"Don't tell me..."
"Atlas."
Another minute passed by, with the two men waiting in silence, listening to the slow stomps. The howling wind carried the noise all over the yard, making it difficult at first to tell from where the new threat was coming. Arek gave another try with his omni-tool, but the scanner was still useless, the com channels still dead. He hoped that Thea and Rani had found a safe spot to hide, and maybe they even succeeded to call the shuttle before all communication broke off.
He looked around, trying to understand their position. He wasn't sure how far Mojo had moved him after he had fainted, for all he knew they could still be right under the office with its now broken window, although he doubted that. Cerberus would have found them if they had remained too close to their improvised escape route. Talking about Cerberus, something was off anyway. He crouched closer to Mojo, and shouted against the storm,
"Isn't it odd that they have an atlas here? At a small research lab? And an army including dragoons and phantoms?"
"It's only odd if they weren't hiding anything. Which is good. I'm not a fan of jumping out of windows for nothing!" Mojo shouted back. "Fuck, it's coming closer!"
The stomps were getting louder, and Arek was certain that he caught voices coming along with the atlas. That thing wasn't alone, and if he and Mojo kept shouting, they'd give away their position to whoever was supporting it. If it was another phantom, or a dragoon, they were in trouble. Or rather, even bigger trouble than they already were. Mojo had made a similar conclusion – he grabbed Arek by his shoulder and pulled him closer, lowering his voice as much as the noise around them allowed.
"Do you have your gun?"
Arek reached to his back, but his fear was only confirmed when his hand closed around nothing.
"No. I lost in when the dragoon attacked me..."
"Excellent." There was something admirable about Mojo's talent to let one single word drip with that much sarcasm.
"I'm not a good shot anyway, and I'm almost back to my full strength. Don't worry, I can stand my ground here, Mojo." He would, somehow. Being blown to smithereens while being sliced and shot and who knew what else during a snowstorm wasn't the heroic death he had pictured for himself.
"Yeah, and faint a second time, and get us both killed when I have to pick you up before you suffocate with your face in the snow."
"You..." he began, but a third voice interrupted him.
"I think... over there... come..." The wind swallowed most of the words, but they had heard enough. Cerberus knew they were here, and they had only a few moments left to come up with a plan how to defend themselves. And more importantly, to get out of this mess.
"At least we're knowing now from where they're coming." Mojo turned, and knelt behind the cover, the viper resting on top of the pipe. "Still can't see anything," he muttered after another look through the scope. Arek stared at the white curtain wavering in front of him, but as he expected, he couldn't make out anything in the distance. With the thick snow, he was glad that he could see Mojo next to him. A few steps further away, and he might as well be alone.
"Listen, Turner. Do you think you can make one of your blue blasts, without killing yourself?"
"If you mean if I'm well enough to create and fire a shockwave, yes, no problem." He closed his eyes and focused, smiling when he felt the familiar energy resonate within his body. He hadn't fully recovered yet, and his head was still hurting. A longer combat could be tricky, but a few attacks shouldn't do any harm.
"Just tell me where and when, I can barely see my hand in this chaos."
"Just what I wanted to hear." Mojo checked the scope again, then he began typing on his omni-tool. "Activate yours."
"Hu, why?" He couldn't make any sense of what was going on in Mojo's head, and how their useless omni-tools related to his biotic powers, but suddenly, he registered an incoming message. Mojo's device asked for confirmation to transfer a package of files.
"Mojo, what exactly are you doing here?" A thought tried to take shape in his head, he just couldn't recognize it yet. Something was going on, and he feared he wouldn't like it.
"Now accept already, we don't have much time left."
"Not when I have no clue what's happening. Gimme the short version!"
"It's what I got from the Cerberus computer. Confirm already!" Mojo was shifting impatiently, growling at his screen.
"Okay..." He hit the button, watching the data transfer. It took only a few seconds, and he wasn't sure at what exactly he was looking, but it seemed a batch of a decent size. It made sense that not only one of them was in possession of their day's work, in case... just in case.
"Why do I have the feeling that this isn't just about a backup? Mojo, what the fuck are you doing?!" The second the transfer finished, Mojo began typing on his device, too fast for Arek's eyes to grasp what the symbols meant, but he new one thing – the alarm signal of the omni-tool, warning of a malfunction if whatever was happening wasn't interrupted immediately.
"Stop this!" He leaped at Mojo's arm and pulled his hand away from the tool. "Are you nuts? If you fry that thing again and we lose sight of each other when running through this storm there's no way to get back to you!"
"Spirits, Turner, get off!" Mojo shook his arm, pushed Arek with his free hand, but he didn't let go. "We're not losing sight of each other while running away, okay? Now let me finish this!"
