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No, I don't hate Wrex, he's one of my favourite characters.
I'm sorry to the people who liked him, but I wanted to throw in a few twists in my story, it's gonna keep kicking you in the 'nards my friends, that is a promise.
Mack
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Virmire Part Two
"We need someone who knows Alliance protocols." Shepard said, agreeing with Captain Kirrahe and his plan.
"I volunteer Commander."
"Not so fast LT, Commander Shepard will need you to arm the nuke. I'll go with the Salarians."
My head was swimming. Should I say something? Tell Ash to go a different way? Or we could just split up the group when the time comes. I was still … surprised? I can't explain the feeling …I was shocked at Wrex's death. Guilty? I suppose. I could have warned Shep of what might happen … or even told Ash not to fucking shoot.
When I went over to Shepard and Wrex's corpse, Shepard was disciplining Ash. I just stood there gaping, and when Ash said "Better him than the commander", I could have slapped her. How could she be so cold? Kaiden simply agreed, and Shepard told them both to drop it. Ash must have seen the look on my face; she gave me a sad smile. I didn't return it.
She's lucky I still care enough.
Wrex wasn't the nicest person; far from. But he cared about his people. And his body was currently being dumped into Virmire's ocean.
That wasn't a warrior's burial.
I suggested a Viking burial, burning. But Kirrahe didn't want to alert Saren's troops. I understand, but I wasn't happy.
"Kaiden, your arm is broken, you're in no position. Ash is in the best position, but I have the most leading experience; take me." I state. I know full well, that given my prior's skill set, I'd be the best candidate.
Kirrahe seemed to agree with me, nodding his head with my sentiment. Shepard didn't look as happy.
"Mack, you'll do good …" She turned to the captain, "What else do you want?"
"I will have the ordnance loaded on the Normandy and brief your crew on its detonation sequence." The Captain replied, "Do you have any questions before we go commander?"
"I'm ready when you are Captain." replied Shepard.
Kirrahe excused himself and Shepard turned to face us.
"Well, I guess I'll be back in time for tea and cakes, it shouldn't take long, don't do anything else Ash." I say with a sad smile. I'm upset with her still, but I appreciate why she did it.
"I won't sir…" She looked down at her feet, and Kaiden turned to me.
"I'm sorry for punching you." He put his hand out for me shake. I batted it away and pulled him into a bro-hug. He gasped, not used to the affection I would assume.
Shepard and Ash just laughed, "I expect to be told what happened to arm later Kaiden" Shepard said, giving me a stern look.
"It's a funny story." I state, giving Shepard a hug. Giving me a chance to warn her. After Wrex's death, I feel like I could save many lives needlessly lost. "Give Sovereign my best." I whisper.
I pull off, returning Shepard's confused stare with a momentary sad one.
Turning to Ash, I pulled her into a huge bear hug. I look her in the eye, and kiss her one more time. I'm terrified that this will be the last.
I've swapped with Kaiden. Either Ash will die, or I will. Perhaps Kaiden will die some other way? I don't know.
Shepard was my saving grace. "Whatever happens, everyone just keep shooting. We go in hard, hit 'em harder, and we'll be the only damn thing that comes out the other side!" She said, throwing her fist in the air.
We all joined in, but Shepard was doing this for morale. I see her glance at the bloody sand where Wrex died. Her eyes are sad, but hard enough. She was doing this for him.
"Sir, Corporal Kialag!" Shouted a rather young Salarian. He seemed inexperienced. STG was well trained, so I assume that this young trooper was better than he looks.
"Stand down Corporal. Get your unit to me, on the double." I used the universal – GI Joe voice, no reason really, I just felt like it suited the mood.
It took about five minutes, after Kirrahe's awesome speech, and six Salarian came up to me, and saluted.
"Each of you will have a code." I state, "Salarian names escape me, so each of you will be a number." Kialag looked at me with a baffled expression. Names were never my strong suit. This way I can issue orders easily, ARMA style.
"One, two, three, four, five and six." I said, tapping on each of their shoulders while saying a number. Kialag was number one, and he looked happy at this. "I will be Zero. Questions?"
"Why do you prefer numbers?" I expected this; Kialag was too inexperienced for a mission like this.
"I can issue orders using as little time as possible. 'One, take cover' as opposed to 'Corporal Kialag, take cover'." The helmeted Salarians nodded at my logic.
