Act I : XX
Noveria, Port Hanshan
Well, this is off to a fantastic start…
Slade Jordan had now been on Noveria for half an hour at the most, and he — along with the rest of Shepard's squad — had already managed to find himself in the sights of no less than five armed guards. His new M-7 Lancer was charged and aimed at the guard closest to him, with his finger readily gripping the trigger. Garrus had angrily protested against Slade bringing such an outdated assault rifle with him, but Slade would hear none of it and brought it anyway. If the standard issue weapon was good enough for Shepard, it was good enough for him. It comfortably sat in his arms, and although it lacked the punch his Paladin or Viper possessed, it was an automatic assault rifle which would prove itself reliable when he needed it during a pinch; furthermore, he was quite confident his newly honed biotics could handle whatever his weapons could not. The guards in Port Hanshan may have been more of a private security force than actual law enforcement, but they were definitely trained well and not to be underestimated. In the event of the situation escalating further, Slade braced his barriers and awaited Shepard's orders. A human female in her thirties with black hair seemed to be the officer in charge; or at the very least, the other guards seemed to follow her lead.
"I must insist that you surrender your weapons", she ordered. "We are authorized to use lethal force if necessary; moreover, the facility can be put into lockdown on a moment's notice. Even if you manage to eliminate us, you will be unable to enter the port. I strongly suggest you reconsider." Shepard kept her Lancer trained on the guard and kept silent for a few moments, then slowly and deliberately lowered her rifle.
"We're not here to cause trouble", Shepard said as she disengaged her rifle and tucked it under her arm, then glanced over to Slade and the others. "Stand down. Their house, their rules. We'll comply with the no weapon policy."
"Alright, Commander", Liara conceded, disengaging her M-3 Predator along with her. "If you think this is best, then we will surrender." Kaidan also disengaged his Lancer and shrugged his shoulders at Slade. Shepard focused her attention onto Slade as well, and although she had her helmet on, Slade could tell what her expression looked like underneath.
Fine.
Just as Slade was about to disengage his rifle, a loud voice boomed over the intercom speakers, which caused everyone to flinch and Slade could have sworn the blonde guard in front of him almost fired her shotgun.
"Captain Matsuo! Stand down!"
Everyone lowered their weapons and anxiously hung onto every word projected through the intercom.
"We have confirmed their identity with the Citadel! Spectres are authorized to enter the port with armaments. Stand down immediately, and allow them to enter the visitor's centre."
"You may proceed, Spectre", Captain Matsuo announced. "I sincerely hope the remainder of your time in Port Hanshan is far less confrontational."
"What she means is: make sure you behave yourselves", growled the blonde human, who was now shooting a violent glare over at Shepard.
"That's enough, Sergeant Stirling", ordered Matsuo. "I'm sure our guests are not here to cause trouble." Matsuo then eyed Shepard with a professional, expressionless face. "However, we WILL be sure to keep a very close eye on your squad. Please do not take advantage of our hospitality. Now, continue inside, and enjoy your visit." The rest of the guards disengaged their weapons and returned to their usual stations, with the exception of Sergeant Stirling who retreated to the main entrance, but kept her shotgun charged.
"Well!" Shepard said happily, attempting to break the mood of caution and agitation. "That could have been worse! Come on, let's go inside." The air around the Commander flickered and Kaidan's biotic barrier also flickered simultaneously as he joined her side. No one else seemed to notice the phenomena except Slade, but he suspected Kaidan was the cause.
Ah. Kaidan must have diverted energy from his barrier and formed a secondary barrier around Shepard to bolster her own barrier. Smart, but it would have left him more vulnerable, especially if that turned into a firefight. But he didn't enhance my barrier, or Liara's. I guess the Commander qualifies for 'special' treatment. Figures.
Slade's thoughts were interrupted as a blaring alarm sounded off, and he immediately surveyed the area to find the cause. The squad was standing in the hallway a few steps away from the main elevator, and two cameras anchored to the walls seemed to be setting off the alarm.
"Please excuse the alarm! The cameras are designed to detect weapons and under normal circumstances, they would not usually trigger the alarms!" A human female in an elegant magenta dress beckoned them over to the counter, and Slade followed Shepard's lead.
"I am Gianna Parasini, the assistant to the Administrator", she announced. "I apologize for the small ruckus outside, but our security forces only reacted the way they were trained. Please forgive any misinterpreted hostility. In any case, how may I help you, Commander Shepard?"
