Here ya go! Have fun reading
Sorry for the delay and not posting yesterday. I was at my buddy's cabin shooting guns and drinking; just got home.
*POV: Aedon Wy(Torchbearer)
It took Dr. Baynham and her daughter just about half an hour to synthesize the toxin for us to use and about another 15 minutes after that for them to be able to put it into our grenades. I had some misgivings about the whole thing now that I was here in real life. In the game going non-lethal is all well and good and helps you in the end game but this didn't sit all that well with me.
Not that I'm about killing innocent civilians but even mind-controlled and relatively untrained all it takes is one lucky shot and you're screwed. Not to mention that they still came in the form of grenades and they weren't 21st century smoke grenades with no shrapnel. These things were discs loaded with the toxin to knock the colonists out. When they go off there will be shrapnel and more than likely will ruin a colonist, or several colonists, day. That being said, there wasn't much other option if we wanted as many alive as possible.
Now wasn't the time for doubt though. Shepard and company were here and for now, we'd see it through to the end. Save as many as we could and with all we did beforehand the colony should be able to survive long enough for legitimate help to arrive. We could do it, I know we could.
Once they had completed putting the toxin into all of our grenades we loaded up into the Mako with the tied up agent laying in the middle of the bay still unconscious. With everyone in Shepard took off across the bridge not bothering to trade many shots with the geth and simply driving over the ones that weren't put down right away. Once we passed the first checkpoint though was when we started to get after them.
Shepard did some donuts and some tricky shit with the booster and thruster. Damn near threw us off the skyway but never did, didn't stop me from finding an 'oh shit' handle next to me and gripping on tight. It took us just a couple of minutes for him to finish up all the geth around the bridge and when he did he parked it right outside the door.
Stepping out of the Mako I made sure to be the last one out, retying the knots on the prisoner. With everyone out Shepard addressed us quickly and in the same way when we found out we could take them down non-lethally. It really boiled down to if it's human use the grenade, if it's not, kill it. And if absolutely necessary, only shoot to wound. With that said he motioned for Tali to open the door.
She stalked over to the panel and I'd be a liar if I didn't look at her ass, it was a nice one. When she reached the panel she looked over at us and nodded. Shepard nodded back and the giant door swooshed open.
There were several colonists in front of us behind a makeshift barricade. They never got the chance to fire their weapons before Garrus had thrown a grenade and it exploded right on top of them knocking them out. However, they weren't my concern. My concern came in the form of Thorian Creepers, looking to be built out of moss and grass with acid dribbling down their bodies as they ran full tilt at us.
Not bothering to wait for an order I opened fire on the creepers, the others joined soon after. Pinpointing their heads with precise shots they went down without a problem. What was the problem was that they didn't stop and every time they went down they exploded in a shower of acid covering everything within three feet of them. Eventually one got close enough to me that when it exploded parts of it hit my shield confirming for me and the others it was indeed acid.
"They explode into acid. Be careful," I shouted out. The others got the memo and switched to anything that wasn't a shotgun.
By the time we had finished killing all the creepers in the garage the entire place looked like a coffin of acid. Somehow, the colonists Garrus had taken out weren't hit at all and were perfectly fine. Thankfully, the acid dissolved quickly and we made our way up the ramp to where the entrance to Zhu's Hope was.
There we found more colonists behind two barricades, 8 to be precise with four behind each barricade, and only a few creepers. On Shepard's orders we took cover and waited for the creepers to get clear of the colonists before opening fire on them. With no shields or armor and being mostly plant-based, the creepers were easy picking for us.
When the creepers were all down Wrex and I primed grenades and threw them at the two stacks of colonists. Each grenade taking all the colonists out. Pushing up to the entrance of the colony we immediately began to back off as creepers rushed out with a few colonists behind them. Priming another grenade I put my baseball skills to use and arced the grenade over the creepers and exploded it in the face of the colonists. They shrieked out in surprise and pain but it wasn't the time or place to worry about that as the creepers pushed us.
