Chapter 3: Pain and Care
Chapter 3 is up so soon, yay. Enjoy the story.
I don't own Mass Effect, Bioware does
I got my armor and weapons on and rushed to meet Shepard. As I entered the CIC I found everyone waiting for me.
"Sorry the armor is a little hard to strap on." I jokingly say
"It's alright, team lets go find the good doctor." Shepard said as we followed her
We entered the Mako and prepared for launch. This was the first time I've seen the inside of it… it was smaller than I thought. It looked like it could fit only four people which made it a good thing there was only four of us.
As we entered Therums' atmosphere I felt little force when we landed, probably because of the mini mass effect field the Mako creates creates. As we started to drive forward Ashley jumped into the gunner seat and Joker entered the comm channel…
"Commander I'm picking up some strange readings like off the damn charts readings. It seems to be coming from an underground complex a few clicks over."
"Thanks Joker" Shepard replied
As we really started moving I heard something above us…
"Shepard, Geth dropship!" I yell
"I see it! Williams ready the guns for anything that thing drops off."
"Roger that ma'am"
After killing the two Armatures we moved on until we encountered the camp which was heavily guarded by four Geth Missile Turrets.
"Commander we won't be able to take that thing head on!" Kaiden yells
"Says you" I whisper
As we began to circle around to enter the camp from the side I started to unbuckle my seat belt…
"What are you doing?" Kaiden yells at me
"You'll see." I say as I jump out of the moving Mako just as we entered the camp
I rolled on the ground as I was pelted with gun fire. I stood up and charged into a destroyer sending it flying and followed up with a biotic slam to a shock trooper. Shepard, Ashley, and Kaiden exited the Mako just as I finished off the Geth trooper.
I looked over to see that Shepard was immediately pinned down behind a crate from a group of shock troopers and the destroyer I hit earlier; they seemed to be closing in on her. I ran towards her and did a biotic jump slamming into the center of the group of Geth sending them flying. I followed up with an area slam that crushed all of them.
"Shepard you ok?" I ask worry in my voice
"I'm fine, thanks for the save." Shepard responded smiling
"Don't mention…" but I was cut off when I saw a red dot appear on her chest "Shepard lookout" I said as I pushed her out of the way but I ended up taking the shot in the shoulder. I shouted as the bullet passed through my left shoulder. I turned to see the Geth sniper positioned on top of the building and I lifted it up and tore it in half with my biotics. The Geth released a strange sound that if I didn't know better would have associated with a painful scream.
I fell to the ground holding my shoulder, covering the quarter size hole that formed from the bullet that went through and through. Shepard ran up to me filled with worry
"Oh my god Brent, you didn't have to do that. My shields were more charged than yours I could have taken the bullet." Shepard said as she began to apply medi-gel to my shoulder.
"Yea, well what kind of gentleman would I be to let a beautiful woman get shot?" I joked as I winced in pain from Shepard applying the medi-gel. I felt the medi-gel work as it numbed and covered the wound.
"We need to get you out of here before…" but I interrupted her
"No!" I shouted, making Shepard jump back a little "We need to find Liara and I won't let me being shot stop this mission." I say looking into her blues eyes
"Alright, fine we'll finish the mission but after that I want you to go see Doctor Chakwas when this is over."
"Ok" I said standing up "Now let's find Liara"
We both began to move towards a building that held the control switch for the gate, as Ashley and Kaiden finished off the remaining Geth outside.
After we opened the gate we continued on our way in the Mako encountering a few Geth along the way and even a Colossus. We eventually were forced to stop from a group of fallen rocks that blocked the Makos' path.
When exiting the Mako we could hear clicking, a sure sign that more Geth were nearby. As we pasted the rocks we were immediately rained down upon with gunfire. We took cover behind rocks; at this point I knew I would be forced to use my guns. I removed my pistol and began shooting killing a few shock troopers and one of the snipers.
As we killed the last Geth we made our way to the entrance of the mine… I stopped however and looked up under the catwalk that spread out from the facility, and saw the crawler positioned just like the game showed. Before the thing could jump down I grabbed it with my biotics causing it float in the air, I shot it with my pistol in its head sending it sputtering to the ground. Just as I ended it another jumped down following a Geth dropship that released an Armature along with some Geth troopers.
"We have company" I say as I stare at the Armature as it readied to fire
We all scattered for cover and began to fire upon the Geth troopers that tried to close in on us.
