Chapter Thirty Four: Calm Before the Storm
"Shepard-Commander, what should we do with the Geth heretics?" Legion twisted his neck around to peer down at Colt.
"You haven't decided yet? They're you're goddamn people!" Shepard peeked around his cover and let out a barrage of bullets. Geth were starting to test the limits of the perimeter he and Mordin set to protect Legion.
"We are conflicted. There is no consensus amongst our higher-level processes," Legion said back with enviable calmness, "Five hundred seventy-,"
"Okay! I get it!"
"You've fought the heretics and won," Legion continued, "You have perspective that we lack."
Dammit. He didn't want to make this decision. In fact, it shouldn't have been his decision to make. Killing them aside, his expertise on Geth heretics was laughable when it came to Legion's vast knowledge...But it was no use dwelling on who should or shouldn't make the decision. Now was the time to decide and execute.
After listening to Legion throughout the mission, he'd silently favored rewriting the heretics. The hypocrisy of such a decision did not allude Colt. In his last moments, Saren asked him if extinction was preferable to control and, without skipping a beat, Shepard answered that extinction was better. But he couldn't bring himself to kill all those Geth. They could be allies and they needed everyone they could get against the Reapers.
"Rewrite them!"
"Understood. The virus will be sent to nearby star systems."
Colt leaned out of his cover and downed a Trooper with a well-placed shot. "Is that supposed to mean something to me?" He asked.
"This station will broadcast a powerful electromagnetic pulse using FTL channels. Yield in excess of 1.21 petawatts. Alert: this flux will be damaging for unshielded organic forms. Addendum: The interior of this station is not shielded. Download at five percent." Legion was already heading for a nearby door before adding, "Shepard-Commander we need to get to the Normandy."
"Shit." Shepard motioned for Mordin to follow before he ran after Legion.
"How long do we have?" Colt asked once the blast doors sealed behind the trio.
"Three minutes," Legion replied.
"What? Everyone MOVE!" Shepard shoved his teammates forward and closely ran behind them. The next set of doors opened to reveal Geth Troopers and Geth Primes. Mordin faltered but Colt shoved him forward. "Keep going!" He roared before setting off a stasis that enveloped most of the room. There was no time to stop and fight.
The three bolted past the suspended Geth and reached the airlock attached to the Normandy. "Legion, you first, then Mordin. I'll follow. Now, go!"
He concentrated on feeding his stasis and growing it to catch the few stragglers that initially evaded him. The slight humm of Legion accessing the door kept him up to date on his squad's whereabouts.
"Commander!" Mordin called out.
Colt backed up until he could feel the airlock's lip under his gravity boots. He turned his head to confirm his team was aboard the Normandy before releasing his stasis altogether. The closest Geth Prime touched down and started to sprint the gap between it and Shepard. Colt tripped backwards onto the Normandy and fell onto his back. He jumped up, fists raised, but the airlock shut just before the Prime reached him.
"Joker! Get us the hell out of here!"
"Already on it, Commander."
The Normandy surged underneath Colt and sent him crashing to the ground once more. He crawled to the row of seats where Mordin and Legion had already strapped themselves in. The Geth grabbed Shepard's back plating and helped haul him into a seat. The deafening sound of the Normandy building up energy from the Mass Effect relay helped spur along Shepard's clumsy attempt to strap himself in. He sighed in relief when he heard the last click of his restraints. A moment later, the Normandy soared light years away from the Heretic's station.
…
Several Hours Later
"Shepard?"
"Hmmm?" He hummed, totally engrossed with watching one of his VI's clean his armor.
"Tali just went to have a, umm, chat with Legion down in the AI core."
"Goddammit. Any shots fired?"
"Not yet, Commander...But I'd hurry."
"Alright, thanks Joker." Colt jumped up from his desk and strode out of his cabin and onto the elevator.