As they pushed we had a fighting retreat backing up and firing at the same time as they came at us until we got to the barricades the colonists had set up. Using them we poured down fire on the creepers but they just didn't seem to stop. An endless stream of them just kept coming out and we kept taking them out.
With how we were set up and the professionalism of everyone, none ever even got close. Still, from the sheer numbers they threw at us and for how long they did so it started to get exhausting. That much mental focus, strenuous holding of a constantly vibrating rifle and overall tiredness from assaulting the Geth HQ and everything earlier started to wear some of us down. Shepard, myself, Garrus, Wrex and Ashley were faring the best but the others were starting to fatigue. Kaiden and Liara the most because of all the strain their biotics were putting on them.
As all things must though, it eventually ended. Looking at the clock on the inside of my helmet it indicated that we had been in this one spot for an hour and a half mowing down a continuous wave of Creepers. If that didn't deserve a drink then I don't know what would.
When they finally stopped we didn't move for another 15 minutes as we waited for more creepers to come at us but none did. With that 15 minutes over we pushed through the entrance and were instantly fired upon from three different angles. We pushed back the way we came and Shepard made a few pointed gestures before myself, Wrex and he prepped a grenade; we had the best shields.
With his plan made to the others Wrex, Shepard and myself rushed through the entrance with the others staying in half cover suppressing the colonists. As we each ran at our assigned colonist groups we flung our grenades. All three exploding within moments of each other and each hitting their targets. The colonists collapsed at their positions and left us alone.
With that we picked up the pace and slowly made our way through the entirety of the colony. The small size of the colony making this easier than it should've for us but also worse. Confined places with a no-kill order in place wasn't fun and took longer than it would've. We had to make sure we were just suppressing them and not shooting as we threw grenades at them.
I ran out of mine rather quickly but the others kept giving me theirs. My guess was that Shepard noticed that I had a cannon for an arm and was just as accurate*. Either way because of the small corridors and areas it was hard to push entrenched positions. Once we found ourselves in a particular pinch and about to be pincered Shepard gave Wrex the go ahead to charge.
Wrex did so with glee and I followed him with a grenade primed in each hand. The colonist that met Wrex first would definitely have a concussion but would survive, probably. The rest were knocked out by the grenades. After Wrex and I cleared the way Tali and Kaiden threw grenades at the ones trying to pincer us and on a lucky bounce got all of them.
After that, it wasn't that much longer until we finished up and all the colonists were passed out from the grenades. With that done we formed back up in the center and were in the process of deciding what to do next when Fai Dan came around the corner of the shelter with a gun in hand. It isn't pointed at us but all of us raise ours in response.
"It wants… It wants… It wants me to kill you," Fai Dan struggle out as he began to raise his gun. "It hurts so much. It hurts… It hurts… but I can't. I can't do it." he continued still raising the gun but past us to point at his temple.
"Please. Shepard. The console," he gestured to one about 30 feet from us. "Use it… use it… Save us. Shepard… Save us," and he went to pull the trigger.
I pulled mine before he could pull it fully and the bullet crashed into his gun but it didn't matter. The gun still went off and the bullet still fired into his head. Rushing forward to his downed body I checked for a pulse but found none. Guess there wasn't anything to be done but I still hung my head in shame. He was someone that could have been saved but I failed and I hung my head in shame at finding no pulse.
Feeling a hand on my shoulder I looked up to see Wrex standing above me with Tali right behind him and Shepard next to her. "You did what you could, kid," Wrex said with little emotion in his voice but it was there. More than I expected him to show.
He gently pulled me back from the body and patted me on the shoulder before going back to where everyone else was. Tali came up to me and tried to put her hand on my shoulder but I waved her off. She looked slightly dejected for a second before she steeled herself and put her hand on my shoulder. We didn't say anything and just stared into my eyes, even through the helmet I could feel her eyes on mine. Then she nodded and left back to the group.
Looking back at Fai Dan's body I knew that feeling anything in this situation was bad for the mission. It was going to happen no matter what and you can't stop everything. No matter how good I get and how hard I fight saving everyone just won't happen.