"Lieutenant Commander, you're squad, designation 'Aegohr', will enter when I signal. Understood?" Captain Kirrahe approached us. He could remember names, so he could name each of my team blindfolded. His plan was pretty simple though, my squad is the support squad, Kialag was out medic, and I had another sniper along with the heavies.
"Aye aye Captain." I said with a nod.
"Let's go," He said before pressing into his ear, "Com check, do you read me Commander?"
I heard a muffled reply, but Kirrahe outlined his plans for Shep, "Good, we'll start our push. We'll try and make it to the AA guns, but it might be up to you to finish the job." He moved his hand, but then changed his mind, "And commander? If you see any way to undermine their defences, we could definitely use the help."
There was one huge gate, reminding me of old strongholds held during the crusades. Two huge towers dominated the fort, one in the middle, one on a hill, just left of the gate.
Two minutes in, and all hell broke loose.
"Shadow is on the ground. Repeat: Shadow is on the ground." Kirrahe shouted, rather calmly for the situation, "Lieutenant Commander, with Aegohr team! Mannovai, Jaeto teams, move! Time to get attention.
We were based behind some rocks in front of what looked like a main gate. At Kirrahe's signal, a group of rockets shot out from Mannovai's position. They were out gunned by a long shot, but they were to draw fire for the rest of us. I popped out of cover and took aim with my Black Widow.
A quick scan showed the walls lined with rocket Geth, and a dozen or so, troopers swarming the main gate. The troopers were supported by Krogan. Shit.
I decided to focus on the rocket troopers first, taking one out just before he fired, his rocket firing into the sky. A sniper next to me took out another trooper in a similar way. Suddenly, my shields got hit. Dropping behind my rock, the sniper next to me, Three, informed me, "Turrets, I spy three."
Three turrets. Okay. Checking my rifle, yeah, it's cooled. I popped back out, taking out the fuel of one turret, blowing it sky high.
Three had the same idea, blowing a second one to hell. She screamed some Salarian words before joining me behind cover.
"Fucking shit." I shouted as a rocket hit Two straight on his head, covering a poor One, or Kialiag, in Salarian blood. He seemed to shrug it off and continue firing with his assault rifle. That impressed me. It was evidence of the STG training, if a grunt could do something like that. The only thing stopping myself from throwing up was my priors experience.
Three took out the other tower, while I focussed on the rocket troopers, who now had snipers with them. A single shot from my rifle, obliterates a sniper and hit the rocket trooper behind him, blowing up his launcher.
"Go go go!" Shouted Kirrahe. At his orders, Jaeto stormed the gate, followed closely by Mannovai and then my squad.
I took out a Krogan biotic before swapping to my assault rifle. A quick burst took a Geth trooper to the ground. Four promptly stepped on its head.
Two minutes in, and we got into a decently defensible position. But we didn't want defensible, we were on the attack. Jaeto saw an opening in the swarm, and broke through, heading for the main tower. Kirrahe's squad, Mannovai went towards a building, leaving my squad to support them before heading to the second tower.
Suddenly, a missile fell from the sky, obliterating a pair from Jaeto.
"They're calling in sat-strikes! Jaeto, watch for com Stations! Mack, you see anything?"
"Negative Captain, I got nothing here." I said entering an armoury of some sorts.
"We're being decimated my Aircraft sir!" Shouted the leader of Jaeto, I have to say, they don't have the best luck.
My squad stepped out of the armoury and started to fire on the aircraft. One or two went down, but we were too late to do any damage. They flew off, shit! The refuelling station! "Aircraft heading to perimeter stations to recharge. Get into cover before they get back."
It took about two minutes before we heard Shepard's voice.
"Drones down Captain" Sheppard's voice soothed my squad. Kialag was obviously nervous, he was jittery , but still was a pretty good shot.
"Copy that Commander" I said calmly.
A sudden surge of Krogan took us off guard. Jaeto was still outside, while Mannovai was nowhere to be seen. My squad was at the side of the Krogan horde, giving us some pretty good angles. I took down about three Krogan with headshots, and took off the leg of another before Mannovai appear behind the horde. This pincer action seemed the panic the Krogan, making them try to retreat but it was to no avail. Three and I were extremely accurate.
Another surge though, this time supported by a variety of Geth troopers. This horde appeared behind Mannovai, forcing them to retreat back with Jaeto.
