The Pathfinder squad were swiftly panned out behind obstacles that provided cover from the blazing rain of red bullets zipping through the long corridor. The hovering Remnant robot shined its brilliant green light across the surfaces of the bronze metal walls and showed the outlines of the Kett soldiers in their hiding places.
Scott briefly stepped out and quickly raised the handgun's scope to make its mark upon a Chosen Kett. A quick line of bullets flashed across the room instantly diving upon the creature's bone-structured head before causing an eruption of darkened blood to spray into the air. After the Kett's body heavily slumped to the floor the Pathfinder whipped the scope onto the adjacent four-legged creature rearing up to try for a bite at the Krogan's shotgun.
Drack immediately shoved the barrel of the gun into the Wraith's gaping mouth and unloaded a scatter spray into the monster's gut. The gun's barrel became freed as the Wraith's body dropped into a motionless heap. The Nackmor Krogan whirled into the direction of an Ascended Kett and made a charge toward the bulky Kett soldier.
"RAAAAAAAAWR!" The old Krogan exclaimed a battle cry in his charge. Drack braced for a shoulder-bash into the broad-sized Kett and forcefully shoved the creature's backside up against a free-standing barrier. The wall crumbled under the impact of the Krogan's weight combined together with the Ascended One as the two larger-sized humanoid creatures toppled over and crushed the metal barrier. Drack hastily regained onto his knees, gripping the barrel of the Krogan shotgun into both of his powerful hands, and advanced into beating the Kett's head with the gun's stock.
Pathfinder Ryder quickly diverted the point of his gun onto the next target stepping out from its hiding place. Scott popped a few glowing bullets into the side of the Salarian's large bone-covered head. The splash of dark green blood scattered across the wall directly behind the exalted Salarian. The slender-structured creature's body violently shuddered and suddenly crumbled to the floor. A swiftly gushing pool of blood rapidly formed on the floor under the place of its missing head. Scott stepped back into cover and braced his backside against the obstacle that provided protection from sprays of bullets. He quickly raised his attention toward Lamees whom remained standing within the silver glowing barrier that Sky had generated around the both of them. The Jardaan's armor plates that were removed had been suddenly replaced with a brief green glow as the Remnant armor regenerated the missing pieces. Lamees threw down one of the removed metal plates onto the floor. The darkened metal swiftly unfolded and constructed into a Nullifier type robot. The Remnant robot brought down a transparent green barricade in front of it prior unleashing single bursts of pure dark green energy blasts onto a targeted Kett. The hovering Remnant Observer diverted its focus onto a Destined Kett as the creature unveiled itself from its cloaking ability and immediately became under attack from the glowing red energy beam. The human Pathfinder swiftly turned his helmet into the direction of a low rumbling growl from a camouflaged Wraith prowling nearby. Scott gradually swept his handgun side-to-side in waiting anticipation for the four-legged Kett creature to reveal itself before making its strike.
The Wraith suddenly sprung from its stealth form and lunged a mouthful of teeth over the view of Scott's visor. The swift green glowing swipe slashed through from the backside of the creature's wide head. The Wraith's mouthful of teeth suddenly dropped from the Pathfinder's line of sight as the creature toppled over with its severed head gradually sliding to the floor and showed the innards of its throat.
Scott quickly raised his helmet to look upon Sky gracefully stepping back into a defensive fighter's stance with a fully glowing green long blade in the grip of his left hand. The human Pathfinder took glimpse as the faint silver barrier still retained its place over the Jardaan. Scott returned his attention toward Sky and offered a grateful nod but quickly turned his sights onto a Destined swiftly stepping from its hiding place, quickly locking aim upon the dark silver armor. Pathfinder Ryder's voice shouted, "Look out!" The Pathfinder immediately raised the handgun's point onto the Kett.
The Destined warrior unleashed a glowing line of bullets from its weapon. The tall figure in glowing armor suddenly spun in his place and extended his right arm into a defensive form as a brilliant green circular buckler had taken shape upon his arm that easily repelled the oncoming bullets. Sky returned with a counter; hastily whirling himself around into a single spin, swinging the glowing sword into a wide arc, and strongly flung the weapon through the air toward the Destined Kett. The sword's blade seemingly hovered of its own accord into an upward swipe as it easily sliced clean through the Kett's chest armor and came up through the top of the shoulder. The glowing weapon abruptly vanished after searing through its victim.
Scott watched the Destined creature's body split apart, from the angled slice through its chest cavity, as the Kett fell to the ground in two separate halves.
"Whoa." The human Pathfinder momentarily gaped but quickly regained military composure becoming quickly aware by the sound of a rumbling growl drawing closer onto Sky's location. "There's another Wraith! Sky-"
Sky suddenly spun in place, the glow of the green sword quickly reappearing in the grip of his hand. He swayed the blade into an elegant motion and smoothly cleaved through the camouflaged Wraith. The four-legged beast instantly came out of its stealth and crumbled to the floor.