"Yeah? And you're so sure of that why?" He'd bet money on his hunch that he wouldn't like whatever Mojo was about to explain.
"Because here's what we'll do. Once that thing's close enough, I'll shoot an electric impulse, and you'll detonate it with one of your magic tricks. That should keep them busy for a moment while you run."
"And you're going to stay here." Bull's eye. What the hell was wrong with this guy?! Did he really, for only one second, believe that Arek would flee and leave him behind as canon fodder for Cerberus?
"If you head that way," he pointed over Arek's shoulder, "You should sooner or later get to a wall. Climb it, walk around it, don't care. Just do it fast." Mojo was still struggling against Arek's grip, but he was clinging to the turian's arm with both hands now.
"You're kidding me." This was so absurd, it wasn't even worth shouting.
"I'll keep them busy here as long as I can, and you make sure that the data's recovered," Mojo ignored him, trying to pry Arek's fingers open and to slip away. "You should be strong enough to deal with a trooper or two on your way."
"Yeah, and you're getting shot here, or lost in the storm because even the shuttle won't be able to detect a melted omni-tool. I don't think so." If he had a hand free he'd punch him in the guts. He couldn't get behind it, what was this idiot thinking of him?
"Arek Turner, do you remember what happened the last time you didn't trust me?" Mojo yelled at him, but Arek didn't let this change of strategy impress him.
"Yes, and the last time I did trust you I was thrown out of a window and almost got both of us killed. And I swear, I'm gonna hit you for that low blow later!"
"Well, you're alive enough obviously to get on my nerves, you useless idiot!"
"Nice try, still not going to leave you behind, asshole mode or not. For once, we'll do what I say. Come!" Still clinging to the turian's arm, Arek jumped back to his feet. He needed most of his physical strength to move Mojo, who only reluctantly allowed Arek to pull him up.
"Instead of waiting we're gonna do what we should have done right away. Run!"
"That's the stupidest ideas of them all! Do you really have to hear it, fine!" He tried in vain to pull himself free from Arek.
"I'm too slow in this fucking snow! You're light, faster, and can defend yourself, while I cannot see a thing! That's why your chances to survive are better when you run while I do my best here! Satisfied?"
"Nope. You still owe me some answers, and I'll make sure I get them." Arek grinned behind his mask, let his hand glide down the turian's arm and closed his fingers tightly around his wrist. "Until then, enjoy the luxury of having your own seeing human. Let's get outta here! Or do I have to knock you out and carry you?"
"Yeah, like you could-"
"Then get moving already, you stubborn bastard!" To his relief, Mojo gave up his resistance. Arek ran into the direction Mojo had told him, pulling the turian after him. Not one second too soon – a rocket shot through the air, hitting the ground a few steps too far to the left from where they had been hiding. A shudder crept down Arek's spine. The second or third rocket would hit home, and if they had followed Mojo's plan it wouldn't have mattered anymore if his omni-tool was functioning or not.
He threw a look over his shoulder. Mojo was behind him, holding his rifle in his right hand. It wasn't easy for the turian with his slim legs and heavy armor to wade through the snow without stumbling. Arek, swift as he was, was struggling as well, but he refused to be defeated by the weather!
Cerberus wouldn't give up that easily. They couldn't hear the noise of the atlas' steps anymore, but more rockets were fired. Also, voices were shouting – if the troopers were leaving the atlas behind they could move faster. If they were used to the weather they would catch up with them, if phantoms were with them, then sooner than later.
Arek's foot hit against something hidden under the snow. He lost his balance and fell over, but a grip around his wrist caught him, and kept him on his feet. He nodded at the turian, feeling more of the old antipathy crumble when Mojo nodded back.
You aren't such a bad sort, are you? They were back on their track, the wind howling around them, pushing against their chests and throwing snow into their faces. Arek guided Mojo through the white hell, feeling the strong fingers clamped around his wrist.
Finally, the sight in front of him changed! They arrived at a wall, like Mojo had mentioned it before. Standing high and unimpressed by the storm it created a blind spot the snow couldn't reach. Arek pushed himself to a last sprint, dragging the turian after him. He reached out and touched the wall, laughing between his gasps for air.
"We're... not safe... yet..." Mojo stumbled against the wall, hitting it with his shoulder when Arek refused to let his hand free.
"I know. I'm trying to figure out where we are." Above them, the storm was unbroken. There was a ladder, but Arek wasn't sure if it was a sane idea to climb it when he couldn't tell what awaited them on top. They could walk along the wall, with no clue what expected them there. Standing still much longer was an equally bad decision. The muscles in Arek's upper legs were burning, but his lower legs were tingling where his blood was fighting against the cold. His feet, however, were numb. He tried to wiggle his toes, not sure if anything happened in his boots or if they were frozen off.
