She stood, back against the wall, her rifle clutched in tight to her chest as a volley of bullets slammed into the paneled wall that was providing cover. Garrus was tucked in tight beside her. He was popping in a new heat sink, the spent cartridge of the other falling and bouncing off the toe of his boot before rolling out of cover. Kasumi and Vega were across the opening, Vega leaning out and firing as Kasumi crouched beside him and reloaded her pistol. Jane took a steading breath before leaning out and firing at the opposing force that was blocking her from getting to what she wanted.
A bullet slammed into a batarian, the male reeling back violently before he dropped to the ground to join the growing dead. Two males were hunkered down behind a pile of crates, their cover irritatingly good. Jane let out a frustrating growl as she went back to cover and fell to a knee beside Garrus. She popped the spent heat sink before slamming in another.
"This is taking to fucking long!" Jane said trough gritted teeth, Garrus' bulky form leaning over her as he returned fire. "How many are left?"
"Just the two," Garrus replied as he came back to cover. Jane looked up to him for a moment, grey eyes swirling with anger and a deep uncertainty. The corner of her mouth ticked upward for the briefest of moments before she stood and put her rifle back in its holster.
"Cover me," She said, her voice hoarse before she turned and bolted through the opening.
He watched as she raced forward, jumping and skidding across the top of the crates and behind the enemies cover. Surprised by her actions the two men stood in alarm. Her omni-blade materialized as she brought her arm around, nailing the first man across the throat before going for the next. The orange blade impaled into the man's chest, cutting through his armor as if it were made of paper. The two men dropped, Jane heaving as she stood looking down at her quarry. Garrus swallowed as she looked back towards them.
"Damn Lola," James said as he came out of cover and started towards Jane. He was smiling crookedly at her, a glint in his dark eyes. "You haven't lost your touch."
Garrus' mandibles flared in irritation, his hackles rising as he finally stepped out from observing. He wasn't sure how much he liked this Vega character, especially this past he had with Jane. Territory, he definitely felt an encroachment on his territory.
Jane ignored the comment as pulled out her rifle and looked towards Kasumi.
"How much farther?" She asked.
"There's a slope up ahead and once we pass that the lab should be a few more corridors. You can't miss it," Kasumi replied, getting a nod from Jane.
"Kasumi take point from here. Garrus stay with her. James and I will bring up the rear," Jane commanded as she checked over her weapon one more time.
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There were things that came to one's mind when they feared that the end was coming for them and there was no way to stop it. The cockiness, pride and false fearlessness fades away into the basic emotions that you feel when you're a child; fear and helplessness.
Fear gripped tightly in Kalli's chest as she tried desperately to squash it down and cover it with her bravado, but as the gunfire grew louder the harder it was to contain it. The Shade had known that Jane would come for the Salarian and had left Kalli to die at the hands of a woman that she had repeatedly wronged. All those words he had whispered to her when she gave herself to him, the acceptance she thought she had from him…it was a lie. She had been a means to an end and now as an explosion rocked outside the lab and the Salarian watched her from across the room, that fear and helplessness devoured her whole. A pawn in a game she had never been fit to play. She should have listened to her mother. She should have stayed on her pilgrimage. She should not have fallen for the red-headed man that offered her everything at that bar on Noveria. He had killed her, just as much as she had. Just as much as Jane Shepard was going to.
The glass to the lab shattered into the room, accompanied by a blinding light that sent her staggering as she tried to shield herself.
Kalli could still remember the day she met the Shade, Mahogany, in that bar. She had been on the first year of her pilgrimage. He was tall, strapping, with that hair and those eyes and a crooked smile that made her blush in her envirosuit. She had fallen for every word, like poisonous poetry to her ears.
Four figures stormed into the room, breaking through a cloud of dust. Jane was at the forefront of the flock, her eyes narrowed as they landed on Kalli, piercing through her envirosuit, through her flesh and into her soul. Kalli went for her pistol, but at the sight of Jane's shoulders stiffening she stopped and before she could stop herself she turned and ran down the small corridor through the back of the lab.
And as she ran, and the sound of thunderous steps pursuing her, all she could think about was her mother, the look on her mother's face the last time she had seen her. It had been through a holovid when she was on her pilgrimage.
"Don't fall for the first male who offers you the stars," her mother had said and that was exactly what she did.
