Authors note: So, it took a while for this chapter, far longer than I wanted it to take. I wanted it to be longer as well, but I had two choices. Take even longer to put out the chapter, or break what I wanted into pieces so I could get something out sooner. Obviously I have chosen the latter as it has just been too long since I was able to update. So sorry for how long it's taken, and for the short chapter. I'm trying to get back up to semi consistent updates. Hope ya continue enjoying the story!
"What do you mean, I'm not going down with you?!" Doctor T'soni asked in anger as she and Nihlus stood in the cabin he was using. Nihlus was busy putting his armor and gear on, while Liara was in her regular clothing, while looking very upset.
"I mean, you are an archeologist, perhaps a scientist as well. We will be landing in a place where, according to the Alliances codes, is very dangerous. I cannot bring a noncombatant into dangerous territory where-,"
"Feros is an ancient Prothean Ecumenopolis, and that Alliance woman and Turian Both have proven that they care nothing about Prothean Relics or history!" Liara loudly interrupted. "I am not allowing them to parade around in such a place where they can destroy ancient structures and relic without a care! I am going down there with you!"
"You are a noncombatant," Nihlus stated seriously. "I am not bringing you into a combat zone!"
"So you'd let those ignorant Alliance people run rampant and destroy ancient Prothean structures and relics that could still have yet to be discovered?!" Liara demanded to know in anger.
Nihlus had thought he was being very calm this far, but had had enough. Stepping forward he swung a first down on the nearby shelf, snapping it in half and making Liara squeak and take a step back. "We are heading there to pursue a rogue Spectre, not to sightsee! If I had to choose between stopping a criminal, and destroy an old decrepit building, I would destroy the building without any hesitation! You forget that I am a Spectre, and they are Operatives of the Alliance. Nothing you say has any weight here, and as this is an Alliance ship, your words carry even less weight!"
"B-but. . . . They just-, you can't!"
"I am a Spectre, I uphold the Councils laws by any means necessary, and they theirs. They accepted my request to find you to help me with those Prothean visions, and you have and I am grateful. But do not think that means that you can make demands here, Doctor!"
Liara stared at Nihlus, seemingly shocked into silence as she stared, mouth agape.
"If you are absolutely intent however, as this is not my ship, I do not have the authority to deny you," Nihlus suddenly suggested. To Liara it seemed like he was giving her a chance, but to Nihlus, he knew that being denied by Desolas and Adaaya as well would be the only way to make her drop the idea.
"Then I'll just make them take me down with them so I can preserve the Prothean ruins!" Liara declared as she turned to leave the room, only for Nihlius to grab her wrist.
"Hold on for a moment," Nihlus said as he reached over and tapped the button on the wall. "Pilot, may I request to know where either Operative Desolas, or Operative Adaaya are currently?"
"Oh, Spectre. Sure, why not. Both of them and the rest of the ground team are all in the main hall. Just be careful, the two of them are sparring."
"Understood, thank you," Nihlus said as he touched the button again and cut the connection. "There, now you know where they are," Nihlus said as he turned to Liara, only to find she was gone. "Damn. I don't recall letting go of her hand. Oh well, better go make sure she doesn't cause a scene."
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"Okay, I'll admit, I'm impressed," Wrex commented as he sat at a table with Garrus, Ashley and Kaiden in the mess hall. The other half of the mess hall was open with the arena in clear view, and it looked like half the crew, all of those with duties not needing to done in that instant, were gathered in the hall watching the two people in the arena duking it out.
Every one of the ship's crew knew of their power. Everyone on the ground team had seen it as well. But to see Desolas and Adaaya fighting in the arena with no magic, and no weapons aside from their own bodies was a strangely powerful sight.
Each thrust of Addaya's fists created a ripple of pure force that would burst away from the arena. Each swing of her leg was like a gale creating a blast of wind. Each flap of her wings, whether to move away or forward, was like a sheet of bristling power. Similarly, each strike of Desolas's claw was like a chain of lightning bolts, and each swing of his fists like the fall of a hammer.
Each strike at the other was blocked or parried, their colliding limbs creating loud cracking sounds more akin to striking metal than flesh. Each blow was traded in equal, and each trike made those around look on in interest, pain, or outright excitement.