"Shadow team must be getting close. Hold the line, men! Hold the line!" Kirrahe was shouting. He was duel wielding pistols, making him awesome, but the surprise was how accurate he was.
My squad crept forward, slaughtering Geth from behind, as they were too focussed on the Salarians in the middle of this courtyard thing. Looking down my sights, a Geth trooper went down, followed by a weakened Krogan.
Four and Five where killing the Geth by the dozens, before Five took a shot to the leg. He let out a moan before being grabbed by a Krogan. The Krogan ran towards his group of battlemasters, holding Five in the air. He didn't notice his prize pull out a grenade drop it at the feet of his captors. The one Krogan who looked down, lost his face when the explosion went off. The Krogan who took Five lost his legs. Five fell and went to edge away but a Geth sniper hit him.
Four roared. And yes, a Salarian roared. He charged at this sniper, and drop kicked it. The sniper dropped its rifle and threw a punch, Four nimbly dodged, before putting a knife through its flashlight.
We started making good progress, but Jaeto lost more men pushing forwards, following Four's example.
"Give up a little ground Mack, we don't want them to bunker-up. Draw them out." Kirrahe's words echoed in my head. It was a good idea, and I understand why he's in charge.
Dropping back, faking losing, the exact same tactic William the Conqueror used in the battle of Hastings. The Krogan fell for it and followed us, getting slaughtered by Mannovai.
Jaeto ran forwards, replacing the spot where the Krogan were. It was a pretty defensible spot.
The, what I assume is, the bulk of Saren's forces were here. Geth and Krogan everywhere.
Pulling out my sniper, I shoot at a Krogan, but he falls before my bullet hits him. "Too slow sir" Three drops next to me, she's good. I'll give her that.
I take down a rocket trooper, and then a sniper before my rifle overheats. It made me curse, feeling the searing heat on my hand.
Six was my squad's rocket trooper, I didn't actually see much of him over this battle. But when I do, its fucking awesome. He jumped over Three's head, causing her to swear, using a sword. The sword, in fact, reminded me of the Vibrobades in the Knights of the old republic, and cut down a battlemaster before he could finish his biotic power. Cut through him like butter. He moved so fluently, he moved to a Geth trooper, the blade shutting of the light, and then to another.
Three and I helped Six by covering him, using out rifles to snipe at Geth behind him, or snipers that were taking aim. We actually made a pretty good team I must say, when we get out of here, I need to ask her name.
Kialag was crouched next to Kirrahe, covering the captain's awesome escapades.
Almost as quick as they had arrived, the horde started to move away from us. Shepard met Sovereign then.
"The Geth are turning from your position Jaeto. Looks like Shadow kicked a sensitive spot! Mack, head them off, hold them here!"
Silently, I tapped Three on the shoulder, and pointed to a corridor that had a window overshadowing the Geth forces. She nodded in understanding.
"Six, One follow us, we need to fuck up them up before Shepard gets into trouble." They came back to mine and Three's position and we sprinted down the corridor.
Taking pot shots at the Geth while shadowing felt good. Three was amazing, barely even looking into the scope before firing. Six took out a group with a well placed rocket, and Kialag was firing off short bursts into the crowd.
A pretty decent team, I must say. We were working together really well. Sometimes Three and I shared a target, but she always hit them first, causing me to swear.
"Good work on the gun Shadow team. Now it's our turn. Aegohr, come back to us, and we'll take down the last tower."
"Aye aye." I reply to Kirrahe.
While my team couldn't hold off Geth, most of the Krogan decided to follow us, while the Geth kept heading for Shepard. She could handle the Geth, the Krogan would be a problem – most definitely. But Shepard needs to stay alive, we are secondary.
Kirrahe nodded at me when we got back, and he immediately headed for the tower nearest to us. It was soon time for Shepard to choose.
We nearly got to the top, but the Geth here just bogged us down. The troopers, while a danger in great numbers, were taken down fairly quickly. The Jugganauts were the problem. And we had five of them in our way. Hoppers were jumping around like frogs on LSD, troopers were firing randomly, rockets where exploding on every bit of land around the STG squads.
Mannovai was depleted now, only Kirrahe and a sniper where left, Jaeto was still the largest squad but they only had six members left. I still had One, Three and Six left. Two was taken down in the initial assault, Five went a blaze of glory and four had joined Jaeto, and I felt he was better use there.