Feeling a little burning sensation in my pocket I reached down and unzipped it. Reaching in I grabbed the three coins and looked at them in my hand. There was a feeling of longing, forgiveness and sadness coming from them… Free will means you can't stop everything, can't save everyone, can't be perfect. I wish it could be different.
Shaking my head and turning away from the body I walked back over Shepard and the others pocketing the coins. They had already worked on the console and it had already opened showing us the way to the Thorian. Time to get the job done.
"You good Wynne?" Shepard asked me as I joined them. I just nodded my head. "Good. Tali, Garrus, and Ashley. You will be staying here, look over the colonists and get ready for possible retaliation from the Geth. The rest of you, we're Oscar Mike in 15. Gather what you can and get some food in you."
With the time allotted to me I checked over my AR and omni-tool to make sure everything was in functioning order. After that was all said and done I jogged back to the Mako and grabbed the now awake and struggling prisoner. Knocking him out again I slung him over my shoulder and brought him to the Normandy. Radioing them beforehand there were guards there already. Handing the guy off to them they silently went back into the ship and took him to the Brig.
Jogging back to the colony center I still had just about 5 minutes. It got spent drinking water from my camelback and sitting on my ass. At the exact 15 minute mark Shepard had said he shouted for us to form up and then we went into the lair of the Thorian. Shepard and I are in the lead with Wrex and Kaiden behind us and Liara bringing up the rear.
It was a relatively okay way down. All of it was stairs and along the way there were a few geth including hoppers. None lasted long however and we ripped them apart. The part that made it weird was just the fact that it was so eerily silent. No sounds at all and nothing came to greet/attack us after the initial geth.
As we found the last bit of stairs and walked through the door we were greeted by the sight of the Thorian. Let me tell you right now the game does it no justice. Now, visually it was about the same except that literally every inch of the thing was covered in this clear mucus-like ooze. Generally giving it the look of a FUCKED up hentai monster, it was disgusting.
That being said it had absolutely nothing on the smell. It was pungent and disgusting in every way possible as it assaulted our noses, even Wrex looked disgusted. Like a manure farm that had all been put into a singular barn with no wind or openings to disperse it. All during a Texas summer. Everyone except Wrex gagged including myself and if I hadn't visited farms and worked briefly for a rancher there's no doubt in my mind I would've thrown up in my helmet. The very definition of disgusting.
Then it puked out the green Asari. Now, it wouldn't be hard to go through the whole conversation but it just wasn't worth it. You couldn't convince the Thorian in the game and if anything the thing was more belligerent in real life. Basically skipped all pleasantries and demanded that we bow down to the thing or die. We, of course, answered in kind. Shepard hit the green Asari with a Throw and sent it wailing over the edge.
After that, a shit ton of creepers came out of the doorway to our right and we unloaded our whole arsenal on them. Thank god they didn't have armor or shields and were squishy.
Once we had finished them off we went into the room and saw one of the things tendrils stuck to the wall. Shepard didn't waste any time and ordered us to blow the thing to hell. We, in turn, didn't hesitate either and followed the order.
Within the span of five seconds, we had destroyed the tendril and the Thorian let out a high-pitched wail that was so loud from how close it was that it made me deaf. Everyone else seemed to have the same problem but we shook it off, Liara having the worst of it but Kaiden supported her. Still, it let us know that we were on the right track and so we followed the only path available to us. Forward.
Marching up the stairs as a group we slowly made our way past incoming creepers to the next landing where we saw another tendril. This time it was protected by another Asari and few creepers. The Asari was a problem though as she could use biotics even though, to my knowledge, she was a clone. Kaiden and myself got sent into a wall together and it wasn't pleasant. Specifically, because I cushioned the blow hitting the wall first and then Kaiden hit me.
Still, she was taken down as Liara caught her in a singularity that allowed Wrex to blast her to nothingness with a carnage round. The creepers with her were dealt with mostly by Shepard; Kaiden and I helped after we recovered from meeting the wall. Once that was done we blew away the tendril. This resulted in another ear-splitting scream from the Thorian but this time we were ready for it; still, it hurt.
