Following the Trail
Together with Alec and Liara, I waited for an update from Kasumi as she continued to shadow Tolan in Armali. The waiting was driving me nuts, but I refused to move away from the terminal in case I missed the anticipated meeting between the Salarian and the Blades of Retribution. A few calls came from the Normandy telling me that a few more of the old crew had arrived, and it did help to boost my morale. Liara, Garrus, Miranda, Ashley, Javik, Jack, Kasumi, EDI, Zaeed, Wrex, Grunt, Samara and James were now all accounted for.
The new arrivals were now waiting back on the Normandy for the next time we had to move out. I hoped that time would be very soon, but it took more than an hour before anything was sent by Kasumi. As soon as the screen blinked, I opened up the incoming message and we all saw a live vid feed that the elusive thief was sending us. Liara could not make out a location from the surroundings, but it appeared that the meeting was being held in a part of Armali that was still little more than piles of rubble.
Kasumi was a short distance behind Tolan, no doubt cloaked, and I saw the Salarian make a sharp turn into a building that was only half standing. At one time, it may have been a shopping centre before the Reapers did a number on it. Though some of the walls and a section of the roof were still standing, they looked like they could give way at any second. However, as Kasumi followed Tolan around the corner, I saw the back end of a shuttle sticking out from the back of the building where the walls had actually collapsed, the scorch marks where the Reaper's beam had struck the ground still plain to see. I typed a quick message to Kasumi,
"Tracer on shuttle."
Kasumi moved her Omni tool as if giving a nod to tell us that she had received the message. Tolan might not have been an option for putting a tracer on, but perhaps the Blades would not be quite as thorough as the former STG officer.
Kasumi, silent as a shadow, tailed Tolan to the meeting point where he was met by two figures masking their faces and in plain, unremarkable clothes with hoods up to cover all their features. Despite the precautions, it was quickly apparent to us that they were Asari given that their hoods extended further back than they would have on a Human woman, because of their scalp-crests. Other than that, however, there were no other discernible features that we could use. Tolan stopped short of them and it was clear that he was unhappy about something.
"We shouldn't be meeting at a place like this," he grumped.
"Surely you made sure you weren't being followed," one of the Asari said mockingly.
"I always do," Tolan replied. I appreciated the small victory in Kasumi being able to track him so well without being discovered. She really was the best.
"Then there's nothing to worry about," the Asari said again.
"I'm running a voice recognition program to see if I can identify her," Liara said as she watched next to me, "but it sounds like she's using some kind of mouthpiece to distort her voice."
"If we had met at the location I suggested, then we would not even have to check in the first place," Tolan continued. The Asari waved aside the comment.
"You will appreciate that we cannot afford to trust such a… dangerous, enigmatic character such as yourself. You will deliver what we asked for?" She asked.
"Of course," Tolan sounded insulted. "It's packaged and ready to go, but I need to be assured that I'm getting what I want. Trust must go both ways after all."
In fascination, I looked on as the Asari produced a data pad and handed it to Tolan.
"You'll find what you're looking for at these coordinates," she said. "And when the time comes, you'll get the people for the job as well. I can't say that I like what this request implies, but if that's the price of your services…"
"It is!" Tolan said impatiently as he snatched the data pad from the Asari's grasp. "I don't care if you don't like it, just remember that both our causes will be served in one move."
"How could I forget," the Asari replied.
"Be more careful," Tolan warned them, "you almost screwed it up last time. You know there are already Spectres after you. I won't release my shipment to you until I've verified that my package is where you say it is. Understood?"
"Clearly," the Asari said with no emotion, her hands calmly clasped together in front of her. "May we both get what we're looking for."
The meeting ended and we watched from Liara's safe house as Kasumi slipped by the group to plant her tracer on the underside of the shuttle before the masked figures boarded and took off. She immediately got back on Tolan's tail and followed him again, at which point she turned the feed off and we found ourselves staring at a blank screen again.
"What did we learn there?" I asked aloud. "Didn't look like Tolan was asking for money for what he's doing."