"That's it, we need to clear the Geth and set those charges." The captain gave his orders and it was done.
Jaeto started to fire on the jugganauts, drawing their fire. Me and Three got a joint headshot on one of them that took it down seamlessly. One ran over to join four with Jaeto, and Kirrahe took down one with only his pistols.
The fire depleted the shields of the last three, allowing Three and I to take them down.
Six ran over to the gun controls and planted some plastic explosive that looked just like C4 from back home.
"Charges set! Everyone bunker down! Bunker down!" Screamed Kirrahe, before diving behind a wall. Jaeto all dropped, Geth still aiming at them. Three and I hid behind the wall, and she gave me a thumbs up.
The explosion ripped through the wall, throwing Kirrahe into the sea. Shit, he was a good man, didn't deserve to die like that, no one does. Looking around my wall showed many, and I mean many scattered robot parts. The gun was down, that's good, but Mannovai team was no more, and my ears were still ringing. The surviving STG, which was … about a third of the original team, were mulling, trying to stand up. A few of the more stable members looking at me for leadership.
I hit my ears, just to get my bearings. That earned a curious look from Six, but Three nodded and copied my action.
It took a minute, but my senses did come back. I looked up and started to give my orders. I had no fucking idea what to do.
"Erm, One, Six, get the rest of Jaeto to the evac zone, Three and I will cover your retreat." I said, as calm as I could. It was almost time. Shepard would have to choose. I want her to choose Ash, and I sure as hell ain't going down easily.
"Sir! Our escape is blocked!" Shouted Kialag, panic evident in his voice. I turn to face him, only to see a bullet to hit his chest. He was gasping, and if I had to guess, I'd guess a collapsed lung. I caught him before he fell, but the Geth had started a counter attack. I dived back behind my wall, Three right beside me.
"We're not gonna make it sir…" I would agree with her, but I couldn't bring myself to dampen the STG team, who had done so well. I lowered One, who was convulsing now, and lent back against the wall.
"Oh we will lass, even if I have to haul myself out of the fiery depths of hell." I state, before popping out of cover to hit the sniper who hit One. Three followed my lead, taking down a jugganaut with relative ease.
"Shepard, come in!" I shouted, holding my hand to my ear piece.
"Mack? Get to the rendezvous point." Shepard replied, her voice was calm, soothing my nerves.
"Negative on that ma'am. We're pinned down at the AA tower, the captain is dead and we're taking heavy casualties." I state. My voice heavy, knowing that I doubt Three, Six or any of the other Salarians will make it. "We're not going to get to evac site in time." A bullet hit my arm, making me cry out in pain. My suit pumped medigel onto my wound, giving me cold sensation. Looking towards Three, she took a shot that hit the bastard who got me.
"Joker, get them out of there, now!" Shepard shouted. Shepard was the only one who mattered, however horrible that sounds. She is the one to save the universe.
"No ma'am, LZ is too hot, we'll hold the line as best as we can." That was Three, the medigel was fucking with my mind. It was soft, like a soft touch healing my wounds.
"We're coming to reinforce. Sit tight." Shepard's replied. She wasn't going to make it and I could have done something.
I growled. I picked up my rifle, and took a shot at the approaching troopers. I hit a trooper through its neck and hit the rocket trooper behind it. My rifle overheated, so I clipped it on my back and pulled out my assault rifle. I rolled next to Six, who's heavy machine gun had just overheated. He nodded a nod that knows this is the end and put his hand on my shoulder. "It's being an honour."
My heart felt like it would burst. I nodded my thanks, and stood up, no regards to my own safety. "Say hello to my little friend!" I shouted, firing my rifle, Al Pacino style.
Six laughed maniacally, and charged at the Geth with his sword drawn. Three was behind us, taking down shields, rocket troopers and snipers. Six took down a jugganaut in one swipe, before jumping on top of a hopper. I was doing the least damage of us three, although I was trying to distract the group, so Six would take less fire.
I was also trying to raise morale. The poor STG had seen their leader killed, so they needed some action. It was working, from what I could tell anyway. The rest of Jaeto was firing back, Four gave me a nod of recognition. I never spoke to him, then again, Five or Two never spoke to me either. Three and One were great, and I've earned Six's respect. I can only assume the same with Four.
Suddenly, the tower shook, and a giant Geth ship flew past us. And so it begins.