Once that was done we went onto the third and final one. Marching through and past a myriad of creepers and two more biotic clones of the Asari. At least this time no one got sent into a wall. Didn't make the job easier but we got it done.
Finding the final tendril we came across the most creepers we had seen since our hour and a half hold out earlier and three green Asari. If it wasn't for biotic combos being a thing we wouldn't have made it out of there. Liara had immediately caught 1 of the green Asari and several of the creepers in one of her Singularities and I hit it with an overload.
The effect was absolutely devastating on the creepers. Blowing them apart and over half of them went over the edge on the first blast, plus the green Asari was atomized. Seeing its effect protecting Liara so she could do another singularity was our immediate first priority. We formed up in front of her and protected her from all attacks. Shepard going so far as to tank an exploding creeper, he wasn't any worse for wear but his armor was done for.
With us protecting her it allowed her to recharge and get another singularity out, this time catching both of the remaining Asari's and with my Overload, they were eviscerated. The second singularity basically wiped out the remaining resistance and it was only a couple of creepers that remained. We took care of them in a swift fashion before unloading on the final tendril.
The Thorian gave a final ear-splitting screech and we all watched it fall all the way to the bottom of the casm that was the building. Looking over the edge it takes around half a minute for the inevitable crash to sound. When it does I do the math in my head and it fell just about 2000 feet, roughly. It kind of bums me out because I wanted to check for a pulse, with my rifle, but at that distance, it wouldn't be worth it or satisfying.
With the Thorian we made our way back down the way we came. We were all quite frankly tired from this whole mission so the walk was more of a disgruntled slow step as we made our way back. It didn't get much better when we got back to the first room.
As we entered the first room again one of the grotesque pods on the wall popped and a blue Asari dropped down. We all hefted our weapons and prepared to fire but none of us did. Instead, we watched as the Asari hopped happily around not noticing us at all proclaiming her excitement at finally being free.
None of us were in the mood to deal with her so as grunts did we looked at Shepard. Being a grunt has its perks sometimes and not dealing with this type of shit is one of them. Shepard let out an exasperated sigh before approaching the woman.
"Who the hell are you," he stated in that tired voice that just screamed: please just let me shoot you and this be over with. The Asari was taken aback and spun around to look at us all, adopting a sheepish green she responded.
"My name is Shiala," she answered in the usual haughty Asari tone. "I was one of Matriach Benezia's retinue. Though not anymore as she sold me Saren and he, in turn, sold me to the creature."
"Why?" again the tired voice from Shepard.
"Why what?" Shepard just raised his gun in response. Shiala's face turned frightened for a second realizing the situation she was in. She corrected herself quickly and responded in short order.
"The Thorian was around when the Protheans were. I was made to meld with it and then give the information to Saren, it apparently helped him understand the Prothean language. I don't know why he would want that," we all exchanged quick glances behind the two.
"Give me the same."
Shepard demanded and knowing she didn't really have an option she approached him and put her hands on his head before saying the words. There was an uneasy silence for a couple of seconds and then they broke apart. Shepard staggered for a second before catching himself and waving Liara and Kaiden off. Wrex and I had just trained our hands-on Shiala who now had her hands in the universal 'I surrender' position.
"You get anything out of that Shepard?" I asked still holding the gun at Shiala.
"Bits and pieces yeah. The vision from the beacon makes a bit more sense but it's still all jumbled," he responded as he stood back up straight and righted himself. Looking back to Shiala he addressed her. "Now, why is the Matriarch following Saren?"
"I believe she set out with good intentions. There were rumors of him going down a darker path a year or two ago and she set out to correct that on Tevos' orders. Saren was too good an asset to lose apparently," she shrugged before continuing. "But Saren's ship, the giant one, is different."
"How so?"
"It feels alive. Being inside it the thing feels alive. The longer you stay the more you find yourself agreeing with anything Saren says and the voices," she shook her head at that making a face remembering her time on the ship. "It whispers to you. Sweet nothings promising power, influence, and everything else. Everything your heart desires could be yours as long as you follow it and obey. By the time a few of us figured out we needed to get the hell out of there it was too late. Benezia was already controlled and we were too frightened to disobey."
