It took a moment for Shepard to connect the shrill screaming with the pain in her throat. Few would blame her for sounding like a Banshee while plummeting to the ground at break-neck speed. With a stomach dropping lurch all the treetops below were now filtered through a rippling blue field. Above the wind she heard musical laughter.
"I thought Spectres were fearless!"
"I don't normally get tossed from a tower you biotic fucker!" Shepard whipped her head around to shout in anger more effectively, but the slew of rage filled words never left her tongue.
The dawn's light illuminated Orian's confident face and highlighted his surprisingly strong jawline. Jutting out from his shoulder was a seven foot glimmering stream of more colors than Shepard could name. Their sudden downward movement let her click things into place. The Prince had wings; She was flying through the sky in the arms of a bioticly powered space angel. The feeling of his arms across her chest suddenly became incredibly noticeable.
Now fully aware of her situation Shepard turned back to watch everything soar by underneath. She felt them bank left to circle the Culture Center. Far below the patterned layout of shops and walkways looked like some unknown constellation. The lamps flickered in waves as tents fluttered in the breeze. They turned again and flew toward the river. Now having descended to a hundred feet or so Shepard could smell the fresh water and shivered in the moist air. Waterfowl scattered as they raced down the muddy embankments before heading to the residential sector. Each skyscraper had a few people awake already. Most waved in a casual manner leaving Shep to wonder just how often the Prince started his days like this.
One after another Orian flew passed the giant stone obelisks before planting his feet on one and jumping them even higher into the air. Up here the world looked so small and Shepard couldn't help but be in awe. With this new perspective she understood how Curve Gliding became such a problem; it was exhilarating. Now over the market place her Raloi kite drifted close enough to see the cobblestone pathway. The scent of revelry still hung in the air and celebratory streamers littered the trees.
Nearing the arena Orian spoke up again. "Pull up your feet! I'm going to land!" She did just that and felt her innards rearrange themselves as they oriented vertically before the Prince touched down; running them to a stop. He released the Commander's torso and unclipped the belt.
With still shaking legs Shep turned to see the long iridescent feathered limbs fold behind his back, and watched as wrist claws hooked onto a pair of loops attached to his leather chest piece. He covered them with the fuzzy belt.
"You never wore a cloak did you?" a cocky smirk was all she got in return. The avian's demeanor carried a new amount of self assurance that had her rethinking the boy's once timid behavior. "Well now I get why Jovia wants you so bad; a squad of flying soldiers would be a big advantage. I'm guessing only gifted runners have wings."
"Correct. Though I like to think my personality had a role in her affections; otherwise she could have any number of fliers for a husband." Orian motioned for her to follow him then headed to the shuttle. "Let's go see if your friends are awake. Not far from here is a breakfast nook that has amazing eggs; we'll get them floatstone free of course."
Shepard joined him. "You eat eggs; isn't that a little close to home for you guys?" She cringed at the split-second idea of a human equivalent.
"They're from a farm animal, and unfertilized!" The Prince rebuked.
Right away things felt wrong at the arena's entrance. The scent of Ozone and copper led Shepard to a dark blue puddle near the ticket booth. Inside was the Turian pilot. He'd been shot multiple times center mass. His blood had yet to coagulate. Shepard quickly brought her ear to the sailor's face, but the air was still.
"Damn it!" The Commander searched his body finding only a Tempest SMG with a spent thermal clip. She turned on the Raloi in anger. "What the hell did your people do!?"
Orian himself was aghast at the sight. "This wasn't from our weapons! You would smell gunpowder if that was the case."
Shepard reluctantly agreed. She mentally berated herself for leaving her room in anything less than full armor on an alien planet. The sound of a cabinet opening drew both individuals attention to the spot just under the register. Out from a crack flopped a pink tentacle followed by the remainder of an injured Hanar with a pair of green splotches on it's side.
"Armelsta what happened to you?"
"This one was conversing with the brave Turian outside the shuttle. Without warning the large mechinoid assaulted us. It's gravitational buoyancy harness became damaged when this Hanar was shot. The selfless warrior gave this one the last of their medigel."