Shepard's Perspective
"Ma'am, Troopship just flew past us, I reckon its gunning for your position." Mack's normally calm voice sounded stressed, which I could understand. He was good leader, and losing troops was hard on any leader, like losing Jenkins back on Eden Prime. He was a good kid with potential. I did gain Ash and Mack out of that mission, and two soldiers as skilled as them would be more helpful on the field of battle, due to just experience.
"It's already here and it's bleeding Geth all over the bomb site." Ash was sounding nervous too. Shit. If the bombsite fell, then they might not get the nuke off, and Saren might get his army.
"Can you hold them off?" Mack needed help as well, if Ash could hold off the Geth long enough to get the nuke primed I could escape with Mack.
"There's too many! I don't think we can hold them!" Screamed Ash, all sense of calmness and professionalism gone. "I'm activating the nuke." She said.
That sent alarm bells off. "What the hell are you doing Williams?" I shouted back. Saren might have already escaped. I wasn't going to risk anything until I had his head. This wasn't going to end until Saren was dead.
"Making sure this bomb goes off. No matter what." She said, more calmly than before. I leant on the railings that we had come too. Softly planting my hands on them.
"Ash! Don't be fucking stupid!" That was Mack. They had gotten close. Kaiden even convinced me that he had wanted me. I told him it was stupid. But he wasn't having it. It took Mack to almost break his arm, before Kaiden would even consider talking to him.
I could remember what he said. 'Tali told me that she thinks they're in love, even if he's a prick, its cute.' Pah. Friends with a common cause found solace with each other. Its happen to me, it's happened to them.
"This needs to happen Mack."
"No it fucking doesn't. I have five Salarians left, all are willing to try. We'll push to the rendezvous, but if we're not there, at least the bomb will have gone off with the most effect."
"Shepard, we'll handle this. Get Mack and get out." Ash delivered the ultimatum. I could choose to save Ash, or Mack. Ash, the xenophobic gunnery chief, her future with the Alliance hampered by the sins of her grandfather. Or Mack, the skilled second in command, the one who would take over if I died.
Ash was mouthy, had a problem with authority, and even killed Wrex. While her fears weren't unfounded, I'm still annoyed. Mack would follow orders to the letter, and I wouldn't trust anyone else covering me like he could. Using that logic, at close range, I could trust Ash to keep everything away.
"Make a decision Shepard, quick!" The missions must come first.
"Williams, radio Joker and tell him to meet us at the bomb site." I said, touching my ear. I'm sorry Mack. I wish it didn't have to end like this.
"Y-yes, commander, I…" She stammered. Lovers pah. Comrades in arms. That's all. Two soldiers can't love. It takes us away from the game. That's what I told Kaiden, and I'm sticking to it.
"Ash, it's the right choice and you know it." He didn't sound like a man about to die …
"I'm sorry Mack … I had to make a choice." I meant it. I didn't want to have to make a choice. A choice like this is fucking hard. No commander should have to make a choice like this.
"I understand Kia, I have no regrets." Back to his old calm self. God dammit. This is what made him attractive. This calm, patient man, who could stay calm is such situations. Say hi to Sovereign. How did he know about sovereign being here? Or that it was alive. I never even suspected it was an actual Reaper.
"Mack?" I asked, my voice was sharp, and I knew it.
"Commander?" He was confused, but I need to know. Did he know I'd have to make this choice?
"How did you know about Sovereign?" I said, simply.
He didn't reply, and my alarms were ringing. How was he tied in with this? What did he know?
"Mack … is this something to do with what you wanted to tell me …" That was Ash. She knew?
"Yes. When I next see you both, I owe you all answers." He answer was ambiguous enough to send my alarms into overdrive. Me, Garrus, Tali and Liara stepped into the elevator heading back down to Ash.
"Tell us now Mack." I ordered. This was too important to take the calm approach. What else does he know?
"There isn't enough time. I'm not who I say I am, leave it at that." Shit, what …What is he?
"M-Mack …" Ash wanted to know too. The gunfire was heavy within her radio, did she love him?
"Ash, I'm sorry, I'll see you soon." Was his reply, "Three cover me. Four is down. I have to go, there's a shuttle here, and I'll see if I can make it. Mack out."
"Fucking hell Mack!"
