I Do Not Own Mass Effect or any of its Characters.
Chapter Twenty Two: Dead Men Walking
The resistance within C-Sec's interior was daunting. Every turn there were more makeshift barricades with C-sec personal laying down fire. It didn't slow Sharn's handpicked team. Every member had been within the Special Intervention Unit at one time. When Sharn had defected he was joined by his former squad. Now they were nothing but vagabonds hunting for the next meal and it bothered Sharn at times. Mostly when he was on mission…why was he kidding himself this was no "mission". This was slaughter. The Blue Sun's used to have some honor to behind their name. Clearing his mind Sharn focused on the operation. Currently his squad was cutting through one of the central corridors with heavy cargo that required half his team to carry it. The objective was to gain a foothold in the Command station. Midway to the target Sharn's comm crackled to life. Tarak was ahead of schedule and had the woman.
"We're on short time now, team. Jeck, take point, Rei'da cover him." Sharn briskly ordered as they cleared the corridor and were now directly facing the C-Sec Command station. All six slowly converged on the fortified mag door with breaching charges readied. Jeck, the team's explosives expert began placing the specialized equipment with speed and precision. Once set Sharn gave the green light to engage. With the explosion Rei'da tossed two high impact flash bang charges. Bursts of automatic fire blanketed the makeshift entrance. The team kept to the walls returning fire in timed intervals. Sharn looked to Hoxi, the team's tech specialist as he prepped Hopper. A Loki defense mech customized for Sharn's team. Unlike the newer models Hopper was bulkier and equipped with a tougher exoskeleton. Over the years the unit had heavily modified her onboard systems to be a highly efficient war bot; her arms replaced with dual N7 Typhoon's and a shoulder mounted ML-77 rocket system.
"She's live boss, sending her in." Hoxi called as he finished loading her weapon cache. Hopper's primary offensive protocols initiated while her friend or foe ID tag kicked on. Marching into the filled room the Loki mech laid down suppressive fire, bolts of high powered kinetic rounds digging into her exoskeleton. Each round simply pushed her back a couple of inches as she continued to march into the Command station. The room itself was constructed on an incline. Every couple of feet there were narrow stairwells that led to the upper floors, the once neat desks that lined them had been upturned as makeshift cover.
Hopper's auto guns splayed the C-Sec personal above allowing Sharn and his team entry. Spreading out the six spilt into two and ascended the stairwells closest to the walls. With each floor the team neutralized any resistance found. The mop up was all too easy, something was wrong. As they reached the final floor a siren began to blare, the emergency blast doors closed behind them and the power to the room cut with tear gas flooding out from the air ventilation.
Bailey anxiously watched the camera feed to the Command station. This was a last ditch move to halt the advances of the mercenaries. C-Sec forces were able to regroup long enough in the armory to counterattack. Bailey had rallied the officers around him and had fought their way here. Now they were playing a very dangerous game with the remaining Blue Suns. Turning away from the feed Bailey asked in a low voice on a status report on the situation outside.
It wasn't good. The Blue Suns had control of the major streets with little standing in their way. Pockets of C-Sec resistance existed but Bailey couldn't get out to them. For now he had to focus on locking down HQ. if they were allowed to take C-Sec everything would no longer matter. Bailey Clutched at his rifle's stock until his knuckles turned a pale white thinking of what else could be done. His thoughts were soon interrupted, his Omni Tool comm had activated. It was Shepard. His transport was down and he was pinned at its crash site. Regardless it was a turn of good news Shepard was out there, some hope still existed. As Bailey let himself smile one of the younger recruits called his attention back to the camera feed. The advance team that had breached into Central Command were nowhere in sight only their war bot remained.
The Kodiak crashed in one of the apartment buildings across from C-Sec HQ. Wayne was still hazy from the impact but he was able to at least contact Bailey. He had to let him know back up was still coming. On his feet Wayne slammed in a new thermal clip into his rifle after helping Zaeed remove the debris pinning him to the Kodiak's floor. Zaeed shook off the moderate pain while trying to salvage whatever weapons he could. His M-409 repeater too heavily damaged from the crash. Near the back was one of the on board weapon lockers that was still somehow intact. With Wayne's help Zaeed pried it open to find a single M-22 Eviscerator. Loaded up Wayne and Zaeed cleared the debris from the cockpit's cabin and shattered the thick bulletproof glass. With Zaeed taking point the two cautiously cleared the abandoned apartment floor.
"Best move quickly, as we were going down I eyed Blue Suns heading toward the complex, what's the plan, son." Zaeed grumbled quietly.