"How far down did we fall? Deeper than the ground level of the building?" He looked at Mojo. The turian was trembling, maybe from the strain of the run through the snow, maybe from the cold, probably both. Neither Mojo nor Meyrani had confirmed the rumor of turians being troubled by cold weather, but Arek already guessed that it was more than prejudice. If he felt bad and sore, it had to be twice as bad for the turian.
"Think so. If we climb this, we probably return to the level where we started. Good chances the main entrance is above us." Mojo was more hissing than speaking, and Arek heard his teeth chatter.
"Good sense of direction." If he hadn't passed out and been dragged around the place, maybe he'd be able to make sense of the area, but as it was, Arek was lost. As far as he was concerned, they could be standing anywhere on Noveria. Right now, he wished the ladder would lead right into the sun – he wouldn't hesitate the fraction of a second to climb it.
"What do you think is waiting for us up there?"
"Who knows. Nothing. Troopers. A turret. Another atlas."
"Yeah, exactly my thoughts." Arek stared at the ladder. He put a foot on the lowest rung, and took it back again. Anything could be up there, or nothing, because they were waiting around the corner. "What do we do now? Up there, or along the wall?"
"If you listened to me you'd have to decide on your own, too."
Arek watched him with concern. For once, he missed the sarcasm, or the plain rude tone. Mojo leaning with his head against a wall, sounding tired like he had just been woken up wasn't what he wanted to see and hear, not in this situation.
"Along the wall. Come. You can sleep later." Arek gave him a playful punch against the chest, and took a step back, pulling Mojo with him. The turian put one foot before the other, slowly setting himself in motion. He followed Arek without protest, adapting to the human's speed.
"Who's sleeping here..." Mojo regained a shadow of his attitude, and fell silent. Without another word, they walked on, with Arek listening if any of the Cerberus forces were catching up with them, or waiting for them behind a corner.
He blinked when he thought he saw something moving, but it was gone – or just his imagination. If it had been a shadow against the whiteness, then it had been too far away to spot them, he hoped. But he slowed down, shoving himself and Mojo closer against the wall.
"Wait. There is something!" Arek stopped, stumbling when Mojo walked into him. There was a shadow, he hadn't been mistaken. It was moving slowly, but it was coming closer.
"Attacking, or playing dead..." He readied a shockwave. If he waited another moment the shadow should be close enough for his aim, but what then? The attack could attract others, and depending on the shadow's armor there was no guarantee that a single shockwave was enough to knock it out. If he waited he risked that the shadow saw them, and alarmed whoever was searching for them.
"Attack," the tired voice behind him whispered, and Arek launched the attack. The blue wave shot through the air, and disappeared.
"Missed I think. Dammit!" He kicked the snow and sighed. His arm was hurting, and his fingers were as numb as his feet, no wonder his aim was off. He would manage two or three more shockwaves, or a singularity, before he needed another rest. But the pain was still throbbing in his head, louder and brighter when he shot. His throat was dry, and his stomach growling. Resting five minutes or half an hour didn't make much of a difference – what he needed was a good meal and a few hours of undisturbed sleep before he was back to his full strength. The snow covering his feet seemed to drain his energy from his body, along with what warmth was remaining. He better avoided a physical fight, he'd be down before he threw a punch.
So back to biotics, while his powers lasted. He took a deep breath and waited for the next shockwave to form around his fingers. This time, he would let the shadow come as close as he dared, and fire square into its face. If he was luck he could loot a weapon or two. He hoped for a phantom, served them right if he relieved one of them of the silly sword.
"Arek?"
"What is it? Any new ideas?" He tilted his head back, but Mojo shrugged, shaking his own head.
"Didn't say anything."
"Arek! Mojo!"
No, that wasn't coming from behind him. Somebody in front of them was calling his name! Not only that – the blue glow illuminating the silhouette wasn't a trick of his imagination.
"Thea!" He fell into a jog, and was pulled back when Mojo behind him stumbled, taken by surprise by Arek's sudden movement. They both recovered their balance, and hurried towards the figure. The more they closed the distance, the more the figure took shape. The tall, buff asari emerged from the snowstorm, her armor glowing.
"By the Goddess, there you are! We thought we lost you! Are you okay?" She patted both of them on the shoulder, assuring herself that it was really them and that they were alive. Arek grinned. He'd give her a hug if he hadn't to make sure that Mojo didn't do anything stupid.
