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They kept coming, endlessly spawning around corners, doorways, sometimes even from midair. Shepard's actions were automatic. If there was movement, she fired. If she heard someone approaching, she fired. The mess and everything in it was lost in a haze of exploding mechs and bullets. Every now and then she glimpsed a wave of blue energy toss or slam into an enemy. Always she thought, Good. Kaidan's still on his feet, before concentrating on more enemies.
Broken drones littered the floor among the furniture. A wave of harvesters had arrived on the scene after the first dozen or so mechs were destroyed, but they proved to be simple targets. Most opted to run straight into the line of fire. Between Shepard's bullets and Kaidan's biotics, what had once been ten harvesters was nothing but garish stains on the floor. The stench of decaying bodies did not mesh well with the acrid smell of destroyed mechs.
Shepard ejected her spent clip and took aim. Bullets tore through an approaching drone, piercing torso, arm and leg. It staggered, its mechanical voice requesting assistance almost comical. Kaidan finished it off with a well-timed shot. He did not see the drone closing in on his left flank, but Shepard did. She responded by hacking it, turning the drone from enemy to ally. It immediately redirected its shots, opening fire on its brethren.
The distraction enabled Kaidan to abandon his cover to join Shepard. A thin film of sweat covered nearly his entire face. "They keep coming," he said with a shake of the head. "There's gotta be another way to push them back."
Her eyes quickly scanned their surroundings. Most of the furniture was gone, either blasted to pieces or reduced to nothing. Hmm. Not much to work with...
Bullets abruptly hammered the table, forcing Kaidan to press himself close to her. Crouched as they were, their heads bowed, their foreheads were inches from the other. Again she became aware of Garrus' absence. I could really use his skills right about now, she thought, her throat tightening. But there was something else that didn't feel right. Though her every thought and reaction was attuned to the fight, there was no fever heating her blood. No excitement. And certainly no post-victory celebrations.
Garrus always did say battle was an aphrodisiac for me. Great time to realize he's right.
Unable to keep from smiling at what the turian would say to that, she slid away from Kaidan to peek around the other side of the table. The reprogrammed mech dropped under a barrage of firepower. She frowned, preparing herself to hack another when she spotted an explosive canister leaning against the wall. How it had survived Kaidan's biotics trashing the mess was a mystery she didn't bother trying to solve. It was about to become their ticket out of here. "Kaidan!" she shouted. He crouched at her shoulder, a little ways from the table but still safely concealed. She met his gaze, saying, "I found our way out but we need to time it perfectly. See that canister?" she asked, indicating it with a finger. "I want you to position it so it's hovering over the entrance." She patted her gun. "I'll take care of the rest."
"All right. And Shepard," he added, preventing her from doing more than glancing away from him. A wan smile touched his lips. "Let's hope this works. I'm getting a little tired here."
She returned his smile. "I'll have Gardner whip you up a big meal when we get out of here. Promise." Surprise and delight shone in his dark eyes before he nodded and, after a long moment, shot to his feet. Shepard watched as he used his biotics to take hold of the canister and hurl it into the air. Some of the mechs actually glanced up to watch it pass overhead. One took aim, but Shepard shot it before it had the chance to. It detonated, ripping into the mechs and sending their parts scattering. At glancing the empty hall in the clearing smoke, she sprang to her feet. "That did it! Let's go!"
She took the lead, leaning over to snatch up fallen clips as she ran for the door. Getting past the broken mechs and harvesters clogging the entrance was solved by either kicking or shooting them aside. Smoke from the canister's explosion lingered in the air, thick as fog and reducing their visibility. Shepard kept her gun out, her finger tensing every so often on the trigger. There was no telling what sort of surprise was going to jump out at them.
Most of the doorways they passed remained sealed save one. She went through first, wincing a little at how bright the ceiling lights seemed. A long corridor, as cluttered as the last, stretched before them, an airlock at the very end. They had reached the midpoint when a pair of drones stepped from a side doorway. Shepard had her gun ready, Kaidan his, when both drones were suddenly blown apart by a powerful shot. "Who-?" he wondered, but Shepard, once recognizing the signature move, smiled wryly as a tall, familiar figure headed their way.
She left Kaidan to meet Garrus halfway, the elation she felt now similar to that first instant he removed his helmet in his hideout. His eyes lit up at seeing her, and he increased his pace until he stood a few feet away. For one brief instance it was just the two of them, appraising the other, relief mirroring relief. But then she arched a brow. "You took your time."
