Location: Zahni Corporation Headquarters, somewhere south of Buenos Aires, Argentina
The rain was pouring down hard outside. It pattered against the windows while thunder sounded from somewhere distant, often preceded by a brilliant white flash of lightning. The typical Buenos Aires weather went far beyond the reaches of the urbanized areas, even out to where the Zahni Corporation had their headquarters complex.
The complex itself looked innocent enough, appearing as a twenty-storey office complex that covered a considerable tract of land. However, what occurred inside was far from innocent and most of the more secret research the Corporation conducted was undertaken in the many underground levels that went far beneath the surface.
The terrain around the complex had not changed for over a hundred years save for the removal of nearby farmers once the Corporation had bought up their land. Green, mostly green (but in parts yellowing) plains went out in all directions while distant hills were visible on the horizon. At this time it was only about noon, the time when most people here had lunch. However, the dark grey clouds that loomed overhead had darkened the day into night while a downpour drenched the landscape and flooded the lower-lying areas.
Ever since the start of the "global warming" process in the late twentieth century, the Earth's climate had continued to change until the introduction of new power sources such as element zero and ethanol. Some parts of the world had better climates than others and Argentina was one of the worst, even in the past Buenos Aires had been a heavily polluted city constantly releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The arrival of less polluting power sources could not prevent a permanent change of climate in and around the city which had given the region a near permanent overcast state. The city was almost constantly hidden beneath thick layers of clouds and quite often these clouds poured rain, sometimes acidic and dangerous to the environment. Even the plains around the complex were looking a bit dead and brown as a result of the polluted water. All in all, this part of Earth was the last place Kynarus had wanted to visit. For one thing, it wasn't giving the young turian a good impression of the human home-world.
He stood in a grey metal elevator, facing the single window at the rear of it. This particular elevator was built in the side of the headquarters complex and as a result the designers had implemented a window to provide a view of the "greenery" and "reasonable weather" outside. Harsh winds billowed across the plains and shook the few dying trees outside while a streak of lightning worked its way across the sky above. Kynarus was familiar to such events on his home world, Palaven, since there it was often hot and humid and as a result storms could be quite common. These storms on Earth were far different and more violent however, especially considering that the rain was often polluted and needed intense filtration to become drinkable.
Katherine stood in the elevator with him, the door closing behind her as she stepped in. She didn't seem too interested in the view through the window, managing a glance at it before turning around and looking at the control panel by the door. Pressing the necessary button the elevator started on its ascent up the side of the complex, moving along at a slow and steady pace.
So far the pair had managed to make their way through the building without arousing suspicion from any of the scientists, guards or technicians they passed by. None of the personnel seemed particularly interested in them or what the two of them were doing, probably either not caring or having been told about why they were here. The latter would mean that everybody here thought Kynarus and Katherine had been converted to loyal followers of the Corporation thanks to the mind altering machines and devices inside the laboratory that the pair had been previously held captive in. The door into the laboratory was a fair way through the hallways and corridors and seemingly no one had bothered taking a look inside just yet since no alarm bells were ringing. If anyone did take a look they would find a couple of dead lab technicians and a pair of unconscious guards.
Kynarus couldn't help but be worried about what those machines in the lab had done to his brain. His head ached considerably, inclining him to put a hand to his forehead and rub it slightly in an effort to ease the pain. It didn't help so he quickly stopped trying, simply leaving his head to ache and hoping he would be able to acquire some painkillers soon enough.
Damn machines messed with my mind. He closed his eyes involuntarily, feeling a sharp stab of pain shoot through his head like a bullet. It was enough to make him groan, catching Katherine's attention. She turned around to look at him, a concerned look on her face as she put a hand on his shoulder.
"You alright?" She asked. Kynarus turned around, simply nodding in response. He was certain he would live through a headache; he just hoped no permanent damage had been done.
"Headache, right?" She asked, taking her head off of his shoulder, "because I have one as well. Hurts like hell…"
"Probably just a side effect from those machines," Kynarus said, shaking his head in a futile effort to clear it, "I mean, seriously, the last thing I was expecting Dieter to do was try and reprogram our minds…"
"It wasn't Dieter's decision," Katherine said, correcting him, "it was Schraeder's. He seems to have taken a liking to our so-called 'resourcefulness' and thinks we'd make a welcome addition to his group as commandoes…"
"Resourcefulness?" Kynarus scoffed, almost laughing. He didn't really consider himself to be the resourceful and cunning type. Whenever he tried something "cunning" it usually backfired.