While my cover began to dwindle away I went to move when the Armature targeted me and released it energy bolt thing. I grabbed the closest Geth and threw it in the way intercepting the shot. When the troopers were dead we began to shoot the Armature that now stood alone.
A few minutes in the fight did I realize that this thing had a repair unit in it but this unit constantly repaired the shields not the Armature itself. Tired of this bug bite tactics I stepped out of my cover and stood in front of the Armature.
"Brent get back in cover that is going to kill you!" Kaiden shouted
I stood there took a few deep breathes and raised my hands as my entire body began to glow. A blue field formed around the Armature trapping it in a biotic field. However instead of just trapping it I began to slowly close the field around the Geth unit. I began to feel resistance as its shields tried to protect it but they couldn't with stand the force. Soon you could see the shields fade away leaving the Armature defenseless against my field. The Armature couldn't fire without risking its own weapon blowing up in its face. Its fate was now sealed. After a few seconds of struggling I was able to… compact the Armature it a sphere.
I fell to my knees breathing heavily and holding my shoulder where I got shot. Never had I tried something like that and never do I want to again. It took way too much out of me. Shepard walked over to me…
"Brent, are you ok?" She asked more in a whisper
"Yea, just a little worn out"
Kaiden walked up to me helping me up "How did you do that?" he asked
"I just did a reverse barrier, so that instead of preventing things from entering I made it to where nothing could leave and at that point I just made it smaller. But heed my warning it is not easy. Now we have a mission to finish." I say walking to the entrance of the mine leaving my team as they gazed upon the giant sphere that was once an Armature.
When we entered the mine we began our search for Liara. Along the way we encountered a few Geth troopers and some Geth drones but they were easily dispatched. Soon we entered an elevator and then we were face to face with Liara T'Soni.
"Are you okay? What happened to you?" Shepard asked
"It's a Prothean barrier curtain. I knew it would keep safe from the Geth. When I turned it on I must have hit something I wasn't supposed to. I was trapped in here. You must get me out of here. Please."
"Any suggestions on how we can help." Kaiden asks
"There is a control in here that should deactivate this thing. You'll have to find some way to past the barrier curtain. That is the tricky part. The defenses cannot be shut off from the outside. I don't know how you'll get in here. Be careful there is a Krogan with Geth. They have been trying different ways to get past the barrier." Liara responds
"Ok we'll be back, don't go anywhere" I jokingly say but instead of laughs I just got some looks that said "really"
We soon began working our way to the ground when we were jumped by a group of Geth. Two Geth tried to flank us but I slammed them into a wall killing them, then I slammed them both into a third Geth killing it also. Shepard killed the last one with a headshot to the face with her sniper rifle.
With the Geth destroyed we approached the mining laser and activated it, the laser burned through the ground with a loud roar. Soon we had a clear path to the bottom of the Prothean ruin. Strangely enough it reminded me of a bathroom. We walked into the center of the room to find what looked like a terminal and activated it. Soon the floor shook and the platform began to lift.
The platform stopped and we looking at Liara again but this time on the other side of the field.
"How… how did you get in here? I didn't think there was any way to past the barrier!"
"We have to get you out of here before more Geth arrive." Shepard said
"Yes you're right. I have seen enough of them to last a lifetime. That button should shut down my containment field."
"Hold on Commander her mother is working with Saren. Can we trust her?" Kaiden rudely said
"I'm not my mother! I don't even- I don't know why Benezia would even join Saren. I don't want anything to do with that turian bastard!"
"Kaiden honestly if she was working for Saren the Geth wouldn't be trying to kill her." I say
Shepard types on the terminal and soon the field releases her and she falls to the ground with a thud. I walk over and help her up.
"Any idea on how we get out of this place?" Ashley asks
"There is an elevator in the center of the room. At least I think it is an elevator that should take us out of here. Come on!"
We all walk onto the platform and I press a button the terminal and soon it rises again.
"I still can't believe all this. Why would the Geth come after me? Do you think Benezia's involved?" Liara asks
"Saren is after the Conduit. You're a Prothean expert. He probably wants you to help him find it." I put in
"The Conduit? But I don't know…" but Liara was cut off from the sound of an explosion and violent shaking
"What the hell was that?" Ashley nervously asked
"These ruins are unstable. The mining laser must have triggered a seismic event. We have to hurry. The whole place is caving in!" Kaiden says
Shepard turns and opens a comm channel with the Normandy "Joker! Get the Normandy airborne and lock on my signal. On the double, mister!"