"And you're free of that now?"
"Yes. Before even off the ship the whispers were still there, no matter how far away we were. Now, there's nothing," she spared a glance over the edge where the Thorian had fallen before continuing. "Despite my reluctant imprisonment that thing probably just saved my life."
There was a tense silence for several seconds before Shepard sighed and responded. "I believe you… but now what do we do with you. You helped cause irreparable harm to the colony and extinguished hundreds of lives. Anything to say?" at that he hefted his gun and pointed it right at her face. She looked at him all that was on her face was acceptance on her outcome, whatever it may be, and then she spoke.
"Despite everything that happened and was seemingly out of my control, they were still my decisions… I can't bring back those lives but now. Now I can help rebuild. I can help the colony get back on its feet," the silence that followed was palpable.
"Then that is what you will do," that was all Shepard said as he put his gun away and walked past the surprised Asari.
We all followed Shepard past Shiala and made our way back up the stairs again. For being some of the elites in the galaxy you would've never expected us to look at stairs with such contempt but we did and we hated every second we were on them. They hated us back as Wrex, Liara and myself all tripped up at once and Kaiden twice as we went back up them. Shepard is the only one not to fall.
As we finally exited the stairs we spent a few brief moments talking with the now awake colonists. Specifically with Dr. Baynham and told her about how Shiala would be helping them recover. Dr. Baynham thanked us for all the effort but we just waved it off not bothering to go any farther. A few more of the colonists came up and thanked us as we made our way to the Normandy. We waved off all of their thanks saying that it was our job.
Seeing that we were about to be swamped by thankful colonists we just went straight to the Normandy and got in. Shepard got the short end of the stick again as commander and had to talk to all the colonists again. It took him about another 2 hours before he was done and when he finally got into the Normandy he was grumpy.
Especially when he saw all of us eating lethargically in the mess hall. At least my makeup was on, just basic eye contacts, eye shadow, and a couple of fake scars but the beard that was starting to set in was real and now that I focused on it, itchy.
He didn't join us right away and instead went to his room and grabbed his datapad before joining us at the table. None of us said a word as we ate and Shepard typed on the datapad. Hell, when we were all done he didn't even bother asking for us to go to the conference room and just did the debriefing at the table.
It was quick since we were all there and nothing more needed to be said. Once that was finished he sent his mission report to Joker who forwarded it to the Council. A couple of minutes after that and continued chewing on newly acquired food Joker announced that the Council was on the line and waiting for Shepard. He gave a defeated sigh before standing up from the table still chewing on a ration bar and made his way to the conference room.
"Today fucking sucked," Kaiden said allowed as soon as Shepard was out of earshot and we all just grunted in affirmative.
*POV: Commander Shepard
The council meeting went as usual. Spartacus was a snide dickhead trying to slight me at every turn. Tevos was the peacemaker trying her best to be her usual serene self, oozing smugness and confidence born from being from the most politically powerful race in the galaxy. Then Valern in his usual noncommittal way didn't pick a side and just didn't give a fuck unless it was scientific. And the Thorian was.
He was mad that we couldn't be bothered to save the thing or at least gather samples. Like he wasn't about to send a contingent of STG operators to do just that, he just didn't want to do the paperwork. Besides Exo Geni, really just Dr. Baynham, had sent all relative data to the Alliance and the Council. They had plenty of info on the damn thing. Fucking hentai plant.
Then Sparatus got after me for saving the Human colony. Like that wasn't a part of the mission, who gives a shit if they were Human, Asari, Turian or any other of the races. Saving lives was a part of my job description. Couldn't save Fai Dan though, pity; he seemed like a good man. His words would be on my mind for a long time too.
The meeting finally ended after they had accepted that my course of action was the only viable option for the scenario. They did ask about Shiala and Saren but my answers didn't really have them singing in joy. A live ship? Couldn't really expect them to react any different than adamant refusal to believe my words. At least they accepted that it came from Shiala and Tevos and Sparatus agreed that making her stay to help the colony was the right call. Valern wanted to run some tests on her but we all know what that means for Salarians. Dissect and see what happened.