The elevator made it, and we stormed out. My scanners were jammed, which meant that hoppers were here. A Krogan charged us as soon as the gate opened. He was no match. Tali took down his shield instantly, and a warp from Liara killed him.
The group of Geth turned to face us, and I fired my new grenade launcher into the group. Special cluster bombs, illegal in the majority of citadel space, authorised for Spectres only. Fuckin A.
Liara lifted the survivors and Garrus shot them. Tali overloaded the shields of the ones with them. This team was good, and if Mack could make it, then it would only make is stronger.
I ran towards Ash, but a warp hit my leg, sending me sprawling into the wall. Saren.
Ash went to hit him from behind, but he dodged her. He turned and launched a biotic throw, sending her flying the bomb. Garrus and Liara shot at him, but he threw up a shield around himself. Tali came over to help me up. I expect Saren to return fire, but he didn't. He just kept walking towards Ash.
"I applaud you Shepard. My Geth were utterly convinced the Salarians were the real threat. An impressive diversion." He picked up the barely conscious Ash, but kept talking, "Of course, it was all for nothing. I can't let you disrupt what I have accomplished here. You can't possibly understand what's really at stake."
"This isn't complicated. You'll do anything to get power. Even joining the Reapers!" I shouted back. Saren is a good man, unorthodox, but I understand what it means to sacrifice. It's a waste for him to join the reapers.
He turned towards us, holding the injured chief, towards up, holding her up as if offering her to God.
"You've seen the vision from the beacons, Shepard. You, of all people, should understand what the Reapers are capable of. They cannot be stopped." He said, his eyes boring into my very soul. "Do not mire yourself in pointless revolt. Do not sacrifice everything for the sake of petty freedoms. The Protheans tried to fight, and they were utterly destroyed." He held Ash even higher, as if making his point, "Trillions dead. But what if they had bowed before the invaders? Would the Protheans still exist? Is submission not preferable to extinction?"
His claw pierced Ash's skin like a steak knife. She let out a small gasp, but if the new window in her torso was any indication, she was dead. Her eyes fluttered and she let out one last word, "Mack".
Kaiden was the first one to react. Saren flung Ash's body like it was a used napkin, and turned to face the roaring lieutenant. "You bastard!" He shouted at he ran towards him. Why he didn't use his gun is beyond me. Saren never gave him the chance I suppose. Knocking his arm away, Saren swiped at Kaiden's head, sawing it clean off. He body fell to his knees, blood spurting out of his open neck wound.
I dropped to my knees. Two great soldiers are dead. One is missing. The rage overtook me and I fired my grenades at Saren. My cluster bombs took out his shields, forcing him into cover. Tali was hugging her knees, crying, kicking her and screaming, "Get the hell up and kill him".
Saren jumped onto his Hover board, throwing warps, throws and firing his rifle at us. I couldn't think straight. I fired again at the Turian, watching a rocket from his board hit where Tali was trying to shoot.
"Fucker!" I was screaming profanity at him, He had killed my friends. And he will pay.
Garrus an d Liara were covering me, throwing warps and bullets at Saren, whittling away at his armour and biotic barriers.
Saren realised he wasn't going to win. Hitting Garrus and Liara's cover with a rocket, knocking them down, he flew into me, or tried to. I dived out the way, but he followed me. He jumped on top of me, dragging me by my collar. He wanted to kill me like he did Ash.
Luck was on my side. The roar of Sovereign approaching was enough to turn Saren's attention away from me for a split second. That's all I needed. Turning back to me, his face met my fist. I put enough power into my punch to knock him to the ground, but he threw me a fell.
By the time I'd rose, he was back on his hoverboard. I raised my pistol … He just looked at me. "Fuck you!" I shouted. He grinned before flying off. I can't believe he got away, but we needed to get away. Garrus ran over to Ash's body and lifted it. Tali and I got Kaiden's body and Liara tried to get his head, but threw up and dropped it.
The woosh of the Normandy shocked us into action, I grabbed Kaiden's head, holding it by the hair. That made me nauseous, and I had sympathy for Liara. The crew in the holding dock helped us on board, dragging the bodies of the two marines before helping me aboard.
I just stared at Kaiden's head … a look of anger still on his face.
So deep in my thoughts I didn't hear Joker's warning about the nuke, and the proceeding vibrations from the nuke.
Kaiden's eyes staring at me. His glossed eyes looked accusingly at me.
"I love you" Kaiden said, holding my hands in his.
