A/N: Really loving all the support guys. DFX contacted me the other day and said I'm doing good with his creation and offering to help where he can. Although he is 'retired' from fanfiction, he's still a good mentor even with his dyslexia. That's just makes him more skilled.
As promised to those that are sticking with me, I got a new update to add to the pool!
X
Jason 'Maverick' Harlow
Aleutsk Valley - Skadi Mountains (Noveria)
August 13, 2183 - 14:05 hours
The blizzard through the valley pass leading to Peak 15 was much worse than the team had anticipated. Visibility dropped more and more the farther their Mako went into the mountains, as did the temperature. Which according to SECOND's readings was -27 F.
Jason had linked the his suit's nano vision to the turret controls so that he could help Jane and Liara navigate the rough terrain. "We've got a bend in the road ahead. Tight right turn." he reported as the Commander turned the rover as gently as she could on the snow covered pass.
With a mountain peak to their right, and a ledge that dropped off into deep crevice to their right the Mako had very little room to move.
They passed a Grizzly that was off of the road on their right. "The Geth have been through here." said Jane as they passed the flaming wreckage and around the next corner.
"Ordinance Incoming." said SECOND over the rover's intercom. The Commander spun the wheel hard as two rockets sailed past them. Jason swung the Mako's turret around and fired two quick shots into the Geth heavy turret that was stationed next to a small tunnel and destroyed it.
A squad of Shock Troopers came out of the tunnel and set up several solid energy shields at the entrance as they took cover and fired on the rover. "Guess they decided to roll out the welcome wagon."said Jason firing the Mako's machine guns on the Geth.
Their shields went down fast and half the Shock Troopers were cut down as Shepard powered them through the blockade and running down the remaining platforms standing.
Two more blockades were set up along the way with Rocket Troopers, Juggernauts, Destroyers, and Shock Troopers stationed at each one. Jane kept the gas pedal floored while Jason kept shooting both guns.
The Geth were turned to scrap metal as the Mako barreled through those that had managed to avoid being hit with the heavy rounds. They exited the tunnel and hit the pass again in time for plasma fire to strike the side of the rover.
"Barriers down to 83%." said Liara as they engaged an Armature that was standing by the wreckage of another vehicle off to the side. Jason used the machine guns and quickly dropped the large synthetic's shields before firing the main cannon and blowing the torso of the Armature apart.
Shepard kept them moving while her fellow Spectre gunned down the Rocket Troopers that had been standing around the larger platform.
This was what they faced the entire journey up the mountain. Jason's assumptions had been right in the number of Geth that had been passed through customs as they went through blockade after blockade set up to stop them.
Their numbers added up to a sizable force and that was just as they were rolling up to the facility's front door.
Blasting the two heavy turrets stationed outside of Peak 15, Jane pulled up the the entrance and powered down the rover as they all piled out. "Do we have a way to get inside? The place is probably on lock down because of the storm." said Garrus from under his helmet as the snow continued to blow around them.
"On it." said Jason pulling up his omni-tool and hacking the door. The lock switched from red to green in moments allowing them access.
Guns out, the squad entered the garage of the facility ready for what might be waiting for them. "Hostiles Detected." they got into cover as oncoming gunfire peppered the crates around them. Jason leaned out of cover and put a three round burst through the optic of a Geth Trooper with his Grendel.
A Juggernaut stepped out from behind a large crate and fired a rocket on their position. Jane and Garrus both fired on the large platform with their assault rifles, dropping its shields almost instantly allowing Liara to lift it into the air with her biotics and slamming it back down with bone jarring force.
Jason moved up to the next piece of cover available as two Krogan came out of hiding and fired on him. The nano soldier emptied a salvo into the first Krogan before leaping up on to a crate. "Maximum Power." he lept into the air, fist cocked back as he slammed it down on the large alien's head. Splitting his head plate open and caving in his skull all at once.
"User Alert! All Peak 15 facilities have suffered a great deal of damage. Biohazardous materials present throughout facility. Virtual intelligence user interface offline." said the facility's VI over the intercom.
"Sounds like some of the buildings main components need repairs." said Liara as the team regrouped before heading up the staircase nearby.
"We'll need to get the reactors back online. Along with the VI to figure out just what the hell has been going on here." said Jason while venting his rifle.
They passed through a doorway and saw automated turrets facing toward the door ahead of them. "Why would they set up turrets the wrong way?" asked Garrus.
"Looks like they were trying to keep people in, instead of letting them out." said Jane as they passed through the doorway and into the security station. "Search the room for clues, maybe we can figure out what's been going on."