Ryder returned his direction toward the sound of the Krogan's stomping feet rushing into a full charge and spied Drack bashing into the last standing Chosen Kett. The boney creature stumbled backwards from the sudden attack giving time for Drack to turn the shotgun's point onto the exalted creature and blasted the Kett's head clean off from point-blank range. The splatter of blood quickly spread across the wall with bone fragments drizzling down the bronze-colored metal.
"Heh heh," The Nackmor Krogan chuckled cheerfully, "That was fun."
Lamees looked from the Pathfinder's direction and then onto Drack with a puzzled expression, "This is an idea of fun?" The Jardaan quizzically asked with obvious disbelief.
The silver barrier was brought down at the same time with the glow of the green glowing blade rapidly dimming and completely vanishing as Sky came forward to join with the group. The Krogan braced the barrel of his weapon against his shoulder also making his approach to gather with the Pathfinder squad.
Drack burst into a chuckle, "Actually, this is just a warm up."
"A warm up?!" Lamees shifted her expression from confusion to a state of wide surprise. "What would you consider a real challenge?"
Scott carefully stepped over the fallen exalted soldiers, lifting the handgun's point toward the ceiling, and started his direction toward the other side of the long hallway. He muttered his own remark, "Being pinned against too many fiends..."
The Krogan followed up behind Sky and the Jardaan. The group continued through the stretch of corridor with the light of the hovering Remnant bot shining its light over everyone and the traced the surfaces of the bronze-colored walls with brilliant light.
"Aw, come on, Ryder! You had to have enjoyed that! The Right of Union is an old Krogan tradition. You're the only human that's ever been invited into a Krogan Right and succeeded." Drack conveyed a form of respect in his words.
"Were you jealous that you weren't invited, Drack?" Ryder made a quick glance over his shoulder toward the old Krogan.
Drack grumbled, "Nah. I think it was fair to let someone else have some fun for a change."
Pathfinder Ryder shook his head, disregarding the old Krogan's comment, and ordered, "Let's keep moving. We still have to find Evfra's scouts... if they're still alive."
The squad followed in fear formation behind the Initiative Pathfinder with both of the combat Remnant robots following closely on either sides of Lamees.
Ryder began the trek toward the opened doorway at the other end of the long corridor and came to an abrupt halt before the door's framework. He braced the side of his shoulder to the metal frame slowly leaning out to peer into the next room and took glimpse over the room. Scott regained gripping the sidearm in both hands and announced over his shoulder, "It's clear!" The human man continued forward into the unoccupied room, cautiously swaying the gun's point together with the beam of light from his helmet.
The Krogan emerged after the Jardaan and Sky. He made a swift look around and rumbled in his mutter, "I don't get it," Drack slowly spoke, "You'd think that the Kett would have given up on this place and moved out."
Sam provided a calm response, "The Kett believed this place to be a sacred grounds for their exaltation process. It is very likely chance that the captured Salarians from Ark Paarchero were brought here and converted into Kett soldiers."
"It definitely would explain why we have seen Kett that looklike Salarians. Evfra's scouts were looking for survivors, so, it's still very possible that the Angara are still being brought here, too." Scott stated his observation. He continued to look around the room and suddenly whirled around as the door behind the group had hissed shut. The squad quickly diverted their attention toward the sound of another door quickly sliding open from the other side of the room. "Um, Sam, what's going on?"
"I don't have control over the systems. A moment while I initiate scans." The artificial intelligence's voice transmitted over the squad's communications.
Drack started for the newly opened doorway with the point of the shotgun barrel at the ready, "I'm not waiting around for any surprises. We should keep moving. Find those scouts as soon as possible and get the fuck out of here."
Scott nodded agreement, "I'm with you on that, Drack." He swiftly approached the newly opened door and again pressed the side of his shoulder to the wall, in a hesitant stance, before peering around into the next room. "It looks like the decontamination chamber.. Sam? Can you gain override controls just in case this thing still works?"
"Processing. My analysis suggests that the Kett have enhanced their internal security systems. It may take a few moments to gain access into their systems before I can provide an override attempt." Sam answered calmly.
The Nackmor Krogan grumbled in a suspicious manner, "I think that's a little strange. The shields outside of this place would have also been upgraded... unless they were inviting us in."
Sky's echoing voice injected, "The Kett have preplanned for an entrapment."
The human Pathfinder, with Drack, and the Jardaan wheeled their full attention onto the silver figure. Scott slowly shook his head and sighed in a disgruntlement, "Figures. I think they're still trying to offer me the Archon's job. They might have not taken the clue..."
