Chapter 9

Gear up

"I am Commander Shepard, and this is my favorite store on the Citidel!" the voice claimed as Ashley and Léon entered Rodam Expeditions, a weapons and travel store run by a Turian Shopkeeper. They were both wearing civilian clothes and carried only side arms.

"What the hell?" Ash looked around, her heart quickening at the sound of the man's voice whom she loved.

The Turian laughed. "Quite something isn't it? The hero of the Citidel came here to buy weapons for an important mission, so you can be assured that my wares are the best!"

"He was here? Did he say what he was doing?" Ash asked, trying not to sound too desperate.

"Yeah, he brought a load of upgrades just a couple of days ago. Said he was outfitting a team for a dangerous mission in the traverse, and we worked out a deal."

"That's all? Did he say where he was heading?"

"Yeah that's all, must be all top secret. Didn't say where he was going I'm afraid. Well anyway, what can I do for you?"

Ash moved on, trying to hide her emotions. "We need weapons."

"You need to make your purchases through the catalog, just over here. I'll get your gear when you have made your selection."

Ash browsed through the catalog and picked out the M-15 Vindicator assault rifle, which fired in short 3 rounds bursts and was well known for its accuracy and an M-27 Scimitar shotgun, military grade designed for rapid fire.

Léon favoured the M-96 Mattock, a semi auto weapon which suited Léon's preference for quick single shot firing. He picked the same shotgun as Ash, a backup weapon, one he wasn't fond of using and had little experience with.

The Turian shop assistant brought their things over. "Don't see many of these nowadays," he said as he handed over the Matlock. "And old model but still packs a punch. Only one in stock. Enjoy it!"

They thanked the shop keeper and made their way outside. "We still need armour." Ash said.

"How about we get something to eat, I'm starving."

"We can eat on the ship." Ash was eager to get going.

"Anderson hasn't called us back about that yet. We might as well eat while we wait. Besides, who knows what we'll even get to eat on the ship."

I am pretty hungry. She thought, but not wanting to admit it, as if to try and make herself look stronger than the ex-Cerberus employee. "We'll get some food after we are done getting armour."

Léon shrugged and they headed for the stairways. Two floors down they found the Sirta Foundation shop.

"I'm Commander Shepard, and this is my favourite store on the Citidel!"

"Again?" Ash said with surprise. Giving the same endorsement in each store for a discount? Sly, Shepard.

Léon laughed. "You think he'd mix it up a little. The shop keepers are bound to notice sooner or later."

"Excuse me, were you here when the Commander came in?" Ash asked the Asari behind the counter.

"Oh, yes! Two days ago. He was most pleased with his purchases."

"Did he say anything? Where he was going maybe?"

"No, nothing like that." The Asari said as she shook her head while smiling. "He just said he needed the best equipment to keep his team safe on an important mission."

"Nothing helpful." Léon remarked.

"Isn't there anything else?"

"Hmm, well there was a woman with him. She was wearing this ridiculous looking tight bodysuit. She might as well just have been walking round naked. But she said something about hurrying to see a dead reaper. Whatever that means. It caught in my mind because I thought it was a strange thing to say, I mean isn't..."

"Thanks for the info, but we're kind of in a hurry." Ash interrupted the Asari's rambling.

She proceeded to peruse the catalogue. Sirta was the company that made Ashley's white and pink phoenix armour and Léon pointed it out in the catalogue.

"It'll be just like a normal mission." He said. But Ash wasn't keen on it.

"I fancy a change." She said. "I've been through a lot in my armour. I don't want just a copy."

She picked out some medium Colossus armour; Léon went for the light version of the Mercenary style. He was an infiltrator, not a soldier. These weren't made by Sirta and there wasn't a lot of choice of different brands. The armour was refurbished; trade ins for some of Sirta's own protective gear but looked new. Ash inspected it and it looked good. They fitted the armour and left in search of a meal.

They found a Sushi stand on the same level. It was almost devoid of customers and Léon figured it would be a good place to talk in private.

"I'll have the Ramen." Léon said waiting for Ashley to reply.

"I don't know what any of this stuff is. What's wrong with good old wholesome army rations?"

"You're kidding right? They're horrid"

"No worse than this stuff, whatever it all is. Whatever, I'll just have the same."

Léon ordered two Ramen dishes and paid. They sat down on the stools on the left side of the small bar, furthest away from other ears.

"I kinda hoped we'd be taking the Hougoumont." He said quietly as he got settled. The chef was busy with making their meals and the only other customer was sat far to the right, hungrily tucking in to his meal while engrossed in reading.

"Anderson's right. If we are serious about keeping this quiet we can't go taking an Alliance ship." Ash whispered back. "It would involve too many people and if there are Cerberus agents in the Alliance, we can't trust any of them."

