A/N: You guessed right—it is another time-skip!
In my notes, I wrote "Part one of the end" which I find pretty funny now, looking back on it.
-Eddy
Chapter 17
It happened just before we arrived at the Citadel. Liara, Kiera, Danial, a group of soldiers, and I were talking about strategies to take out the krogan that took the Citadel. "The krogan will charge at us if we go at it like that." I tell a soldier who had just suggested that we storm in head-on. "We would be taken out in seconds with that strategy." I say as one of the other soldiers playfully hits his shoulder.
"This is the same krogan army you faced before, isn't it?" Liara asks and I look up at her.
"Yes." I say and Kiera pats my back playfully.
"You took out their clan, didn't you?" Kiera asks and I nod. "You did that single-handedly. We should be fine!"
"Yes, I did that…but…" I say as I remember receiving a death threat from one of the krogan battle master's spies.
"Knight?" Liara asks as I look at her, then at everyone else.
"I know that this time will be different…" I say and they look concerned.
"How do you know that?" Danial asks.
"The krogan I killed…weren't krogan warriors." I say and they look surprised. "It happened after I escaped the lab on Tuchanka, where I was...made." I explain and look down. "When I reached a village in Tuchanka, I was being chased by the clan leader. I panicked and started attacking everyone. They were innocent, and I killed them."
"You're just full of surprises." Danial says with an angry sigh. "You're saying you started the war?" He asks and I nod. "Why didn't you tell us this before?"
"Because…" I say and feel a hand on my shoulder. "…I finally gained your trust." I say and look at who's hand is rested on my shoulder—Liara. "The krogan battle master ordered the attack on the Goliath to get to me. All of this is my fault. I'm sorry."
"None of this is your fault, Knight." Liara says as I notice her trying to fight off tears. "You could have told me about all of this."
"You know everything about me now, Dr. T'Soni." I say as I feel the shuttle shake. We've finally landed. Liara takes her hand off me as I stand up.
"Listen: The krogan will be lined up and ready to attack as soon as we reach the Presidium. On the way, there might be mercenaries ready to take you out, so be on your guard." I say and see everyone getting ready to leave the shuttle. "Danial and Liara will take half of these soldiers, while Kiera and I take the other half."
"Right." Danial says and I feel Liara's hand on my shoulder. "You're lucky that you're the best damn tactician I've ever met, Knight."
"After my team clears the wards, Danial, I want your team to stay there and wait for my signal." I say as I see the soldiers on my team exit the shuttle. "Keep her safe, Danial." I say and turn to face Liara.
"I won't let you down." He says, confidently.
"I'll see you again soon, Liara." I say and turn back around, leaving with Kiera. Once we're out of earshot, Kiera turns to me.
"What did you just call the doctor? Liara?" She asks and I smile.
"That's her name." I say look over my shoulder to see Liara's worried, yet angry, glare at me.
"Are you two…" Kiera says awkwardly and I look at her.
"Are Liara and I more than friends?" I ask and she looks at me, eager to hear an answer. "We are."
"Oh! Of course you are." She says and gives a short laugh as we reach closer to the wards. "I thought you'd make a good couple. You both like looking at the stars, ya'know?"
"We do." I say as I remember all of the times Liara and I talked while watching the stars.
"You could have told me." She says and I notice a group of mercenaries. Just like I said. Quickly, I stop the group.
"There are mercenaries just ahead." I say as I examine the battlefield. There are four snipers lined up at the back, with five mercenary soldiers in front of them. Other than them, I can't see any sign of other mercenaries. The krogan battle master must have his krogan warriors at the Presidium like I said. He's too predictable. Quickly, I look at the soldiers with me. There are two snipers, three foot soldiers, Kiera and I. "Snipers, take out the snipers out at the back of the room. Soldiers, you take the front. I'll cover our snipers."
"Right." They say and I move to behind the snipers getting into position.
"Go!" I say as I put up a barrier over me and the snipers with me. It took a few moments, but we managed to clear a path for team two to hold this position. "Danial, we're ready to hit the Presidium."
"We'll be right there." Danial says and I motion for my team to move forward as I slowly follow behind with Kiera.
"Knight. Be careful." Liara says and I smile.
"You too." I say and I start walking into the Presidium as I hear Danial and Liara's team run into the room behind us.