Why he hadn't seen this coming was beyond him. Tali was always vehemently against Legion's presence on the Normandy, and made sure to let Colt know at every opportunity. It was only a matter of time before something gave. Hopefully he'd make it to the AI core before someone got shot.
"Hello, Shepard," Chakwas greeted when he entered the Med-Bay. "I haven't heard a gunshot yet."
"Silver linings," Colt replied, "If I'm not out in five minutes, assume I'm dead."
"For once, I don't think you're being overdramatic."
He shot her a grin before stepping into the poorly lit AI core. The door sealed behind him and his eyes quickly adjusted to the low light.
"Shepard, I'm glad you're here," Tali said. Her gun was pressed firmly to Legion's chest. "I caught Legion scanning my omni-tool. It was going to send data about the flotilla back to the Geth!"
"Creators performed weapons tests and were discussing plans to attack us," Legion said, "We believed it necessary to warn our people."
"Shepard-"
"Lower your gun, Tali," Colt interrupted, "Then we can talk this out."
"It was going to send classified information-"
"I heard you the first time, Tali," Colt said while crossing his arms. "Lower. Your. Gun." She froze for a moment before lowering her gun slowly. "Good, now holster it and let's have a talk." She wordlessly obeyed him and took a step back from the Geth. Colt hated to be so firm with the young quarian, but there was no room for violence of any kind on his ship. "Thank you, Tali. Now let's hear your side of the story."
"It was going to send classified information on my omni-tool back to the Geth. We weakened the Geth by destroying that base, but they're still a threat. I won't let Legion endanger the Fleet."
"Okay. And now you, Legion."
"Creator Tali'Zorah acts out of loyalty to her people. She was willing to be exiled to protect them," Legion replied, "We must also protect our people. Weapons tests and battle plans were seen as an imminent threat to our people."
"You can't let this sort of thing go on, Shepard," Tali said, "I trusted you, and tolerated a Geth on our team, but this is too much!" Tolerated was a generous term. She'd have shot Legion much sooner if Colt hadn't been there to rein in some of her impulses.
"Okay," Colt said, nodding slowly. "Well, it's obvious to me that neither of you have even considered the other's perspective. So, let's do that now and see if we can't sort this out. Tali," he said, turning to her, "I was there, right beside you, on the Alarei. I saw the brutal tests your father was running on Geth. They were disgusting and barbaric, and you know it. Now flip your understanding. What if it was Geth running those kind of experiments on quarians? You'd do the same thing Legion was trying to do."
"Creator Tali'Zorah-"
"-Now it's your your turn, Legion," Colt said, cutting him off, "What if the quarians received word that the Geth were about to launch an attack?"
"We would start a war."
"A war that would decimate both races and leave you as easy targets for the Reapers. Is that what you want, Legion?"
The pieces of metal making up Legion's face seemed to clamp together more tightly. "We believed it was necessary to relay this information."
Colt shook his head and leaned against the bulkhead. He scrubbed his face tiredly before turning to the pair again. "I know you've both fought a little in combat. Here and there. But you haven't been in a true war. Maybe I'm being presumptuous, but I think it's fair to say that. Once the Reapers come, you will understand what I'm saying. But whatever you think war is, it's not. It will be the worst experience of your life, hands down. You will change and not for the better. So, take a good look at yourselves and each other, and decide if a disagreement is worth dying for. Think of all your friends, your people, and ask yourself if you can stand to watch their bellies being cut open for this stupid argument between your two races. Are you willing to watch someone burn to death for this? It may sound dramatic, but I assure you, I am not joking around. This has long term implications, and they will affect both of you. Never make the mistake in believing you are immune to conflict and suffering. It is always around the corner, and if you let it, it'll slip right in without a second thought."
"Sooner or later. Someone will make the decision to either start or stop this war. I'm not saying there's a right or a wrong decision to make, but each decision comes with its own unique set of consequences. Peace or your blood. Reconciliation or death. What will your decision be?"
