Chapter 56
"Kaidan and Tali's group will have the last anti-air gun offline in a few minutes, Commander." Garrus told Shepard over the comm as her group kept walking through the facility. They had just finished off a small group of geth, much to the joy of Wrex.
"Any word from Holt's group?" She quickly asked.
"The salarian captain was contacted by them an hour or so ago. Apparently, one of the salarians died as the group was ambushed."
"The unit which wasn't supposed to see any combat is the one getting it?" Shepard asked surprised.
"Seems like it. Have you been running into any enemy groups?"
"No." Wrex quickly answered in a bitter tone.
"We just ran into a group of several geth." Shepard turned to tell the krogan who was beside her.
"That was barely an appetizer."
"Right, sounds like you've got it all covered." Was all Garrus said before he cut the comm. Sighing, Shepard closed down her omni-tool and readied her weapon as her group came upon a large door leading outside. Entering the area in the same way as they have done so many times before today, they could quickly confirm that the area was empty of enemies.
"Area clear." Ashley said with a sigh. "How can we be certain that Saren is still here?"
"Bet those salarians lied to us just to get our help in blowing this place up." Wrex growled as he kept looking around for hostiles.
"I doubt they would do that." Shepard said as she checked the time. If the anti-air guns would go offline in a few minutes then that meant that Holt's group would get the 'go-ahead' to deploy the bomb. As much as she hated to admit it, they couldn't spend all day looking for Saren when people where sacrificing themselves to keep the enemy forces of this place occupied.
"It feels like we've checked every inch of where Saren might be..." Ashley complained as they cautiously walked around the area which turned out to be quite a bit larger than Shepard had first thought. The sound of water was heard and further ahead they could see a great amount of water flowing down towards the other end of the area. "What the hell is all this?" Ashley asked.
"Who cares. Saren's obviously not here." Wrex grunted as he looked down towards the other end. Shepard had to agree and motioned for them to turn back just as a biotic warp landed in the water right next to her. Instincts took over and Shepard sprinted to cover, as did Ashley and Wrex. Once at a safe location, Shepard peeked out and saw a platform with someone standing on it come flying towards them.
"Seems like he is here." Shepard murmured. She could hear Wrex let out a honest laugh from his position a few yards away.
"About damn time!" The krogan laughed.
"It wasn't a bad plan to split into as many groups as you did, commander Shepard!" Saren shouted from the platform. "Too bad it had one major flaw."
"And what flaw is that?" Shepard asked as she very carefully checked around the corner. Saren seemed more interested in talking at the moment.
"What flaw was that." Saren corrected. "Your whole plan kind of fell apart once the bomb squad was dealt with." A chill shot through Shepard's spine but quickly shrug it off. Chances were high that Saren was lying.
"And why are we forced to go through with plans like these? Why are you siding with the reapers?"
"You if anyone should understand." Saren said with a hint of surprise in his voice as she heard him jump off the platform. "You saw the vision on Eden Prime, the reapers cannot be stopped."
"So he just wants us to bend over and take it?" Shepard heard Ashley mutter.
"I think you underestimate the combined strength of the galaxy's races." Shepard answered as she motioned for Wrex and Ashley to prepare for a fight.
"And I think you overestimate it." Saren quickly answered. "The protheans couldn't stop them and their civilization were more mighty than all of the current races combined."
"Quality before quantity is what I always say." Shepard said. She heard a sigh coming from the turian. "And you haven't for one second considered the indoctrination problem? Matriarch Benezia spoke about how the ship Sovereign spoke to her, of how it corrupted her."
"Of course I've considered that. I've also gone to great length to make sure it doesn't happen to me!" Saren exclaimed and for the first time in the conversation, Shepard felt like she was in control.
"Again, you sound so certain but if the reapers are so great then how can you possibly hope to withstand their attacks on your mind?"
"Indoctrination makes the... victim less capable in everything. The reapers need me at my full strength if I'm to lead them back into the galaxy."
"Again, it sounds like you believe yourself to be above them." Shepard taunted as she could feel biotics flaring from where Saren was. "And 'lead them back'? Sound to me like there doesn't have to be a reaper problem if you just stop trying to make it a problem."
"You're fishing for answers to your numerous questions. I do not have time to answer them."
"Because you're heading for the Mu Relay after this?" She took a chance and hoped that Saren would spill a bit more of his secrets. She didn't know what he was searching for past the relay but she felt that it was crucial to Saren's plans. And because of that, it was crucial to Shepard as well. A powerful warp hit her cover and it felt like a small earthquake just occurred. Guess she wasn't getting any answers yet.
"Can I start firing now, Shepard?" She heard Wrex shout and before she could answer he had already begun shooting at Saren. Rolling her eyes, she joined in together with Ashley.
"I gave you a chance at survival, Shepard!" Saren yelled as his shield stopped every single attack they made on him. "Shame you didn't take it."
"I'm the one that decides when my time has come!" Shepard shot back. "And that time will be many years into my retirement. Long after we've stopped you!" She silently cursed this area being as open as it was. It was impossible to flank him.
"My death won't stop the reapers!" Saren yelled back as he managed to hit Wrex with a well placed biotic throw. The krogan simply smirked and kept firing. Shepard would never make the mistake of not bringing Wrex along for a mission again. That krogan was worth a hundred Alliance soldiers. She kind of wished that Holt was here at this moment as well. Partly because his cloak would be real handy in this situation and partly because then she wouldn't have to wonder if he was still alive or not.
"Please be." Shepard silently mumbled as she refocused on taking down this traitor as soon as possible.
