I actually got these character ideas through playing ME3 online as they're actual classes you can be. Ever get the chance you should jam it. I also thought I should do a little bit of clearing up on Archer's build. Remember the Shadow's Broker shield? That's what Archer has and he can set that to incinerate or snap freeze and smash it into someone. However if he wants to "throw" a tech power at a distant enemy he has to close the shield down to launch it forwards. Sweet?
In this chapter Laetana and Archer make it to the main colony although without some distractions along the way. What distractions? Well read it and found out heheheheh.
Cheers.
He woke up to possibly the loudest alarm in existence.
Archer's eyes shot open at the terrible noise and instantly reached for his gun while launching off the couch. He was immediately knocked to the ground by Laetana, pinning him down with her strong legs and ushering (to put it plainly) to shut the fuck up and stay still.
He craned his head to the window behind them and his eyes nearly ran from his head. A Reaper Destroyer, all 160 metres of it, was hulking passed their temporary shelter. Archer ogled the death machine as it passed, staying as still as he possibly could. What then seemed to be forever the thumps of its feet pummelling the ground became quieter and Archer realised he was holding his breath, he also realised the very intermit position they were both in with Laetana essentially straddling him with his hands (unknowingly) on her waist. Laetana seemed to notice too as she jumped off him like he was scorching hot, her face clearly flushed.
Archer hauled himself off the ground and an awkward silence settled in, regardless of the giant Reaper that had just walked past. Laetana thankfully snapped the silence.
"It was damaged"
Archer who was fiddling with his ration pack spun around, "who was?"
"The Reaper, it was damaged. Not hugely but something had clearly attacked it and made a sufficient dent for it to leave." She looked out the window once more as if expecting the machine to be peeking through the window. "It was heading away from my Brothers colony" she added quietly.
Archer stopped fighting with the packet of food and walked over to her, choosing his words carefully "you said it was damaged, maybe the colony has defences and they we able to drive it off?"
"Who could drive off a Reaper and still be left standing" she mumbled back.
Archer knew they were both soldiers, watching people die, even sometimes the ones they're close too comes with the job. But he could also see this was effecting her more than she let on.
"Do you have any other family?"
She shook her head, "just him. Our parents have been dead for some time."
Archer walked over to her, placing his large hands on her shoulders and staring into her eyes with a determination. "I promise you this, we are going to get to that colony, we are going to find your brother and we are going to get the fuck outta here, and I will do everything that I can to help you". Archer didn't really know what came over him, it was a difficult promise. Maybe he was just sick of this war, sick of seeing people die, sick of the hopelessness around him.
Laetana looked up at this big, dopey human and smiled. She didn't quite know why, but his words helped her relax.
"Alright" She replied. "Let's get to this colony."
"And God help any Reapers that stand in our way" he beamed back.
"God why do you hate me" whined Archer as Reapers stood in their way.
He hefted up his Omni-shield and held it in front while simultaneously firing off rounds at an incoming husk. They'd barely be walking an hour before a troop of forces intercepted them at a congestion of broken and destroyed buildings. Laetana had zipped off to the side to begin slowly pick them off while Archer remained to be the centre of attention. He was a big target after all.
He closed down his shield briefly and proceeded to throw an incineration into a group of Cannibals taking cover. Some already weakened by previous injuries fell dead immediately, their skin blistering and blackening from the flames. The others had little time to recover as Archer threw himself over the small blockade and fire his Phalanx into the nearest ones head before turning around and using shield like a giant spatula, flipping the remaining survivor over his back before firing again in between its four eyes.
There was silence for the briefest of moments before loud shot rang out and Archer barely managing to swing his shield around to block the projectile. He saw from his HUD the shot was from a Widow and it took a small portion off his Omni-shield's usually untouchable health. He looked up to see a Marauder perched on top of a crumbling building, screeching at him before firing off another round from the powerful weapon. Archer got behind a pillar as the round smashed into it, making shards of concrete bounce off his armour and helmet.
"Laetana!" He bellowed, there's a Marauder at…" He looked at his digital compass "32 northwest of my positon! I'm going to set off an overload, when I do see if you can finish it!" Hoping she heard his plan he closed down his Omni-sheild and primed the electrical attack. Jumping out from the cover he heard a round whizz passed his helmet before turning to the Marauder. He flung forwards the overload and saw it connect with the monster, causing its shields to dissipate and making it involuntary shake. Just like he hoped Laetana appeared and slashed her serrated blades across its back and chest at such speed she was almost unseen, causing blue/black blood to gush from the wounds and its skin to meld green. Unable to respond to the two strong attacks its legs collapsed underneath itself and it lazily cartwheeled through the air before landing with a resounding thud. Archer popped a thermal clip before slotting his gun away, the area now a deathly quiet. Laetana emerged next to him and prodded the Marauder with her boot.
"These things always creep me out, the sound that they make" she gave an involuntary shudder.