"Regroup with Jack plain and simple." Wayne replied levelly. Zaeed nodded in silent agreement as they slowly descended a flight of stairs. Pausing at the foot of the final step Zaeed signaled to hold, the distinct rattling of ammo belts could be heard. On Zaeed's signal Wayne cut left while he cut right, both met with mercenary resistance. Tearing through the lines Zaeed hastily fired heated shrapnel into the crowd while several shots from Shepard's heavy Mattock dropped the remainder. After the two collected what thermal clips remained they moved on. Stopping near an elevator Wayne examined the emergency fire exit routes.
"Alright, we got seven floors ahead of us. Elevators dead and bet a shiny nickel every floor is teeming with Blue Suns." Wayne remarked, Zaeed simply loaded a fresh slug into the Eviscerator and growled.
"That M-409 cost a small fortune. I'll consider killing them repayment." Wayne admired that outlook on the situation, lifted his spirits. With a light crack of his neck Wayne prepped his rifle and started to march down the second flight of stairs. It was going to be a long fight to the bottom. Half way down Wayne's Omni Tool comm activated. It was Liara, informing that Thane was en route along with Tali and Jacob. There was something wrong in her voice, when Wayne asked all said was that Thane had information. Beyond that she said nothing else.
Liara hung her head low. It wasn't her place to say…rather it was better if Tali were there when the news was broken to him. Liara had walked in his memories and knew once Shepard found out something dark would spark in him. Some form of hatred or rage that Liara feared. She had seen it both buried within Shepard's psyche and when he was still a broken man. He would need someone that loved him near. She just couldn't be that person, even if she wanted to be. Struggling to force down the well of emotions bubbling in her she called out to Glyph.
"What is the C-Sec feed look like?" It took a moment before the V.I avatar responded. Nothing had changed. Ever since the Blue Suns had entered Liara kept a stoic vigil hoping to find some form of Intel, anything she could use to help. Wheeling over to the Huerta feed Liara hurriedly activated the comm. She needed to clear her mind before she was racked with worry. With a deep breath Liara asked with a slightly shaky voice.
"Hey, Grunt is everything okay there?"
"Getting better. Alliance reinforcements arrived and the place is secure for now. Garrus got banged up but nothing he can't sleep off." Liara whispered a silent acknowledgement before cutting comm chatter entirely. Her mind wandering back to the darkness inside Shepard…she prayed to the Goddess that it wouldn't return.
Jack groggily woke up and three things became abundantly clear: One her head fucking hurt, two she was tied to some metal railing in a dark room…third her head really fucking hurt. Someone was going to die…a lot of someone's. With a double take of her surroundings two Krogan Blood Pack were standing guard. When the first noticed she was up he called out to his buddy letting him know she was up. Turning to face her he asked nervously.
"Should we knock her out again? I mean she's a biotic and…" The first Krogan cut him off and chided.
"The little bitch is all tied up and can't focus her powers. Just leave her." Jack couldn't help but laugh. This drew the attention of the first Krogan, moving closer he knelt next to her and hissed.
"What's up with you?"
"Just laughing at how stupid you dick heads are." Jack groaned before kicking her left foot forward, sending a biotic kick the strength of a train toward the first. It sent him flying, snapping several bones as he collided against the concrete wall killing him. Kicking her right foot behind her Jack obliterated the wall effectively breaking the restraints that held her. The second Krogan tried to charge her but another kick of her foot sent him flying as well. Limping over to the near lifeless Krogan Jack relieved him of his M-8 Avenger and stood over him.
"You shouldn't have listened to that halfwit piece of shit friend of yours, cause he was wrong…seeing as how I'm going to brutally fucking kill you I guess it doesn't matter." And with that Jack fired several bursts into the Krogan before pulverizing him via multiple high strength biotic kick, each one stronger than the last. When Jack finally finished most of the room had Krogan sized holes punched into it with his blood splattered everywhere.
"Now onto the fucker that caused this mess." Jack mused heartily as she imagined doing the same to the Batarian who got a shot off on her. She would need to tend to her leg first, the adrenaline no longer masking the pain. As she limped Jack looked to her Omni Tool, she needed to check in with someone. Just as she was about to, a door slammed behind her, a group of Blue Suns had converged on her.
As Zaeed and Shepard cleared the third floor everything started shaking all at once, like the entire building's foundation had just been rammed by a thresher maw. It was so intense at one point both men had to pause to get there footing. After a couple minutes it stopped and everything went calm.
"The hell was that?" Zaeed asked quietly. Shepard offered a shrug as an answer and replied hoarsely.
"Whatever it was this building suddenly doesn't feel sturdy. We should double time it out just in case."