Tali shifted her weight from leg to leg nervously. Legion only stared back at Shepard. Silence descended upon the three and Colt didn't mind it one bit. It meant they were thinking about his words.
"We will not transmit data regarding Creator plans," Legion finally said.
"I understand your intentions, Legion," Tali said, "I'm sorry I didn't consider them before...How about I give you unclassified information to send?"
"We would be grateful."
"Alright then," Colt said, "Dinner's at eighteen hundred. I hope to see both of you there. I'll be in my cabin if either of you need me."
…
Three Days Later
"Alright everyone, load up," Colt ordered. He walked over to the shuttle's side and pulled his right glove a little tighter. How the hell did it take nearly two hours for everyone to gear-up? He had to make sure all of his Cerberus made systems were running smoothly and syncing with his suit, and he was still faster than most of the ground troop. And to top it all off, it was taking an unbelievable amount of time for everyone to pile in.
After everyone lumbered on board, Colt quickly stepped in. He sat down next to Garrus and tucked his helmet into his lap. The shuttle rumbled to life and shot out of the Normandy's cargo bey.
"We're pretty snug on this thing," Garrus commented. He knocked his shoulder against Colt's and flared his mandibles.
"Well, Garrus, I thought this would be an excellent team bonding exercise. I figured we could go around, share, hug. You know, the works," Shepard explained. "Who wants to go first in our sharing circle?"
"I'll go first." Everyone's heads turned to Jack's sitting place. "I fucking hate all of you and I somehow hate all of you more when we're forced to sit this goddamn close. Makes me want to practice biotics."
"I don't know. I think it's nice seeing everyone in one place," Colt said without skipping a beat, "Now I can ask everyone about their lives without having to journey across the Normandy to everyone's weird fuckin' hiding places. And you guys can't ignore me here. I'm about ready to lose it if I hear, 'Shepard, can it wait a bit? I'm in the middle of some calibrations,' one more damn time."
"I feel like I'm being attacked," Garrus said.
"Every time I've ever tried to talk to you, you've basically said the same thing," Tali said, "So maybe the criticism is well deserved?" Could turians even blush? Because Garrus was sure as hell blushing.
"Commander." EDI's voice came from his earpiece.
"Hey EDI, what's up?" Everyone was looking at him, so she must've been talking to only him.
"Shepard, the Normandy is under attack." His heart sank into his stomach and time seemed to stand still.
He moved slowly and deliberately to the cockpit. Maybe he'd misheard. Maybe he was imagining things. Maybe EDI hadn't even called. "EDI, please repeat," he heard himself say. The shuttle was deathly silent. The others must've picked up on his tone.
"The Normandy is under attack," the AI repeated. So, he hadn't misheard. This was real. For a few selfish seconds, he thanked the heavens he wasn't aboard the Normandy.
Alchera was always in the back of his mind. And if he let it, he was back suffocating above the bleak planet.
Thank God he wasn't aboard the Normandy.
"Understood, we're heading back now." Shepard could feel everyone's eyes burning into his back. "Do you have any idea who's attacking?" He turned back around and faced his silent team. They glanced at each other and back at him. All the earlier laughter had completely left their features.
"The Collectors."
Who was aboard the SR-1 when she was attacked? Just Tali? He aimed his attention at the young quarian, and wondered if she felt the same jolt pass through her body. Did she feel the same tension?
Colt turned back around and clasped his pilot's shoulder, "We're going back to the Normandy."
He took a deep breath and turned to address his friends once more. "The Normandy is under attack from the Collectors. We are heading back now. I will be the first one off and I'll give the all clear when you can exit the shuttle." He did a quick check of his rifle.
"Won't you need help clearing the ship?" Garrus asked.
Twenty people had ultimately perished during the Collector attack. Twenty-one including himself. He wasn't about to add more people to that list.
"No."
…
There was nothing. There was no one. No engineers. No ensigns. No Kelly. No Chakwas. He'd been on a few missions aboard ghost ships and they never failed to ignite dread deep in his soul. And this was his own ship and crew. The ship and crew he was supposed to protect.
