I Do Not Own Mass Effect
Chapter Five: Ready
Shepard strafed to one side opening fire while looking for any slant of cover. Best he could find was a dumpster. Several high impact Cyro rounds struck his failing kinetic barrier. One was able to penetrate. It stung like a hornet and started freezing the wound around itself. Instant frost bite Shepard ventured to guess. He dug his hand into the grip of his rifle and let out a soft grunt.
Garrus provided cover fire while Shepard allowed his shields to realign. Once the protective barrier returned Wayne popped out of cover quickly and targeted a Vorcha, the one who managed a shot with the Cryo round. Several rounds met his exposed chest… dropping him instantly.
"Krogan!" Garrus barked through the Omni Tool comm. Before Wayne could react a Krogan the size of an M35 Mako uplifted the meager cover from Wayne. Exposed, Shepard scrambled to his feet and unleashed a flurry of rounds into the blood raged reptile. No effect. Even if there was the creature's secondary organ set had kicked in and he was rampaging. He charged Shepard pinning him onto the wall of the ally. He tried ramming Shepard's head with his skull plate but five shots from Wayne's side arm stilled the Krogan… but it was still alive.
"Just Die!" Shepard barked before dropping his pistol and drawing his combat knife. The Krogan charged one final time. Shepard leapt forward grappling him by the neck and driving his knife into the back of his skull. With that the Krogan crumpled the ground, dead.
The Vorcha and Eclipse wasted no time in surrounding Wayne. Shepard growled and lunged toward the first with his knife ready. Rounds sounded off as Wayne's shields dropped again. This time the burning sensation of incineration rounds dug at his back. He let out a low grunt and met his target eye to eye. He drove the knife deep into the Vorcha's neck and flipped him around as living cover and relieved him of his M-3 Predator. Shots rang as Wayne forced himself backward toward Garrus, blood pooling, burns cauterizing and his vision more than hazy.
Garrus had been taking out advancing Blue Suns and Blood Pack in an attempt to thin the forces for Wayne. It was next to pointless. There were just too many. Looking down his scope Garrus painted another target. Another Krogan. He sucked in one small breath and moved with his mark. In that last moment the Krogan looked upward. His eyes met Garrus through the scope and with that a shot was fired that pierced though his skull plate.
Pulling away Garrus rested his back against the cold metal railing and loaded another round. He counted to five slowly and then marked another target. As he pulled back he heard the readying click of a gun near the back of his head.
With the pressure on Wayne didn't die down in the least. He was struggling to keep conscious but the pain was overbearing. Wayne only gritted his teeth and returned fire until his back found the end of the ally. He fired several rounds into the advancing hoard but it was too ill affect. This was an insult. To survive Ilos, a suicide run into the Omega Four relay… but to be taken out by a batarian with a grudge. Insulting. However he wasn't going out without fight. He would be damned in hell not to.
As they advanced he clumsily loaded a new thermal clip into the Predator. He placed five rounds into five separate heads before sliding downward. He hunched over and wheezed. The coppery taste of blood escaping his mouth. Another round dug into his shoulder. It didn't register. Not right away. When it did there was barely any pain… just numbness. His vision began to grow dark. Peace. There was peace. Shepard drew one final breath before closing his eyes. Maybe now he could see her again. Maybe now he could see his family… maybe now he could rest…