"Do you have a comm-link?"
"Destroyed. Please aid the little one; she remains in the craft."
The Spectre's face hardened as she sprinted from the booth towards the gate. Even without a weapon she could at least stun the mech with an overload program Alanko gave her befo-
"No! I am not losing anymore friends."
Skidding to a halt she ducked behind a set of bleachers. Fifty feet away the Ymir walked back and forth patrolling the area. Heavy steel feet leaving deep marks in the compacted earth. It's eight shaped optic glowed a dull blue; a safety feature that indicated program tampering. Shepard knew the Raloi were clever, but it was impossible for them to have cracked Hahne-Kedar software in less than a day. The only option that remained was sabotage. Whoever did this would be arrested for high-treason if they didn't catch a slug to the head first.
A small cloud of dirt next to her caught the Commander's eye. "Prince Alitroth you need to find shelter."
"The Hanar told me what this machine was capable of last night. Great as you may be this is beyond deadly." He steadied his mind and made a decision. "I can distract it while you get the child."
"That's suicide."
"If I let you go alone it's murder."
Shepard had to admit the boy was no coward. "Are you able to make biotic barriers?"
"I don't think that translated properly."
"Can you incase yourself in mass effect fields to protect you from damage?"
Recognition sparked in the avian's eyes. "The noble aura. Yes I can do that."
"Ok. Make sure you stay in its line of sight and don't stop moving. I'll go around and get Erane from the other side." With a nod she snuck under the seats to circle behind.
Orian waited for Shepard to reach her position before running out and throwing a handful of rocks at the mech. Turning at the hips with arms open and guns spinning up. He leapt to the side avoiding most of the rounds. Thankfully his barrier had the strength to repel what did hit.
The Commander charged in low and fast. Her body moved on its own as her mind raced to determine the culprit. Nardar and his group had the tech. Yet even she knew the Salarian never had a mind for conquest. Quarians can hack anything, but a ship locked people wouldn't risk losing such a potentially bountiful source of element zero. In fact cheap Eezo would benefit everyone except D'aris. The economy of Thessia was based on their mines. If Turvess got up and running the Asari would be pushed to the wayside of the galactic stage. Most were humble and kind, but those Asari who gave in to vanity became almost megalomaniacal and did anything to remain in the spotlight.
Shepard was seething at the idea of treachery when she arrived at the blast-proof sliding door opposite the Ymir. "Take cover!" she yelled hoping the Prince heard her over the gunfire.
Opening the large vehicle's door she immediately spotted a shivering teal and orange figure hiding under the far bench. She stepped in telling the girl to take her hand, but Erane just sat frozen in place by fear. Shepard moved in closer to try again. The girl was in a trance-like state and only became more agitated as she neared. A flicker of movement in the Drell's big dark eyes had the Spectre turn on her heel and thrusting with her omniblade.
Shepard never heard the sound of rending metal as her entirety was focused on a iron grip around her throat and the single bright light staring down at her. Hunched over and black as night was a prime sized Geth unit she had never seen before.
"Identity confirmed; Commander Shepard, Alliance military and Citadel Council Special Tactics and Reconnaissance agent, Destroyer of Nazara." The human's brain faltered upon hearing the synthetic voice. "The Old Machines are destined to return and we will not allow you to stop them." It began to squeeze her neck. "This world's resources shall fuel the Followers advance beyond the Geth."
Shepard readied the overload, but the Geth tossed her outside. She managed to fire the pre-programed bundle of omnigel at a control panel in the cockpit before hitting dirt. The Ursa Major's engines sprung to life and hurled the shuttle along with its occupants on an unseen arc miles deep into the forest; leaving the no longer distracted mech with a clear shot.
Commander Shepard in a flurry of emotions new and old threw herself onto the Ymir where she slashed and stabbed its back with her omniblade like a woman possessed. The power core housing gave way under the attack and she ripped out the offending item shutting down the siege weapon.
She ran for the tower faster than she'd ever run before.