He collected Joker and brought him to the conference room before giving the all clear. They'd barely said two words to each other while waiting for Miranda to show up. How could they? They'd very nearly lost the Normandy again.
"Why are you the only one who's still on board?" Miranda accused Joker.
"Hey, I'm not the guilty one here. I got away because EDI kept telling me where to go and how to avoid the Collectors."
"Miranda, enough. Joker, I believe you, and that's all that matters. Is anyone else still here?" Shepard was asking anyone who could answer.
"It seems like all of your pets are fine," EDI answered.
"Rosebud?"
"She's fine. In fact, she's still sleeping in your room." At least someone wasn't affected.
He nodded before speaking, "Okay...okay. It seems to me that the only course of action is to get our people back. Miranda?"
"I couldn't agree more."
"Good. Joker set a course for the Omega Four relay. Time to hit 'em where it hurts."
…
One Hour Later
"Everyone, listen up," he said to the crowded Mess Hall, "We're going to be at the Omega Four relay in twelve hours. It would be a good time to call those close to you. Tell them what's happening. And tell them this isn't a suicide mission."
"Commander…" Samara spoke up, "This is a suicide mission, is it not?"
"Nope. Despite everything we've heard, this isn't suicidal. Every single one of you is coming back." Shepard looked in their eyes. "If you follow everything I tell you to do, then everyone will make it. We'll be fine, it's just another day for the legendary Normandy crew. Am I right?"
Colt meant every word he said. And if the looks on the crew's faces were anything to go by, they believed him as well.
"Alright, everyone. Go on now. Go make your calls," he continued, "And please do not hesitate to reach out. It's never easy before a mission and I'm here to support you. Just say the word and I'll be there."
His crew nodded and started to disperse to their various hidey-holes. He watched a whole hoard of his crew step onto the elevator before Garrus interrupted his thoughts. "And what about you?"
"What?"
"Who are you going to call? Say your goodbyes to?"
"They're not goodbyes," Shepard said. "They're see you laters."
"Oh, come on. We've known each other for how long?" Garrus asked, "You can be honest."
Colt smiled before saying, "I've been thinking about my mom lately. I just...If something were to happen, and I'm not saying it will, do I really want my last words to my mom to be cruel? I don't wanna' be in a fight with her forever."
The turian nodded but said nothing, so Shepard continued. "My mom doesn't know me. And one conversation isn't going to change that, but I'd like to start down that road."
Garrus sighed and said, "I'm on the same page actually. My dad and my sister don't understand what I do. What we do. But I'm still gonna' call them."
"And Tali is right here, so all your people are nicely squared away."
Garrus swung his head to look at Colt with narrowed eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Whatever you want it to."
The two stayed quiet for a moment before Garrus said, "And what about Liara?"
"I'll call her as well. I actually wanted to visit her before the final push, but a call will have to do. Such is life, right?"
"I suppose that's true," Garrus replied. They stayed silent for a minute.
"I should go," Colt finally said. "You know where I'm at if you need me."
The turian nodded before turning toward the forward battery. Colt watched him go before making his way to the elevator.
"EDI," he said while stepping on the elevator, "Please contact Admiral Shepard on the QEC."
"Right away, Shepard."
They hadn't spoken in months. What was he supposed to say? What was she going to say? They'd never particularly got along, even when he was a child. At best, she was distant. At worst, Colt was the target of her frustration and stress. But people changed. Right?
The trek back to the conference room was as empty as his first trip hours earlier. No Kelly or Ensigns or intelligence officers. He walked into the lonely conference room and watched his mom's figure flicker to life.
"Hello?"
"Hey mom," Shepard said back.
"I'll be honest," she started, "I wasn't expecting to get this call."
"I wasn't expecting to make it."
She raised her eyebrows but said nothing. Colt scrubbed at his face. This was a mistake. "We're on our way to the Omega Four relay," he said, "I guess I wanted to say goodbye. Just in case."