No one was within three meters around the arena though, as each blow they treaded with force made anyone closer either fall over or be thrown back.
"This is nothing really," Ashley said with a shrug. "Yeah, both of them are strong, but there are other operatives much stronger in physical combat. My mother, Yuugi, Tenshi, Suika, and Youmu, being the most dangerous in single combat without magic."
"Wait, you mean they are not the strongest?" Garrus asked in surprise as he continued to watch the fight between the two operatives. It was extremely enlightening, as just from what he could see they could probably tear though armor with their blows. And they were supposed to not be that strong?
"No. They are strong, but Desolas is keeping up with some passive magic as Adaaya specializes in melee combat. But neither of them would hold a candle too many of the highest ranked operatives," Kaiden spoke up. "As an example, Desolas is best when utilizing his magic, whereas Adaaya mostly uses her own magic as a boost to her own abilities. If say, Yuugi Hoshiguma was in there, the ship probably would have been split in half if she had used a strike at even half her full power."
"Okay, that I have trouble believing," Wrex declared with a huff. "This is impressive, but splitting a ship with a punch? That is just stupid."
"Not when the one in question is an Oni with the ability to split mountains in half," Kaiden countered. "Most operatives hold back their real power. They have to otherwise it'd be a mess all of the time."
"So, are there operatives that don't need to hold back? Do they have trouble holding back?" Garrus asked as Adaaya and Desolas struck each other, sending in another heavy force wave into the hall and almost knocking over Garrus's cup.
"Some have trouble and some don't," Tali stated as she walked up to the table and sat down. "I have heard though that the human operatives, Lady Hakurei and Kirisame for example, have less trouble holding back than others. It's also said they are the most likely to suddenly stop holding back, going from ten to one hundred percent very suddenly, so it is hard to say."
"I see. That's good to know," Garrus said nervously as he looked back at Adaaya and Desolas as they both exchanged one last strike, then took steps back and clasped hands, proving that they were done. Cheers went up from the crew in an instant. "I take it they are better at holding back when needed?"
"For the most part. . . . kind of," Kaiden said as the door behind them opened up at Docto T'soni stormed in, looked around, saw Desolas and Adaaya coming off the arena, and then walked right toward them "Uh, that's not smart."
"Doctor, that's not a good idea!" Garrus called as he instantly got the message Kaiden was sending. Unfortunately his words were too late as Doctor T'soni had already gotten close enough to speak up. And did so much to the whole crews shock.
"Operatives, I am joining you on Feros when we arrive!"
The hall became quieter in an instant, not that Doctor T'soni realized it, and Adaaya simply let out a sigh. "You deal with this, Desolas. I'm hitting the shower,"
"Fine," Desolas replied as Adaaya walked off, and as she left the room, he looked at Liara. "No, you are not."
"I am not allowing you to head down to a ruined Prothean Ecumenopolis without oversight from someone who knows what Prothean technology is important and must be protected. I am going down there with you!" Liara declared loudly.
The entire hall turned silent, and in that same moment a number of crewmen all began vacating the hall as quickly, and quietly as they could.
"Doctor," Desolas began to say, his tone very slow and calm. "You are a noncombatant as far as I am concerned. I will not bring a noncombatant into a combat zone. You will die."
"I can defend myself; I have my biotics and-,"
"Your biotics are sealed by that bracelet you are wearing, and even in a combat zone I would not allow you to remove it!" Desolas declared suddenly. "Urdnot Wrex is a biotic, but he is perfectly capable of fighting proficiently without them, and has proven he can do so. So unless you have combat training not related to biotics, we are done here!"
"Biotics are the rights of all Asari! I understand using the bracelet to protect your people while on this ship, but on the field it should not matter! I can use my biotics and protect myself so I am coming down to-."
"Unless you are willing to go through a very long and painful surgical procedure to literally blow apart every molecule of Eezo in your body, you are not coming down into a combat zone!" Desolas suddenly yelled, making everyone still around stare in both sudden worry and curiosity.
"But if I don't you will-," Liara stopped midsentence as she realized what Desolas said, her expression turning from anger to confusion and revulsion. "That would just kill an Asari, there is no such a barbaric practice!"
