MASS EFFECT CHASM: CHAPTER 19
Thane sat in the black leathery plush chair in Huerta's waiting room. The large windows gave patients a elegant view of the Presidium's pristine white layout with the selective eye-appealing greenery. One could almost sit for hours and bask in the sight. He was a few minutes early for his breathing therapy session. Several wall monitors displayed various news channels. The one closest to him had a teal blue asari in her maiden stage. She was from Ilium's broadcast and commented on concern over comm channels in the Harsa system becoming dark. This included the batarian homeworld of Khar'shan. There was speculation that due to the relay incident of Bahak that the batarians were isolating themselves from the rest of the galaxy. The Citadel Council faced growing petitions from concerned politicians and the safety of their planets. Many demanded that the Alliance surrender Commander Shepard to the Council to answer for her terrorism charges. Thane furrowed his brow as he listened in. This profoundly troubled him. The Citadel Council would not quickly take action. Councilor Anderson argued against the accusation and demanded that Shepard be tried by the Alliance. The aging ex-officer tried to redirect the focus on the imminent Reaper attack. Enough vocal opinions could have many take matters into their own hands if the batarians were planning an all-out open war against all races. It would be suicidal for the batarians to initiate such a thing. Though sometimes emotions and tempers trumped logic. "Entropy…." He sighed. His obsidian black eyes caught a glimpse of Kolyat exiting the elevator. "Kolyat," He motioned his son to his location.
The young darker green drell moved over, donning a C-Sec uniform. "Father, I hoped I would get to see you before your appointment."
"I am waiting to be called back." Thane smiled warmly. It was moving him that his son made an effort to see him. He did provide his son the times of his appointments at Huerta. He desperately wanted to be part of his son's life as much as he could during his final days.
Kolyat paused to look over at the same wall monitor. "I guess you heard the news."
"Yes, it is very disturbing. It's not like the batarians to go that rogue. Even if they are desperate."
His son looked around to make sure no one was listening to their conversation and then moved to sit next down to his father. His voice lowered, "Chatter came across to Bailey. The Alliance is reporting an influx of incoming batarian vessels at the Sol relay."
"An invasion so soon?" Thane didn't like where this was heading. Things were moving more rapidly than he thought. The media didn't pick up on this yet. The Alliance was smart to block this from the public for now. It would cause mass panic.
Kolyat shook his head. "Not warships. Merchants and passenger vessels. Packed with civilians. Many hysterical and injured. The Alliance is investigating. A lot of their radios are silent." His son's voice shook by fear. "I don't know what's going on."
"Neither do I. We should remain calm until all the pieces come together."
"Any word from Shepard?"
"No, not since her incarceration. The Alliance blocked all communication to and from her. My messages to her fall on deaf ears. I have sent copies of my transmissions to my private account as a backup."
"And your treatment?" His son switched topics briefly with hope in his voice.
"They prolong whatever life I have left." Thane coughed some as the engaging dialogue was taking away more needed oxygen.
Kolyat patted his arm gently. "Take it easy, father."
Thane moved his hand away. "Do not take pity, my son. I welcome death. The goddess, Kalahira, will help my soul once it leaves this body."
An alert beep interrupted everyone in the waiting room as all the displays switched to a news flash. The screen first was a dark red, with "ALERT" in bold letters in the center. Then a few seconds later, it went to a male turian C-Sec officer. "This is a station news alert. Earth has been attacked by the Reapers. I repeat, Earth has been attacked by the Reapers. Several Sol satellites have gone offline and the Alliance is moving all units to intercept. The Human Embassy is now on lockdown as a precaution. The Council is holding a private session and has canceled all hearings for the time being with no definitive date on rescheduling. May the spirits watch over our human allies and to one another." The screen moved back to the previous airings. An eerie hush washed over the waiting room and a chill crept in the air. Seconds later murmurs escalated into raised levels of alarm and dread. Some waiting patients, mostly humans, fled to the elevators in disarray. Thane remained seated in a stunned state, then he clasped his hands together and bowed his head, "Goddess Arashu, please watch over Siha. Guide her with your protection. Help her reach this one."
Kolyat joined him with a bowed head, then spoke up once his father was done. "Father, are you leaving to go there?"
Thane shook his head. "No. I will remain here. I fear that my body is not able to join her in this fight."
"I will get with Captain Bailey and try to get communication out to the Alliance." His son rose from his seat. "Please take care of yourself."