"Knight, wait." Kiera says as she stops me. Suddenly, I see the Presidium crowded with krogan.
"Back to the safe zone. Now." I say and we turn around to run back into where Danial, Liara, and the other soldiers are. Just before we reach the door, it closes. "Damnit!"
"What do we do now?" Kiera asks as I look all around us.
"Knight? What just happened?" Liara asks as I turn to face the krogan. "Are you all right?"
"We're fine, Liara." I reassure her as I try to plan a route for her team. The upper level is sealed off, but it would make for a safe route until we can corner the battle master.
"What's going on out there? Why did the door close?" Liara asks as I can feel her panic.
"Everything will be fine, Liara." I say as I see my team surround me, fighting off a few krogan. They're going down a little quicker than I expected. Are they even warriors? They are only armed with hammers and aren't wearing krogan battle armor. If I can get everyone to make me a path, this will all end very quickly. I'm going after the battle master. He wants to do this the dirty way? Well, it's not like it's my first time. It's worth a shot at least.
"Knight, talk to me." Liara says and I smile.
"Listen to me, Liara." I start as I hear someone banging on the door behind me. "Get to the top level. I have a plan." I say and the banging stops.
"You have a plan?" Kiera asks and smiles at me. "Well, I'd love to hear it."
"These krogan aren't trained. I imagine the real warriors are up in the front." I say and Kiera looks back at the krogan. "Two soldiers on my left, two on my right, and the rest…stay behind me. I'll clear a path, then you go on ahead."
"You're just going to charge in there? That's the plan?" Kiera asks as I step in front of the soldiers.
"Hey, I didn't say you would like it. But, it'll work out. I promise." I say and feel a hand on my arm.
"Just be careful. You wouldn't want your Liara to come out crying from your reckless behavior if you got hurt, would you?" Kiera says and let's go of my arm.
"No, I wouldn't." I say as I charge my biotics. "Hopefully it won't come to that." I say and charge through the crowd of krogan. Instantly, all of the krogan go flying as they bleed. I literally cut through them. I stop as I see krogan surround me.
"I said be careful, Knight! Not get yourself surrounded!" Kiera shouts as I charge my biotics again, then let a burst of my biotics blast away the krogan around me.
"I'm guessing this is how you massacred the clan!" Kiera shouts, jokingly. "Nice."
"We're hearing some pretty intense fighting down there!" I hear Danial say into the com as I use my biotics to continue clearing a path for my team. "Is everything alright?"
"We're fine." I say as I finish off the last krogan in my path. Then, I motion for Kiera to join me with the soldiers. The krogan warriors are just ahead of us, waiting for us to make the first move.
"I think now would be a good time to tell us your big plan, Knight!" Kiera says as I look at the room ahead of us. There aren't very many warriors, but I don't see the battle master. They don't have any weapons either. They're just waiting.
"Jordan Knight!" I hear a krogan shout. Then, I see a krogan wearing shaman robes walking towards us. As I see my team raising their guns, aiming at the shaman, I motion for them to lower their weapons. "Clan Janok has come to negotiate."
"The last I heard from you, you sent word about wanting to assassinate me for killing most of your clan." I say as my team looks confused. I never told them about the death threats that came directly from the clan.
"Knight, what's going on?" Kiera asks and the shaman laughs.
"Your friend didn't tell you?" The shaman asks with a laugh. "Your Knight has been dealing with Clan Janok's assassins for many years now." He says and looks at me. "She's also been speaking to us on a regular basis. Are you prepared to meet your maker?"
"Maker? I thought that asari scientist was the one who created you?" Kiera asks and the shaman laughs again.
"Shira? That asari scientist who released this trash into the world?" The shaman says. "No, she only helped with the engineering part. Krogan aren't the best scientists, but we had great plans for our human specimen." He continues and looks me in my eyes. "The last time we saw each other, you were in the tank—barely alive. Cain's special experiment H-990—Janok Knight."
"Don't call me that!" I say and the shaman grabs my arm with force. Then, he pulls me towards him.
"If you come quietly, your little squad here will go free." He says as I put a hand behind my back.
"You'll take me to Janok Cain?" I ask and the shaman laughs.
"Of course!" He says. "Just what he wants! Just, don't squirm too much when you meet him."
"I won't. I promise." I say as I cross my fingers, then look over my shoulder at Kiera.