"Not in Council space there isn't," Desoals said grimly, making Liara go pale in revulsion, her disgust making it difficult for her to think of what to say. "Now, let me make this very clear, Doctor. You are on our ship as a guest of the Spectre who is assisting in the mission that we share, not as a member of the ground team, the crew, or even an assistant to the Spectre. You will not be joining the ground team unless stated otherwise, and you will obey our rules. Is that clear?"
"But you destroyed-," Liara tried to say, only for a sudden jolt of electricity from Desolas's fringe destroying a nearby cup to silence her.
"IS, THAT, CLEAR!?" Desolas pressed, more electricity arcing between his fringes in a dreadful dark purple color.
Liara took an unconscious step back and nodded shallowly, unable to speak as her skin crawled uncomfortably even as her stomach roiled and felt like it was dying inside.
"Good," Desoals said as he walked past her and looked up to see Nihlus standing by the door to the hall, and the ground team all standing by a table. "We'll likely get to Feros in a couple hours. Make sure you are ready by then!"
Most gave nods or affirmations of reply, while Nihlus walked up to Desolas with a grim look on his face. "That comment, about no such thing being practiced in Council space. Do I need to look into such a thing?"
"No, you don't, and I would be thankful if you forgot about that slip of the tongue for now," Desolas said as he leaned closer to Nihlus a bit. "Let's just say, Adaaya and I know of a person who gave up a lot for what they wanted and leave it at that for now, alright?"
"Very well," Nihlus replied quietly as he took a step back from Desolas. "So, same ground team, I assume?"
"Yes, but I'd suggest bringing extra equipment."
"Why?"
"I'll explain once we're ready to head down," Desolas said grimly as he left the room. Leaving Nihlus, a seemingly frozen Liara, and everyone else, alone in the tense silence.
"Huh. Wish I could paralyze Asari like that," Wrex said as he rolled his shoulders. "Right, if we'll be arriving soon, I'm going to get my gear ready."
"Good idea, considering who sent the distress code, I'll need to look over my suit as well," Tali agreed as she followed Wrex out, the others following suit within seconds.
In a minute everyone was gone, leaving Liara in the room with only a couple of crewmembers who quietly gave her a wide berth. They figured she was terrified or scared into inaction.
"He . . . can't do this. He can't! They could destroy Prothean relics, and, his words . . . has the Alliance done that? Have they experimented on my people?!" Liara mumble to herself in anger and contained hatred as she finally turned and began heading back to her room. "Fine, if he wants to screw with me, with everything that has been done before the Alliances arrival. . . . . . . . Two can play at that game. I just need to find a way to get some help, and find something I can use! Then I'll be able to make them understand where they sit!" Liara nearly shouted as she went to her room, not seeing Garrus watching her from around a corner with a worried expression on his face.
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June 9th – 2155 – Feros Colony, Attican Beta
Sanae Kotchiya let out a small yawn as she stared at the midday sun of Feros. It was high in the sky, far above them, its rays shining down upon the broken tomb world that was filled with the ghosts of a dead races' suffering. There was a time that such a view, the sun over the clouds and an endless horizon of a civilization's bones, would have made her smile in awe, both at its beauty and suffering.
Unfortunately, her Ascendance past a simple Descendant of a god and into a demigod of her own made things more complicated, as she could feel things differently now. It didn't make her a different person, in fact it made her all the more intent on staying who she was, but it did make some things slightly more difficult to deal with.
"Alliance Operative Kotchiya. We have detected a ship entering the planet's atmosphere on a course to this location. Its propulsion is not based on Element Zero. Suggested response?"
Luckily machinery, even hyper intelligent AI, were not among the things that became more difficult, in fact, she loved dealing with them!
"If their propulsion is not based on Eezo, it means it's probably a friend of mine come to help us," Sanae said with a smile as she turned around and looked at the large red machine that stood before her, nearly twice her height. A Geth Prime. "The tower's third hanger is accessible still, correct?"
"Affirmative," the prime responded instantly.
"Good, please have the hanger opened for them. Do you think the Batarian frigate at the other tower will attempt to fire on them?"
"It is likely as they had tried to fire on ours as well. If required, we can move our ship out of the hanger to provide support. Directions?"
Sanae thought for a second before smiling. "No, don't worry, they'll be fine. How are our defenses holding?" Sanae asked as she began walking away from the ledge and back toward the colony proper.