With the meeting finally ended I called for Joker to set a course for the Citadel. We needed to restock and refuel and get new things for the ship, I couldn't be bothered to remember them at the moment. Tali would so that's all that matters. Anyway, Joker informed me it would be about a four day journey back to the Citadel. With that, I went to my room, took a shower and then flopped onto my bed passing out as soon as my head touched the pillows.
Waking up was a pleasant affair but it was marred by the fact that my pillow was still wet. Getting up I threw on my officer's clothes and made my way to the mess. A steaming cup of black coffee awaited me and any in my way would be tactically removed. With force if need be.
Walking into the mess the only one that was there was Wynne. He had a new set of makeup on today too, blue hair this time around with vibrantly purple eyes, several small scars and a fake burn scar covering the right side of his face below the eyes. He was at least inventive in his makeup and never repeated himself. Currently, he was reading something from his omni-tool and had a cup of OJ in his free hand.
"Morning Commander," he greeted while he drank his cup of OJ.
"Morning Wynne. Anything interesting?" I asked as I walked by and grabbed a breakfast MRE and made myself a cup of black as midnight coffee.
"Going over the data the guy paid me to get?" that was news to me.
"What data and what guy?"
"The one currently in our brig commander," yeah that makes sense.
"What's on it?"
"A lot about the Thorian mostly but it highlights the spores it used to control the colonists."
"And let me guess, how to actually utilize it in the field."
"Bingo," I just sighed as he said that. Of course.
"I want you to talk to him soon. See if you can get anything out of him before we turn him over to Ai."
"I can do it as soon as you're done here," he says as he finished his OJ and put his helmet back on.
"Not yet. I want the ground team there," he swiveled his helmeted head to look at me for a long silence before responding.
"It won't be pretty sir."
"I understand. No maiming," he just nodded and left me to my devices.
This would be interesting to say the least. Once he left I sent out an order to the guards to escort the prisoner to the interrogation room. Never thought the thing would get any use during this deployment but it pays to have it. The Normandy was a stealth shuttle after all, if it couldn't do interrogations what was the point of having a stealth shuttle.
Not long after he left the rest of the ground team started to trickle in. Most looked still looked exhausted from yesterday's mission. That changed after they got some coffee and food in them but they still didn't look the best.
They chatted in idle serenity amongst themselves and recounted tales of how the mission went. Most of it revolved about when we were split up from each other at the beginning and at the end. A lot of the stories were basic battle stories and that was it. Nothing special.
However, towards the end of their breakfast, I announced that we would be watching Wynne interrogate the guy he picked up. They all were interested in that though Ashley and Kaiden let out exasperated sighs. They didn't like Wynne but he was a wildcard, the very definition of one. For those two who here Alliance through and through it made sense.
Sending a message to Wynne to go to the interrogation room and the location attached to the message we all head out. We stood on the other side of the two-way mirror and watched the man in the chair squirm for several seconds before Wynne opened the door and walked inside sitting down on the opposite side of the man and took off his helmet.
*POV: Torchbearer
"Smoke?" I offered the man a cigarette. He took it and I lit it for him.
"So this an interrogation?" he asks calmly as he smoked the cig.
"It could be but I'd rather it be a friendly chat. Much simpler that way and if not then I'll be the one cleaning up the blood," the man paled for a fraction of a second before he steeled himself.
"This is an Alliance vessel. You wouldn't."
"Correction. It's a council vessel for the time being with a Spectre on board," I wagged my finger in his face. He could make this so simple or not. His choice.
"You're blu-" that's as far as he got before my hand shot out and punched him in the throat. He coughed violently with some smoke coming out of his mouth from the cig. He had, unfortunately, dropped the cig too after I hit him.
"You were saying?" he just looked me steely eyed and said nothing more.
"So," I continued. "Cerberus. Nasty bunch, why work for them?"
"The pay is good."
"Fair. How about this then. You tell me everything you know about them and we both walk out of here squeaky clean. What say you?"
"I don't know shit about Cerberus besides the fact that they're fighting for Humanity and its place in the Galaxy."
