fifty meters." He added.
The group of special-operatives stacked up on either side of the door, three on one side, three on the other.
"Lucy, you're up."
"Deploying breeching charges." Says Lucy, as she stepped away from her group to produce a large, square-shaped charge, designed specifically to breech the metal doors that were found in most buildings these days. "Charges set, move back."
The team of six retreats a small distance, the leader heard someone inside shout 'Yes!', and a moment later, "Breeching." Said Lucy, before the door charge exploded, the team poured into the room, with Dylan being at the end.
"Target acquired!"
"Watch the woman! She's nonessential, knock her out!"
"Impact shot!" One of the agents fired a non-lethal shot at the red-headed woman, who's head promptly slammed into the table she'd been sitting at, her gun slipped from her hand.
The oddly-uniformed man in the skeleton mask leapt up and pulled out his ancient-looking pistol, he managed to get one shot off - which bounced off of the agent's prototype 'energy' barriers - before Dylan sprung forth, the spherical device held tightly in his hand. He shoved the device right in the face of the masked man, it proceeded to pulsate violently with bright golden light; a small beam lashed out from the ancient - yet hyper advanced - piece of machinery, it then connected with the masked one's forehead, and his eyes promptly rolled to the back of his head and he fell to the ground, unconscious.
"Secure him." Orders the team's leader, "We move in two minutes, people." He says, before his hand goes to his helmet's 'ear'.
"Gold leader to command, over."
"Come in gold leader."
"Ghost has been busted, we're packing up and heading home." Says the team's leader, as he watched Dylan stumble to the table, visibly drained from using the machine. "One enemy neutralized, one friendly fatigued, but other than that we're good. Heading to extraction point Zeta."
"Understood gold leader, Tim will be pleased."
The team's leader cut the communicator, as Lucy flung Ghost onto her shoulders, a small medal flew off of his uniform, but went unnoticed by the group of operatives.
"Move out!" Ordered the leader, as he checked the mission timer and smiled: in less than five minutes, he and his team had breeched Ghost's room, neutralized an N7, and captured him with no casualties suffered by his team