"The defenses are holding. The lowest entry into the tower is held by two primes, three soldier frames, as well as four turrets. The main roadway between the two towers is held by twice that, and our sensors are monitoring all the smaller entrances into the tower." The Geth Prime replied as it followed behind Sanae.
"I see, that's good. How many frames have been lost in how many attacks?" Sanae asked as she glanced at some nearby colonists, noting how they shied away from her gaze.
"The consensus has lost four Turrets, one stalker frame and four soldier frames in the last seven assaults. Damage to the surrounding structure around each defense post has been moderate."
"Hrm, that's not good," Sanae muttered as she snapped her fingers, a small sparkle coming from her nose for a second, making her twitch her nose. "How is the maintenance for your frames going?"
"Frame maintenance is keeping up with our current stores of material. However, as we have not finished changing over our weapon schematics, we are beginning to run low on ammunition blocks for some weapons. Recommend procuring more if possible."
"Okay, I'll think of something. It was unfortunate we couldn't finish the weapon swaps before coming here, especially since your ship doesn't have a large enough reactor or fabricator to fix it. Oh well," Sanae said with a shrug as she suddenly scowled and flicked a finger to the side, sending a small greenish blue magical bullet off into the rafters, and smiting a small camera drone out of existence. "It seems we'll have an attack soon from our wiggly friend. Please alert all forces."
"Done."
"Good, thank you."
"Addendum, the approaching ship appears to be a small ship with a powerful Mag-Tech reactor and it is marked as the Normandy."
Sanae smiled widely, knowing who would be coming to them. "Oh, this is good then; would you like to accompany me to meet them at the hanger?"
"Affirmative!"
"Excellent, then let's go meet out new allies, and get ready to perform some miracles of warfare!"
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As the Normandy touched down the entire ship shuddered slightly and shifted even more so, making Addaya look up at a camera in the ceiling. "Joker, please tell me you didn't botch the landing?"
"Of course not. This tower is old; the stone just shifted a bit is all. We're fine." came the pilots reply.
"The Protheans made their buildings of stone?" Ashley asked, glancing toward Nihlus as the decontamination screens began activating over the whole group.
"On the outside, I believe. No race could build buildings up to near the stratosphere without metal," Nihlus replied as he looked uncomfortable. "I hope the doctor doesn't cause a problem on the ship."
"She won't, I made it clear to her, I think," Desolas stated as the decontamination finished and the door to the outside opened up. As they group strode out the grey walls of deteriorating stone surrounded their vision. Small lights tried and failed to illuminate the hanger they were in, and the sound of hollow breezes swept into the hanger, blowing about billion year old piles of dust and debris. It felt like the entire tower they now stood in could come down at a moment's notice, though none said anything about that thought.
"Looks like our fellow is doing fine, Adaaya suddenly said as she looked at a doorway on the wall they were approaching. "Tali, don't explode."
Tali was about to ask why, until she saw a large red Geth unit standing beside a human at the doorway.
"Thank you for responding to the call I sent out," The human woman said as she stepped forward, making Garrus, Nihlus and Wrex look at her in surprise and confusion. She was a woman who looked young, and was wearing a skin tight suit of green material with metal pieces all over it, some in sensible locations, and some seemingly at random. On her hip sat a small piece of wood and paper, and across from it a small case of some sort that looked to have a bunch of paper in it as well. Most surprising was not her green hair or friendly demeanor, but the strange almost aura like feeling of unbelievable power she exuded. As if she was far more than she appeared.
"No problem. Can you fill us in on the situation maybe, Sanae? You said there was the chance of a loss of civilian life, but how badly?" Desolas spoke up, seeming casual with the situation, much to the Alliance crews surprise.
"I can, but first I think introduction are in order," Sanae said as she looked past Desolas and Adaaya and smiled. "Hello everyone, my name is Kotchiya Sanae, an Operative of the Alliance; I look forward to your help!" She said with a polite bow before gesturing toward the Geth Prime that stood near her. "And this is a platform of the Geth frigate that I have been working with for the past few weeks. I call this platform EVA 1!"
Adaaya smacked herself in the face and shook her head while Ashley and Kaiden both groaned, making Wrex and Garrus look around in confusion.