The Krogan started for the newly opened door and rumbled in his cackle, "Heh heh, let's find out what kind of trap they have for us. I don't like surprises so much but I'll make this one exception."
Ryder shook his head again, softly sighing, before starting through the doorway with the Pathfinder team following in pursuit. The squad members stopped into the center of the room and quickly turned different directions to glance around the decontamination chamber.
"Huh.. weird. I guess this one is busted... Not complaining.. Let's keep moving." Scott shrugged and cautiously proceeded into the next room. He momentarily stopped to raise the ray of light onto the sight of Kett-designed pods lined over the walls. The room was rapidly lit aglow by the floating Remnant bot's brilliant glowing light. "Okay.. This is getting really, really, weird. The trap should have sprung by now... right? Maybe this is the anticipation before it actually happens."
Lamees slowly shook her head, "I'm having a bad feeling. The Tehet are aware of our presence and know where we are. This, I don't like."
"I don't like it either... Sam, are you able to get anything?" Scott inquired prior directing his focus onto one of the opened pods within his sight range. He cautiously approached and peered inside to find complete darkness within.
Sam promptly broadcasted to the squad's communications, "I have gained minimal access into the Kett data systems. I detect Kett lifeforms in the following room, there are also few Angaran signatures. Perhaps these are the scouts under Evfra's command."
"Are they still alive?" Drack demanded.
"Yes, but they are in weakened condition. I suspect that the Angara have been subjected to injury in the duration their captivity." The artificial intelligence supplied in his calm robotic voice.
The Pathfinder spun away from the empty pod and turned direction for the second opened doorway located on the far side of the room.
Sky swiftly came into the human man's way, "Pathfinder, listen to me. The Kett creatures are going to provide the Angara as hostages in the exchange for your cooperation. The information provided from Sam may have been permitted by the Kett for us to know what lies beyond the door."
Scott made a puzzled look through his visor toward the man in silver armor, "Wait... The Kett intentionally leaked information to Sam about what's in the next room? O-kay. That's a little peculiar, isn't it? So, where's the trap at?"
"The Kett anticipate that you will refuse an offer in exchange for the Angaran's' lives. The creatures will not put up any effort of resistance and may retreat. I suspect that the trap may lay beyond after we have rescued the Angaran." Sky explained in his diligent mannerism. He stepped aside, keeping the front side of his helmet looking upon Scott with an unseen gaze.
Drack shook his large head back and forth, "Ryder, I see how this is going to play out; the Kett knew that we were going to come for the scouts eventually, that's why they've been kept alive for this long. Once we save the scouts then we're going to be preoccupied while we're trying to protect them from whatever the Kett are going to throw at us... the chances that we make it out of this are low... I prefer the better odds but you already know that I like the challenge, it makes things a lot more interesting."
Scott Ryder rolled his head around, rotated both of his shoulders once, and let out a heavy sigh before proclaiming his orders, "Alright, at least we have an idea of what's going on. Let's save the scouts and work out a plan after that." He stepped up to the opened doorway, immediately clicking his helmet's light off, and raised his eyesight toward the center of the room to find a small group of Kett awaiting in a circular formation. The human shifted his eyes side-to-side in search for any surprise attackers lurking in the shadows within the room.
Upon entering the room the door suddenly sealed shut behind the Pathfinder squad, quickly diverting Scott's attention to briefly spin around and look upon the sealed door.
"Oh, no. We're trapped. Whatever will we do?" Ryder out loudly asked in a coy sound of voice.
Drack scoffed, "Don't make it sound so cheesy, Ryder. If you want to play the helpless victim you gotta sound a little whinier than that.. then you'll be good."
Pathfinder Ryder whipped his direction to give the Krogan a dirty look and quipped annoyance, "Gee, thanks, Drack. I didn't know I pulled off the whiny part so easily."
"You'll figure it out." The Nackmor Krogan lowly cackled.
Ryder returned his attention toward the group of Kett awaiting at the center of the lowly glowing room. He began to approach and suddenly halted by the sound of the deep voice of the Kett shouting, "Halt!"
A Destined Kett sneered bitterly, half-turning to gaze upon the squad with a glaring expression. The Kett firmly gripped an shotgun rifle in both of his boney hands with the point of the weapon aimed toward the three Angara knelt down onto their knees. Scott quickly glanced upon the three Angara whom all appeared battered and fatigued with fresh scar slashes across their chests and arms.
Scott slowly lowered his weapon and called out, "Okay, we get the idea. You want my cooperation and-"
Sky suddenly elbowed the human man in the side of the ribs and whispered in patient tone, "Let them talk, Pathfinder."
The Destined Kett bared its teeth and proclaimed in a low growling voice, "You are the human known as the Pathfinder? If you want these accursed to live you will come with us. The Primus has demanded an audience with you."