He gave a careless shrug. "It was one of the few chances I had to save Commander Shepard," he replied, as confident and unapologetic as ever. "I had to make my entrance look good."
Shepard snorted at his remark, then reached up to touch his shoulder. "All the same, it's good to see you." He smiled in response. The expression was eloquent enough.
By the time Kaidan joined them she was once again focused on the problem at hand. "Is that the way out?" she asked, indicating the hall behind Garrus.
"It might have been," he reported. "Except I had to fight my way through at least a dozen mechs and some Eclipse mercs."
"So, it's Eclipse that guy is working for," Kaidan said, frowning over at Shepard, who nodded.
"Oh, it gets worse," Garrus remarked with grim understatement. It always does, his eyes said to Shepard when he glanced at her. "The one responsible for creating the harvesters is on this ship. We have to find him and shut the operation down."
"Are you insane?" Kaidan cried, eyeing the turian in outright shock. "We've only just gotten out of one intense battle. We don't have the firepower to get into another."
Garrus ignored him. He kept his gaze locked with Shepard's. "There's more to this than just some crazy guy creating super soldiers for Eclipse. I know who this bastard is."
The bitter anger in his tone caught her attention. But she also knew Kaidan was right. Now that the fervor had left her, she began to feel the effects of battle fatigue. She went to speak when Garrus' gaze shifted past her, his eyes widening as he shouted, "Look out!" and shoved her aside. A bullet soared past, embedding itself into the wall. The far side of the corridor filled with human men, salarians and batarians in yellow armor. All were heavily armed.
Shepard, standing partially behind Garrus, looked to the airlock and bolted. Her worry about exposure was a non-issue; her faith in their ability to cover her was fathomless. Sure enough, both opened fired as they dropped back. Yet her attempt to bypass the door failed. Shepard swore, pulled her gun and turned round. Better to go down fighting than be shot in the back.
"I think that's enough, Commander," stated a voice over the comm system. It was the same as the one Shepard had heard when she first regained consciousness. Garrus reacted to it as well, his eyes flashing with anger as he murmured, "It's really him!"
The Eclipse mercs came to an abrupt halt some feet away, their guns still at the ready. Each one, no matter his race, was pale-skinned, their yellow eyes absent of pupils. All stood absolutely still, like automatons awaiting orders. Shepard's hand tightened on her pistol. "Who are you?" she demanded. Beside her, Garrus and Kaidan leveled their weapons on the mercs.
A tittering laugh. It sent an unexpected chill down Shepard's spine. "Surely you remember me, Shepard! I know your turian...companion is aware of my identity."
His inflection on the word brought a deep frown to Kaidan's features, and outrage to Garrus'. Shepard, having already determined that this person knew more about her aside from her name, said, very clearly, "I have trouble remembering disembodied voices. Show yourself."
A short pause ensued. Then, "As you wish," in a near-ecstatic tone. Doors whooshed open behind the line of mercs. The two standing in the middle stepped aside, creating a seam to allow the salarian passage. Shepard's eyes narrowed, Garrus drew a sharp intake of breath. Kaidan went to point his gun, only to lower it again, as if uncertain of what to make of this meeting. Especially since this particular salarian's head didn't match the rest of his body.
He stopped directly across from Shepard, his grayish, almost opaque eyes meeting hers. A slight smile tugged at one corner of his mouth. The other corner sagged, giving him the appearance of a stroke victim. A surgical scar arced across his brow and around his neck, the stitches as unsanitary as they were antiquated. Despite this, there was something very, very familiar about him.
When the truth dawned on her at last she responded not with surprise, but with a lifted brow. Everything about what she had seen, right down to the ship, pointed at none other. "Dr. Saleon," she stated. "I thought you were dead."
Saleon chuckled and clasped his hands. At this she couldn't help but be wary. The salarian she recalled may have been a fiendish bastard, but never did she take him for a madman. And mad he was, for he hopped from side to side, shoulders hunched, hands wringing together. "I certainly was. And so were you!" he trumpeted. "Interesting how fate works, isn't it?"
Garrus moved forward, pressing the end of his pistol squarely between Saleon's eyes. The mercs barely batted an eye. "The only thing I'm interested in is making sure you stay dead this time," he growled.
"Garrus!" Kaidan exclaimed. "Put the gun down! You don't know what this guy will do!"