"You can't do this! Knight, it's a trap! They'll kill you!" Kiera shouts and I wave my hand so she can see it better. "We'll come for you! I promise."
"Just get everyone out. It'll be fine." I say, trying to prove to the shaman that I'm cutting ties with everyone. Then, the shaman pulls me forward with a jolt.
"Said your goodbyes, yet?" The shaman asks and I relax my hand.
"Let's go." I say and the shaman grunts a laugh.
He quickly guides me to the center of the room, on an elevator platform. As we go up, just before we disappear from sight of the warriors, I charge my biotics and attack the shaman. "Sorry, shaman. I can't let anyone of your clan live after what you've done to this galaxy." I say and the shaman dies from my biotics crushing him.
"Knight! Are you there?" Liara asks as the elevator continues going up.
"Yes. How are you and the others doing?" I ask and hear her breathing heavily.
"We're on our way to you. Where did you go?" Liara asks and the elevator shakes. Then, as I look around me, the elevator stops. "What was that?" She asks and I stop.
"I'm on my way to the top floor." I lie. If I tell her the floor I'm going to, she might rush into the middle of a fight. I won't let that happen. "Before I go any further, Liara…there's something you need to know." I say as I look at the door of the elevator. "I've been in contact with Clan Janok for six months now."
"Why wait to tell me about this until now?" She asks with a shaking voice.
"Because…I'm meeting with Janok Cain today." I say and hear Liara breathing harder. Is she running?
"Stay where you are!" She yells and I sigh. She's too easy to read.
"Liara, everything will be okay. I didn't come unprepared." I say and hear Liara talking to Danial. "I have a plan…and an agent working with me."
"An agent? Knight, what are you planning?" She asks.
"It's a secret. Will you trust me?" I say and the door opens.
"I don't like this, Knight." She says as I hear her breathing heavily again.
"I know." I say and walk out of the elevator.
"Where are you?" She asks and I sigh.
"I need you to stay calm, Liara." I say and she gives a light laugh.
"You expect me to stay calm, while you put yourself in danger?" She asks. "I'm not going to let that happen."
"Liara, listen to me." I say as I start walking further into the dark room I'm in. "I know you don't like this. I'm sorry, but…this is the only way. My agent is waiting for me nearby." I say and Liara sighs.
"You're not on the top floor, are you?" She asks and I smile.
"No. I'm not." I say as I look all around me. From where I am, I can see up three levels, but it's dark. I can't see very well, but I notice movement at my feet. The keepers. "I think I've stopped at the keepers' home. I guess we all find a home at some point." I say as I walk through the keepers.
"We just need to get you out of there, then we will find our home." Liara says and I smile. Then, a flash of memory of seeing many dead bodies and keepers comes to mind.
"Commander Shepard saw something like this too." I say and give a small laugh. "Though I'm glad I don't have to see as many dead bodies as she did." I joke, but don't hear a response from Liara. "That was a joke."
"Even now, you're having visions." Liara says and sighs. "You seem to be enjoying this."
"Well, I have to keep both of our morals up somehow." I say and she laughs softly. "We'll get through this, Liara." I say as I walk into another room. This one is well-lit and I can clearly see the three top floors.
"I think I see someone." Liara says as I hear someone break a window. "I see you, Knight." She says as I look all around me, until I see her. She's behind a guarded panel—making it impossible for her to just jump over the edge to get to me. Good. She's safe.
"Are you alone up there?" I ask and notice all of the soldiers with her. "I see them. Good." I say and feel the ground shake. Quickly, I look in front of me—there are three krogan warriors charging at me. As fast as I can, I charge my biotics enough to get away from them. These krogan look sick, like something is wrong with them.
"Janok Knight!" One of them shouts.
"That's not my name!" I shout as I charge my biotics.
"You were always a part of clan Janok. Yet you destroyed us without a backward look!" Another shouts as I notice them charging their own biotics—the same way I do.
"You're one of Janok Cain's experiments?" I ask and they charge at me. I wait until they get somewhat closer to me, then I jump above them and use my biotics to slam down on top of them. Instantly, I hear their armor and bones crush under me.
"You're one of us! So, why…?" The only one left alive after that says, breathless. Then, I bend down to him.
"I may be one of Janok Cain's experiments, but do not compare me to you. I will never be a part of Clan Janok!" I say as I charge my biotics again, then punch him. He dies instantly.