Down Goes the Base Part 2
All right folks part two of three is here, hope this one is as interesting to read as it was for me to write.
I have posted two polls for you to vote on, this was a suggestion by ArchAngel319 shout out to them for the idea.
With the colonists away the teams turned their attention to the last passages before the point where the pips converged, EDI alerted them to a new danger. One path was blocked by a door that could only be opened from the other side, and to stop them the Collectors had released a storm of Seeker Swarms into the room filled with husks. Tali heard Zaeed swear in several languages, Mordin's tech would only work on small groups nothing this large.
"A Biotic field should be able to hold them at bay, captain." Miranda offered, Jack scoffed. "Yeah and fry the brain of whoever tries to hold it, that walk even without stopping would be more than most could handle. Fuck even I would be risking my brain doing that shit!"
"She is not wrong, any normal biotic would not able to hold it without falling prey to overuse of their gifts." Morinth said with a strange look in her eye, one that Tali did not just give that is was pointed at Demo. "A normal Biotic would be able to hold a barrier for at most three-other people, anything beyond that and death would surely send them to the void."
[Captain, a second team traveling the main passageway would be able to keep the collector drones from the Swarm filled path.]
{Right you are lass, here is the plan, Miranda time to show what you got.} Demo Started Miranda looked confused. {Your leading the distraction team, Mori, Jack, Thane you're with me, Tali, Garrus and Eris.}
Everyone frowned at how large the other squad was, it was then that Tali remember the talks aboard the twin's mothers ship, about how exactly their biotics differed from the other humans and races. Tali felt a shiver of fear as she put together the plan her mate was trying to create, one that sound like a death wish.
{You can't! You promised you would be careful, how is frying your brain being careful you Bosh 'Tet!} Tali yelled, completely ignoring the rule of never showing a non-united front to the teams.
{I am being Careful, that is why I am bringing the other Biotics if the strain becomes too much I will collapse my barrier to cover Eris and I while the others pair up and create smaller scale shields.} Demo explained, but Tali knew him well enough to know that he was lying about being willing to collapse the shield. It would only happen when his brain was fried, Tali gritted her teeth and nodded knowing that they did not have time to fight over it.
[Shepard-Captain collector forces are beginning to move. Recommendation: Immediate departure of both team units.] Legion stated, Demo nodded and the groups split up only a brief second was spared to pairing the biotics up.
###
Eris was glad that they had managed to find a supply cache buried in the colonist things they passed, even better they found several firestorm flamethrowers. With everyone ready, Demo flared his bright blue Biotics and a large bubble erupted around the group, with a shift of his hands Demo began moving forward Eris sticking to his side like glue. Normally Eris would rather be at Garrus's side with Tali and her brother's but the twins both knew that Demo would drop dead before letting the barrier fall, thus they could not risk having someone who could spot his failing health and stop him there.
The first wave of husks arrived as they reached a spot of cover, cursing in at least three tongues Demo yelled. {Right mates, I can't move this trolley along with those shites in the way, clear them out!}
Eris let slip her feelings and sunk into the mindset of shadow, firing round after round into the husks, dealing with the explosive one before they could fully climb the rails. Around her the sounds of fighting echoed, with the deep steady breathing of Demo acting like a metronome. When the last one dropped, Demo shifted and stood, valuting the edge of the dugout they had been forced into.
{Moving forward. Keep up.} Demo's voice was already growing short, Eris checked his vitals and saw he was just not wasting effort and was still in the green.
###
Demo's vision swam slightly as he crouched by Eris holding the barrier, even as small as normal biotic could make it was getting to be too much. Even with the other team working to keep the collectors busy, they had time to release increasingly more swarms into the room. His mask had long since told him that his vitals had dropped into the yellow and were steadily working their way to the red, each breath only seemed to make the burning from his implants worse.
{We're ready.} Eris told him over private comms, Demo nodded slightly.
{We're moving out.} Demo called, barely able to keep his voice steady with the help of his speakers.
{Eris, you know what to do if I am not able right?} Demo gasped into his private comms, Eris did not try and give him false hope or convince him to stop, they both knew that the team needed every member they had combat ready.
{If it comes to it I will see the base gone, and everyone else safely home. Tali will want for nothing but her soul.} Eris promised, Demo nodded and continued his walk through the swarm.
Eris darted from his side like the shadow she was named for, her own biotics flaring just enough to repel the swarms around her. Demo just kept placing one foot in front of the other, each step was pure pain. Demo dimly heard the doors open and the world fell away, the only things left were the platforms under his feet and the barrier that burned in his mind a bright blue. He felt the edge of the barrier shift as it passed over the threshold, flickers in his minds eye appeared as his squad left his barrier on the side of safety. With one final effort that he swore would tear his implant out from the stress, he made the Barrier exploded back the way he came as he staggered over the threshold. When the door slammed closed, Demo felt every muscle in his body scream for rest and blackness washed over him.
###
{ODYSSEUS!} Tali screamed, as Demo fell forward and was caught in his sister's arms limp.
Tali was held back by Garrus as she struggled to get to Demo as Eris checked him over, Garrus saw that Thane had moved to open the other door. The rest of the ground team got in just in team, Miranda took a shot to the gut but the armor she had taken to wearing saved her life. Garrus could not see their reactions as he was busy holding Tali back while Eris worked, Miranda was at the twins side at once and helping.
"Tali! Calm down, Eris is working on him, Miranda and Eris won't let him die!" Garrus yelled, finally Tali stopped fighting, Garrus held her as she sobbed hard.
{Life signs are stable for now, no safe but stable as I can get them. We will need the medbay to fix him, but he won't wake anytime soon. Tali your no use to anyone as a leader right now or in the main team, stay here. Miranda your in command, hold this position lass until we get into the chamber and lock it down.} Eris ordered, Miranda nodded and Garrus let go of Tali who walked to Demo and knelt grabbing his shot gun.
{Zaeed work with legion to make a litter for Odysseus, one that Grunt can carry on his back safely.} Eris ordered.
With Demo taken care of Garrus watched as Eris gathered her chosen squad of Garrus, Jack, Kasumi, and Thane. Everyone else moved to prepare, Miranda had Jacob and Grunt working on welding the doors they weren't keeping as escape route shut. Legion and Zaeed were already working on making a litter, while the rest began dragging crates and other supplies into place as barricades.
{All right lad and lassies, once more with feeling!} Eris barked, the team nodded and followed her into the tram room.