"So, he does have other plans," Alec said. "Kasumi will keep following him and hopefully she'll be able to find out what it is that Tolan's getting as payment. He could be as big a threat as the Blades for all we know."
"Or worse," Liara said as she sorted through as many possible outcomes as she could.
"He's not the one who has Tali remember?" I pointed out. "The Blades, and Tolan, have to be stopped for definite, but I can't do that until I have Tali safe again."
"I know Scott, and I'm with you regardless," my Asari friend said with sympathy, "but we have to be ready to act in the event that either the Blades or Tolan make a move before we are able to rescue Tali."
I was about to argue with her, but stopped myself before I could open my mouth and say something that I would regret. My mind went to Tali, and I knew that she would want me to stop the enemy if they were about to begin an attack over saving her. She always had put others before her own needs. Just one of the many great things that I loved about her.
"There was no mention of Tali or a "special prisoner" in the meeting," Alec said.
"Maybe it has nothing to do with Tolan and whatever it is he wants," I said. At least I did not have to hate the Salarian for that alongside all the reasons that I already had. "We don't really have any other options than to wait for the tracer on the shuttle to give us a location, or for Kasumi to find out what Tolan's up to."
"The Blades shuttle is already heading out of Thessia's atmosphere, so I assume their business planet-side is finished," Liara said. "We should get back to the Normandy."
"I'll stay here and work with Kasumi, Commander," Alec said, "I think you've got enough people to chase the Blades down."
"Good idea," I said, "keep us in the loop."
"You're forgetting who I work for," Alec chuckled and motioned towards Liara as she headed outside. "Good luck, Scott! If I find anything at all that can help you, I'll send it your way."
"Same here," I told him. "Hope to work with you again soon."
I left Alec in the safe house and, together with Liara and Ashley, we found our shuttle and headed back to our ship, bringing everyone else up to speed on the journey off world. Joker was quick to swoop in and scoop the shuttle up while we hung in space. He then set a bearing that followed that of the Blades and took off in pursuit.
I played the footage that Kasumi had filmed of the meeting over and over again to myself. Each time the video played, I tried to listen and look for anything that we might have missed. I zoomed in on all the people present to try and get some sort of identification on the Asari who had spoken to Tolan. I ran programs to try and clear up her voice, removing the effects of her voice disguising equipment, but came up empty. When the data pad had been handed over to Tolan, I enlarged the image and scanned over it a thousand times to try and make out any kind of words or coordinates from it, but it was locked and probably keyed to Tolan's DNA. I watched the video and checked their surroundings for any other activity that might have been going on, such as the shadow of another person present that Kasumi may not have seen or, more likely, had ignored in favour of staying on task and filming the meeting.
However, nothing was working and eventually I admitted defeat and sunk back into the sofa in the lounge, nursing a drink that I had poured over an hour ago and had not touched once.
"May I come in?" Liara appeared in the doorway.
"You know you don't need to ask," I gave her a weak smile. Liara joined me and we sat for a few quiet moments.
"You know that we have made great progress, Scott," Liara said, her soft blue eyes searching mine. "Tolan's plans shall hopefully be uncovered and stopped, and we are hot on the heels of the Blades. We can end this soon."
"I know," I agreed with her, "but it's that thing where when you're nearing the end, you just want it to come all that quicker. This wasn't the plan for the peaceful life. I want us to get back to normal as soon as possible."
"Sometimes I think that normal isn't possible for people like us," Liara said reflectively. "I'm not sure what you believe, Scott, but most Asari believe in fate, to a degree. We believe that, for some people, the universe has much grander plans for them, no matter what it is they desire personally."
"So… that's everyone who ever set foot on the Normandy," I laughed.
"You joke, but that's what I believe," Liara said with certainty.
"Then it's either the best thing that ever happened to all of us… or the worst," I said without managing to hide my glumness.
Liara looked at me strangely, not believing those words that had just passed my lips. Her hand took a firm but caring grip of the back of my wrist and tried to get me to see sense.