"I've just been making this up as I go along," Kynarus said, realizing just how lucky he was to have even made it this far. So many times luck had intervened and one way or another he had ended up living to fight another day. It seemed he was just a lucky turian, although that luck was sure to run out some time. It always did.
"So have I," Katherine said admittedly, "but that's the way I've always worked. No use making a plan beforehand if it's just going to get screwed up…"
Kynarus had to disagree with her on that point but he didn't say anything to voice it, instead he just decided to let her continue talking while he tried to ease the ache in his head.
Kynarus had been trained as a soldier and had been taught that a good plan should incorporate any unexpected occurrences. That usually meant it would go wrong one way or another but Kynarus had been on missions that had followed a strict plan and gone along fine, it's just that as soon as he became a mercenary this plan-making ethic got figuratively tossed out of the nearest window. Katherine obviously didn't think the same thing, making one more thing the pair didn't have in common.
"Besides, we have no idea what's waiting for us on the top floor," Katherine added, sounding a little pessimistic, "they could be luring us straight into some sort of trap. That would explain why no one's taken much notice of us yet…"
"Or they could just be thinking we've been changed into the loyal followers Schraeder wanted us to become," Kynarus said, not at all put at ease by Katherine's pessimistic tone. She did look awfully determined though but she always seemed that way, always with a fire in her eyes and the energy to go with it. That was one reason why Kynarus felt the way he did about her.
Kynarus was a bit on edge and didn't need Katherine's pessimistic view to push him further over that figurative cliff. One thing that was gnawing at his mind like his headache was his anger over Bradley and what that human had turned out to be. Where Kynarus had once seen a potential (if not sort of stupid) friend and ally he now saw an enemy, one who had posed as a friend an ally back on Mars and had helped them get off of the red planet and to Buenos Aires.
Of course this had been all part of Dieter's plan by the look of it. He had planted Bradley in the hotel on Mars so he could conveniently encounter Kynarus and Katherine who just happened to be staying in the room next door. As well as that Bradley had been eager to help, even helping them in the firefight that had soon followed Kynarus' first meeting with the human.
Kynarus still felt like hitting his head against the nearest wall although managed to refrain from doing so. He doubted it would have helped the headache but it would have helped relieved the anger he felt towards himself for not having seen that Bradley had been too good to be true.
One thing that made Kynarus feel a little better was the fact that Bradley would most likely be up in the top floor with the rest of the Corporation's head honchos. It seemed convenient that all of them had gathered in the one place as if to make Kynarus' job of killing them all a bit easier. He was just hoping this chance would last seeing as this elevator ride was taking an awfully long time.
Katherine had fallen silent, probably thinking the same sort of thing although it was hard to tell. She had her usual no-nonsense demeanour on at this time, the sort of mood that she reverted to when she was about to enter a potentially dangerous situation. The party on the top floor was certain to be dangerous if Dieter and Schraeder were there, waiting for whom they believed to be the "changed' Kynarus Vakarian and Katherine Tyler. The two Corporation head honchos would be in for a nasty surprise when they found out the truth.
The light came to a halt at the top floor, the sudden ceasing in motion enough of a stimulus to bring Kynarus out of his thoughts. He composed himself and turned from the window and the dreary view of the outside it provided, watching as the elevator doors slid open. He half-expected several rifles to open fire and fill the inside of the elevator with a hail of bullets so he partially braced himself for what he figured would be his end. The bullets didn't come however and he eased only slightly, looking out into the open room beyond.
The room outside seemed to take up two floors, with windows above indicating that there was one more floor above the "top floor". Obviously the topmost floor wasn't on the elevator's panel although there was a roof button, not that many people would travel to the roof anyway.
The room itself was large with pillars underneath the extra floor, a few separate corridors winding off into areas out of view. Zahni Corporation guards wandered around on separate patrols while office workers in their Corporation uniforms made their way into one particular corridor. Obviously the party was in full swing in another part of this floor. Signs indicating its existence elsewhere included the sounds of some sort of background party techno music filtering through the corridors and the room. Above were a set of windows in the ceiling, rain pattering against them as thunder crashed above and lightning flashed.
