Thirty-Sixth Assignment

Cronos Station, Anadius, Horsehead Nebula

Seraphina sat facing a silhouette of a man, behind him a dying sun struggled to further its existence and inside she felt an anger that burned brighter. After everything that had happened, after searching in vain in all those bases and interogating so many, Seraphina had come to the root of all evil.

He had come for her, and for Grunt, he had come for her family as he always did. He hurt others in order to further his own plans. And all for mankind, he would argue. It wasn't an excuse, the torture and pain of others was never an excuse for any cause.

She couldn't believe how close she was to him.

The one who had manipulated so many and caused so much harm was so close. With one order he could have ended it all, he could have stopped people like Senn Giriko from indulging in his sick fantasy, he could have saved all those krogan, Anderson and Tevos could have lived, and that child who died at the hands of T'goni...

It seemed like a life time ago, the first child who had died because of her, and she promised it was going to be the last. The sex-ring Cerberus had established to earn more money, to black-mail those who attended and the families of the poor children, all to further their cause.

She could break free right now and she could break his neck and finish it. But now was not the time. He had taken Grunt away, down into the lower depths of the station, and she couldn't risk doing anything stupid. Her plan couldn't fail because she was too quick.

"I apologize for having to bring you here," he said solemnly. "But you have made things very difficult for me. Too long you have messed up my plans and the only way to handle this situation is to eradicate the problem."

"Then just kill me," she said, "if I'm such a problem."

"You are still useful," he replied. "You won't join me willingly, but blackmail or perhaps even indoctrination will work."

"Blackmail?" she repeated. "...If you touch Grunt, I swear-"

"I won't hurt the child as long as you cooperate," he answered. "After all, once I'm finished he's going to be the only one left."

Her head fell, hanging low as if he had already killed everyone she loved. He didn't turn to her, there was no need to, not when there was a small camera trained on her and a terminal set up before him that was relaying the entire scene.

He couldn't understand her, how could she have such compassion for these creatures? Had she forgotten the First Contact War? She treated them as if they were human, as if they had anything in common. He just couldn't wrap his head around it, despite all of his years fighting, he could never handle life from behind the scope.

"The pain will ease," he assured her. "After time, you won't even remember-"

He was cut off as his room shook violently and he felt the ship rock beneath his feet, a red light flooded his room as an alarm followed. He jumped to his feet, knocking his seat back. The terminals around him turned bright red as a warning flashed and some went off as he lost his connections.

His cigarette fell from his limp grip and he felt his entire world collapse around him. The flaming stick struck the ground, the station shook, and Seraphina smiled. He turned to her, rage flaring in his blue eyes, and he reached for his gun.

"What have you done?" he roared. "What have you done!?"

He charged towards her and grabbed her hair, forcing her head back. He pushed the barrel up into her jaw, but her smile didn't waver. He felt panic, his mind reeling as he tried to figure out what could possibly be happening to his organization.

He knew Heracles Company would come for him, it had been his plan since he took Shepard. His goal was to eradicate them quickly, he thought surprising them on their own ship would work, but when it backfired he took her and Grunt and predicted the rest of them would come and then he would shoot them out of the sky.

Something must have gone wrong, they had turned his plan against him, but how? They were just a little force, barely able to compare to Cerberus, even if his whole power was not kept there they should have been able to handle one ship.

Unless...

"Figured it out yet?" she smiled.

He glared at her, but she knew she was right. He released her and he put his gun away, he fixed his suit and smoothed out his hair and appeared as composed as he had been moments earlier. He tried to remain calm, but she saw the tell-tale signs of rage as his fists shook and he gnashed his teeth.

"You thought my team would be so foolish to come alone?" she asked. "You thought they would be so unprepared? Have you forgotten we have the backing of the Councillors? They can track me through a device implanted in my boot and no way would they allow for such an opportunity to seize you slip by!"

He was silent for a long minute, she half-expected him to fly into another rage, but he was calm now and when he spoke it was the tone of a man who had a plan.

"I see," he said. "Your team are very prepared. I underestimated them."

"I never expected you to make such a mistake," she said.

There was another loud thud, like the devil knocking at his door.

"I'd go answer that," she said, "the reaper has come for his due."

...

Not so long before the attack on the Cronos Station Wrex had outlined his plan to Garrus and the crew before speaking with the Councillors. It had taken some convincing, too many minutes wasted on them. If Anderson and Tevos were still alive they would have agreed to the plan straight away, but their replacements were hesitant.