"Glad to see you're finally friends." Amalthea laughed, and pointed at Arek's hand – he was still holding the turian by his wrist. Mojo's fingers were hanging limply from his hand.
"I missed your optimism!" Arek followed his first impulse after all – he let go of Mojo, and fell around the asari's neck, giving her a hearty hug. "Guess you could say we made it out alive, but damn, I need a nap. What about you two? Where's Rani?" He looked over her shoulder, but there was no second shadow lurking behind her.
"We got out of the building in time. Meyrani contacted the shuttle before Cerberus jammed all communication. We made it back to the path we climbed up, and that's where she's waiting. I fear the cold is affecting her more than she admits."
"But she's okay?" He thought of her limping through the snow on their way up here, thanking all Gods available that she hadn't been with him and Mojo.
"She's fine. She won't admit that the whole ordeal and the cold had taken a toll on her injuries, but it's nothing a bit of rest won't cure. She's just exhausted."
"That makes three of us. I'm glad at least you're still in top form."
"I was lucky today, and free from previous injuries. Let's hurry back, the shuttle should arrive soon. I'd rather get there without bullets in our backs." She checked her weapon; her biotic aura flickered and diminished until it was hardly visible. It wouldn't offer much protection lowered that much, but it would also be more difficult for Cerberus to spot her through the snow.
"Same. Hey, did you hear? Time to get outta here!" He punched Mojo's chest when the turian remained standing still.
"Yeah, whatever." Mojo shrugged, and followed his squad mates.
"I told you, Arek, everything's good. You can stop asking. Where's the data?" Meyrani rolled up her eyes, still impatiently tapping on her omni-tool as she repeated her demand. Arek decided voicing his concerns wasn't worth risking her slicing his throat, and began to transfer the data package he had received from Mojo.
Despite only copying immaterial information he felt relieved from its burden. The young turian had brushed his questions off since they had climbed into the shuttle, eager to figure out if their side adventure had been worth the trouble. He left her alone with her omni-tool; obsessed as she set herself to work he had no place in her world anyway.
He stretched his arms and legs. The shuttle wasn't heated, but the engine produced enough warmth, and they were protected from the storm. His skin began to burn as the sensation in his upper legs returned. His toes, feet and lower legs were still numb. He turned his torso from the right to the left, flinching when the first thing he felt in his back was pain. His body needed a rest, better even, a rest after a massage.
He rubbed and kneaded his hands while answering Amalthea's questions, irritated that Mojo left all the talking to him.
"Sounds like the reason why we could slip away was that Cerberus had their eyes on you guys."
"For you, dear Thea, I'd jump out of a window right into the arms of an atlas any time. For Rani, too, of course!" He grinned, making a deep bow.
"Good to know, but don't make a habit of it." The asari grinned back. "I'm not sure if I'd have had been that confident of your biotics. I know you're powerful, but I also know the toll it takes to use a power you've never trained. Especially when under fire."
"Yeah, guess we were lucky that this dork is as ignorant about biotics as I'm about hacking, eh?" He kicked Mojo's leg, frowning when he didn't receive a response. Mojo had huddled himself into the corner of the bench, arms crossed in front of him. He was the only one still wearing his helmet, and his head was leaning against the wall to his left.
"You're getting me worried here. Mojo?" Arek shook him gently by his shoulder. Amalthea rose from her seat when the turian didn't answer, as worried as Arek. Meyrani looked up from her screen, following their leader's movement with her eyes.
"Mojo? This isn't a good time for a prank. Is everything all right?" The asari took him by his his shoulders, shaking him less careful than Arek before. The tall figure seemed to slump down under her rough handling.
"Take off his helmet!" Meyrani had jumped up, and shoved Amalthea aside. Her fingers moved along the edges of the helmet, found the security clips and unlatched them.
"Fuck! Rani, is he-" Arek stared in alarm at Mojo's closed eyes, clenching to the helmet that Meyrani shoved into his arms.
"He's hypothermic! Spirits, guess there's something wrong with his armor. Maybe a tear." Her hands moved along the turian's throat. Arek flinched when she suddenly slapped Mojo. "Wake up! You have to stay awake, do you hear me?" She hit him a second time, and all three of them sighed in relieve when he groaned and his eyelids fluttered.
"Is he in any real danger?" Amalthea inquired while sending a message to the Hamburg, alerting the medical staff.
"Not if he gets help quickly. Arek, help me with this!" She waved him over, and began to open the latches holding the chest plates of Mojo's armor together. "Our limbs are long and slim in proportion to the rest of our bodies, cold can cause some serious damage pretty fast if ignored. Help me getting him out of his armor and lying him down on the bench. You take care of his hands, I'm taking his legs. We need to keep his blood circulating!"