"True." Léon agreed. Anderson had understood what he had been told and had taken the threat seriously. He had taken Leon's own admission of being a Cerberus agent as proof enough of spies. He had suggested that they take a merchant ship for undercover and had gone about getting their transport sorted. He had also supplied them with the credits to buy the weapons and armor since taking it from the Alliance weapon stores would require signatures and paper trails. Léon was still a little apprehensive bringing Anderson onboard, but then he didn't exactly have a choice.

Their meals were ready quickly and the chef brought them over and offered drinks.

"Got any coffee?" Ash asked.

"Coffee? No, no coffee."

Ash's caffeine fix would have to wait until later. They settled for water.

"You're pretty taken by him, aren't you?" Léon pried as he scooped up some noodles and started tucking in.

"Who?"

"Come off it. You know who. Shepard. Your reactions to his voice in the shops weren't exactly subtle."

Ash started to blush but didn't say anything. She didn't feel like talking about it, especially to someone who previously worked for Cerberus.

"You were with him when he fought Saren and the Geth, you were part of his crew before he died. He must have wanted you back on his team." Léon tried probing a little further.

"What's your point?" she snapped.

"I don't get why you are chasing him down instead of working with him."

"I won't work for Cerberus. Ever."

"You think the Commander would work for Cerberus? They might be funding him but I can't see the Commander obeying Cerberus' orders. You know what I think?"

Ash wasn't that interested and kept quiet. She knew he was about to tell her anyway.

"I think Shepard is doing the right thing. He's doing whatever it takes to save the human colonies and isn't about to let the grudges and hatred he has for Cerberus get in the way of saving lives."

"Cerberus has an angle, you can bet your ass on it."

"Oh no doubt. But the Commander, he's in it to save lives. And you can bet he'll do the right thing. Not everyone in Cerberus is evil, you know. Many of them are just normal people, trying to help and do the right thing. They're just doing their jobs."

"Oh? I saw what they were doing, what they did. How many people died because they were just doing their jobs? How many people have suffered because of them?"

"And how many people have lost their lives because of the Alliance? How many times have soldiers been sent to their deaths, knowing there's a good chance they'll die? How many innocents have died just being caught up in the fighting?"

"It's not the same!" Ash growled. "The Alliance protects people, Cerberus just experiments on them. Murders them, like they did to Kahoku. Don't you dare compare them."

"Look, all I'm trying to say is Shepard wouldn't be with them their intent was to harm or kill people. Looks to me like they are backing his mission to save thousands of people. Is that not worthwhile?

While the Alliance sent just you and a very small squad to defend Horizon, Shepard was already steps ahead. If not for him, we'd be aboard the collector ship and no one would be any the wiser about the collectors. It doesn't matter what Cerberus is doing in other projects, whatever Shepard is doing is for the good of humanity. He needs people he can trust. And wasn't Garrus with him? He trusts Shepard enough to follow him, why not you? I mean, if you can't put your trust in him, you really don't deserve him."

Don't deserve him, huh? I do trust him, don't I? It's just that I don't trust Cerberus. It's true that Shepard is probably trying to do the right thing. He saved my life on Horizon. He'll save a lot more if he stops the collectors. The council and Alliance aren't doing anything about the terminus systems. But is he really doing the right thing by working with Cerberus? What if he's wrong?

Léon watched Ash as she sat gazing into her empty bowl, deep in thought.

"We should get back." He said.

"Huh?"

"Anderson might have something by now, we should head back."

"Yeah, good idea." They got up and walked over in silence to the nearest transit point to call a cab. Anderson was going to meet them in Flux, a club he seemed quite fond of.

Ash was still deep in thought all the way to the club.

I don't know what to do.

Anderson was halfway through a drink when the pair arrived and sat down opposite him.

"Good news and bad news, I'm afraid." He said.

"Let's hear it, Sir" Ash replied. She couldn't see how much worse anything could get.

"Good news is, we have a ship willing to take you, no questions asked. They do a lot of work shipping simple cargo for mercenaries and that is what they believe you to be. Bad news is it doesn't have much in the way of defense, not many merchant ships really do. It's still very expensive to get adequate defenses on a vessel, but sending you on anything else may tip them off, if it is a Cerberus base."

Léon spoke up. "With any luck, they won't even bother shooting down a merchant .Might want to see what's of value instead of destroying everything." He figured it was the best plan. Anything more than a cargo ship might attract too much attention.

"Let's just hope we don't meet any damn pirates."

"Indeed." Anderson didn't like having to work this way. "I wish there was more I could do for you. I don't like this, but I just don't see any other way. All the information you'll need is on the data pad in front of you. All I can do now is wish you luck. Be careful out there."

"Thanks, Sir. I'll be careful. "Ash picked up the data pad and turned to Léon. "Let's go."