Saleon smiled that half-smile of his. "Yes he does," he declared, biting his lower lip to keep the laugh from escaping. Suddenly he took a step back, hands thrown out in protest. "No, no, don't shoot!" he begged in a queer, high-pitched voice. He danced in place, a physical representation of the old Earth phrase 'ants in your pants'. He even went so far as to drop to his knees and grab at Garrus. The turian shook him off with an irritated growl. Saleon rolled onto his side, body curling into a fetal position, his arms wrapped around himself. Shepard and Kaidan both trained their weapons on him. The mercs remained still, more like statues than living beings.
Saleon's shoulders trembled as he laughed, softly at first but with growing intensity. "I'm sorry, Officer Vakarian," he managed between giggles. He eased into an upright position, hugging his knees like a child. His eyes were wide as a fascinated child's, too. "I no longer fear death by your hands, or anyone's for that matter," he added, tilting his head up at Shepard.
She took a step back, keeping a wary eye on the formerly dead scientist. "How did you survive our encounter?"
"You really want to know?" Saleon asked eagerly. Without waiting for a reply, he shot to his feet and approached her. She thrust her gun in his face. He didn't seem to notice, or care, that she threatened him. "I'd be happy to tell you," he said, reaching out to touch her face. She jerked out of his reach. As she did Garrus planted his pistol firmly against Saleon's temple. He glanced over at the turian, only to smile again. "You've become quite the specimen yourself, Officer. If only I could take you apart. Unfortunately," he sighed in disappointment, "I'm only interested in her."
The mercs came to attention then, rushing forward to slam into Kaidan and Garrus. Shepard had just whirled around, her gun at the ready when Saleon coiled his arm around her shoulders and drew her against him. She was in the midst of tossing the salarian over her shoulder when she felt him drive something against the side of her neck. It struck the same spot as the harvester had, sending first a shockwave of pain before all senses were paralyzed. Garrus, having seen this, threw the merc aside as he stepped forward, finger tensing on the trigger of his assault rifle. He was thrown off his feet by a biotic blast. Kaidan was equally dispatched with. Both were then grabbed and dragged to the airlock doors, which were opened by the batarian standing by the wall. Saleon, standing beside the merc, lifted his hand in enthusiastic farewell just as the doors were shut. A loud bang shook the entire ship when they were ejected.
Giving a triumphant whoop, Saleon turned to Shepard. His half smile became sinister as he rubbed his hands together. Harvesters fanned out from behind him, speaking her name in a disturbing chant. Hands reached out, mismatched eyes wide with fanatical reverence as they converged on her. "I wish I could say I was sorry about this, Commander," he said, reaching out to pat her shoulder. She wished she could shake him off. "But science has no room for empathy, not when immortality is within my grasp. Oh!" he gasped, suddenly shame-faced. "I've no time to ramble! There's work to be done. Darlings?"
A blow struck the side of her head, sending a flash of pain through her and distorting her vision. As she felt herself slipping away she thought, with some regret, Should have told Garrus to shoot the crazy bastard...
***
Garrus' mind, once focused on his target, was now rattled to such a degree that he couldn't recall exactly what just happened. His ears were ringing so loudly all he thought was how to be rid of the sensation. It wasn't the blissful, instant knockdown of that missile. The effects seemed to penetrate his very bones, reverberating all over his body in waves of pain.
Eventually the sounds ebbed, allowing others to filter in. The creak of moving machinery. Voices raised in panic. The roar of ship thrusters. He zeroed in on it all, using them as a guide to bring him back to reality. His eyes flew open, his mandibles flaring as he drew in a sharp breath. It hurt like hell to breathe. He reached into the air, clawing at the crate sitting pretty atop his chest.
"Hey! Over here!" someone called. Moments later the crate was pulled away, allowing Garrus to sit up. A human man and woman, medics judging from their attire, assisted him to his feet. No easy task, considering he was taller than both and wearing armor. The man placed a restraining hand on his shoulder, his request that Garrus stay still for scanning going unheard.
The floor was covered in ruptured crates, their contents scattered in every direction. Another pair of medics aided some shaken mechanics, dock hands, and anyone else unfortunate enough to be present for the accident. Among them was Kaidan, who sat on the floor watching a medic fuss over his right leg. Every now and then he shifted his gaze to the gaping, empty space behind him. Strange. Garrus had the distinct feeling something should be- Shepard!