Before she stepped out, Katherine turned around and for a moment the pair gazed into each other's eyes. Kynarus felt something inside him flutter nervously, realizing his feelings for the human were some of the strongest he had ever felt. If anything ever happened to her he would be at a loss for what he would do and hoped such a time never came.
"Well, we're here," she said while Kynarus found himself staring into her eyes. It had been a while since a moment like this and he decided to savour every last part of it since it could very well be their last time together. Either of them could end up dead by the end of today, the two of them knew that and both were willing to accept it.
"Before we go, I just want to tell you…" Katherine trailed off, struggling to find the right words to express what she wanted to say. Kynarus decided to say it for her.
"That you love me? Yeah well…" He trailed off as well, quite aware of how she felt about him. He felt the same way and they had told each other before, it just seemed that this time around could be their last time. He could see that she found his blatant admittance of her love for him amusing and he couldn't help but give a smile as well. All of a sudden his anxiety had gone (although his headache remained) and he found himself overcome with a wave of all-knowing confidence. This wouldn't be their last time to tell each other how much they loved each other, he was sure of it.
"I love you too," he said, "it's just that we'll have time for more detailed speeches later on. Right now we have to kill a bunch of assholes and I'm eager to get it over with."
Katherine smiled at his newfound confidence and turned around, starting out of the elevator while trying to look as normal as possible. Kynarus' newfound confidence in their possible success here didn't last too long and he was back to his on-edge and slightly anxious mood within minutes, following Katherine out of the elevator while trying hard to look as unsuspicious as possible. He doubted Schraeder was expecting some sort of autonomous order-following servant as a result of the mind-altering procedure (had it worked) and so Kynarus did think that looking normal was the best thing to do.
The large room seemed to be some sort of reception, a large sign behind the vacant reception desk reading in large blue letters "ZAHNI CORPORATION ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES". It seemed that these offices could very well be the places where Schraeder and Dieter did whatever it was they did, planning the Corporation's next big operation or organizing funds. It occurred to Kynarus then that he and Katherine were stepping right into the varren's nest and chances are getting the alpha varren (in this case, Schraeder) would be no easy task. It could probably be easier if they got him right where they wanted him, cornered and with nowhere to go.
Kynarus wasn't too sure who they should go for first: Schraeder seemed to have put himself in charge but was a loose cannon while Dieter had been calling the shots up until Schraeder's return and seemed to be a much more ruthless adversary. Kynarus knew it was the sort of matter he shouldn't be giving as much thought as he was but it was hard not to think about it, as well as all the things the two Corporation head honchos had mentioned. They had mentioned some sort of "imminent destruction" and "extinction", Schraeder more so than Dieter. Schraeder had also proven to have the uncanny ability to sense what Kynarus had been thinking as well as be a powerful biotic…
That was when Kynarus realized one rather important thing which had to do directly with Schraeder. It made him stop in his tracks, Katherine noticing this after she had made a few paces ahead of him. She stopped and turned around, looking towards her turian friend with some curiosity.
"Something else on your mind?" She asked, "Or did your headache just get worse? I know mine has…"
Kynarus didn't answer her question directly. Instead, he answered her question with another question.
"All human biotics are under forty years old, aren't they?" Kynarus asked. He didn't see why he should be asking, it was a common fact that humans had only developed biotics since the 2140s. It was a fairly new thing for the species, unlike most other races in the galaxy which had had biotics for centuries.
Katherine nodded, raising an eyebrow in uncertainty.
"What has that got to do with anything?" She asked, unsure of just what Kynarus was getting at. He had mentioned it now of all times and she couldn't understand why.
"How old is Schraeder?"
It was then that Katherine realized it too. They both could see that Schraeder was well into his fifties, perhaps bordering on sixties and yet he was one of the most powerful biotics in existence. That would mean he predated all human biotics and that would also mean that someone had had to train him into the biotic he was now…
"You're thinking what I'm thinking, aren't you?" Kynarus asked as the two of them started walking again. They made their way into the corridor where most of the office workers seemed to be headed, the sound of the party music gradually increasing in volume.
"Schraeder predates all human biotics if we're right," Katherine said, "you do realize what this means?"
"Not really…It just doesn't add up."