"Thank you for settling that small disagreement out there, Miss Parasini", Shepard said gratefully, as she removed her helmet and beamed politely. "I'd like a bit of information, if you don't mind." Liara and Kaidan also removed their helmets, but Slade chose to keep his on. He spent his entire life on Eden Prime — a place where it never snowed or dropped below freezing temperatures — and based on Garrus' impression of Noveria, Slade was sure he would not enjoy the cold, even if he was inside a climate controlled area. Slade was perfectly content inside his environmentally controlled helmet and hardsuit.
"I'm tracking down a fugitive from Citadel space, they're guilty of treason", Shepard began. "Has anyone…unusual…passed through the port recently?"
"Unusual?" Gianna repeated. "Hmmm…the only notable individual that comes to mind is Lady Benezia. She's an Asari Matriarch who arrived a few-
"Benezia?!" Liara exclaimed. "She's here?!"
"Sorry for the interruption…" Shepard apologized awkwardly. "Liara is…close to Benezia."
"I am deeply sorry, Miss Parasini", Liara blurted out even more awkwardly, while her cheeks slowly turned purple. "I did not intend to interrupt you."
"Is Benezia still here?" Shepard inquired. "May we see her?"
"She is at the Peak Fifteen research facility", Gianna answered. "As far as I know, she should still be there; however, I cannot authorize you to travel there. Only Administrator Anoleis can give you authorization. Would you like me to make an appointment for you?"
"Yes, please", Shepard beamed.
"Very well", Gianna smiled. "Usually an appointment would only be available for you in a week or two, but seeing as you are here on Citadel business, I may be able to move you up the waiting list. Please come see me at his office upstairs, and I will see what I can do." Shepard thanked Gianna again and the group entered the elevator.
"I cannot believe she is here!" Liara exclaimed again.
"You seem happy!" Shepard commented.
"Quite the contrary, Commander", Liara deflected. "I am actually quite nervous and confused. I have not seen my mother in years, and a reunion would be very difficult, even under better circumstances. I cannot forget she may be working with Saren, and I must always remember that. She is my mother, but she may also be the enemy, which is why I am so confused. I do not know how I should feel."
"Don't worry, Liara", Kaidan reassured, as he subtly moved a few inches closer to Shepard, almost close enough for their shoulders to touch. "By the time we find her, you'll know."
Real smooth, Kaidan…I wonder if Liara is noticing Kaidan's subtle advances.
Shepard returned the gesture and moved slightly closer to Kaidan, so that their hips were now touching. Liara definitely noticed that movement, and she quickly blushed and turned her attention to the glass elevator doors. Slade rolled his eyes and opened his omnitool.
Yeah…real subtle…
/
Commander Zoey Shepard was not surprised when she found proof of Anoleis' corruption. She decided not to believe everything Lorik Qui'in had told her, but she had her suspicions and was happy to be proven correct.
"This OSD has a record of every single bribe and extortion Anoleis had his hands in", Zoey announced. "I'm impressed. Qui'in must be very, very resourceful to be able to scrounge all this together."
"Well, obviously not resourceful enough, though", Slade muttered. "After all, Anoleis still found out about it. If Qui'in was resourceful, he wouldn't need us to fight through guards in order to rescue his OSD. He's good, but not THAT good…"
"True enough", Zoey shrugged. "Anyway, let's get outta here before more guards show up." Zoey led the way out of Qui'in's office and was almost at the stairs, before Sergeant Stirling and a group of guards came up the stairs and cut them off. Stirling and her guards primed their weapons, causing Zoey's squad to do the same.
"Well, well, well", Stirling taunted. "What do we have here?"
"Ummm…I can explain…" Zoey stuttered.
"No need", Stirling growled. "Anoleis sends his regards. Open fire!"
Crap.
Zoey raised a biotic backlash shield with her left arm and took aim with her Carnifex in her right hand. Including Stirling, there were five armed hostiles blocking her way to the stairs. Liara had taken cover behind a hydroponics unit, Kaidan had raised his own biotic backlash, while Slade had taken up a firing position behind her shield and was already shooting at the guards. By the time Zoey had lined up her shot, Slade had already placed a bullet into a guard's head, and Liara had violently thrown another into a wall and killed them, reducing the hostile count to three. Stirling glowed with a blue aura and charged towards Zoey — she was a biotic — which increased her potential threat as an opponent. Stirling shattered Zoey's backlash, but her barrier remained unhindered, which bought her some time to launch a counterattack. The force of the charge knocked the left side of Zoey's body off balance, but she used the unplanned momentum to turn her body around and aim a roundhouse kick at Stirling's neck with her left leg; however, Stirling reacted fast enough to block the kick with her arms and Zoey's boot glanced off harmlessly. Stirling then pulled a combat knife out of its sheath and prepared to stab Zoey's exposed side, but she stumbled backwards as her barrier absorbed a biotic throw from Kaidan. He then dropped his Lancer and tackled Stirling to the ground, extending his omniblade as they tumbled downwards.