Jason walked over to one of the terminals and brought up his omni-tool. "SECOND, anything?" the AI was silent a moment, "Negative. Terminal Power Level Low. Power Must be Restored." came the report. "We're not getting anything until the systems are brought back online." he said to the others.
They left the security room and took the elevator across the corridor to the next level. "It's quiet. What do you think's been going on up here?" asked Liara.
"If Saren's involved than it can't be anything good. If he is a share holder with Binary Helix, god only knows what he was able to fund behind the Council's backs." said Shepard checking her assault rifle over.
The lift stopped and let them off. Jason approached the door ahead of them and held up a fist as he had SECOND make a quick scan. "Five hostiles. All Geth." he said looking over his motion tracker.
"Liara and I will go left, you and Garrus take right. We'll sweep the room quick." said Jane as they got ready. The nano soldier hit the door panel and they stormed in.
Two Geth Troopers greeted them first, but they were cut down before they had a chance to raise their pulse rifles. Liara lifted a Shock Trooper that popped out of cover giving Shepard a chance to take it down.
Garrus tossed a grenade across the room and destroyed a Rocket Trooper before it could get a lock on the group. Jason rushed the last Shock Trooper in the room, pulling out his knife and stabbing it into it's optic before kicking the body against a wall for good measure.
The room fell silent, save for the harsh wind howling outside. "I have a bad feeling about this." said Jane venting her rifle.
"Proximity Alert. Unknown Lifeforms Detected." reported SECOND as Jason quickly switched to his shotgun. "We got company inbound." he said scanning the room.
The sound of skittering and light chattering could be heard throughout the room. The squad stood back to back with their weapons/biotics ready for what was coming. "Where? I can't tell." said Liara looking left and right.
Garrus aimed his assault rifle up when he heard some of the sounds from above. "Where is that coming from? The wind? This place looks pretty bad." he said keeping his eyes open.
Jason narrowed his eyes. "Nano Vision Enabled." the room's spectrum changed, and the visor immediately picked up over a dozen small heat signatures moving through the walls heading to their location. "Their in the walls!" he shouted blasting at a nearby vent.
Other vents in the room burst open as green bugs the size of a pistol began swarming toward them. Everyone opened fire, their rounds tearing through the small creatures easily but they kept coming in droves.
One of the bugs managed to leap onto Jane's chest plate. She grabbed it and threw it into a wall and saw that there were now burn marks on her armor where the critter had been a moment ago. "They have acid that can eat through armor, stay sharp!" she called out spraying full auto fire all over the room.
Liara launched a shockwave that sent a group of the bugs splattering against the wall before taking out her pistol to deal with others. Garrus stood at her back and shot a few that were trying to climb the wall behind them. "How many of these things are there?" he asked before shooting another small group.
Jason brought his foot down on three of the insects before racking his shotgun to vent it. His sharp eyes caught movement at the top of the small staircase that lead out of the room. A large insect that looked like a four legged cockroach with claw tipped tentacles.
Letting out a loud screech before firing green globs from it's appendages. "Incoming!" he shouted diving aside.
The globs landed on an overturned table and ate through the dense metal like water through tissue paper. The team regrouped and engaged the new threat, focusing their joint fire on the insect and quickly putting it down before it could launch another salvo.
More screeches were heard as three more of the creatures scurried down the reinforced glass hallway on the second floor toward them. Jason drew his bow and took out an explosive arrow. Firing it into the wall next to the opening to the corridor. The large bugs made it to the end just as the explosives detonated, blowing the creatures apart and sending their remains flying across the room.
"Just what the hell are we dealing with here." said Garrus a little disturbed by what they had just seen.
Jason knelt down next to the dead insect they had killed and scanned it with his omni-tool. "SECOND, scan this body. What can you tell me about it?" The team gathered around as the AI's voice spoke. "Scanning...Complete. Accessing Council Records." Several readouts appeared above the omni-tool. Some of which showed holos of the creatures they had seen. "Species Designated Rachni Confirmed."
"Rachni? That's not possible." said Liara. "The Krogan destroyed their race long ago by the Council's order. There is no way that they could be back."
"It seems we've found what they've been doing here." said Jason. "SECOND, what can you tell us about the Rachni?"
"Rachni: Insectoid in Nature. Possess a Hive Mind link to their Queen in order to Function. Three Classes ever recorded in history."
"Worker Class possess weak exoskeleton, but can produce highly corrosive acid in small amounts to break down matter."
"Warrior Class possess stronger exoskeleton able to withstand long bouts of assault. Able to fire the same powerful acid from their tentacle appendages. Deadly at close quarters."