"In the beginning, the team that you assembled to track down Saren was a jumble of random people that had never met, and yet we achieved the unthinkable together. Not once or even twice, but three times!" Liara exclaimed. "I think boarding the Normandy for the first time will rate highly among all the team's best experiences. And that is because of you, Scott. I hate to see you like this. I know that the mighty man who I followed through the darkest period in our galaxy's history is still there somewhere, this isn't the Scott I remember."
I leaned forward and cradled my head in my hands as I realised how stupid I was being,
"This isn't the man I remember either. What's wrong with me, Liara?"
"Nothing is wrong with you," she comforted me. "This is just not the kind of future you and Tali dreamed of when we destroyed the Reapers. The Blades have made it personal."
"Damn right they have!" I suddenly felt spurred by this and could no longer sit down as I felt the need to move, my thoughts churning in my head as I did so.
"Before they took Tali, the Blades were just another enemy that made their way onto the list. I could look at them as a soldier and know them for an enemy. Now… I've changed since the Reaper War, Liara. I can't just see them through the analytical, practical eyes of a soldier anymore. Now I'm a husband and could be a father…"
"You will be a father, Scott," Liara quickly corrected me. "Everyone here has sworn to get Tali back, and we will deliver."
"Thanks. I think that's what's bothering me most, or what's making me feel so odd on this mission. I'm viewing the enemy from all these different perspectives now, and I don't know how to sort the conflicting thoughts. With Tali still in danger, I can't think clearly."
I had calmed myself enough to sit again, though I still fidgeted. Liara remained quiet and respectful. Eventually I looked at her and let out the most pitiful laugh,
"Liara… new rule: If you catch me moping again, I want you to send Jack in here to kick my ass!"
"I might just do it myself," she grinned back playfully. Jack was without a doubt the most powerful Human biotic that I had ever seen, possibly even matching Samara in lethality. However, from months of having Liara fight by my side, I knew the Asari's biotic powers were more than strong enough to whip me into shape. We laughed together, and it felt good. I shook my head at my depressing attitude that I had brought with me on this mission,
"My brooding doesn't help Tali," I said almost in a whisper.
"And it doesn't help you," Liara caught what I said and finished the statement.
"Let's talk about something else then, please," I said and saw Liara's expression lighten a little. "How have you and Samantha been? I know you two are making it work with you being the Shadow Broker and all but… do you still manage to find time to be a couple?"
"Recent events have made it a little harder," Liara said and relaxed into the couch, "even before the Blades attacked you. But… I don't think I could do it without Sam. With all the secrets of the galaxy at my fingertips, I could get lost in them forever. Sam keeps me grounded. Sam reminds me that there are things outside of work that are to be enjoyed as well."
As Liara spoke happily about her girlfriend, I felt myself smiling. She was clearly more than content with her life with Sam by her side.
"So, are you alone still the Shadow Broker? Or does the Shadow Broker identity belong to both of you now?" I asked, part serious and part cheekily.
"I suppose we are the Shadow Broker now," Liara admitted.
"Is that your equivalent of marriage?" I teased. Liara's eyes dashed to me and there was the smallest flicker of a scold, until a broad smile appeared and she chuckled along with me.
"It could be the closest we get, unless we decide to just crash the whole system and walk away," she said.
"So… if Samantha asked you to marry her today, you think you would say yes?" I asked her. Liara mused the question over for a moment until her head began to slowly nod.
"Yes," she said. "I think I would. She is a wonderful, sweet, caring woman who I love dearly. Where I'm perhaps a bit serious these days…"
"These days?" I jibed which earned me a slap on the arm.
"As I was saying; where I'm serious she can bring fun back into our lives. And, seeing as I can get access to anything in my position, we can go wherever we like, whenever we like. All the best, most luxurious holiday locations and expensive restaurants just happen to have us appear in their bookings any time we feel like it."
"I knew it! I knew there had to be an abuse of power somewhere," I laughed, slapping my knee as my suspicions were validated.
"I could do far worse," Liara joked.
"Maybe you could get Garrus to put down his guns long enough to go on a date with a nice woman?"
"I'm the Shadow Broker… not a miracle broker," Liara replied without missing a beat.
