Mass Effect: The Man Who Saw Tomorrow
Chapter X: Diamonds
His cigarette dabbed lightly into the ashtray, and his eyes flickered with every blink. The burning star behind him was a rich blend of blues and whites, matching the shade of the Illusive Man's illuminating eyes. His disposition was calm and unemotional, something Venom Snake was beginning to suspect to be only a mask he wore. It worried him that he felt they shared something similar in that regard.
"Boss." Said the Illusive Man, "Good work on Horizon. Hopefully, the Collectors will think twice before attacking another colony."
Snake gestured with delicate incline of his head in affirmation, his brain still ached and reeled from his concussion only six hours ago.
The Illusive Man continued, "They'll be more careful now, but I think we can find another way to lure them in. We have to keep the pressure on. They'll be more cautious with their ground operations, so we need another opening. I'm devoting all resources to finding a way through the Omega 4 relay. We have to hit them where they live."
"Omega 4 relay?" Snake asked.
"It's a Mass Relay in the Omega Nebula, Sahrabarik system. No ship that has ever gone through it has returned. None, with the exception for the Collectors. I believe it leads to their home world, wherever that may be."
"Why don't we go there now?" Snake shifted on his feet and flexed his fists at his sides.
"Your team will need to be strong… as will their resolve. There's no looking back. Once we find a way through the Omega 4 relay, to the Collector home world… there's no guarantee you'll return. To have any hope of surviving, you— your entire team and crew— must be fully committed to this."
Snake remained silent, but he agreed, "I'll make sure they're ready." He answered.
"Good. I just want to make sure you and your team are at your best. I've forwarded three more dossiers. Keep building your team, and help them find their resolve, while I find a way through the relay."
The Illusive Man slipped the cigarette between his lips and breathed it in deep, "And be careful, Boss. The Collectors will be watching you now."
Venom Snake stepped away from the interface, and turned to see Jacob standing there, his arms folded over his chest.
"I guess we're really gonna do it. Hit the Omega 4 relay, take the fight to the Collectors in person."
Snaked nodded.
"Looking forward to the action. After seeing what those bastards did on Horizon though… makes you think." Jacob said grimly.
"What's wrong?"
Jacob shook his head, but stared at the ground, "Nothing, but… just there's a good chance we're not coming back, even if we get it done."
He looked back up and stood straight. "Gonna have to take care of a little unfinished business. I imagine everyone else too. Get some closure, you know?" He saluted and left Snake, and through the door, the dog laid in wait.
Snake stepped out and greeted her with a half a smile, and her tail pattered against the floor happily. He gestured with his hand for her to follow him and she bounced to her feet and followed him into the CIC.
"Big Boss, we are currently several minutes away from the planet Alchera. The Ishmael will break the atmosphere shortly." EDI's voice rang through the intercom.
Kelly Chambers turned to speak to him, "I think this is a wonderful idea, Boss." She said seriously, "The crew here, almost all of us signed up, or were recruited because of Commander Shepard."
"Did you?" Snake asked.
She nodded, "Partly. The Illusive Man handpicked me for this operation to assist you and oversee the crew as a counsellor and psychologist, in the event of mental disorders developed due to the mission, but I agreed because I admired the Commander very much."
"What was she like?"
"I never met her personally, but she was the first human Spectre, a survivor from the Mindoir Massacre, and a war hero after the Skyllian Blitz. She rallied the colonists to fight the raiding batarian pirates and slavers, and when they broke through their defenses; she singlehandedly held them off and sealed the breach. She was amazing, and many considered her the spiritual successor of Solid Snake." Kelly said, the shine of awe in her eyes.
Venom Snake glanced at the ground and had to force himself to stop from smiling.
That Solid Snake was still considered 'the man who made the impossible possible'. He wondered if Big Boss would have ever been proud of him, for becoming such a prolific figure to humanity, that even a century later, they were still speaking of him.
He did not know, but he would feel proud for him.
"Are you going to the surface?" He asked her.
She nodded, "Yes. Though I imagine I will become a complete wreck down there. Please don't hold it against me." She smiled.
Snake felt a tug at the corner of his lip and nodded also before he moved to the elevator to get ready.
When he was suited up in his Ajax Armor, he exited the elevator to the hangar where most of the crew had gathered, donning their exo-suits and battle armor. Their faces were somber, but eager as well while they checked and double checked each other's suits.
Alchera, the world that the SSV Normandy had crashed into, was a documented ice world. Temperatures in the low -20's were when the planet was in its warm season. EDI had informed him that its atmosphere was a mixture of ammonia and methane, and its large size made its gravity less dense than usual.
It was a frozen hell hole, according to Garrus, which was why the derelict ship was virtually untouched by both Alliance and scavengers since its demise.
Snake considered the readying crew. There was only about seventeen of them gathered. Some of them chose to stay aboard, either out of respect for the dead, or fear. Others, did not know how to feel.