"Little is recorded on Rachni Queens. Data available suggests far stronger exoskeleton compared to underlings, and possesses ability to communicate with them via ultrasonic frequencies."
"Looks like this mission just got a little more hazardous." said Jane as she looked over the Rachni Warrior's corpse one last time.
"We'll have to keep our eyes and ears open at all times. If these things are in the vents, then they can pop up almost anywhere." said Jason as they started moving again. Keeping their weapons ready just encase any more of the insects were waiting for them.
They didn't have to wait long.
When they entered the corridor the creatures came from, the vents in one of the rooms to their right burst open and two more Rachni Warriors came out and charged them. The squad opened fire. Their rounds punching through the hardened exoskeletons and splattering green blood across the walls and floors.
One of them lashed a tentacle out and managed to knock Garrus off his feet before Jason's Shotgun registered multiple times. Each blast blowing sizable chunks out of the creatures body before it collapsed on to the ground dead. "Garrus, you good?" asked the Post-Human helping his friend to his feet.
"Yeah, damn these things hit hard." said the Turian looking down at the small dent that had been made in his armor. "No surprise it took the Krogan to take them out. If they're like any other kind of bug they must be able to reproduce in large numbers."
"Which makes this even more crucial that we get this mission done and find a way to make sure these things don't escape the facility." said Jane as they entered another elevator.
Liara's eyes drifted to the floor, "What in the Goddess' name would my mother be doing here? Did she have something to do with this? Bringing back the Rachni just doesn't sound like something she would do."
"You've said that you two haven't spoken to each other in years." said Jane looking to her in sympathy. "A lot can change in that amount of time. Or maybe it's Saren. The Council always said that he was very influential. Maybe he found a way to get her on to his side."
Jason bit his lip. Shepard had no idea how right she was on the subject.
The door to the lift opened revealing a darkened room filled with computer terminals and power conduits. Two hallways t-boned off from the main room with a large circular chamber with another door at the far end.
"Nano Vision Enabled." Jason looked around the room, picking up the signatures from the still active terminals and luckily nothing else. "Nothing yet, move in slow." he said leading the team inside.
The others activated the lights on their helmets as they began to check everything over. "Looks like a backup power system for the station's mainframe." said Jane looking over a nearby terminal.
Jason's motion tracker lit up, he looked toward the back of the room and saw a cluster of small heat signatures rushing toward them. "Contact!"
A group of five Rachni Workers came at them from the back forcing them to open fire. When the smaller bugs were down the team moved about, sweeping the large room to make sure there weren't any more surprises. "Wrex should be here, he'd probably get a kick out of fighting these things." said Garrus as they started switching the backup power system on for the mainframe.
"I doubt that old bastard needs to have his ego stroked any more." said Jason switching on the last terminal. The lights in the room and the remaining terminals began to power up allowing them to turn off their lights.
"Critical startup error. Virtual Intelligence user interface offline. Manual reboot required." chimed the station's VI.
Checking the doors and finding all of them sealed, they moved to the large room in the back and saw a large terminal system with a lift that was lowered down to the bottom. "This must be the VI's main core." said Liara.
Jason put his gun away and lept down into the hole. Hitting the ground and putting a small dent in the lowered lift. He began looking around at the damage that had been sustained to the VI core. "How's it look down there?" Jane called down.
He removed a panel from the terminal and started looking through the wires, "It's a bit of a mess down here. Whatever did this wanted to make damn sure that everything was shut down."he said applying omni-gel to a few damaged circuits while SECOND highlighted several other components that would need to be fixed to get everything running.
"Could it have been the Rachni?" asked the Commander.
Jason replaced the panel and moved on to another. "I believe so. Looks like they got into the circuts and tore them up. Can't tell if they were stupid and got lucky, or their smart enough to cut off the outside world from this place."
He reached the memory core units and began to work a little more carefully. The last thing any of them needed was the station's VI 'forgetting' certain things. When the last of the units were properly aligned, Jason pulled up his omni-tool and had SECOND scan them. "SECOND, scan the memory cores and pull up anything relating to the Rachni or Saren. And I mean anything."
"Data-Mine Commencing..." he went back to repairing the VI core while the AI did its job. Several minutes passed and Jason was almost done with the repairs when he got confirmation that the download was complete.
Pulling up the files SECOND had found revealed everything he already knew was going on with this place. How they had been cloning the Rachni from an egg that was found and using the new Queen to create more. Saren's involvement. And the fact that any and all security that may still be alive at Peak 15 was on the rogue Spectre's payroll.