Archer bent down to look at the corpse before his eyes were drawn to the Widow lying in the grass. He had half a mind to take it, they were extremely reliable and powerful weapons. He himself have never used a sniper but Laetana or someone at this Colony may have use for it. He stood up to walk over before he was hit with an unimaginable pain and was sent flying through the air before smashing into one of the desecrated buildings. His HUD flashed red indicated all shields were down.
As he tried to right himself the ear-splitting shriek filled his ears. He knew they were in trouble.
As he struggled to stand the Banshee materialised directly in front of him hoisting him up with little effort and Archer was blessed with a close view of its disfigured face. While this was happening Laetana cursed herself multiple times for letting such an enemy get near them without her knowledge. Without thinking she rushed forwards and suck her blades deep into the corrupted Asari's flesh causing it to drop Archer and swing its grotesquely long nailed hand in her direction.
Laetana nimbly ducked the blow before deftly flipping backwards into a crouched position. She knew close quarter fighting would be a death threat against a Banshee so she opted for ranged, expelling two blades towards the Reaper trooper while simultaneously firing her own handgun. The blades hit true, striking into the Banshee while the mass accelerated rounds were mostly absorbed by its biotic barrier. "I need something bigger" and her eyes immediately fell to the Marauder's Widow, lying just a few feet away. The Widow seemingly read her thoughts and unleashed its biotic attack while giving its famous shriek. Laetana skilfully dodged the homing ball of biotic destruction and started to sprint towards the large gun. As she reached out the Banshee materialised next to her and connected the back of its hand with Laetana's torso, sending the Turian woman cartwheeling and landing painfully. She tried to regain herself but was painfully aware of the Banshee bearing down on her and preparing itself for another attack. Thankfully it never came as Archer had seemed too recovered and thundered into its back with his shield, knocking the wind out of it and partially setting it ablaze.
With small flames licking up its back it turned its attention to him and lashed out with its claws which scraped harmlessly off his shield. He kept his shield high while firing point blank into its swollen stomach. Learning from last time instead of melee attacking the Banshee simply crossed its arms and began to glow blue before unleashing its wide biotic attack throwing back Archer (yet again) to crash into a building (yet again).
Annoyed that he was still alive it strode towards him with remarkable speed before grabbing his entire head with its hand and violently wrenching him upwards. It looked into his visor and screamed directly into his face, his helmets audio filters almost breaking form the noise. The Banshee then used its other hands blade-like finger nails to slowly dig into his chest, his helmet muffling his screams.
"HEY BITCH"
The Banshee swung it head around furiously and it eyes suddenly going wide in shock. It was staring directly into the barrel of a Widow.
"Don't fucking touch him".
The rifle exploded and the Banshee's barrier did nothing to stop the high powered round from coursing through it face. Its head burst apart like overly ripe fruit before the body crumpled to the ground along with the Archer.
The area was quiet once more.
Laetana threw down the gun and ran over to Archer feverously unlocking off his chest armour and rolling up his under armour to inspect the wounds. Luckily the claws had only penetrated a couple of centimetres and required only a generous slathering of Medi-gel, although it still would've hurt like absolute hell.
Archer while being tendered too he shakily took off his helmet and watched as Laetana rub over his pectorals and abdomen.
"If I knew all I had to do was get stabbed by a Banshee to have you touch me like this, I would've done it sooner."
She looked towards his face and painfully prodded one of the already sealing holes, eliciting a gasp and swear from him.
"Hol' shitfuck! Sorry, I'm sorry." He silently watched her work before turning serious for a moment.
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it" she replied without looking up.
"No. I'm serious. If you weren't here I'm pretty sure I would've been plastered all over these walls. You pretty much saved my arse".
He placed his hand on hers and gave it a light squeeze. She stopped working and stared at their hands before looking up to meet Archer's gaze. They stayed like that for a few seconds before realising how ridiculous they looked and quickly stood, although both could not hide the blushes creeping up their neck and face.
Archer rolled back down his padding and reattached his armour before looking at her once again.
"Please tell me we're close. I really don't want to go through that shit again."
"Is the big, bad human scared of a few Banshees?"
"No I'm scared of one yelling in my face again." He put a finger in ear and rubbed. "Pretty sure I'm partly deaf due to that screaming bitch."
Laetana picked up the Widow and stored it onto her back before looking to the horizon.
"I remember these streets as a kid, the colony's another 10-20 minute walk, tops."
They both nodded to each other before setting off in the direction she was pointing, still breathing rather heavily from their rather intense fight.
During the walk Laetana's mind began to wander, about the fight...and about feeling Archer's soft skin beneath her hands. She shook her head, she needs to be focused. They could be attacked again, ambushed, she needs to be aware of her surroundings…spirits he was warm. He felt nothing like other Turians, and she liked it. She could feel the hardness of his muscles moving beneath the skin, the glaze and smell of his sweat the…
"Holy shit".
Archer's voice snapped her out of her perverted daydream and she stopped herself from almost bumping into him. She looked ahead and gasped.
They were here.
It did not look good.
The distraction was the Banshee. Also sexual tension.