Joker did not speak a word since Snake told him to plot a course for the system. He did not even protest when EDI began speaking on his or the Ishmael's behalf.
Garrus had told him it was because he blamed himself for Shepard's death, when he initially refused to abandon the Normandy.
And Snake understood. The guilt was eating away at him, and despite the brave, sardonic face Joker wore, he could see right through it. It would be something he would have to come to terms with, before they went through the Omega 4 Relay, or else it could be the death of them all, revenge was a good catalyst, but it would only leave a hole filled with all that anger.
"Boss." Miranda called to him, snapping him from his thoughts.
He approached her and raised a brow as she wore only her skin suit and a transparent respirator over her face.
"Aren't you a little underdressed?" He asked.
The woman smirked, "My suit has microfiber heat insulators. It should protect me enough from the cold. Besides, shouldn't you be worrying about your shrapnel scar not fitting into your helmet?" She gestured to the horn that sprouted from his cranium, tucked into his hairline.
Snake lifted his hand and felt the tip of the fragment that jutted out.
"I'm already a demon."
He forgot that it was there sometimes and frowned when he realized she was right, the helmet under his arm would be ineffective if he could not get it over the debris.
"Got you covered, Boss." Zaeed said as he tossed a different mask to Snake.
He caught it in his hand and looked it over; it resembled a blood crimson gas mask, with two respirators on either side of its shielded mouth, and it had a ceramic face, with two round, shielded eyes.
"Figured that horn of yours would be a son of a bitch to get into a helmet, so you can have my spare HAVOK Hazard Mask. Should fit nice and snug." The old mercenary said, slipping his own over his face.
Snake muttered a thanks before he slipped the mask over his face. It locked securely to his skin, and the mask barely touched the shrapnel in his hairline.
The Ishmael touched down on the icy surface below, and powered down when settled.
"The Ishmael is now in standby. Hangar bridge ready to descend." EDI announced over the intercom.
Snake approached the bridge and turned to face everyone waiting. He saw their faces, hidden behind their helmets and respirators, from Garrus to Hadley, they appeared as ready and determined as they could ever be.
"Drop the bridge, EDI." He said and faced the entrance.
"Dropping hangar bridge now, Big Boss."
The floor opened, and a gust of icy wind blew into the hangar, sending chills up the back of Snake's arms and neck.
He took the first step down to the surface, and the others followed him. His foot stepped into the untouched snow and it rippled under the force of his foot.
There was only ice and snow all around, as far as the eye could see beneath the dancing aurora in the sky. And for a moment, he almost believed the ship was not there, until he saw the broken hull of the ship behind him, jutting out of the ground as if to cry for help.
Garrus was the first to join him in the snow.
Snake could not see his face, but he imagined his expression was that of deep sadness, and incredible despair.
"This was a good ship—good crew, Boss. I was back in C-Sec when I heard the news that the Normandy was gunned down." He said, and began to lead the group outside.
Snake followed him closely, as Miranda, Jacob and Zaeed joined him in line.
"Geth sightings stopped for weeks in the system, and the Council refused to listen to Shepard after Sovereign. Putting her on geth 'clean up' duty. Never been so pissed off in my life." Garrus continued, looking at the devastation around him, "That's when I quit being a cop, and followed Shepard's lead. Sometimes when you want things done, you have to break protocol. To hell with the consequences."
They came to a large part of the ship, half buried in the snow.
"Looks like the old CIC." Jacob said, lifting his omni-tool and scanning the damaged hull.
"There could be some tech we could use." Miranda suggested, and took a step forward.
Snake placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her in her tracks, and shook his head.
"Let the dead sleep."
"Boss—"
"They're still in the walls. They can hear and see us." He looked into the derelict hull, "Let them rest, Miranda." He whispered warmly, and pulled his hand away.
She eyed him curiously, but moved back and nodded, "Yes, Boss." She said.
Garrus led them to another part of the ship, with what looked like that of a wrecked six wheeled tank. Despite the breached roof, it was still in good shape, and maybe even repairable if given the resources.
The turian grinned and shook his head, "Can't believe the MAKO is still in one piece."
He cast a glance at Snake, "Shepard nearly killed us damn near a dozen times, trying to scale mountains in this thing." He glanced back at the tank, "She drove about as well as she danced."
Snake snickered and they moved onto the next part of the wreckage.
Kenneth and Gabby followed closely behind, inspecting the shell of what once was the ships shuttle.
"It's crazy to think that the Normandy went down, even here and now. Couldn't have been geth." Kenneth Donnelly said.
"Just look at the melted corners of the hull, no sign of velocity difference." Gabby said, pointing at the damaged crew deck.
"Aye. Must've punched right through the shields."
"Boss, I'm reading unique environmental scans of an object not part of the original Normandy, overlooking the methane lake near what used to be the cockpit."