My chat with Liara did much to lift me back up once again. It seemed like I needed to be brought back from the brink repeatedly, and this time I swore would be the last. Otherwise, Liara and Jack would kick my whining ass. As well as that, the Normandy family was now almost fully reunited now that everyone else had arrived. With all my closest friends around me again, there was a homely feeling around the ship. Joker called us up to the bridge a while after we made the jump to FTL and were hot in pursuit of the Blades shuttle.
"Sir, I think I know where they're going," Joker said with enthusiasm. "Based on their current course, we'll arrive at the planet of Sanves in the Lalessa System."
"Good work," I kneeled next to his pilot seat and watched as he brought up some data points about the Asari world. The Asari had been careful in their development of civilisation on Sanves, aware that rapid development could destroy entire ecosystems. They took their time with settling the planet and the vast, sprawling forests that covered the land masses of Sanves had been respected and were still very much a prominent feature of the world.
During the Reaper War, only Destroyers and ground troops had been sent to subdue and harvest the Asari population, no Reaper capital ships took part in the attack. By the time the Crucible fired, only a few of the settlements had been attacked and so there were still many places that Asari returning to the world could live while rebuilding took place in the affected towns and cities. There were a couple of vast oceans and a few inland seas on the green planet.
As we flicked through pages of vids and pictures of Sanves, I quickly realised that this was an absolutely gorgeous planet that I had to visit once all this business with the Blades and Tolan was over. The woodlands were so abundant with life and beauty, great waterfalls were common sights, and on the Northern continent stood the highest mountain on Sanves. It was surrounded by nothing but green, vibrant forests and rivers for hundreds of miles in every direction. To stand on the peak and look out at the surrounding world would be an experience that I could not pass up.
"I hope they're here for business and not just a holiday," Ashley said. "We need to know where to go once we reach Sanves."
"And, if they do have some kind of base or a network of contacts here, we need to be able to get all the information we can," I stated. "EDI, we monitor anyone they talk to, scan them, read their lips if we can't hear them talking. Everything, understood?"
"Of course, Commander," EDI replied. "I was able to listen to part of a communication before I lost the signal. It would seem there is some kind of facility that the shuttle is flying to. It is not unoccupied. Perhaps it is a base of operations."
"And that means there will be more than just the three we saw meeting Tolan," I continued.
"If that's the case, then we could bring in more backup," Garrus said over the comm.
"You don't think we're enough anymore, Garrus?" Wrex said as he entered the bridge followed by Grunt.
"I'm not sure you've held a gun since the Reaper War, Wrex," Garrus replied in kind. "Too busy playing politics and ruling your people."
"After dealing with politicians all day, the first thing I go for is my gun!" the Krogan leader grumbled.
"To shoot what, exactly?" Miranda asked.
"Anything! Rocks, buildings, plants, Salarians who look at me funny…" Wrex immediately answered.
"And that's why I joined Urdnot," Grunt chuckled from the doorway.
"With any luck, Wrex, you'll have plenty to shoot soon," I told him.
"Good! I have to rescue my favourite little Quarian, after all. She once called me "the uncle she never had". It's time I live up to that!"
"I believe she called you her "crazy, headbutting uncle"," I smirked.
"And that's exactly the part that I'm looking forward to living up to," Wrex grinned.
Another day and a half passed by until we reached Sanves. Having to travel at the speed of the shuttle we were following infuriated Joker and he constantly complained how boring flying "like his grandmother" was. However, the rest of us put it to good use. We planned for several possibilities in the event that the Blades did indeed have a base on the planet that we might need to infiltrate, or assault. Depending on the situation, I split the team up into several smaller groups that would be responsible for different roles in any mission we undertook.
Despite their size of the Spartans, Miranda assured me they were highly adept infiltration specialists as well as the perfect Human front line soldiers. The four armour-clad soldiers stood together, their helmets always on and their voices always silent, unless directly called upon for input. There was lots of curiosity about them from my friends who had only just joined us before leaving Thessia. Miranda, however, had decided that she had already informed too many people about their existence and remained mute about her super-soldiers. Naturally, James could not resist challenging Mace to a push-up competition, and although the big marine put on a good display of strength, Mace showed off his vast amount of physical dominance. Mace then stood up, said nothing, and stood at ease once again.