Scott lightly shrugged his shoulders, "The Primus? Who is that exactly? I forgot whose in charge anymore after the Archon died."
"The Primus was designated as the second-in-command. The Primus may now be the one leading the Kett regime in the place of the Archon." Sam's robotic voice became lowered in response over the squad's communication receivers.
"No more questions, human. Disarm and come forward." The Destined loudly commanded.
"Alright, alright! Just take it easy. Release the prisoners first and I'll be happy to comply." Scott gradually eased down to one knee, setting down the handgun to the floor, slowly releasing the weapon's stock but remained in position with his hand hovering above the weapon.
"The others as well." The Kett ordered angrily.
Scott carefully watched the Destined Kett's eyes rapidly shift their color from milky white to solid black. Smirking to himself, the human man realized that Sky's mental control had taken hold over the creature.
The Destined Kett suddenly raised the shotgun and took aim upon the next Kett to bring the creature down into a blood-splattered heap onto the floor before turning onto the other two remaining Kett. The other boney-creatures were suddenly gunned down before they were provided the chance for a retreat toward the opposite side of the room. The controlled Kett lifted the shotgun barrel toward the ceiling and whirled around to look toward the Pathfinder squad.
"I have maintained a hold over this creature's mind. Its assistance will provide as a distraction when the trap is sprung upon us." Sky soothingly spoke.
The human Pathfinder gathered up his side arm and regained into a standing posture with the gun point aimed toward the ceiling.
The Destined soldier spun around and walked out of the way permitting Scott to approach the three frazzled Angara who were glancing between the Destined Kett and the Pathfinder group with astonished expressions.
"What just happened? Why has the Kett turned against its own? What is going on?" One of the panicked Angara demanded.
"Hey, it's okay. It's one of ours. Are you guys alright? Are you the scouts that Evfra sent in here? We've come to rescue you."
"Evfra's scouts? No, we're not.. we're civilians. We were some of the few that were freed but we don't know who saved us." The female Angara responded in a state of disbelief.
Drack came up beside the human Pathfinder to offer his large hand out to one of the Angara and helped the dark blue-colored male onto his feet.
The female Angara was aided by Lamees. The dark green-colored Angara quickly wrapped her arms around the Jardaan and cried upon Lamees' shoulder, "Thank you for saving us!"
Scott helped the second Angaran male onto his feet and gradually released the Angara's hand. Pathfinder Ryder turned his head back and forth quickly glancing over the small group of Angaran. He asked worriedly, "If you're not the scouts... then where are they?"
The controlled Kett returned to the squad with three gathered bodies of the dead creatures upon its shoulders. The Destined carefully knelt down to drop the lifeless bodies onto the floor, regaining into a standing posture, and motioned to the Angara. Sky's softened voice spoke in the creature's stead, "Take the armor and weapons to defend yourselves."
The dark green Angara woman hastily released her embrace from around Lamees and spun around to glare toward the mind-controlled Kett, "Why is this Kett helping us? I'm confused!" She diverted her attention toward Scott and offered protest, "I don't know how to fight. I have no training to use weapons."
The human man quickly shook his head, "I'll explain later. We need to keep going." He turned his helmet's direction toward the opened doorway located across the wide circular room. "There's going to be a trap waiting for all of us... We're going to need all of the help that we can get."
"You're the Pathfinder! You will protect us, won't you? We'll try to do our best... I've never shot with a gun before." The second Angaran male whom was colored dark purple nervously inquired while anxiously glancing between Scott, Drack, Sky, and Lamees. The Angara reluctantly knelt down beside one of the Kett lifeless bodies and slowly started to pry off the armor.
The dark green Angaran peered over the female Jardaan in an expression of surprised-confusion, "What are you? You look like one of us but... you're different."
Lamees expressed a comforting smile and soothingly spoke, "I will explain when we reach safety."
The Angaran provided assistance to one another placing on the Kett-fashioned armor plates and took up arms with the various guns provided.
Scott diverted his attention toward Sky and motioned toward the three Angara, "Sky, I need you to stay with them and keep up the barrier." The Pathfinder additionally nodded to motion toward's Sky direction before turning his helmet to face the three Angaran civilians, "This is Sky, he'll keep all of you safe but you must stay near him. Lamees," Ryder directed his focus on to female Jardaan and he questioned sternly, "Are you able to handle yourself?"
Lamees quickly nodded and beamed a wide grin, "Yes, Ryder!"
Scott acknowledged with a nod toward the squad. He gripped a firm hold of the handgun into both of his hands and turned for the newly opened doorway. The Initiative's Pathfinder made a quick sprint for the door.
Drack grumbled excitedly, "Let's get this over with."