The Kodiak shuttle launched from the Normandy and descended to the archives on Mars. Inside the craft, Steve Cortez piloted Shepard, Kaidan, and James. Kaidan sat in his seat as he stared up at Shepard, who was standing near the door with her hand grasping the ceiling rail. The woman before him never met his eyes since their reunion on Earth. He saw her only minutes before her hearing and the initial attack on their planet. Earth was burning and the Reapers breached all their defenses. Thousands were dying by the second. Their orders were to go to the Mars Archives on the direction of Admiral Hackett. That was their first stop before going to the Citadel to speak with the Council. Anderson opted to stay down in the hell that consumed Alliance HQ. Shepard pleaded for him to join her on the Normandy when Joker came to their rescue. She saw the answer in his eyes before he verbally gave her one. He was determined to stay put and do what he could there. He was a soldier first, and politician second. Going with her wouldn't do them any good and the troops needed a strong figurehead like Captain David Anderson.
The woman before Alenko seemed changed. More than her appearance. During her incarceration, she cut her hair short to where its length was above the shoulder line. A fire rose in her. She put James Vega in his place when the marine bucked her order to head to Mars. He argued that they needed to remain on Earth. Not a good start to their comradery. Alenko finally decided to break their silence. "You, uh, cut your hair…" He even cringed after he finished. What a lame way to start!
The comment caught her off-guard and she glanced his way. "I needed a change…may as well try this. I haven't had short hair since my youth."
"It looks good on you…," He blushed, realizing that they were among company. "Mam."
This stirred a smile from her. "Thank you, Major."
James still grumbled under his breath about heading to the fourth planet in line from the Sun. "I'm not a goddamn gopher…"
"Stifle it, Lieutenant," Shepard turned on him brashly. "You're a marine. Act like it." Vega turned away and sat back down on the opposite side of the shuttle.
"Approaching the drop point, Commander," Cortez called to them from his seat. The man glanced over at Vega with a look of concern before returning to the monitors. "Keep your head in the game, Mr. Vega."
"Aye aye, Madre." The muscular marine bantered back to him.
The heat of the fire could be felt against his armor from the smoldering crashed shuttle. Dr. Eva, a Cerberus infiltrator, attempted to flee the archives with the data extracted from the prothean beacon. Shepard and her squad took off after her, but the operative moved way too swiftly and put a great distance between them. She ran faster than humanely possible. She hopped in a Cerberus shuttle and took off just as they cleared the platform. All hope appeared to be lost, with the Illusive Man winning the game. Out of nowhere, James Vega flew the Kodiak hot and heavy in after stealing it from under Cortez back on the Normandy. The marine was sent back once they came upon Dr. Liara T'Soni there at the archives. She was there on special orders as well from Fifth Fleet. The hot-headed marine steered the stolen vessel on a collision course towards the Cerberus shuttle till it met its intended target. Dr. Eva's transport spun out of control and crashed, nearly taking out Shepard and her team.
Fuming at the reckless stunt, Shepard angrily waved Vega to land the craft so they could board. She then looked over to see Kaidan helping Liara up from the ground. A few pieces of debris hit the asari in the right leg, causing her to limp. Suddenly, the door to the burning shuttle bolted off by an unknown force and on the other side stood what remained of Dr. Eva. The synthetic skin melted off by the inferno temperatures revealing the mech's exoskeleton. The flames licked at the robot's bod,y though produced very little damage. Its hollow glowing blue eyes stared right at Alenko and Liara. Turning towards their foe, Alenko shoved Liara out of harm's way and unholstered his sidearm in one swift motion. Aiming, he fired off two rounds. Both hit dead on, though it didn't faze Dr. Eva. Instead, the mech singled him out with a charge attack. Feeling the adrenaline kick in as his heart pounded in his chest, he turned his head back only slightly to catch a glimpse of Zalena. "Stay back!" He then fired three more rounds on Eva. The robot kept charging and within seconds, it was on top of him. Its metallic arm grabbed his face and he could feel its razor-sharp solid alloy fingers grabbing his helmet, puncturing the layers. The fingers tightened down on his head, squeezing it like a vice. Then he felt his feet lift off the ground as the robot picked him up as if he weighed five pounds. He struggled to break free, however, it was futile. Kaidan grabbed at the mech's arm in a desperate attempt to get out. He thought he heard the mech talk to someone, but the pounding in his head overpowered it. Suddenly, the mech slammed him up against a hard surface. He lost his bearings so he wasn't sure where he was. Excruciating pain hit the back of his skull, radiating down his cervical spine. Eva recoiled and then pushed him again. This time, he heard the crack of the helmet, or was it his skull? He became dizzy and disoriented. "Kaidan!" Zalena's voice cried out to him.
He felt another impact with the surface. Kaidan could almost see Zalena's face in his mind, and her voice echoing over and over. His world fell black.