"No, it doesn't add up. I'm thinking that there's more to this Schraeder guy than we can see," Katherine said, shaking her head as if to clear the contradicting thoughts that were finding
their way into her mind. "It could mean that there were human biotics around before any of the earliest documented ones. Hell, I don't even think that's possible…"
"Perhaps we're wrong about Schraeder's age?" Kynarus asked although even he knew that this was unlikely. Chances were his assumption about Schraeder being over fifty standard human years old was quite obviously correct.
"I'm pretty sure he's over fifty," Katherine said. Whatever more she had to say was cut off by the sounds of loud party music blaring through nearby speakers as the pair entered a large set of offices, finding the place filled with groups of office workers of all shapes and sizes. A long table went down the centre of the wide corridor, covered with plates of food such as sandwiches and muffins. A drinks table was over in the corner and a few guards stood over there, filling up plastic cups with a bottle of lemonade. The music was blaring from a few speakers in one of the nearby offices and somebody cared enough to turn the volume down slightly so it was a little more bearable. A large white banner hung at the end of the office corridor with the words "WELCOME BACK HERBERT" printed across it in large, noticeable letters. Kynarus assumed the banner was referring to Herbert von Schraeder and knew that he was probably right.
Katherine wandered over to the food table, picking up a chocolate muffin from a plate there and biting into it. Kynarus did feel a little hungry seeing as he hadn't eaten for hours but once again he was faced with plenty of human friendly food and no turian friendly stuff. Chances are he would throw up if he had any of this human food, this being one of the many disadvantages of being on the human home world. Since there were hardly any aliens on Earth none of the humans had bothered about any turian food, which was understandable of course but a bit disadvantageous for Kynarus. He was almost starving after all.
Katherine looked around at the surrounding offices, eyeing some nearby Corporation officers carefully. She gestured to Kynarus to come over and he did so, trying to resist the temptation to pick up something from the food table and eat it. He didn't need to feel sick right now seeing as they were probably close to finding and getting rid of Dieter and Schraeder. He needed to have a clear mind, something which was hard to achieve since he still had an irritating headache.
"You want anything to eat?" Katherine asked.
"No…I'm not that hungry…"
"Kynarus! Katherine! So glad to see you could join us!" A familiar voice shouted from somewhere behind them and the pair turned their heads to see Dieter walking over wearing a broad smile. He was yet to notice anything wrong with them although Kynarus had a feeling he would find them out soon enough.
"Schraeder will be pleased to see the process went well!" Dieter exclaimed with a look on his face that made him look like he was meeting a long lost friend. Kynarus was nowhere near friends with Dieter; in fact they were quite the opposite. Obviously Dieter had been hoping that the mind altering process would have programmed a strong friendship between him and the turian although the human had no idea that n mind altering had actually taken place.
"Ah…Dieter…" Kynarus realized he had no idea how to act like a friend towards a human he had been trying to kill for weeks. He simply managed the turian equivalent of a smile and noticed that Dieter didn't seem too concerned by his lack of friendliness. Instead, he had turned his attention towards Katherine and greeted her with open arms. If anything, Dieter certainly knew how to act overexcited.
"Katherine, I see you've already started eating our excellent food," he said, "We try and ensure that all food here in the complex is the best money can buy. After all, we have so much money that we can spend it on the best of everything." He paused for a moment, expecting her to say something in return.
"So…I'm guessing the drinks themselves cost hundreds of credits?" Katherine asked, caught a little off guard by Dieter's friendliness. Kynarus could see the human was willing to accept the two of them into the Corporation's ranks, having been just as impressed as Schraeder had been at the pair's constant and effective interference into the Corporation's plans. He just hadn't been so willing to go along with Schraeder's plan of having their minds altered although he seemed happy to see the process had worked. At least, he thought it had. He would be in for a surprise when the pair removed their weapons and started shooting the place up.
Kynarus resisted the urge to remove his sidearm and blast Dieter in the face. Instead, he preferred to wait until he had a clear shot at Schraeder. He wasn't anywhere in sight although the turian had a feeling Schraeder would show up eventually. He was, after all, the reason they were having this party.