"Agreed." Was Zaeed's reply before the two broke into a light run.
"How long until pick up?" Zaeed growled as the two reached the end of the fourth line of stairs. Clearing the corners and taking down incoming hostiles Shepard called out over the gunfire.
"We have at least four minutes. The others are heading here via armored transport." Zaeed pumped shrapnel into a Batarian's stomach after kicking him forward into his squad with a live grenade attached to him. After the boom Zaeed fired back.
"Four minutes equals four hours here, son. They'll have to be faster!" Shepard couldn't argue that. More of the mercenary teams had pooled into the building, it was now equivalent of walking into a Rachni brood nest.
"Soon as we fight our way out we'll bunker down somewhere. Rule one, there's always a vantage point." As they cleared this floor the shaking began again followed by a general comm issued to any Normandy crew member…it was Jack. She was pinned down and fighting off mercenaries. She was in a bad situation, her leg was injured and her vision started turning blurry. Wayne cursed under his breath, everything was turning to hell. Getting a hold of himself he asked Jack if she could give a layout where she was.
"The ground floor of an abandoned building. The structure is kind of weak, sort of busted it a bit earlier... There's a window looking out at C-sec…that's all I got, Shepard." Wayne thought on his feet as he sprinted down the stairwell, when he reached the next floor he spotted a balcony. Wayne had a slight hunch of where Jack was. Clenching the grip of his rifle he stated quickly.
"alright mute your comm for a second I'm going to fire a couple of rounds off. Tell me if you can hear or see them." After a short pause to allow jack to so Shepard fired several bursts into the courtyard. A couple of seconds passed before his comm activated.
"Hell, you crashed hard. I'm right below you guys and not to rush but I'm looking at a lot of mercs."
"Just hold out we're almost there." Wayne reassured. Jack laughed a little and spat.
"What else am I supposed to do, shit head? Dance?" Wayne only looked to Zaeed before cutting the comm and threw him a fresh thermal slug.
"We still got three floors, son. Will she last that long?" Zaeed asked coldly. Before Wayne could answer another fierce biotic kick rattled the building. After getting his feet back under him Wayne replied lowly.
"It's more a matter of how long this building will last."
The ride in the Mako was silent…sullen. Thane remained in prayer for the entire ride, despite how bumpy it was. Jacob was driving while Tali manned the weapon array. Beyond the roar of the transport's engine and cannon fire it was silent, leaving Thane to reflect. When he told the team of his failure nothing but shame had consumed him. Had he been faster this would not have happened. After finishing the final verse of his prayer Thane called out to Tali, the data pad in hand.
"If you please, Miss Tali, would you tell Shepard? I cannot face the commander, not now." Tali activated the cannons auto targeting and leapt down from their control to join Thane. She placed a reaffirming hand onto his shoulder and said comfortingly.
"You did all you could, Thane. We all have."
"Had I been a more efficient weapon for Shepard, this would not have happened." Thane remarked coldly. Tali thought for a moment, her head resting against the metal plating of the Mako. Sitting forward Tali looked to Thane and said plainly.
"But you aren't just some weapon, you are a person. A living breathing person, no one can be perfect." Thane was uninterested in her answer and was going to protest but Tali beat him to it.
"Wayne's mortal as well, I have seen him fail and I have seen him succeed. He may be a hero but before that he is simply another soul…he's simply Wayne. Don't worry, we'll pull through this and we'll get Lara back. It'll all work out in the end." The Drell assassin remained silent, reflecting on Tali's words. After a moment he replied quietly.
"I can see now why the Commander loves you so deeply." Tali's eyes lit up a little. Turning her head to one side a small blush overtaking her. Before the conversation could continue Jacob was on the loud speaker.
"Tali, I need someone on gun, we're near the pick-up." Tali stood to return to her post, turning back Thane silently thanked her.
Jack was really in a bad way, mercs were everywhere, her knee was for shit and Shepard was nowhere in sight. Still she was left to endure it all…and hell it was actually pretty fun. Currently she was using a Krogan corpse as a meat shield, the majority of the rounds fired at her were being soaked by it. Every couple of seconds she would steady the avenger and down a target. Jack would use her biotics but she was growing tired and it was getting harder to concentrate. Another Batarian charged at her, this one got a lucky shot on her ribcage. Cringing Jack let out several obscenities while she returned fire. As she charged forward she heard footsteps behind her. Shepard finally made it.
"Holy fucking fuck was wondering when you two were going to stop making out in the back and join the party!" Jack hollered. Zaeed and Shepard didn't say anything and instead opened fire, forming a phalanx like formation around the complex entrance. With backup finally here Jack dove for cover, trying to tend to her wounds.