"Any idea where they're headed, Joker?" I said as I stood next him in his beloved leather seat. Joker scanned a few readings and projected vectors of the enemy ship and commented on what we were seeing.
"By the looks of it, they're heading to the dark side of the planet, probably planned it that way to fit in with the whole "evil schemes afoot" thing they've got going on."
"Are we monitoring their comms?" I asked as I surveyed the screens.
"Yes Sir," Joker responded, "but they've not said a word since we started following them. But if we're drawing near the base, it won't be long before…"
A crackling noise was heard and Asari voices started speaking over the comm, prompting Joker to wave his hand towards the speaker to prove his point. According to the Asari, they were going to reach the base in ten minutes and we heard them state that the meeting on Thessia had been a success.
"Little do they know about a little weapon we have called Kasumi," Joker grinned. Despite myself, I could not help but do the same. It was always nice to get one up on the opposition.
"Good stuff," I clapped him on the shoulder, gently of course. "As soon as we have their LZ, I want scans of the area checking for defences, personnel, weapons, scanners… everything. Is this their main base of operations, or just a starting line for whatever they're planning? Is Tali being kept here? If so, where and how can we get her out?"
"You will have all relevant information as soon as I obtain it, Scott," EDI assured me. "I have a theoretical destination for our foes, based on their time estimate for arrival. There is a small settlement on the East coast of a large island called Aola," she brought up an image of the landmass on her screen and zoomed in on the location she was referring to. "Judging from their trajectory, this is the most likely area for them to be heading towards within their stated timescale."
"I didn't think they would have a base in an existing settlement," I said. "I figured it would be hidden in the wilderness somewhere."
"Like most evil lairs," Joker quickly put in. In response to this EDI then zoomed in a little more towards the settlement, little bigger than an average town back on Earth. However, she then highlighted a tiny speck of land about six miles off the coast.
This island was less than a mile long from end to end, and at its widest it did not even break half a mile. The only unnatural feature on the island was a collection of three buildings at the highest point, about eighty metres above sea level. Two of the buildings were identical and looked like little more than houses, but the third was what appeared to be an Asari equivalent of a chapel. The tower at the North end of the chapel would give an uninterrupted view all over the island and all the way to the mainland.
"Is this a place of worship for the Asari? Is it still in use?" I asked EDI.
"No. The temple and housing have been uninhabited for at least two centuries and there are few records mentioning that it even exists. What is strange is that there is no information about its history even on mainstream Asari religious extranet sites."
"Was it just never mentioned in the first place? Or has someone removed it deliberately? In any case, I think we have the right evil lair," I said.
I could feel a buzz of anticipation fill me up as I was more than eager to get down there and put a stop to whatever sinister plans our enemies had. I hoped beyond hope that Tali was somewhere on that island. Or, at the very least, some indication as to where she was being held. We transmitted the location of the island to Garrus' ship, and together the Normandy and the Tibmius came to a halt in orbit over the target location. Meanwhile, the enemy shuttle entered Sanves' atmosphere and descended towards the exact point that EDI had predicted.
"Great to have you around again, EDI," I smiled at her thankfully. The Blades were going to be sorry they ever messed with my family.
Within the hour, my crew had gathered together an impressive amount of Intel about the island. We had watched as the enemy shuttle landed on the island and our targets had made their way up the steep incline to the chapel and disappeared inside. The island was called Yaseera, which was an old Asari word roughly translating as "Contemplation". Confirming our suspicions that Yaseera was an important base for the Blades, the security network was rather sophisticated.