"Wait, sir!" the woman protested as Garrus brushed her aside. He swiftly strode away, sweeping his gaze from one end of the hangar to the other. Dammit! Saleon had taken her off Omega.
"Where do you think you're going?"
At recognizing Miranda Garrus glanced over his shoulder. She strode calmly toward him, arms folded over her bosom. He stiffened and said, "She's gone. I'm not going to-"
"EDI began monitoring the Eternity the moment we learned of its connection to Eclipse." At his awestruck expression she proceeded to explain. "You can thank Mordin and the merc he found in the alley for that. I'm told Mordin had to wait until after the merc's nose was reset before he got anything intelligible from him. Picking up on the commander's tactics, I see," she remarked with a lifted brow.
"Did he happen to know where it's headed?" Garrus asked. He wasn't going to apologize for his conduct. Especially not to the woman who killed the Eclipse commando, Enyala, after watching her gun down her best friend, Niket.
"EDI is working on that now. Get yourself checked out and we'll head back to the Normandy."
Garrus waved off her advice. "Don't bother. I'm fine."
Miranda's expression was both exasperated and patient. "You were just jettisoned full force from an airlock. If the crates hadn't cushioned your fall you and Alenko would have been killed. I doubt Shepard would appreciate knowing I let you charge off into the unknown when you could be seriously injured."
Garrus was about to counter that he had survived much worse, but the idea of dying before he could see Shepard again restrained his tongue. Miranda, correctly interpreting his silence, gave him another smile and signaled a nearby medic. While he was being scanned she stepped aside, touching the communicator to her.
"Good news," she said once Garrus was given the all-clear and the medic moved on. "EDI has successfully tracked the Eternity. It's en route to Lorek in the Fathar System." She shook her head. "I can't say this Dr. Saleon is difficult to find, especially when he uses old Eclipse bases."
"He probably doesn't know we've been there before." Garrus paused. "Wait. You know Dr. Saleon is on board?"
"Mordin was very thorough with his questions," she replied. "The only thing the merc didn't know was where Saleon came from."
"I can tell you," Garrus said bitterly. By the time he finished the grisly tale Miranda's expression hardened. He nodded, glad she understood. "So now you know why I need to get to Shepard fast."
"Of course I do. But you can't do this alone," she insisted, inserting herself in his path when he tried to walk away.
Garrus could feel his patience beginning to break. "Okay, fine. Come with me. Either way, we're wasting time."
"Yes, we are," said another voice. Kaidan joined them, favoring his right leg a little. Despite the minor cuts and bruises on his face, his expression spoke of determination.
"You can't go, not on that leg," the turian observed, eyeing Kaidan's bandage skeptically.
Kaidan refused to be discouraged. "It'll slow my movements but not my biotics," he countered firmly. "To get there we need a ship, and I've got one."
"He's right," Miranda said just as Garrus prepared to speak. "Saleon has to know he didn't kill you. He will expect the Normandy or its shuttle. You'll have a better shot at catching them in his vessel."
Garrus wanted to decline- he and Kaidan had been skirting a very narrow line ever since the latter threatened to turn him in. Things had only gotten more awkward once he met up with Shepard. Garrus was not as intuitive as Kelly but he knew that Kaidan still had feelings for her- possibly even resented Garrus for his new place in Shepard's life. Yet the logic behind Miranda's argument was enough to convince him. He only hoped Kaidan could put aside his personal opinions so as to not let it interfere with the mission.
"It's settled," she stated decisively. "You two go after Shepard. I'll have EDI establish a link between your ships so she can send the coordinates. Radio us the moment you find her."
"Understood," Garrus acknowledged. Kaidan, having expressed surprise at Miranda's suggestion, nodded his agreement. Satisfied, she smiled and took her leave, vanishing through the doorway just as more medics arrived.
Alone now, it seemed the two had difficulty finding words. Kaidan broke the tension first by telling Garrus to get whatever equipment he needed and meet him at his ship. Garrus watched him limp away. If he was dubious about their partnership before, he was even more so now after hearing that brusque suggestion. Annoyed at first, a sudden thought sent an unexpected pang of guilt through him. He wasn't the only one worried about Shepard.
Purpose mixed with the need for haste and a steadily growing concern drove him forward. With each step his resolve strengthened. He knew that when he took out Saleon this time, he'd make sure the bullet finished the job.