"The drinks didn't cost that much," Dieter said, "Although perhaps you would like to share in a glass of overly expensive wine with me? It would be my pleasure…" He was looking at Katherine with what was an obvious liking for the human female. Of course, Kynarus got his attention by forcefully gripping his shoulder and turning him around so the pair was facing each other. Kynarus gave him a look which more or less said "stay away from her". Dieter, as was usually the case, didn't seem at all fazed by this but didn't try anymore obvious flirting with Katherine.
"Where's Schraeder?" Kynarus asked, trying to control his anger. He knew an outburst at Dieter would show everyone that he was still his ordinary self and not some loyal Corporation follower.
"He's making a speech in the board room," Dieter said, "Perhaps you would like me to escort the two of you there?"
"Yes…Escort us," Kynarus said, trying to sound as business-like as possible. He had some trouble hiding the obvious satisfaction he was feeling, realizing that Dieter and Schraeder would be easy targets. The two of them had no idea that Kynarus and Katherine were still rather intent on destroying the Zahni Corporation rather than working for it. All in all, Dieter and Schraeder were completely oblivious to the dangerous couple they had let into their midst.
"Just follow me," Dieter said, turning around and starting down the hallway at a brisk pace. Kynarus and Katherine simply exchanged glances, both of them surprised at Dieter's obvious friendliness and started following. It was now that Kynarus started to feel a little nervous, knowing that once Schraeder saw them there was no doubt he would somehow "sense" that they weren't changed the way he wanted to. In fact, no changes had taken place in either of the pair's minds. They were still their normal selves and they were both uncertain of what they would do once they were in Schraeder's midst.
They turned a corner as they followed Dieter through the corridors, going up a short flight of stairs to the "extra" level above. Kynarus assumed the reason the floor wasn't on the elevator's control panel was because it seemed to be home to the more important offices and a set of thick security doors, all of which were open to allow easy access to the party going on beyond. The trio passed by a set of windows that looked into a large conference room which featured a long wooden table and a single sliding door on the other side. Dieter directed them into the conference room and Kynarus was surprised to find Schraeder standing at one end of the long table, facing about six other important looking officers who were seated at the table. Kynarus and Katherine remained standing in the doorway as Dieter entered, letting Schraeder finish his superior's speech.
Schraeder himself was too involved in showing off a set of images via the vid-screen set into the wall behind him to notice the new arrivals. He seemed to be engaged in whatever it was he was explaining to these important looking officers, even taking the time to pick up a bottle of expensive white wine off of the table and pour each of the officers a glass.
"…so I have returned and I have the very information we need to see our current operation through," Schraeder said, finishing the pouring while the officers sat and listened. He poured himself a glass, managing a glance towards Dieter and ignoring the obvious content visible in the younger human's face. He only glanced quickly at Kynarus and Katherine, not at all taking much notice of them as he worked his way back to the head of the table and picked up the vid-screen's remote control. On the vid-screen, the shot changed from one of a rotating Zahni Corporation logo to that of the package that Kynarus and Katherine had been originally assigned to go after.
Kynarus felt some anger surge through him when he saw the picture of it. It was the very object that had sent him into this mess but it had also been the very object to bring him and Katherine together, a benefit that certainly outweighed the trouble that the package had brought him. The picture on the screen was a simple, unassuming photo of the battered metal container and the fading white alphanumerical code "BMH-0018" printed on the side. It certainly didn't look like much but to Schraeder, Dieter and the rest of the Zahni Corporation it seemed to be quite important.
"You should all be aware of what this original operation was about," Schraeder said to the officers sitting at the table, "and why we've spent so long looking for this container and its contents. Most of you mocked me when I first proposed the plan to you but I'm sure those doubts you all originally had are long gone.
"Gentlemen, I have made the breakthrough you need. Dieter, as effective a leader he might have been, never knew the true extent of my finds before I was locked away in that horrid Martian prison. I had waited a year for someone to break me out and it seems that in Dieter's desperation for information he organized my very rescue. For that I am grateful to him but as a result I have resumed my former position of command." Schraeder paused, glancing at Dieter to see if there was any reaction. Dieter managed to keep a straight face although it was obvious he was having some difficulty. The balance of power had been changed as soon as Schraeder had ended up back in the Corporation and he had put himself back in charge as he had been before his stint in prison.