"Um, is that supposed to mean something?" Nihlus asked curiously.
"Yes, but don't ask, just don't," Adaaya said with a sigh as she stepped to the side. "The ground team we have with us consists of Kaiden Alenko, Ashley Williams, and Tali Zorah. We also have the Council Spectre Nihlus Kyrik, the Council investigator, Garrus Vakerian, and a mercenary named Urdnot Wrex along for the ride as well. Now you can explode, Tali."
"WHY IS THERE A GETH HERE!?" Tali then yelled as she raised an arm, pointing her exosuits wrist mounted cannon at the Geth platform intimidatingly.
Not that the Geth reacted in any noticeable way.
"Oh yeah, I forgot I hadn't informed anyone else of what I was doing yet!" Sanae said as she clapped her hands together. "For the past few weeks I've been working with the Geth to upgrade their systems and algorithms so that they can gain more processing power and hopefully get closer to full sentience. If I'm successful the Geth consciousness has agreed that they will consider joining the Alliance!"
"And you think that's a good idea!" Tali yelled in shock. "They killed thousands of us and stole our home world!"
"Actually, from having access to their logs all the way back to that event, I can tell you that the entire war with the Geth started when a Geth unit asked if it had a soul. Your ancestors panicked, thinking they'd get kicked from the Council, and tried to destroy them. The Geth fought back only in self-defense and even tried to save many Quarians caught in the middle of it. It's basically the Councils fault for everything as they had made the Quarians afraid of AI, and then had kicked you anyway when your peopled 'fessed up about what had happened," Sanae quickly explained, speaking so fast that no one could interject at all until she finished and took a breath. As she let it out though her gaze fell deep on Tali and she very suddenly crossed the distance and began circling her, hands looking all over the exosuit. "Also, this is a V-series exo suit, right? It looks like you modified the plating and the actuators, but how did you deal with the additional heat buildup? Did you use the insulation protocol or did you connect it to your suits systems to control the heat? Ooh, and is this a laser weapon? I don't see a heat sink. Did you connect that to it as well or run it though the anterior connection?"
"Ah, no I, I mean, I just, can you get off!" Tali pleaded as Sanae continued to look over her exosuit, asking questions, answering them herself, and then providing upgrade and improvement ideas so fast that it was hard to follow.
"Spirits, does she ever stop?" Nihlus asked in awe of how fast Sanae could keep talking.
"In addition to being a Deified human, and the second rank Operative, Sanae is one of Alliance R&D's best people. She's also a little bit eccentric sometimes," Adaaya explained casually.
"She's the second strongest Operative? I don't see it," Wrex said with a huff.
"Most operatives that are scientists can be a little scattered. The only one that isn't really is Eirin," Desolas said as he walked over to Sanae and Tali and raised a hand between the two of them. "Your message was for immediate support to prevent a loss of civilian life. So what's the situation, Sanae?"
Sanae stopped, blinked and then stepped back from Tali. As she did it was like her whole demeanor changed, going from friendly and random, to focused and serious. "I'll explain on the way to the colony proper," she said as she turned and began walking back the way she came, the Geth platform following beside her. As soon as the whole group was underway she spoke up again, her tone tense, but not overly loud, like a whispered scream. "I got here about a week ago when the Geth fleet caught wind of a mostly blocked emergency transmission from this colony. They stated that they were under attack by Batarian pirates, but when I arrived I found the situation did not add up. The Batarian forces are gathered in the adjacent Prothean tower and continue to send attacks across the large bridges that connect the two. I asked the colonists what had happened and they said that the Batarians were attacking from across the way, but I also noticed that there was evidence of fighting in the colony itself. When I asked about that, they changed the subject, ignored it, or claimed it was old damage when it is clearly not. The amount of damage that has been dealt to the colony and its entrances does not match up with their stories of how much damage the Batrians have supposedly done. I've also caught glimpses of both an Asari and a Hanar leading the Batarian forces, and have fought the former twice already."
"Did you catch her name?" Nihlus asked quickly, hoping to get his question in before Sanae continued as the group descended down a flight of stairs.
"No, she never introduced herself, just attacked despite my attempts at conversation," Sanae explained before she continued, slightly more muted. "There is one other thing as well, but for now all I'll say is that anyone without magic should blow their noses frequently while here.