Hannah gave him a warm smile. "Colt, I think you'll come out of this just fine."
"You're probably right, but I didn't want to end things like they were."
"I'm sorry for going to the Terminus," she said, "I really am. If I could take it back...If I could go back and stop myself from leaving, I would. But I can't. Every day I regret making that decision, but it seemed like the right thing to do at the time. If I could go back and tell the Alliance to shove it regarding that assignment, I would do it in an instant. I'm sorry things turned out like they did. But I can't change what happened."
"I know. And I know that you were just doing your duty, but...goddamn. Where would I be if you hadn't left? I mean, living on the streets changed everything," he said, "I hope you understand that."
"I do. And I'm glad you called. Really. After your mission we need to go out for drinks. On me."
Colt smiled at her suggestion. He was never one to turn down drinks, especially free ones. "Sounds like a plan."
"Good luck, Colt. Though I get the feeling you won't need it." She smiled before her image cut out.
Their call somehow went better and worse than he expected. It surpassed his lowest expectations, but failed to meet his highest hopes. It was professional and cordial. It felt like saying goodbye to his boss rather than his mother. It was like they'd reverted back to their roles in the Alliance. She acted as the ranking officer, while he performed flawlessly as the underling. At least no one yelled.
The door to the conference room opened, pulling Shepard back onto the Normandy. "Miranda?" She was the last person he was expecting.
"Shepard...Colt."
Now he was worried. It was very un-Miranda like to be so...casual.
"What can I do for you?"
"Listen, I've been thinking," she started, "What if this really is our last day?"
"It's not anyone's last day. Besides the Collectors. We'll make it through."
"Even so," she said while stepping closer. "We should make it a day to remember."
"By playing an exceptional game of Poker?" He offered. "Or watching all twelve seasons of Fleet and Flotilla?" She raised an eyebrow but said nothing. "Putting Garrus's talons in warm water so he pees himself in his sleep?"
"I don't think that works on turians."
"Okay, how about-?"
"-If you're as stressed as I think you are, I think we could find a way to remedy that," she interrupted, "Together." She raised her eyebrows expectantly.
"Oh..oh, my. Uhh, well, you see, Miranda, I'm actually involved with someone else. And she buys the right brand of bagels, so I really can't let her go," Shepard said, swallowing hard. "So, I can't."
"I thought you guys were taking a break?"
"No. Not at all."
She stared him in the eyes for a moment before nodding and retreating back a few steps. "No hard feelings?" She asked.
"No hard feelings."
She turned for the door and said over her shoulder, "See you in a few hours, Shepard."
"See ya." He watched her leave before saying, "EDI, please contact Liara."
"Right away."
It would be late on the Shadow Broker's ship. She'd probably be sleeping but this was important. "Hey Liara." Shepard smiled at the tired looking asari.
She yawned and blinked a few times before asking, "What time is it?" She also sounded tired.
"I'm going through the Omega Four relay soon," he blurted out.
"What? Now?" Her eyes widened.
"They took my crew, Liara. Everyone but Joker. Those fucks. I was planning on a bit more prep but they're running out of time."
"Goddess...I am so sorry. How did that happen?"
"They waited until the ground crew was all away and then boarded and took everyone. EDI helped Joker navigate the Collectors, which is why he wasn't taken," he explained, "I can send you my head-cam footage."
"I probably already have it."
"Of course you do."
"Are you scared?"
"Absolutely," he said, "What if I don't get there in time? I already lost so many on the SR-1...I can't do that again."
"You'll make it. It takes a few days before the Collectors, um, process people."
"I know, but they took my crew to lure me to their base. I wouldn't put it past them to speed up the process just to get at me."
"It'll be okay."
"I hope so," he said. Shepard scratched the back of his neck nervously. "So I guess it's goodbye?"
"No," she said simply, "It's 'I'll see you soon.'"