"I was locked away because some Alliance goons found me fiddling with one of the many buried secrets in the Prothean ruins in the southern polar ice cap of Mars. They were planning on getting rid of me since I knew so much about the secrets those ruins contain but they never got round to it, I guess they were just too busy or didn't care enough. Rather, they decided to keep me in prison so I could end up a test subject because of my biotic abilities. During my stay in prison I had some time to think over many things. As a result I think I may have found the real package."
Kynarus wasn't too sure what exactly it was Schraeder was talking about but it was obvious that he had been the one to organize the search for the mysterious package in the first place. His search had taken him to the Prothean ruins on Mars, the very place where the humans had found the technology that had enabled them to use the mass relays and travel to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. Kynarus had a feeling the package's contents had something to do with the Prothean ruins although this was just an assumption. The turians couldn't be certain. Hell, he had been having trouble being certain about things recently.
Schraeder pressed a button on the remote and the picture on the vid-screen changed to what looked to be an aerial photo of the southern pole of Mars. The faint lines of the Prothean ruins were visible, the ice around them having been dug out over the twenty-something years of excavation that had been going on there.
"Before I get to where I think…where I know it is located," Schraeder continued, correcting himself and adding emphasis onto the "know", "I would like to talk about the Prothean ruins that enabled humanity to get as far as it has. The Alliance keeps many facts about these ruins hidden from the general public and with good reason. During my research I stumbled upon an interesting truth, one which may be the answer to the visions I, Dieter and many others have been having…"
No one in the room except for Kynarus and Katherine seemed surprised to hear that visions had something to do with all of this. However, neither of the pair spoke up and decided to simply listen to whatever it was Schraeder was explaining. Things were starting to get interesting and some things were getting clearer, if only just.
"There is a hidden antechamber deep within the ruins," Schraeder said, pressing a button on the remote which replaced the current picture on the vid-screen with one displaying a professional-looking sketch of part of the layout of the ruins. Chambers and halls were marked in neat, clear handwriting while one point of interest was marked with a red "X" which appeared to be located in a large side-chamber. Schraeder gazed briefly at the map on the screen before returning his attention to the rest of the room and towards the patient officers seated at the table. Kynarus noticed now that each officer was in a slightly different uniform to the other, perhaps implying that they were from different sections of the Corporation's armies. This would explain why Schraeder was briefing them like this, perhaps preparing the different sections of the Corporation's armies for an upcoming operation.
"This antechamber contains something the Alliance has been keeping secret ever since its discovery twenty years ago," Schraeder said, "and I have seen it. You should all know what I am referring to and what powers it can give us." The officers all seemed to nod; already aware of whatever it was that Schraeder was going on about. Kynarus, on the other hand, had no idea what it was that Schraeder was referring to and really wanted to know. He knew better than to speak up though, especially since that would just draw attention to himself.
"We need what's in the package to get it to work," Schraeder continued, "the Alliance has known this for years but have been too afraid that such a powerful artefact is too dangerous to be unlocked. I believe otherwise, especially since it may be our only hope against the legions of destroyers so intent on entering our galaxy. That is why I directed all resources in order to find the package and ensure its contents were safe once I discovered of its existence. We spent so long looking for it and yet when I finally discovered its location I was thrown into prison. Now that I am out of prison we can resume the operation and ensure its success.
"This takes me to the next phase, the phase which involves what is inside the Prothean ruins on Mars. Once we have the package and have secured its contents I will order Operation Arrowhead to begin. This will involve the activation of the sleeper units we have on Mars and as a result the Prothean ruins will be taken by force while our synthetic armies on standby on all of the major worlds will activate. We will let the whole galaxy know the power of the Zahni Corporation and we will tell them we have the power to alter history itself!" Schraeder slammed a fist down on the table, a menacing and slightly crazy look appearing in his eyes. Kynarus exchanged surprised glances with Katherine, having gotten the basic gist of what Schraeder had been telling the officers. They planned on an all-out domination of the galaxy, apparently with the help of the contents of the package and whatever it was that was in those ruins that Schraeder found so special. There were a few things that still didn't quite add up in Kynarus' mind, such as these "legions of destroyers" Schraeder had mentioned that apparently wanted entry into the galaxy.
Kynarus knew that only he and Katherine were in any position to stop this admittedly crazy scheme cooked up by Schraeder. By now the Corporation leader had turned to look at the turian and then towards Katherine, smiling when he saw them.