When they did finally agree to Wrex's plan the crew moved straight into action. The injured were left in the Med-Bay where Tungel and Doctor Chakwas stood ready for any more injured, EDI prepared the shuttle for immediate action and the fighters were left to prepare for the upcoming battle.

Wrex looked around at his crew, the few who were able - or rather crazy enough - to take on such a task. Liara and Feron had come from the Broker's base to take part, though it was dangerous to leave the base without its master she trusted it to be safe for a few hours.

If not, she could always retake it.

Tali'Zorah was also an odd addition, he wasn't sure how he felt in bringing her along. She was just a civilian, but she insisted she had the ability to fight. He trusted her to be telling the truth, otherwise she was going to get herself killed.

"Is this enough?" Garrus asked him. "Not included me or you, there's only five of us facing an entire organization."

EDI navigated the ship through a relay and they passed through the Horsehead Nebula, behind the Normandy several other, small ships followed. It was all the Councillors could spare and they were all ships of various origins. Some large and a few small. They would do just fine.

"It's unlikely Cerberus keep their whole force in one station," Wrex answered. "They have bases everywhere, so their forces are probably spread out. There will be a large force inside, though, but we can handle it."

"You really think so?" Garrus asked. "Your plan... it could work, but not without casualties."

Mordin glanced over at the pair, while Liara and Feron spoke quietly and Tali fiddled nervously and Samara meditated, he considered everyone's attitudes and the success rate of their plan. Garrus was right. There would be casualties, but who would suffer the most?

"There are always casualties in battle," Wrex replied. "Ours especially. Don't forget everything that's happened, everything we've risked, the people we've lost. It all comes down to this, to this moment."

"You're very prepared," Garrus remarked. "How did you come up with this plan so quickly?"

"Seraph and I... we thought this might happen," he answered. "After she spoke with the Illusive Man on that faulty distress call we talked about the different ways this battle would go. If we got too close to winning, she said he would try something like this and that's when I got the idea."

"And she knew?" he asked. "She knew and you didn't think to tell us?"

"It was just one of so many plans," Wrex explained. "They could have come after me, or you, and we never took into account a baby krogan! When they took Grunt Seraph knew she had to go, not just to save him, but to initiate this plan."

"But-"

"Wrex is right," Mordin interrupted. "Too many possibilities. No point in telling if it didn't happen."

Garrus didn't argue with Mordin, not when he knew Wrex was right. He just never expected things to come to this. He thought he, Wrex and Seraphina would face the enemy together, as they always had, but it seemed Wrex and Seraphina had handled everything without him.

He felt pushed out almost, as foolish as it sounded, his friends had grown closer and it was something he could never be a part of. Perhaps this was just the sign of things to come, if so then it made his quest much easier. If it was just him, then he could easily find Giriko without anyone getting in the way.

"I trust you, Wrex," he said.

"Good, that's all I need," Wrex said. "EDI, are we in position yet?"

"Yes," she confirmed. "Everyone is ready and awaiting orders."

Wrex opened his Omni-tool and a large terminal appeared, the Cronos Station visible on screen. The ships were ready. The crew was ready. All that was left was to give the order.

"FIRE!"

...

The ships engines flared to life and charged forwards, straight into the maws of the enemy. The Station's defence system automaticaly came online and fired bright red charges of energy that could tear through any ship. The cruiser's twisted and turned, diving beneath the rays.

One shuttle was struck, but stayed on course, and crashed straight into the Station. Another ship soon followed, crashing into the hull of the station. The others followed, beating Cronos Station until it was dented and broken. Faint flames could be seen before they were snuffed in the cold space.

Two more terminals appeared. One showed the several docking bays, all of which had been broken and blocked, while the other showed the station's cannon's, broken into floating bits. The Cronos Station crew were in a state of panic, unable to fly out or defend itself, they could do nothing but prepare for the enemy who waited outside.

Garrus watched the attack unfold and, as much as he hated to admit it, Wrex had come up with an excellent plan. Using old shuttles and having EDI pilot them into the bay doors and defence system saved the Normandy from any unnecessary damage and take Cerberus by surprise.

"What now?" Garrus asked. "You took out each bay door, they can't get out but we can't get in."