The thunderous feet overtook the pounding of her heart right before she was tackled to the ground, her face slamming into the bottom of the corridor. Kalli scrambled to get free, but when her head was slammed back into the ground a second time she faltered. A hand grabbed onto her shoulder and whipped her onto her back.
And then there it was. Death. Staring her in the face. Grey eyes cold and jaw hard.
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Jane's breath heaved in her chest as she held the Quarian down. She had seen the state of Mordin and Padok before she had chased off after the Quarian. Tortured. They had been tortured and the very thought of it had Jane's blood in an insane boil. Rage ripped at the fiber of her being as she cocked back an arm before slamming it into the glass of the helmet. A scream ripped from her throat as she brought her fist down again and again until the glass gave way and exposed the Quarian to the elements.
Kalli was a pale blue, her green eyes half lidded as she struggled to breath from Jane's knees digging into her chest. The broken glass had cut at her face, new cuts and blood ruining the beauty that had once been there. Black hair hung limply in the helmet, around her face. Her eyes squeezed shut once before opening and revealing a well of tears that were being held back poorly. Jane gritted her teeth at the sight.
Tears. The Quarian didn't deserve to cry, didn't deserve sympathy after what she had done to Mordin, what she had done on Virmire. Kalli's breath became ragged as she let out a broken sob. She was terrified, it swam in her eyes as she stared up at Jane, waiting, pleading for it all to stop. Jane brought her fist down again, breaking the girl's nose.
Kalli screamed as blood poured from her nose into her mouth. She choked and coughed the fluid flying up and onto Jane's chin. Her arms grabbed at Jane pathetically, trying to push Jane away from her. Jane just smacked her arms away. The tears came then, rolling the rage in Jane's stomach, making it intensify. Jane pulled her pistol from her side and stuck it down onto Kalli's cheek.
"Please…" Kalli sobbed, "don't."
Jane gritted her teeth and pushed down harder on the gun. Kalli's looked up at her panicked for a moment before her eyes drifted close, pushing out the tears that had been pooling in the corner of her eye.
Jane put pressure on the trigger.
"Mommy," Kalli whispered.
Jane faltered and quickly scrambled to her feet. She held the gun pointed down at the Quarian, hand shaking as images flashed rapidly through her brain. Akuze. Sitting alone and dying in a command tower. Pain. A whispered word. Johnny.
"Mommy."
The whisper came again. Jane stood there staring down at the Quarian, a cruel and frightening reminder of times past and buried fears. Kalli's eyes never opened, the blood pulled in her mouth and the sound of Jane's gun going off deafened.
Jane staggered away from the body, staring for a moment before she holstered her pistol with a shaky hand. She turned away then and faced the way she had come, squaring her shoulders and chasing the shake away with a balling of her fist at her side.
Then she started running back towards the lab; towards Garrus, Mordin and Padok, Kasumi and Vega. Towards Friends. Towards safety…sanity.
And the broken voice chased her, clawing at her back, her heart. One broken, scared word whispered over and over in her head, her voice.
Johnny.
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Garrus stood in the doorway of the lab, keeping an eye on the hallway as the others talked behind him. The grenades that they had thrown in their haste to get to Mordin and the others had weakened the integrity of the support beams of the small underground lab and its many pathways. A small stream of dirt fell to the floor as the ceiling shifted.
Hurried footfalls echoed behind him and he turned swiftly as the others in the room fell silent, his attention going to the passage Jane had disappeared down in chase of the Quarian. He took a step forward as her figure took shape out of the gloomy lighting. She was panting, face paler than normal and a distant look in her eye.
"Did you catch her?" Vega asked from his place beside Padok Wiks who was trying to gather as much data onto his omni-tool as possible.
Jane's eyes shifted to Garrus then, that distance turning into guilt before she looked away from him and to the toe of her boots as she gathered her voice. She looked up after a moment, her jaw set and eyes turning uncharacteristically hard.
"I took care of it." Her voice was so full of finality that even Vega didn't ask for any further explanation. "Are you okay Mordin?" She finished as she stepped into the room, coming to a stop by the large female Krogan as if afraid to approach her oldest friend.
A small smile came to his battered face as he nodded his head. "Had better days. Will live. Knew you would come."