"What do you think of my plan, Kynarus Vakarian? Or what about your thoughts, Katherine Tyler? Do you think it will succeed?" Schraeder was smiling a sinister smile, one that Kynarus really felt like getting rid of. Surprisingly the turian never got a chance to reply since the dor on the other side of the room slid open, revealing the interior of a small elevator. Out of it stepped Bradley and he seemed surprised to see Kynarus and Katherine in the room but quickly lost interest in them and approached Schraeder, a grim expression on his face.
"Uh…boss…" Bradley sounded nervous and looked it when Schraeder turned his head to face the younger man.
"What is it?" Schraeder didn't sound too happy, probably annoyed at the interruption.
"There's…Well, everyone's ready to leave it's just…there's…a…well…" Bradley struggled to form a proper sentence, taking a deep breath and pausing for a moment to collect his thoughts. The presences of Kynarus and Katherine didn't seem to be helping him too much either.
"There's a problem on the roof," Bradley finally managed to say, "something to do with Hermann. I would have called you on the radio but I felt this was really too important for a simple radio call…"
"Hermann? What about him? What's wrong?" Dieter looked up, sounding genuinely concerned. It was obvious he and Hermann Holst were good friends, Kynarus remembering Hermann as the guy on the crutches who had also used his biotics against him. Katherine remembered him as the guy who had gotten his legs shot-up from underneath him back in the spaceport on Mars before she had proceeded to break his nose.
"He's refusing to come. He said he's had enough and is threatening to blow the whistle to Cerberus. I…I don't know what I should do so maybe you have an idea…"
Schraeder only gave the matter a brief thought before giving his reply. He was confident with his own orders and didn't seem too perturbed by this recent development.
"Just kill him," Schraeder said, turning around without even waiting for an answer from Bradley. Kynarus, on the other hand, could tell that all was not well in Zahni Corporation land and decided to interject.
"Hey Bradley," he said, his hand going to the compartment at the back of his armour where the pistol was stored, "how's life been treating you lately?"
Bradley didn't seem too keen on having a conversation with the turian, able to tell that there was something not quite right about Kynarus. What he could sense was the fact that Kynarus hadn't changed in any way as was supposed to happen.
"You can't kill Hermann!" Dieter exclaimed, "He's a friend and he does not deserve it! I will not allow his death!"
"You're no longer in charge Dieter so shut up," Schraeder said bluntly. Dieter shifted where he stood, trying his best to keep a straight face but finding this increasingly harder to do. Kynarus could see that Dieter didn't like the new arrangement of who was in charge and seemed ready to have it changed back to its previous state, where Dieter was the boss and Schraeder the second-in-command.
"I think I should get going…" Bradley said nervously starting for the elevator. The door slid open as he approached but before he was in the elevator Kynarus had removed his hidden sidearm. He ignored the surprised glances from the officers, as well as Dieter and Schraeder and raised the pistol, aiming it at Bradley. For a split second Kynarus managed a satisfied grin before he pulled the trigger, the pistol bucking back in his hands slightly.
Bradley was sent falling forwards into the elevator, a spray of blood erupting from the back of his head followed by bits of brain and bone. Kynarus shifted his aim towards Schraeder just as Katherine removed her hidden sidearm, the turian finding the surprised expression on Schraeder's face immensely satisfying. Bradley hit the floor of the elevator with a dull thud at this instant. Kynarus was about to fire but he became aware that the six officers in the room were standing up, pulling out their side-arms and preparing to take aim.
Kynarus took his aim off of Schraeder and instead turned around, pushing Dieter out of the way and diving out of the room as six pistols opened fire. Katherine moved behind one side of a pillar on the edge of the room as several shots shattered the glass windows and scared the living daylights out of the passing office workers.
The officers continued shooting as Kynarus landed on the floor out in the corridor, bullets blowing chunks out of the wall ahead of him and the floor around him. He swivelled where he lay and started firing, taking down three of the officers before the other ones crouched behind the conference table. Schraeder had by now gathered what was going on and had taken out his pistol, yelling at Dieter to come with him into the elevator. Kynarus heard this and took aim at the elevator's control panel, firing as fast and as accurately as he could in order to prevent the two of them escaping yet again.