Satisfied with the find, Jason finished up the last of the repairs. The core lit up like a Christmas tree and the lift began carrying the nano soldier back up to the main floor. The rest of the team perked up when he returned and the holo-tank next to the terminal lit up revealing a purple/orange woman made out of code.
"It looks like you're trying to restore this facility. My name is Mira, would you like assistance?" asked the VI.
"Help would be appreciated." said Jane glad that they were finally getting somewhere in this place.
"Can I get your identification?" asked Mira.
"Commander Shepard. Citadel Special Tactics and Reconnaissance." said Jane.
"Maverick. Also with Special Tactics and Reconnaissance." added Jason.
"One moment please...Council authority confirmed. You both are entitled to Secure Access of all systems. Please note that queries relating to corporate secrets require Privileged Access. Privileged Access is only available to Binary Helix executives."
"And anyone with a powerful VI built in their suit." said Jason making everyone glance at him.
"...you didn't..." said Jane a little shocked.
He brought up his omni-tool and sent all the data he collected to the Commander's. "They've been cloning Rachni here Shepard. That's why Saren's so interested in this place. Most of the people here are on his payroll and will most likely be hostile toward us if we come in contact."
"Alert! Unauthorized Access to Binary Helix Records! Security Protocols now in effect!" said Mira about to sound the alarm.
"I don't think so." said Jason pressing a few buttons into his omni-tool. Mira's form began to distort, the lights around the room flickered for several moments before it all seemed to go back to normal.
Mira looked at the team and they saw that she now had red eyes. "Virtual Intelligence Rewrite...Complete." she spoke in SECOND's deep monotone voice.
"What the hell just happened?" asked Garrus a little stunned.
"When I pulled data from the memory cores, I had SECOND implant a stronger variant of my hacking program into the system. I now have full control of the facility's security measures and data banks." said Jason grinning under his helmet.
Jane shook her head and rubbed her eyes. "Next time, would you mind letting us know before you start hijacking research facilities?" she said giving him a look.
The Post-Human shrugged before looking at the SECOND 'possessed' Mira. "What are we looking at for damages to this place?"
"Running Diagnostics...Complete. Main Reactor Core is offline, manual restart required. Landline Connections disabled. Tram Systems offline."
"Where is Benezia located?" asked the Commander.
"Rift Station Subsidiary labs. Tram Systems need to be reactivated for access."replied the AI.
"And according to the security protocols. We need to get the landlines and the main reactor up and running before they can become operable again." said Jason looking through his omni-tool. "We should split up. I'll take the landlines, you guys hit the reactor core." he said heading for the door that eas behind them.
"Wait! Are you sure that it is wise for us to split up with the Rachni on the loose?" asked Liara.
"The longer we stay in one place, the more bugs that will come after us. We need to get to the rift station and stop all of this. We split up it gets done faster." replied Jason.
Jane sighed, "I don't like it, but he's right. Stay in radio contact at all times. We'll meet back here when everything's done." The nano soldier nodded and hit the panel for the door. "Jason." He turned back and saw the concerned green eyes looking at him from under the N7 helmet. "Please be careful." she said softly.
Jason smiled. "I'll be fine. Don't worry." he said entering the corridor beyond and stepping on to the lift at the end. Jane watched him go with a slight pull in her chest before she headed toward the entrance to the reactor core with Liara and Garrus following closely.
X
Jason 'Maverick' Harlow
Peak 15 - Skadi Mountains (Noveria)
August 13, 2183 - 15:16 hours
The lift ride was short, and ended in a corridor leading to the roof where snow was built up around the other door. The temperature dropped meaning that he was going to have to go through the snow storm to reconnect the station's landlines.
Jason drew his assault rifle and hit the door panel. The howling wind and snow whipped past him as he stepped out onto the roof. The darkness combined with the bad weather made visibility difficult for most people.
"Nano Vision Engaged." With the rooftop now visible. The nano soldier trudged out through the knee deep snow toward the power couplings that would reestablish contact with Peak 15. "SECOND, what's the status with the others right now?" he asked scanning the vicinity for hostiles.
"They have reached the reactor core and are currently engaged with Geth forces. No injuries or casualties thus far." relayed the AI.
Jason's motion tracker went off as three large heat signatures came out and started to make their way in his direction. The sounds of his rifle being fired was covered by the sound of the storm as each Rachni dropped one after the other.
Reloading a fresh clip, the nano soldier went over to the central power unit and activated his omni-tool. The whole system flared to life a minute later. "Landline Channels Re-Established."
Job complete, Jason headed back to the lift. "Shepard, landlines are all set. Heading back to the VI core room." he said into the comm as the lift descended.