There was a subtle shift to Jane's face; her brows ticking together, the right corner of her mouth dropping, but her eyes…they grew dark and sorrowful and regretful.
"I should have been here faster."
Mordin took in a sharp breath before waving a hand dismissively. "Arrived on time. If earlier never would have finished."
"Did you finish it? A cure?" Jane asked, her eyes pleading.
The Krogan watched her intently, her eyes barely visible through the shroud that covered her head. Mordin blinked once, not looking surprised in the slightest. It was not something that could be said of the other scientist.
"How did you know we worked on a cure?" Padok said as he finally looked away from his omni-tool.
"Your sister told me."
Padok tsk'd before a warm smile came to his face at the thought of his sister. "She was never good at keeping secrets."
"Oh, I think she's pretty good at it," Jane mumbled under her breath as she shifted slightly in her spot, casting quick glances at the Krogan female who continued to observe her, but stay silent. "Have we had any more hostile activity?"
"No, but the structure of the building seems compromised. We should get moving as soon as pos…" Garrus started, but a low, deep rumble cut off his words. Everyone in the room froze in anticipation, hands clenched tightly around their guns. The room fell silent again.
"Okay lets…"
The room shook violently, dirt and concrete falling from the cracked ceiling. Jane looked up, a scream ripping from her throat as the shaking intensified and the room filled with an avalance of sound. She reached for the Krogan and pushed her out of the way before she stumbled back, narrowly avoiding the ceiling from falling down on top of her.
Garrus ran for the mountain of ceiling that now lay where Jane had just been, separating her from the rest of them. Dust billowed through the air as his rifle dropped to the ground, his long fingers reaching out for the rubble in front of him. he just made out the figure of Vega coming up beside him before he yelled out in panic.
"Jane! Jane, are you alright?!"
He waited for an answer, his hands clawing at the debris. It shifted dangerously as the room trembled again, Garrus freezing in his actions.
"I'm fine, just a little scratch. Nothing permanent. Is everyone okay on your side?" Jane asked, her voice muffled by the mound of debris.
Garrus looked over his shoulder to check before looking back to the obstruction in front of him. "Yeah, everyone's fine. Just give us a minute and we'll have you out of there."
He started at the pile again. He only pulled out two pieces before the room vibrated again, the mound threatening to fall on top of them.
"Stop!" Jane yelled, "Just stop. It isn't safe. I can go back out that tunnel. It has to lead out of here or she wouldn't have run down it to escape. You need to get the others back to the Normandy Garrus. I'll find my way out of here."
"Jane," Garrus pleaded.
"Garrus please," Jane replied, "just trust me, okay."
He hesitated for a moment as his chest clenched tightly, making it hard to breathe. That feeling was happening to him a lot lately.
"I trust you Jane."
"Good!" he heard her yell before he heard the sound of feet running away from the mound and down the corridor. Then he heard her voice one more time, faintly. "I'll see you at home!"
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Jane ran through the tunnel, following the twists and turns blindly. She hadn't paused when she had passed the Quarian's body, hadn't looked back. Jane just kept running forward, waiting for that dim light of the morning sun to creep into the tunnel and show her the way out. She made a left and natural light spilled onto the dirt floor, guiding her to the surface. She breathed deeply as she came to an abrupt stop, the Tuchanka sun warming her skin. She inhaled deeply one more time before activating her omni-tool and putting it to scan for the signal of the Normandy.
Her omni-tool beeped as it latched onto the signal of the Normandy, her heart sinking a little when it showed the distance. Seventy-five clicks south of her position. She checked for the position of the Mako, but it was already too far out and Jane wouldn't have them turn around. Her gaze looked out at the barren landscape laid out in front of her, fear gripping at her belly. That was a lot of Thresher Maw land to cover on foot and the only heavy weaponry she had was Stick's grenade launcher and her ammo for that was slim. Two rounds. Dammit, she was in a tight spot. But then again it wouldn't be the first time.
Jane shut off her omni-tool before she headed out, the sun no longer friendly, but unforgiving. She hadn't made it two steps before a glint of metal drew her attention. Sitting next to the entrance to the tunnel was a motorcycle; two stroke, old but in good shape and a dark shade of purple. It was something she never believed that she would see on Tuchanka. Krogan's didn't ride two-wheelers…but a Quarian just might. A smile blossomed on her face as she made her way over to it, rubbing a gloved hand over the black seat.