"Already ahead of you," Wrex replied. "I had EDI scan the station while she was targeting the doors and cannon's. Hopefully she's found another way in."

"I have," she responded. "A small opening, for small emergency escape pods. Some of the pods have already been discharged and so there are a few openings big enough for you and your crew to enter."

"Great job," he said. "We'll take the shuttle. You try to track each escape pod and send their coordinates to whatever authority is closest."

She silently obeyed.

Wrex turned to his crew and without having to say one word they sprang into action, charging towards the Kodiak Shuttle with a steely determination present in their eyes. Wrex felt anticipation rise up within him, a burning in his chest, it was almost painful.

He wanted to get Seraphina and Grunt back so badly, he wanted to chain Cerberus like the man dog it was and finally put to rest all the pain they had caused. The climax was approaching, fast and steady, and soon it would be all over.

Finally.

...

In one of the research labs a scientist was panicking. The emergency alarm had been sounding for some time now, guards were running past his room, and he somewhat wished he had stayed with Giriko. The guy was mad, sure, but stuff like this nothing happened.

Worst of all, the krogan that had been brought in proved to be... troublesome.

He had detected trace remains of an unpredictable growth hormone, there was no way to judge how the child's body would react. If it was human then the only thing that would change would be the brain's capacity, as it was impossible for a human body to change so quick so soon without damaging itself.

But krogan develop quickly and -

A guard came in, scaring the scientist who dropped his data pad in fright.

"You have to evacuate," the guard ordered. "There are only a few escape pods left."

"But I can't leave the specimen," the scientist argued. "The Illusive Man will have my head if I-"

He never got to finish his sentence, as a large fist came down on his head and knocked him out. When he awoke some hours later he found Alliance forces pointing guns at him and the guard had been stripped bare, right down to his colourful pink boxers.

...

The shuttle came to the narrow openings that once held the escape pods, and once they safely secured their helmets they split into two teams. Wrex would take Garrus and Liara with him, Wrex was more of brute force type of guy who would need someone who could defend with biotic skills and then someone who could work from a distant to defend the biotic.

The same reasoning went into Samara, Tali and Feron's grouping. Feron preferred close-ups attacks, being rather fast and stealthy, while Samara and Tali could work at any distance. As Team Two Samara would lead her team mates down the floors, eliminating and capturing anyone they came across, once they cleared enough floors they would call the Councillors and send back-up.

At the last minute Wrex had decided to keep Mordin on board the Normandy, while Tungel and Chakwas were capable, it was questionable whether they could handle the already injured crewman and whoever came into the Med-Bay seeking help later. His skills were better spent helping the injured.

Team One had a similar plan to Team Two, except their mission was mainly to extract Grunt and Shepard and then eliminate the Illusive Man. As they entered the narrow chamber and pried the doors open Liara let out a powerful biotic blast that sent several guards flying into the wall.

"That helped clear the way," Garrus remarked. "Makes me sometimes wish I was biotic."

They entered the chamber, watching the shuttle disappear from sight as Team Two were dropped off a few feet below. They moved quickly, cutting down any guards who got in their way. Wrex tried to follow Seraphina's tracker, but every time another guard appeared they were forced to take cover or were pushed down a different route.

He knew there was going to be many guards, he just never expected how quick to react and adapt they would be. They took a sharp turn and came across more guards, Garrus released a flash bang and Wrex took advantage of their confusion and charged them.

He knocked one to the ground and kneed another, breaking another's jaw with a heavy punch and simply head-butting another. They fell to the ground and they moved on, clearing another corridor and another until they came to what must have been a research facility.

"Are we any closer to her?" Garrus asked. "It won't be long before the Illusive Man comes up with a counter-strike and forces us back."

"Hopefully by then the Councillors will have sent help," Liara said. "Samara will make quick work of the lower floors with the help of Tali and Feron, it shouldn't be long before help arrives."

"How are we going to find Grunt?" Garrus asked. "They won't keep him with Shepard, he could be-"

There was a loud crash up ahead and a body flew through the air, falling to the ground at their feet. There was the sound of a shot gun and screaming, but oddly Wrex felt as though this was a good thing. He walked ahead, passing over the bodies and turned a corner, and faced a shot gun.

Garrus and Liara sprang into action, finger trigger ready and biotic pulses charged, they came to his aid and froze. Wrex couldn't see them, but it was likely they had a look of shock similar to his own.