"THEY'RE BIOTICS!" Roared one of the guards. "WE NEED HELP! GET UP HERE!" She then leaped out of cover and aimed her rifle, but Zoey anticipated her attack and shot her in the neck before she could fire.
"Reinforcements are coming up the stairs, Commander!" Slade shouted over the bursts of his Lancer. Before Zoey could react, Stirling kicked Kaidan off the ground and he slammed into Liara, causing them both to crumple to the floor. She then fired her shotgun at Zoey, and although her barrier and shields were more than enough to block the volley of shrapnel, the force of the shot threw her backwards into the ground, almost knocking Slade over the railing of the second floor. Slade regained his balance and hurled a biotic throw at Stirling, but her barrier was still strong enough to absorb the attack, leaving her untouched. Before Slade or Stirling could make another move, a small disc shaped object flew over the railing and landed between Stirling and Shepard.
"You fucking idiots!" Stirling managed to say before the object exploded in a flash of green light and Zoey fell to her knees, gasping in pain. Her vision had gone green and blurry — as if she had night vision goggles on her eyes — while her head felt like it was going to explode inside her helmet. The room felt like it was spinning uncontrollably and the overwhelming sense of nausea brought Zoey to the brink of vomiting. Zoey gasped for breath and gritted her teeth in agony as her stomach lurched along with her debilitating headache.
Damping Grenade! Fuck!
The damping grenade was definitely non-lethal; however, it temporarily disabled biotic abilities and affected any individual sensitive to mass effect fields, resulting in agonizing discomfort for all Biotics. Zoey struggled to get to her feet and prepare to meet the reinforcements, but was completely at the mercy of the damping effects. She looked around and quickly attempted to grasp her situation. Stirling was also on her knees and struggling to rise up to her feet and continue fighting. Liara was vomiting uncontrollably and Kaidan writhed around on the floor, spasming in pain. Zoey slowly turned to look behind her to find Slade, who was lying on the ground completely still, without moving whatsoever: the damping grenade must have knocked him unconscious.
This isn't good…
"Co…Co…Commander…" Kaidan croaked through gritted teeth. "Shepard! Your…your Lancer!" Zoey tried to pull out her rifle from the holster on her back, but was unable to reach without causing herself to dry heave in pain. Kaidan mustered his remaining strength and kicked his Lancer over to her. "Commander…" Kaidan breathed. "I'm…I'm sorry." Kaidan then immediately went limp and stopped moving.
KAIDAN!
Zoey attempted to rush to his side, but was violently thrown backwards and she slammed into the ground, causing another wave of pain to crash over her head. Stirling then climbed over her and clamped her hands over Zoey's throat, then tightened her grip and began to strangle her.
"I don't need biotics to kill you!" Stirling spat. "Besides, this is more fun!" Zoey tried her best to push her off and flail her arms at Stirling's head, but her grip did not cease. Zoey's vision was steadily blacking out and it was only a matter of time before she suffocated.
Come on, Zoey! Do something!
Zoey struggled once more, but was unsuccessful yet again and only brought herself closer to losing consciousness.
"Just…DIE!" Stirling hissed. "Why…won't…you…d-
Stirling gasped and spasmed as Slade rushed forward, driving his omniblade into her chest. She released her grip and Zoey rolled onto her side gasping desperately for air. She caught a glimpse of the reinforcements charging out of the stairwell and knew her squad was not ready to meet them: Zoey needed to do something in order to buy time. She forced herself to her knees and saw four guards take aim with their weapons. Zoey desperately darted herself forward to Kaidan's Lancer, but Slade was slightly faster and snatched it off the ground before she could reach. He unloaded the thermal clip into the group of guards, but most of his shots missed, and the ones that managed to find a target were deflected by kinetic shields. Slade's accuracy was affected by the damping effect; furthermore, he dropped the assault rifle as it overheated and vented its thermal sink, meaning the damping was definitely affecting him. Zoey grabbed the Lancer off the floor and waited for the thermal sink to reinitialize. Slade's spray of gunfire may not have hurt anything, but it forced their opponents into cover, which did buy the squad some time. Slade slumped over and leaned against the railing, then pulled his Paladin out and charged it, giving Zoey a brief nod. Liara had also managed to take a firing position with her pistol and although she looked on the brink of losing consciousness, she also nodded.