"Hello beautiful," Jane whispered, "it's been awhile since I've ridden one of you."
She threw a leg over the seat and settled herself before finding the ignition. No key required, just a button to bring the thing to life. It purred beneath her, bringing back memories of races in back allies, her brother collecting bets against her, and the taste of chocolate ice cream and victory on her tongue. Jane reached up and pressed the small button at the collar of her armor, her helmet enveloping her head in protection. She twisted the throttle once, twice before flipping up the kickstand and racing south towards the Normandy.
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A ravine loomed in front of her, wide, daunting and about forty feet across. A single piece jutted out about twenty feet, crumbling, as if at one time it had been a natural bridge but worn down by time and the wind. It was the first landmark Jane had seen since she had started out an hour ago, the heat of the day making her sweat profusely under all the armor and her helmet. Jane felt the first prickles of unease race down her spine as she sped along the open terrain. She tried to chalk it up as paranoia, one she had carried since Akuze, but when a puff of red dust burst into the air to her left, that prick of paranoia turned into confirmation.
Jane pulled on the throttle, pushing out the last of the speed the motorcycle had. Dirt rained down on her as the Thresher Maw broke ground ten feet away from her, the scream of the monster overpowering the engine of the cycle. The motorcycle jerked as Jane dodged the massive body of the creature, loosing speed as she struggled to keep the thing from tipping over. Her boot connected with the ground, dragging alongside as she sped off.
It rose again, this time to her left, its massive body rubbing against her back tire and sending her into a violent wobble. Jane slowed corrected and continued. She sent a quick glace back over her shoulder just to see the thing dive back underground to follow.
Jane knew that if she didn't think of something she was never going to make it back to the Normandy. Her mind whirled, the synapses' in her brain firing on all cylinders and she couldn't stop a small smile of shaky confidence from forming on her sweaty face.
It was now or never.
Jane made a quick correction in direction before racing for that outcropping of land that spilled out over the ravine, the engine screaming from the strain. The earth became unstable as the Thresher Maw got closer; almost underneath her as the front tire of the motorcycle hit the beginning of the outcropping. She revved the engine, squeezing every last inch of power out of it. The back tire began to wobble as the Maw continued after her.
Her front tire left the outcropping as Jane reached behind her and pulled out Sticks' grenade launcher. She became airborne as the motorcycle dropped from beneath her, Jane continuing forward from the momentum of the jump. She torqued her body around just in time to see her plan come together.
The Thresher Maw erupted out of the end of the outcropping, mouth wide and long tongue wagging as it screamed at her. Jane fired the two remaining explosives in quick succession into its opening mouth as the thing flew towards her.
It exploded in a burst of flesh and blood, the blast sending her body away from the flaming carcass. Jane slammed into the ground across the ravine, rolling violently before coming to a stop against a small mound of red dirt. Air rushed from her lungs at the impact, Sticks' launcher falling from her grasp and skidding into a bush. She gasped as she searched for the button at her collar, the helmet retracting as she sucked in as much air as she could.
Jane heaved for a moment, pale eyes to the blue sky as her brain processed it all. Then she began to laugh, frantic and joyous. She was alive, worse for wear, but alive. She screamed in relief, her laugh continuing as she pulled herself off the ground. Jane stumbled slightly before regaining her balance. She looked down at herself as something heavy and wet slid down her cheek.
She was covered in Maw.
Jane shrugged the fact off, wiping at her face as she took a few steps forward, bending down and reaching into a bush to pull out Sticks' launcher and holster it. Facing down Thresher Maws was one thing and facing Sticks after losing his grenade launcher was another. She'd rather kiss the worm.
The laughter died as she looked out at the great expanse in front of her, brow knitting together at the view. It was still a long way to go before she got back to the Normandy and with that much land just meant that much more chances to run into another Maw. Jane groaned at the odds, but it didn't stop her feet from moving forward. They might have been small, but they were still odds. It seemed like she had only been walking ten minutes before a line of dust kicked up into the air, freezing Jane in her spot. She reached back for her rifle even though she knew the rounds would nothing more than bounce off the side of the damn thing. With no place to hide and no way to outrun it she stood and waited, her rifle at the ready. The ground began to rumble as it got closer, the image swimming in the heat. Her eyes narrowed as it got closer. The sound of an engine broke the silent waiting and Jane sighed heavily as the Mako headed right for her. It came to a dramatic stop in front of her, showering Jane with dirt and dust as it slid to a halt in front of her. The latch at the top banged open and a familiar Turian came into view. He smiled down at her, purple eyes blazing.