He stared at the barrel of the gun, recognizing it as a Cerberus favourite. He looked at it for a moment longer, and then slowly looked up at the familiar krogan holding the weapon. They stared at each other for a long time, before Wrex realized who had pointed a gun at him.

"...Grunt?"

The silver crested krogan eyed Wrex carefully. He was aware of who the krogan was, his memories did not vanish when the growth hormones worked their magic and changed him. If he had been human this would never have happened, but Grunt was a krogan, and krogan mature quickly.

Grunt had somehow gotten his hands on a guard's weapon and even the uniform, though the armour was loose fitting and far too small for his body he was aware of its value in battle and wasn't going to let himself be caught off guard.

Grunt lowered the gun, "I was wondering where you was..." he said. "Where's Mom? Have you found her yet?"

"Mom?" Wrex repeated. "No, we haven't found her yet - but we're close. We're clearing the floor as we go."

"Good, let's go," Grunt said.

"Hey, wait!" Wrex grabbed him. "You have absolutely no experience in fighting and you expect me to let you-"

"Okeer programmed me to be a warrior," Grunt interrupted. "It's all in here, ready to be used. Didn't you see me just now? I took out those guards and plenty more. I can handle it."

"Go back to the ship," Wrex ordered. "If anything were to happen to you Seraph would never forgive me... or herself."

Grunt pulled his arm free. Wrex saw the youth wanted to argue, he was still so young with yet underdeveloped crests with the passion for battle in his heart, but in the short time he had been alive much of it have been with Seraphina.

She was the closest thing to a mother he probably had, and he didn't want to upset her.

"Fine," he huffed. "I'll go. Which way is it?"

"Our forces will be here soon to make arrests," Wrex replied. "You stay here and they'll come to pick you up."

Garrus and Liara moved on ahead, and Grunt swore under his breath. He wanted to help, he wanted to go out and fight, but Wrex was right. Not only would he upset Seraph, but what he knew about battle was what he was programmed to know, it couldn't really place actual experience.

"Don't worry," Wrex assured him. "I'll get her back."

Grunt said nothing, he just nodded and watched as Wrex went in search of his love.

...

The Illusive Man tried to contact his forces, anyone who he could reach who could provide some assistance, but his best agents were either somewhere else or had already been taken care of. Kai Leng was dead. Miranda Lawson and Jacob Taylor, two of his best operatives, were at another research station.

He felt everything crumble around him, like sand slipping through the cracks of his fingers his dream was shattered and scattered. There was nothing he could do. Maybe, one day, another Cerberus would rise, but for now this guardian of humanity had lost its fight.

Seraphina had broken free of her cuffs, he suspected she had been able to break free since the start, she had just been biding her time. He turned to her, his face calm and composed, and she saw he had accepted it. Cerberus was over.

"It's a safe bet that you won't let me live," he said. "After what I've done, all these years of murder and conspiracy and fraud, the Councillors would accept no other punishment but death."

Behind him one terminal turned blue, it showed several large incoming forces. He glanced at it and quickly identified the vessels as Alliance forces and Citadel allies, they were coming to erase all of his work and take all of his men to jail.

They may not uncover everything, there were still hidden files, but after everything that was happening now he doubted there was nothing they didn't know. He was starting to feel rather pessimistic.

He walked away from her and walked to his chair. She watched him carefully as he sat down and pulled a cigarette from his jacket pocket and lit it. He took a long, deep drag and let the smoke slowly slip from his lips and gather like a cloud around his head.

"I was there for the First Contact War, you know," he sounded so much like an old man know, like a dying old man with a few more stories to tell. "I lost some good friends, I made a lot of enemies, and it was there I decided I wanted humanity to ascend. Is it so wrong for me to want the best for our race?"

"No," she said, "but there is such a thing as trying too hard. You want humanity to stand on its own, fine, but you forget that everyone needs a little help. You didn't create Cerberus without some help."

She approached him and he handed her his gun. She was surprised at how willing he was, but faced with a public execution where he would spend days watching as reporters dirtied his name and his organization, she could understand why he would rather have a quick death.

He observed the dying sun and removed the cigarette.

"Good luck with the future, Commander Shepard," he said. "I hope you live long and prosper."

"Goodbye, Jack Harper."

Commander Shepard pulled the trigger. And just like that, it was over.

To Be Concluded...