"Where's the transport it's been nearly five?" Zaeed yelled over the gunfire.
"I know!" Wayne hollered back as he threw a high impact charge toward the oncoming mercenaries. Retreating back Wayne found cover near the complex entrance and began to blind fire from the corner. Right as he was about to radio in to Jacob he heard that distinctive engine whine. The M-35 Mako was closing in fast, her auto cannons shredding through the Blue Suns as if they were ribbons.
Zaeed in the meanwhile had charged into the middle of the oncoming hoard, Eviscerator shotgun firing shrapnel with blood flying all around him. Once it was out of ammunition Zaeed dropped it and grabbed ahold of one of the Batarian mercs swiftly snapping his neck, relieving him of his M-9 tempest whilst using his corpse as a shield. Continuing his run Zaeed dropped nine more Blue sun mercs before flailing the corpse toward his former comrades. Now surrounded and only one round left for the tempest Zaeed was running out of options…unsheathing dual high grade flash bangs he randomly tossed them into his assailants before retreating back to Jack's position.
"I killed more before you got here." Jack spat under her breath. Zaeed just smirked and rested against the upturned stone.
"One should take no joy in killing." He remarked wistfully as he started applying Medi gel to her knee. With that the Mako had rolled up, the entrance hatch opened. Tali and Jacob marching out on either side laying down suppressive fire. With Wayne and Zaeed's help Jack was loaded onto the Mako, the hatch closing behind them the last of the mercenaries falling back into C-Sec HQ.
Inside Wayne rested against the cold metal and took in a deep well earned breath. Everything hurt, Wayne honestly just wanted to shed his armor. He couldn't though, he had to help in clearing the Blue Suns from the Citadel. For starters retake C-Sec HQ. For now though it was time for a smoke. Zaeed was one step ahead of him and threw him the pack of American Spirits Black. As he lit up Wayne slowly started to notice the silence. It was too quiet
"Man, we had no business of surviving that." Wayne thought aloud, hoping to clear the thick air. Zaeed chuckled a little and agreed while Jack continued to doctor her wound. In a way the silence had grown. Something was wrong. Then he remembered, Thane had information.
"What's going on." Wayne asked briskly. Tali stepped forward with a data pad in hand. Just as she was about to hand it to him, Thane intervened.
"Allow me, Miss Tali." Was all he said before sitting next to Shepard.
"Commander, I apologize, I wasn't fast enough...if I had…" Wayne growing slightly impatient with the theatrics wanted details. As Thane explained he handed him the data pad offering a single apology.
As the tear gas poured into the Command station Sharn and his team swiftly sealed their enviro-suits and activated their helmets respirators before the gas could take effect. Now they were moving through the ventilation system, they had gone to their fall back plan and were clumsily crawling through the duct system. Every thirty feet each member would plant high grade HMX octogen at every major support beam.
"I don't like it. We shouldn't have just left Hopper like that." Hoxi protested.
"Focus, Hox." Sharn chastised as he placed one of the last explosives. Hoxi grumbled something inaudible before doing the same. After placing the next set of explosives Sharn paused and activated his Omni tool to double check the outline. Only two more support beams before everything was set.
"Sharn, can I say something?" Hoxi asked gruffly. Sharn gave an affirmative as the team of six navigated the narrow vents.
"Tarak's over his head. I want out." Sharn didn't say anything. Hoxi was Sharn's oldest friend and was his second in command back when they were still part of the S.I.U. Irritated over the grating silence Hoxi growled.
"So that it… can't say anything?" That's exactly what it was. Sharn didn't say another word until reaching the next target.
"Tarak was an honorable man once…we all were. You're free to leave after this, Hox. I won't stop you." Agitated at the answer Hoxi fired back
"And what about you? Are just going to be Tarak's personal lap dog the rest of your life." There was a sign of resignation in Sharn's eyes, something in him that shocked Hoxi, defeat.
"Hox, in all honesty...I don't think most us are going live to see another day. We are all just dead men walking to our own graves." Sharn somberly replied with a cold emptiness Hoxi had never seen before in Sharn. After that, nothing was said. Not until Tarak radioed in that he was nearing C-Sec HQ.
SUP PEOPLESS OF THE INTERWERB! another chapter done...this was a weird one...that aside this is coming close to an end and i was wondering something: I want to do another story branching from this one. Should i write it on Sharn or Tarak...or both...or another side character? Also, would anyone like to see a sequel. I'm interested in writing one but i'd like to hear back before i commit myself to another project.