Alright. If we don't pull this off, we're dead. No pressure.
Zoey hurled an omnigrenade towards the hydroponics unit in the centre of the second floor landing. Her aim was definitely thrown off by the damping, but she accomplished her goal: two of the guards had dived out of their cover to avoid the explosion. Slade emptied his thermal clip into one of the guards, resulting in a splash of blood confirming he got his mark; however, Slade now needed to reload and was useless in the firefight until he did. Liara took a few shots at the other turian guard, but missed all of them, allowing the guard to get to his feet. Zoey fired a burst from her Lancer and watched the guard clutch his leg and fall down, screaming in pain.
Two down, two to go.
The two remaining guards rushed forwards, firing their rifles as they closed in. Liara slumped back behind her cover, avoiding the hail of bullets, but Zoey's only option was evading and relying on her shields to deflect any shots that hit her. She rolled to her left, wincing as her headache throbbed painfully, and readied another burst with the Lancer. Zoey heard Slade shuffling on the floor behind her, then felt her Lancer on her back get pulled out of its magnetic holster.
Good. Taking my rifle was probably a safer bet than trying to reload.
Zoey grabbed the railing next to her with her left hand and yanked herself up, leaning her body against it and taking aim with the rifle. One of the guards was checking on the wounded turian, while the other was advancing on her and quickly reacted by shooting at her. Zoey's shields broke and she felt a couple of shots graze her shoulder, but she also fired her gun, managing to break the guards shields. Liara took advantage of the guard's exposed flank and fired her pistol, landing her shots perfectly. The other guard stopped tending to the turian and raised her rifle, now worried that she was the only one remaining. She retreated to the back of the landing and ducked behind an overturned table. Slade yanked a nutritional ration bar out of his belt and threw it towards the guard's hiding spot, causing Zoey to raise an eyebrow in confusion.
"Grenade out!" Slade yelled. The guard sprinted out of her cover in panic, dashing towards the stairs, but Slade must have anticipated her movement, and sprayed a volley of bullets in her direction. Most of the shots peppered the wall harmlessly, but a splatter of blood and the sound of a body falling down the stairs meant he had hit his mark.
"Nice thinking, Slade!" Zoey praised, but she quickly gasped as she turned around to see Slade slumped against the railing with a small puddle of blood next to him. "Slade!" Zoey rushed to his side, ready to apply a dose of medigel. "Liara, make sure Kaidan is okay!" Liara nodded and quickly began inspecting Kaidan's unconscious body. Zoey applied medigel to Slade's leg, which was bleeding mildly and seemed to have taken a few shots. "When did you get shot?!"
"Remember when you rolled outta the way?" Slade chuckled. "Yeah, the reason that worked and you didn't get shot was because they were aiming for me, and I didn't move in time to dodge."
"Ugh", Zoey sighed. "Well it doesn't look bad at all. The medigel should have you back to one hundred percent. You're lucky."
"Save some for yourself", Slade said as he pointed to Zoey's shoulder, which was also bleeding. She must have been hyped up on adrenaline and did not feel the pain yet.
Oh. So that guard did manage to score a hit.
BANG
Zoey jumped in shock as Slade fired the Lancer, then grabbed her own and quickly turned around to see what he was shooting at. The wounded turian guard was now lifelessly swimming in a pool of blue blood.
"We almost forgot about him", Slade commented.
"Almost", Zoey emphasized. "How's Kaidan, Liara?"
"He is okay, Commander", Liara reported. "He fell unconscious. I think the damping grenade affected him more seriously than us, because of his L2 implants."
"Damn it", Zoey swore. "At least he's okay. Slade, didn't you also pass out after that damping grenade went off?"
"Hey, whoa", Slade countered. "I did not 'pass out'. It was just too painful to move, so I didn't move. I was conscious, don't worry about me…"
"Whatever", Zoey teased. "Anyway, I think the damping is finally starting to wear off. Let's get Kaidan out of here before more guards show up."