However, before he could adjust his aim accordingly he felt the force of what seemed like a train hit him and he was sent sliding across the floor at a painfully fast speed, slamming into the wall behind him with an agonizing thump! He managed to catch a glimpse of Schraeder, rippling blue energy seemingly flowing through the air around him, as he entered the elevator. Dieter followed suit, kicking Bradley's corpse out of the way as he went.
Katherine leaned around the pillar she was behind but was forced back into cover as the officers started shooting, blowing chunks out of the pillar as shots ripped through the air in her general direction. Kynarus slowly rose to his feet, aware that an alarm was sounding and that a group of armed guards were running down the hallway ahead. He looked around for cover and found a large pot plant to one side of the corridor. He ducked behind it as the guards opened fire with their rifles, bullets ripping through the leaves of the pot plant as Kynarus tried to keep as low as possible.
Katherine leaned around the pillar again and opened fire, one of the officers stumbling backwards and hitting the wall behind him as several rounds connected with him. She shifted her aim and started blasting chunks out of the top of the conference table, inclining the remaining two officers to stay in cover. Katherine stepped into the room and crouched, shooting under the table itself. The two officers grunted and fell into a heap, allowing her to concentrate on the guards out in the corridor.
Kynarus knew exactly where Schraeder and Dieter had gone, Bradley having disclosed the fact during his quick visit during Schraeder's briefing. It seemed that they were on the roof, probably planning on leaving soon enough. The turian knew he would have to intercept them somehow and he and Katherine's best bet was to use the private elevator inside the conference room.
"Katherine!" He shouted, trying to keep low as the rifle rounds tore the pot plant to shreds. He managed to fire a few shots and take down one of the guards but his prospects in escaping weren't helped when another bunch appeared at the end of the hallway behind him.
"Get to the elevator!" Kynarus shouted, seeing that he had grabbed her attention. She didn't seem too keen on leaving him behind but he shot her his best serious glance, more or less telling her to go without him. She reluctantly ran towards the elevator, fiddling with the panel for a moment before finally getting the elevator open.
Kynarus turned his attention to the guards showing up at the end of the corridor behind him, firing away with his pistol and cutting down two of the guards while the others ran for cover. Behind him the first group of guards were slowly making their way down the corridor, rifles raised and at the ready. Kynarus had the feeling he was in trouble.
He looked towards the elevator and saw that Katherine was waiting for him. She stepped away from the elevator and opened fire through the conference room's windows at the guards making their way down the hallway, cutting them down before they had a chance to figure out where the shooting was coming from. She looked towards Kynarus, nodding towards the elevator.
"Come on!" She shouted. Kynarus looked back down at the end of the corridor, watching as more guards started arriving. He quickly rose to his feet and started running for the conference room, rifle rounds tearing through the air around him. Chunks were blown out of the walls and floor around him as he went, finally entering the relative safety of the room as he followed Katherine into the elevator.
By the time he had reached the elevator the guards in the hallway were racing for the conference room, Katherine only just managing to press the button to close the elevator's dors as they came into view and opened fire. The pair backed behind the elevator's doorway as bullets ripped into the metal wall behind them, sparks flying as the bullets impacted. The doors slid shut and prevented further rounds from flying inside, allowing Kynarus and Katherine a brief moment of reprieve.
For most of the elevator trip the pair was silent, the only noise being the quiet hum as the elevator moved up to the building's roof and the sounds of their heavy breathing. They both knew that Dieter and Schraeder had fled to the roof; they just had no idea who else would be up there.
"Why did you go for Bradley first?" Katherine asked suddenly. She didn't look too annoyed at the fact that Kynarus had turned down the chance to shoot Schraeder and instead shoot Bradley. The turian took a moment to answer.
"Bradley was a liar," Kynarus replied, "he had been working with Dieter all along. Thing is, I really hate it when someone sells me out to the enemy."
"We could have gotten Schraeder…" Katherine began but was interrupted.
"We'll get Schraeder,' Kynarus said as the elevator came to a stop. He composed himself as the doors slid open, the cold outside air filling the elevator and making him shiver. "And we'll get Dieter too. Don't you worry about that."
Katherine could see that Kynarus had some renewed confidence and decided to play along. After all, they had come this far. They would be best off seeing this whole thing through until the end. And the end, it seemed, was within sight. At least, Kynarus hoped it was.