"We're wrapping things up here as well. Meet you back there." said the Commander.
The lift opened on the main floor and Jason stepped out with weapon drawn. He began clearing the room to make sure that the rest of the team didn't get ambushed when they made it back.
A vent in the corner blew open and a Warrior came out screeching at him. His AR registered with several three round bursts before it collapsed back into the service duct. Another vent opened allowing another Rachni in the room. Jason squeezed the trigger and fired on the insect but it was cut short with an audiable click.
"Weapon Overheated." The Rachni fired a glob of acid forcing the Post-Human to roll to the side. Drawing his Hammer in mid-roll and emptying it into the creature before it could launch another attack.
The Warrior fell to the floor dead just as the door leading to the reactor core opened the the rest of the team came into the room guns ready. "We heard gunfire, everything okay?" asked Jane looking at the dead Rachni.
"All is well." said Jason reloading his weapon. They headed back over to the VI core where the SECOND controlled intelligence waited for them. "Landline connections and core reactor back online. Tram systems are now operable again."
"Good to hear. We better get to the Rift station and put an end to all of this." said Jane.
Jason took out his omni-tool again, "One thing first. SECOND, access everything you can about the classified experiments that have been done and are being done by Binary Helix. Have all of the data sent to the Council, I think they'd love to know what's been going on right under their noses."
"Acknowledged. Data Transfer in Progress." said the AI as Jason looked to the rest of the team. "Now we can head out." he said as they headed to the tram station.
"What about SECOND? You can't just leave it behind." said Liara.
"I'm not. It never leaves the suit, but the sub-routines that can be broken off and sent to various places can. And those come back to the suit and merge back with SECOND automatically once their job is done." explained the nano soldier.
"Useful skill to have. If most people could do that-" started Garrus.
"It could lead to too many problems." Jason cut him off. "You think C-Sec could handle people remote hacking the Citadel Archives and getting every drop of information they could on anyone and anything they wanted? It would be everyone's worse nightmare."
Jane looked up from her spot walking next to him, "Can you do that?" she asked a bit hesitant.
Jason looked down at her, "I could, but unlike the Shadow Broker I have no use for that kind of data. Like what happened when we got the intel on the Rachni, I didn't need to hack the archives for that. All I had to do was use my Spectre status to get it."
"Knowledge is power. And with an ability like that you would be unstoppable." said Liara as they entered the tram station.
"That maybe true. But I only use what information I need to complete a mission. Nothing more. Like I said, if I have no use for it I don't really want it." replied the Post-Human.
They stepped on to the tram car and punched in the keys for the Rift station down the tracks. The team settled into seats throughout the car as it began moving. Jason sat down on a bench and looked over his weapons for any damage. Jane flopped down next to him, leaning her head back against the wall and taking the moment to relax her nerves after what they've been through thus far.
Garrus and Liara sat across from them. Garrus adjusting the sights on this sniper rifle while Liara looked to be deep in thought. "We'll find her Liara." the Asari looked across the car at Jason as he finished looking over his rifle and slapping in a fresh ammo block. "And we'll find out why she's helping Saren. Hopefully we won't have to fight her." he said gently.
The blue skinned woman smiled sadly, "I hope so too. We may not have gotten along all the time, but she is still my mother." Garrus patted her shoulder and have a nod showing he understood.
Jane looked at her team and knew they had a real connection. Ever since this mission started she knew that they all fit together pretty well with one another. They could lean on each other when it was needed and it truly made them like a family.
She looked up at the man next to her as he leaned his head back against the wall behind them like she had a moment ago. Her heartrate picking up as she thought about her fellow Spectre and how close they had gotten since the start of all this. She shook her head clearing the thoughts, putting it in the back of her mind for when the mission was over.
Jason observed her from the corner of his eye. Glad that his red visor was blocking it from view. He could tell that Jane was beginning to grow attached to him, all the subtle hints of her interest were very visible. Along with the not so subtle hints he had been getting.
For a while he was thinking about how to approach her about it, but so far it had come up as a blank to him. She was an amazing woman, strong, intelligent, charismatic, and very beautiful in his eyes. His own heart did flips whenever she would smile. It was hard not to grow attached to Jane Shepard when she got close to you.
The tram came to a stop at Rift station and the team got themselves ready for whatever else the station could throw at them. Hoping that they would just make it out alive.
X
A/N: Drawing closer to their objective, and Benezia, you can bet that the indoctrinated matriarch won't go down without a fight. Good thing Jason knows how to deal with a situation on an interesting level.
New update coming soon, with many more to follow!