EDI's voice was a chill ringing and he looked in the direction of the frozen lake at the head of the cliff. He could see an object with a holo-interface that swam beneath the lights of the sky.
Snake and Garrus led the way for the group toward the peculiar object, and stopped in front of it.
The turian sniper looked it over, and stepped back with a sigh, "T'soni..." He exhaled.
"What is it?" Snake asked from beneath this mask, unable to discern what it was.
Garrus lifted his omni-tool, and typed away on its interface.
The holo-screen burst into a enormous blooming universe of coloured stars, shining brightly against the aurora that moved like waves as its backdrop.
"It's a memorial. For Shepard, and the crew. By Liara T'soni; someone who served on the Normandy with us." He said.
Snake stared up into the images, tracing the stars that were the Milky Way galaxy.
The interfaced image changed to another, this time, projecting an image of a smiling woman with dark crimson hair, and a freckled face and confident blue eyes.
She was clad in dark armor with a distinctive N7 on her chest plate, and a heavy sniper rifle was gripped casually in her hand, resting on her shoulder. At her side was her crew, Garrus and the woman, Ashley Williams stood with her, as well as an asari woman in white, with the MAKO tank behind them.
The hush of the wind over the snow, was the lone sound that swayed in the hollow of Snake's ear. The crew had fallen silent as they stared up at the picture of the Commander.
Snake swallowed.
She was a beautiful woman, her eyes and smile exuded confidence and a warmness about her. Her hand was on Garrus' shoulder in a display of comradery, and he thought of how much Shepard might have really meant to the turian.
He saw it when he looked over at him, his breathing and posture spoke volumes.
He idolized the Commander, would follow her to the deepest part of hell, and would have died for her if she ordered it.
Snake sighed. He had seen death many times. Good people who did not deserve it, who should have lived out the rest of their days happy and free, without danger in their lives. It was never any easier to see the world empty without them.
"She should be here…" He said, and looked back up at the screen, "Not me."
Garrus was quiet, before he spoke again, "This was her fight. When she died, I wrote off the galaxy for dead and gone. The least I could do was make life easier for the good people that deserved it, before the end came knocking."
He looked back at Snake, "But we're making a difference now. You aren't Shepard—no one ever will be… but I'm beginning to think you might be the only one who can lead this fight now." Garrus said, and nudged his arm reassuringly.
Snake stared at him, and then at the crew that stood behind them.
They all seemed to agree. Their eyes were hurt, but an underlying determination burned like embers, ready to erupt into an inferno. They wanted revenge for the now gone Commander.
He stared back at the monument overlooking the valley, and took a step forward when he saw engravings in its face:
Commander;
Allison Jane Shepard
An Echo in our Legends,
Forever
The names of the Normandy crew were listed as well, both those alive and deceased were scripted in detailed, attractive calligraphy.
An unusual, clear glass canister sat at the base of the monument and he lifted it up cautiously to inspect it.
"It's an urn." He said when he saw inside.
Her ashes were here. They bounced and stirred in the canister, shifting with the movement of his hands from the low gravity, as if disturbed in sleep.
She should be leading this crew, not him. His reason to take this mission was to be an attempt at redemption, for all the horrible little things he and his friends had done to the world he knew. It spanned into the next generation, and had stolen many lives in the process, more than he could bare to name.
He was a demon, and this woman, a hero.
Only wreckage and fire lay in his wake.
She saved entire worlds.
He destroyed, and she built.
She was young and beautiful, and he was ugly and old.
"This shouldn't be where she dies." He said unthinkingly, as he stared into the ashes.
He stood at the edge of a platform, and in his hands were the ashes of another, centuries dead now. He wore their ashes on his face, breathed them in, to be a part of him forever. He could feel them enter every pore in his skin, and gripped tightly to his lungs, to stay and never let go. To be with their Boss where they belonged, with their family, forever.
"What do you mean?" Garrus asked.
Snake gazed into the glassed urn once more, before carefully handing it to the turian.
"Stars don't go quietly into the night... She's still bright." He said, and regarded the crew that stood, watching.
"A shining light… even in death."
He looked back at Garrus, who bore into the ashes as well, "…We're going to bring her with us, carry her into battle. She'll finish this fight, and we're going to help her. She needs you." He turned to the crew, "All of you… to carry her there."
"What... What do you mean?" Kelly Chambers asked, with a shaky, wisp of her voice. Unfallen tears filled her eyes, her hand gripped tightly over her heart.
"We'll make diamonds… shining lights to lead us into the heart of hell." Venom Snake said, and placed a hand on Garrus' shoulder.
"This isn't where she dies."
The turian looked up. He could not see his face, not beneath the mask he wore, he did not even know if he could read his face correctly, given the differences between their expressions as species'.
But he nodded and whispered, "She won't go quietly. Not while she's still bright."
Thanks for reading guys. — AThousandSuns