"Did you run into some trouble Jane?"
She laughed tiredly. "Oh, you know me Sticks. Attract it like flies. Is it just you in that tin can or did you bring the Calvary?"
"Well, I wanted to be a hero and come by myself, but Garrus wouldn't let me. Romantic notion, no doubt. So," Sticks said, a playful look coming to his face, "need a lift?"
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"Wrex, would you just listen to what Liara is saying!" Kaidan exclaimed desperately. He had been arguing with the Krogan for two hours, caution going to the wind when Joker had picked up a Reaper close to breaking the atmo of Tuchanka. The old Krogan was being stubborn though, as always. "Your planet won't be spared by the Reapers. They will kill us all, even the Krogan. The only chance we have of beating them is if we all join together and fight."
"He's right," a voice rang out, booming through the ruins where Wrex sat on his broken throne.
Kaidan looked towards the voice, Wrex standing in protest as other Krogans screamed in outrage at her presence. Jane descended the ramp, Mordin following her closely. She had nixed bringing backup, but the look on her face told Kaidan that she wouldn't need it.
"The only way to stay alive is to be together on this," Jane said.
Wrex growled down at her, all eyes locked on the brown haired warrior in the room. She was small surrounded by so many Krogan, but the set of her shoulders and the raised tilt to her head made her look like a giant, a hero from one of Ashley's poems. Kaidan smiled as pride welled in his chest. Jane Shepard reserved his respect and he would give it.
"Of all people, why would we listen to you human?" Wrex asked aggressively.
Jane looked to Mordin who handed her something. She turned and tossed the small vial to Wrex. He caught it easily, opening his large hand and looking down at the thing in his hand.
"What is it?"
"It's a cure. To the Genophage."
Silence fell on the dilapidated hall before a billowing laugh rang out.
"And you expect me to trust you, a murderer of my people!" Wrex bellowed.
"She does not lie to you."
Wrex and Jane looked to the female standing next to the old Krogan. It was the female she had rescued with Mordin. She ascended the stares gracefully for a creature her size, coming to a stop in front of Jane.
"I worked with this Salarian and another on a cure. It was found and they made it while you sat bickering with other clan leaders. This woman gave the cure to you freely, a cure I risked my life on to save my people, you should accept it without question."
The female turned then, looking back at Wrex as all eyes fell on him.
"Think what you will Urdnot Wrex. Yes, I have killed your people, just as you have killed mine. But now I saved them. Something I chose to do because it was right. Now it's your choice, but even with that cure your people are all going to die if you don't help us fight the Reapers. They're coming for us, all of us and I plan to stand up to them and burn as many as I can before I die. You may call me murderer, but you owe this murderer a favor and when the time comes I expect to see the Krogan there at the final assault. You fight or you die, there is no middle ground on this."
Jane fell silent, the determination in her gaze burning. Kaidan waited, but when Wrex failed to give response Jane let out a tsk before she turned and headed out the way she had come. Kaidan looked up at his friend one more time disappointment clear on Kaidan's tired face.
"Wait Jane Shepard."
Jane turned, face blank. The female Krogan approached her, stopping at arm's length.
"My name is Bakara and I have heard many stories about you from Mordin. If it was not for you I would have perished in that lab and now you have saved my people. The Krogan owe you a great debt and when the time comes I can promise you that the Krogan will come," Bakara said. Jane looked from her and to Wrex. The male showed no sign of disagreement at her promise. Bakara reached for her neck, unclasping a necklace. It had a small crystal dangling on a heavy piece of fabric. "I wish for you to have it. It guided a path for me when I was in a dark place. May it do the same for you when the time comes."
Jane accepted the gift, her fist clenching around the gift.
"Thank you," Jane said, tilting her head slightly in respect. Jane turned then and headed back up the ramp, artificial light illuminating her in a grace he had never seen before.
A murderer. A soldier.
When she reached the top of the ramp her shoulders rolled forward.
Broken.