"Cerberus doesn't give a shit about humanity. All they care about is Cerberus. As long as they're on top they don't care."
"Bah," he tried to spit at me but I just leaned to the side dodging the spit. "Cerberus fights for humanity because the Alliance doesn't give a shit and bows to the council's every whim."
"Again, Cerberus doesn't give a shit about humanity. Just Cerberus. Though, I do agree with the part about the Alliance, weak-willed shits with people in power who don't give a shit about the people and only themselves. Then again, what government isn't like that at this point?"
"So why do you work with the Xeno's anyway? They'll try and backstab us the moment they get the opportunity."
"Of course they will, politically at least, but everyone's been doing that since the beginning of time. All the way back to the empires of Rome and beyond. Political backstabbing is a way of life everywhere. We're getting off-topic though. Cerberus, what do you know?"
"I don't know shit. Fuck you, ya filthy Xeno lover."
I just sighed at that before standing up and walking over to the door I entered from. Bringing up a program on my omni-tool I force locked the door. It was a program straight from Ceelo and wouldn't be opening until either Tali spent an hour plus on it or I opened it. With that done I went back down and sat in front of the man bringing up another program on my omni-tool. Scanning the man and finding the implant near the base of his skull I smiled. A recording memory ship. Used by smugglers and assassins mostly but also vulnerable to a lot, not only thievery, if one knew what they were doing. Loading up the final program I looked back at the man.
"Okay, here's how it's gonna go," I said as I activated the program on it's lowest setting. "Feel that tingle at the base of your skull. The one where the implant is." I gave him a wicked smile as his face went deathly pale and he just nodded. "You can either tell me what you know about Cerberus or I'll just rip it out of the chip and leave you to become a vegetable the rest of your life."
"You wouldn't," I just turned up the charge on the program and it sent a shock directly into his brain. He screamed out in pain for a couple seconds before I turned it back down.
"I would," it was a game of chicken and he thought he could win. As I went for another voltage he didn't say anything and screamed out again. This time it was longer and worse than the first time. I kept up the sadistic smile.
"Shall we go for round three?" I asked as he came back to his senses.
"No… I'll tell you what you want," his voice came out defeated and hoarse.
"Perfect. Now, do you know where any of their bases are and any operations?"
"Not many, most pertain to the Thorian and their experiments on it."
"Excellent. That's all that will be needed. Now, where are they?"
He would spend the next 20 some odd minutes telling me everything he knows about Cerberus and their operations. There were a lot more than in the game and from just the snippets the guy knew nothing was good. Torture, manipulation, experimentation and quite literally everything else. If it wasn't so morbid it would actually be impressive how diverse they were in their work. Still, fucked up as all hell.
When he finished telling me everything he looked at me in defeat and just sighed. He probably knew he was never going to get anywhere after this. If we gave him to Ai he was dead, if we set him free he would run for a bit and then be dead. The guy didn't have any options but that's what happens when you play the game and lose.
"Final question," I asked and he just sighed.
"What could you possibly want to know? I've told you everything."
"Bear with me. Now, on your guess how many aspects of human society does Cerberus have a presence in?" I knew the answer but this was more of a show for Shepard and the others.
"Everything. From mom and pop shops to the biggest markets. From the lowest grunt to the highest ranked official; military, political and otherwise. Hell, I wouldn't doubt it if they had people on this ship."
"Thank you for your cooperation," I then stood up, grabbed my helmet and left the room.
Shepard and the others weren't outside waiting for me as I exited. Acting on a hunch I went to the adjacent door. Opening it they were all standing there in different states. Shepard looked absolutely livid. Kaiden, Ashley, Liara and Garrus all looked openly stunned at what they had just heard. Tali was furiously typing on her omni-tool and looked to be in another world but I could tell from her body language she was scared. And Wrex, well Wrex had his hands hanging limp at his side and his mouth open. He summarised the situation eloquently with his next words.
"Fuck me."
Remember y'all. The game never ends and this is just the beginning.
Be safe and if ya can review. It helps me better my writing and I want to bring y'all the best story possible.