An array of sensors scanned the surrounding airspace. Although the Normandy and the Tibmius both wielded state-of-the-art stealth technology, we could not hide from an enemy making a visual contact with us. Even a night approach would set alarms off sooner than we would like as the roar of the engines would herald our arrival. To back up the sensors, there were patrols of armed guards who moved in groups of two and checked in with the base every five minutes through a beeper. If they did not check in, then the base would be put on high alert. However, EDI said that she could easily mimic the beeper signal and, as we despatched guards, she could "check in" with the base to make sure any infiltration team remained undiscovered.
There was one more feature about Yaseera that was far more intriguing than anything else. According to ground penetrating scans, there was a facility underneath the island, set into the solid rock. This peaked all of our collective curiosity as speculations about its origins were discussed.
"It could not have been my people that built it," Liara said. "Otherwise, why abandon it?"
"Sprung a leak?" James quipped which earned a few muffled laughs.
"It has to be scientific in function," Ashley said. "But all it means for us is that it'll be a pain to get into. The only way in is from the chapel, and we're guaranteed to meet resistance there."
Javik, who had remained silent during the meeting, but seemed transfixed by the display before us, suddenly spoke up.
"The facility… it is one of ours."
"A… Prothean base? Here?" Garrus asked dubiously. "Why? The Asari weren't here fifty thousand years ago."
"And you'll recall that my people observed all of your ancestors from separate worlds," Javik replied.
"Like studying Humanity from Mars," I agreed with my Prothean friend.
"And in some cases, test subjects would be abducted from your worlds and brought to these bases for further study or experimentation," Javik continued.
He turned to Liara, who had never enjoyed knowing that the Protheans had meddled in the evolutionary process of her species more than any other.
"You remember, Liara, that my people gave yours natural biotic abilities. That did not come without much experimentation. It is possible that this facility was designed for such a purpose."
"So how long have the Asari known it was here?" I asked, redirecting everyone's attention back to the present. "I doubt the Blades just happened upon it."
"It matters not," Javik stated. "What matters is getting onto the island undetected."
Javik, of course, was right, and the discussion quickly returned to how to infiltrate the island without being seen. Several options were put forward including bringing in one of Liara's ships and landing on the island using the drop pods that her private commandos used. But such a loud entrance would eliminate the stealth element that was so crucial to this operation. During the discussions, Garrus made a joke about not wanting to swim to the island and suddenly I had an epiphany. Tapping a few buttons on the console in the war room, an image of the Kodiak shuttle appeared before anyone.
"I seem to remember learning that the Kodiak can operate underwater. Can we deploy from them underwater as well?" I said to the team. Ashley immediately latched onto the idea and knew that we were on to a winner.
"Yes, we can," she said quickly. "The cockpit can be completely sealed off, the passenger compartment fills up with water, we open the doors and swim out. If we can get the shuttle into within a hundred yards or so of the island, then landing there is just a short swim away!"
"Brilliant! We have our avenue of approach. Now where do we land?"
"What about here, Sir?" James brought up the hologram of Yaseera again and pointed out an unnaturally square body of water. "This looks like it's a reservoir of some kind. This building next to it must be where the water is treated."
"It is also where the base's power supply is located," EDI added.
"Right," James said happily, "we go ashore there, slip into the reservoir and eliminate any guards nearby. Once that's secure, it's one short, steep run up to the chapel."
"Nice one," Ash said.
A quick check around the team assured me that we were all on the same wave-length, and Ashley took the lead on the next stage of the operation. "Once at the chapel and the housing, we subdue any guards by whatever means necessary, preferably silently, and get into the underground base."
"I think it would be a good idea to leave a couple of people at the base's power supply as well, to take it out if it will help us," Garrus said. "When our team reaches the chapel, we can determine if the elevator can be operated manually. If so, then we can take out the power supply and have the enemy fighting in the dark, giving us the advantage."
"Agreed," I said. "Once inside the base, we sweep through quickly. Eliminate any and all resistance inside and see if we can find our friends from Thessia again. We need prisoners with enough authority to give us Intel on their operations. And we are also looking for Tali inside that base. Both are priorities of equal value, and if anyone finds her before I do, I want to know immediately! Understood?"