"Because of the dust in the air?" Wrex asked.
"Sure, let's go with that if any colonist asks about it," Sanae said as the whole group came into a large open area filled with prefab shelters that looked like they had seen better days. Many of them had small holes and marks from accelerator fire, as well as burn marks on much of the stone and buildings. To one side of the colony it looked like there were body's under tarps, quite a number of them, and to the opposite side of the colony, beside a lone building apart from the rest, was a small crane that seemed to serve no purpose. As they walked into the colony all the colonists, mostly Salaraians, Turians and a number of humans, all looked at them with gazes that were somewhere between unemotionally apathetic and violently defensive.
"Sanae," came a slow spoken and broken pronunciation of Sanae's name from a human man who walked toward them, his expression slightly more lively than the rest, but still odd, as if it was being forced. "Who are these . . . people."
"The reinforcement I was expecting, Fai-Dan," Sanae replied with a soft smile. "Don't worry, now I can deal with the problem quickly!"
"That is . . . good. Thank you, though if they came by ship, they may be, stuck here, until frigate broken."
"You don't need to worry about that, we'll deal with it, so please excuse us," Sanae said as she bowed politely to Fai-Dan and then gestured over to an empty balcony like area at one side of the colony near a large open doorway of stairs that seemed to go down. As they reached the balcony Sanae turned to everyone and smiled. "As I said, make sure to blow your nose well while here, that dust gets in your head."
"So it seems," Nihlus muttered in partial understanding as he glanced down the nearby stairs and then back to Sanae. "I take it you have a plan already prepared?"
"I do. It's pretty simple too. The Batarian forces are attacking from the two bridges that connect the towers. So we split into two groups. One stays here to defend the colony, the other goes across and deals with the Batarian forces and the ones leading them!"
"Me, you, Desolas and Nihlus go across then?" Adaaya suggested as her wings shifted a bit, twitching to flick dust off of them.
"And one of the Geth Primes," Sanae added with a smile. "that way we can stay in contact as they are networked.
"One of.., you mean there are more?!" Tali asked in horror.
"Yes, though only a handful of primes as they are routing from the frigate. I came here on of theirs. It parked in another hanger."
"Is it really a good idea to split up like this though?" Garrus spoke up, his instincts telling him that something was off about the whole idea.
"Don't worry, it'll work!" Sanae said with a surprising amount of assurance. "and don't worry, with all of you, and four primes, plus the defenses they and the colonists set up, it shouldn't be that hard to defend the entryways!"
"I agree, let's go with that plan, it'll be fastest too as Adaaya and I have all of our equipment on us. Are you good to go, Nihlus?" Desolas asked as he turned to Nihlus.
"I'm good. I have all I need," Nihlus replied quickly. "You intend to leave right away?"
"The sooner we deal with the Batarians, the sooner we find out what Saren sent them here for," Desolas responded instantly.
"Perfect! EVA, you're coming with us, the other platforms will stay here and help defend the colony!" Sanae declared to the Geth platform. It only let out a short ping in understanding. "Good, then let's get going! And please don't let the colony fall!" Sanae declared as she turned and ran down the stairway, The Geth prime following suit.
Adaaya sighed and then looked at everyone with a mixed expression. "Alright you heard her. We're splitting here for this mission. Defense may be easy, but don't get complacent. We'll be back as soon as possible. Good luck!" She yelled as she, Desolas and Nihlus all followed down the stairs, quickly diapering from sight.
" . . . . Did we just get dumped?" Wrex asked after a few seconds of awkward silence.
"Yes, but it's not unheard of," Kaiden said with a shrug. "Let's spread out and look around this colony. Something is very clearly wrong here, and I want to find out what it is!"
"Good plan. I'll go and talk to some of the colonists, see what I can find out," Garrus stated.
"I'll come with you. Anything to be away from the Geth," Tali stated as she followed him off.
In barely a minute Kaiden and Wrex had wandered off as well, leaving Ashley at the balcony staring out at the ruined planet. It felt, wrong, like something was still here, like-..
Can you hear me?
Ashley felt her body grow cold, and her vision grow dull. "Yes." Then she blacked out.