"Kaiden I'm honoured … but I just don't feel the same way…" He eyes … oh his eyes! He was devastated. I had his heart in my hands and I just crushed it.
The eyes … I did this for you, they said.
Mack's perspective
"Ash, I'm sorry, I'll see you soon." I said, "Three cover me. Four is down. I have to go, there's a shuttle here, I'll see if I can make it. Mack out."
"Fucking hell Mack!" was all I heard before I cut my com. It was just my original team, Aegohr? It might have been that, not that it matters anymore. Just me, Three and Six were left alive. Four had just gone down to a Geth rocket trooper.
Six and I were ploughing through the Geth hordes, him with his sword, and me, somewhere in thie melee I had picked up a Jugganaut leg, and I was swinging it around like a metallic club. I'm using this after some bastard put a bullet in my assault rifle, and this close up, I can definitely see the appeal that Six gets from this.
"We're nearly there!" Six shouted, using a Geth trooper as a trampoline, using it the crush another trooper beneath his feet.
I nodded at Six, hitting a sniper in the face with my leg/club. It felt good. Pent up anger, going out like the flashlight of the Geth I crush. By the time we got to the shuttle, my artificial leg was broken, it had turned into a retarded flail, Three had second degree burns all over herself, and Six was bleeding from seven separate wounds.
The shuttle was, it turned out, to be a Geth fighter. Knowing what happens in the third game, it's a tight squeeze. Six dived in the pilot seat, while I grabbed a Geth assault rifle off of the ground and laid some suppressing fire while Three ran over to us. The entrance to the ship was on the top, so I had to grab Three's hand to pull her up. We dived in and Six started up ship.
Geth fighters are small, and are suited to hold two troopers at a time. Three hopped in the turrent spot, while stood next to Six.
"It's going to be a bumpy ride." Six said, his helmet still on, so I couldn't see his face. I assume he'd have an amused expression. I put on my oxygen producer, built into my armour, so I could breathe when we left the planet. Three was shooting Geth while being absolutely silent.
Putting my hand on Six's shoulder, I said, "Get us out of here." The turbulence wasn't too bad, but when the nuke went off, I smashed my shoulder against the ceiling. Once again, my height breaks something important.
Unfortunately, there wasn't any windows I the ship, so I couldn't admire the view. Thinking about things I wanted to do, I needed to think of the way to explain my situation to Ash and Shepard. Since I was chosen, I have to assume that Ash made it, and I feel great. I changed cannon.
Giving myself an imaginary pat on the back, I saved both Kaiden and Ash. I'm pretty sure that means I could save more people then? Thane? Mordin? Udina? Perhaps even the people of Kar'shan? And Earth? I feel giddy just thinking about it.
"The Normandy has already left, I assume for the citadel –"Six started to say, but I understand.
"But we're in a Geth fighter, I understand. Where could we go to swap ship?" I suggested, we'd need a place where Geth weren't a target, but where other species were.
Six was thinking the same as me evidently, "Omega?"
"A hive of scum and villainy. Get us there." I said with a smile.
"I assume we'll steal a slave ship?" I span on my heel, to be face to face with Three, who had taken off her mask to reveal a light green Salarian. "Ya Kno? Do a bit of good in the universe?" She said with a smile.
I returned her smile, "Stopping the Krogan Army from the Evil Spectre who wanted to help destroy all sentient life not exciting enough for ya, Three?"
Three's smile got even greater. "Yeah, but please stop calling me 'Three', I do have a name."
"So do I" came a muffled Six.
"I suppose now is as good as any to learn names. I'm Mack." I said with a chuckle.
"Arraya" said Three, or well, Arraya.
"Farrun" shouted Six/Farrun.
I assume I'll be joining Ash and Shepard soon enough, and I'll be able to … well try and explain me being in this universe. That will be an experience.
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Before anyone asks, no, I don't hate Ash or Kaiden either.
This is the start of my own ideas, while I might swap into Shepard's perspective again, it will be fun. I hope you enjoyed chapter 8 :3
This was also my longest chapter, only a thousand words, but I hate going over 5000. OCD? Perhaps, but I'm just picky.
The last note, I'm aiming for weekly updates, perhaps every Friday, or in this case Tuesday.
I lied, this is the last note, I've changed the last chapter, only a little bit, but Tali has no longer forgiven Mack during their argument.
Mack
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