The plan was set and we decided to wait until the night would be at its darkest to launch our audacious attack. The first team to go ashore from the first Kodiak would be Sabre squad, Ashley, Miranda and myself. Once we had cleared our initial objectives and reached the chapel, the second shuttle would begin its approach with everyone else. Second team's objective was simply to clear all remaining hostiles on the surface of the island, to prevent them coming after our first team and attacking us from behind. We all knew that, once the first team began descending down the elevator into the Prothean base, the alarm would probably be raised one way or another, whether we cut the power or not. Needless to say, I was eager to go and had my equipment all looked out and checked over multiple times hours before we were due to go.
The Spartans were always ready as I was yet to see them out of their armour or without their weapons slung over their shoulders. A Spartan came over to where I was adjusting the silenced M11 pistol that Liara had issued us with for the mission. The blue stripes on his helmet and shoulder pads identifying him as Axel.
"Commander Gardner," he said in a very official tone. I chuckled as I continued to fiddle with my weapon.
"You know that I haven't been "Commander" Gardner for three years, right?"
"I am, Sir. Perhaps we may still call you that out of respect, rather than as an official title," he replied politely. I had never considered this and could not help but agree with him.
"If you want," I smiled at the huge man. "I'm looking forward to seeing how sneaky a squad of giants can be."
"Like over-sized cats, Sir," Axel joked. Or, at least, I thought it was a joke. His tone had remained very even. Spending so much time with Tali and the Quarian people on Rannoch had made me very familiar with speaking to people whose faces I could not actually see. It was a little jarring to not be able to get a read on the Spartans.
The Spartans did not faze me, but I knew that some of the others were still a little disconcerted by the faceless killing machines.
"Was there something you wanted, Axel?" I asked as the soldier stood silently.
"I was wondering what your orders for the enemy guard forces are? Ashley Williams said "subdue", but no one has clarified if we're taking them prisoner or eliminating them permanently."
"What they deserve is to be removed for good," I said with a flare of rage breaking through the calm persona that I was trying my best to maintain. "However, my bloody morals are telling me that if they can be neutralised as a threat without killing them then that is the way to go. Liara has been passing out these," I reached over to a few small but nifty devices that I had been given. "Simple handcuffs equipped with dampeners for biotics. If the enemy tries anything, they get shocked. Simple but effective. Make sure the squad obtains a few."
"Yes Sir," Axel saluted.
When I expected Axel to return to Sabre squad, he simply looked over at the other three Spartans with what I imagined would be a thoughtful stare.
"Something more, Axel? Come on… speak to me.," I said.
"Our squad is looking forward to the action but… Commander, there's something I need to ask you."
His voice quietened and I respectfully lowered my own voice and motioned for him to continue.
"Miranda did a great job in turning us into what we are without entirely removing our humanity. When you killed for the first time… what did it feel like?"
When the man standing in front of me is approaching 8 feet tall in height, it was easy to forget that, underneath the sturdy armour, was a man that was only twenty. Possibly a little younger. I racked my brains trying to remember that first time that I had taken a life, but that was many years, and many battles, ago.
"What I can tell you," I said after thinking of how best to quiet the Spartan's mind, "is that I didn't think of it at the time. I had a job to do and it is only afterwards, when you have the time to dwell on what transpired, that a soldier finds out who he really is. Either they crumble under the weight of the guilt… or they straighten themselves up and remind themselves of why they pulled the trigger."
I gave Axel some time to process my words before I continued.
"It doesn't have to be complicated. Sometimes it's as simple a reason that they were fighting for the wrong side, that they were the bad guys. Other times…" Kai Leng's repugnant sneer flashed through my mind and I fondly remembered embedding my Omni blade into his guts. "Other times it can get personal, and even that's a test of your character. Do you drop all your morals and give in to barbarity? Or do you rise above it and keep a level, professional head?"
The Spartan was taking on every word I said, and I could see that I was making the desired impact on the young super soldier.
"What about you, Sir?" he suddenly asked me. "What is this mission to you?"
"If Tali's here, then this mission will be getting very personal indeed! But, like I said, that's my test to overcome. And there's no way to know which way I'll go until I'm there."