"Aye, aye, Commander secure and aweigh ETA eight minutes" Joker responded before cutting off
"Not much margin for error huh" I throw in
Soon after the platform stops at the top level a Krogan battlemaster walks in supported by four Geth…
"Surrender or don't. That would be more fun." He says
"In case you didn't notice, this place is falling apart." Shepard says trying to hit him with some intelligence
"Exhilarating, isn't it? Thanks for getting rid of those energy fields for us. Hand the doctor over." He says clearly not caring about Shepards' word
"Yea… that's not going to happen you overgrown lizard. So you might want to leave before you die." I say stepping in front of Liara and Shepard as my arms begin to glow
"Not an option. Saren wants her. And he always gets what he wants. Kill them. Spare the asari if you can. If not, doesn't matter." The krogan says signaling his Geth to attack
However before they can move I threw down a biotic field that crushed the four Geth instantly. Soon my body was covered in blue by my biotics…
"I told you to walk away, and I will not let lay a hand on any of them." I say as my eyes turn from aqua to pitch blue. "You should have left when you had the chance" I say as a smile crosses my face
The krogan ignored my warning and charged me with his shotgun out… dumb move. Expecting that his weight and strength would help him he thought that he could simply run me over. But that was not the case, as he approached I used my biotics to push him into the walls and removed his guns. The Krogan battlemaster was now pinned to the wall struggling to free himself from my hold as I slowly approached.
"Why is it that so many Krogan think that just because I'm human they can beat me. Can you answer that for me." I say giving him a serious look
The krogan looked at me "Because your race is weak pathetic and when Saren is done all your friends will die." Finishing up by spiting in my face, a smile appeared on his face.
"Brent we don't have time for this, this place will cave in at any minute now." Kaiden shouted
I ignored him however still looking at the krogan "Now why did you have to say something like that." I say frowning at his response.
"Brent get over here and help us find a way out!" Kaiden yelled
I sighed and released him from my biotic hold and turned to leave, until he said something that struck deep inside me.
"Saren will win and he will torture your beloved commander and friends until they beg for death." he said smiling
I stopped as my arm glowed blue, I turned around in a second, roaring and punched him square in the head. He tried to stop me by putting his arm up to block but my punch shattered any bones in his arm before caving in his skull. The battlemaster fell to the ground blood pouring out and I simply stared at his head that now had a hole the size of a fist. Just after I killed him did the barrier trapping us died away. We all turned and ran out leaving the dead battlemaster and ruin behind.
We ran up the ramps dodging falling debris and rocks that tried to stop us. We approached the entrance to mine with only the light reassuring that we aren't dead. Rocks fell at an accelerating rate. We neared the door and the moment we ran out did the rest of the mine collapse sending dust and debris into the air.
I looked up to see the Normandy hovering nearby. It lowered itself enough to where we could board just as molten sulphur poured around the area we had once been.
After the little mission breakdown chat I decide to visit Chakwas for the hole in my shoulder. However I wanted to avoid anyone running up to me asking if I was ok but that didn't happen. Turns out the entire crew knows I got shot so when I arrived at the Medical Bay I saw that Joseph, Jesse, Shepard, and Tali were already there…
"Dude what happened to you" Joseph asked with worry filling his voice
I looked at him like he was stupid "I got shot."
"Are you alright?" Tali asked filled with worry
"I fine thanks for the concern Tali." I say
"How did it happen" Jesse asked jumping in
I hesitated to say what happened because I knew the patronizing I would get from them. But apparently Shepard decided to tell them…
"Well we were fighting a group of Geth and they pinned me down. Brent jumped in and killed them all he turned to face me and asked if I was ok. I told I was and I appreciated the rescue but before he could say anymore he shoved me away from a snipers shot and ended up taking the bullet… meant for me." Shepard said trailing off
"Wow dude nice save." Joseph said sounding slightly impressed
"So did it hurt?" Jesse asked
The room fell silent as everyone looked at him.
"I withdraw my question." Jesse said looking down while rubbing the back of his neck.
"Well if you guys don't mind I have to get the Doctor to fix this hole in my shoulder."
Everyone left except Shepard who stood in the corner arms folded and looking like she had something on her mind.
"Shepard… you ok" I ask as Chakwas began surgery on my shoulder. Thanks to the pain pills of the future I didn't even know when she started
She looked up at me "Why did you do it, you could have died?"
I chuckled a little "Because I…" I trailed off looking at the ceiling "I did it because I can't stand to see one of my friends get hurt. In situations that call for either me dying or getting hurt or my friends dying or getting hurt, if I can do anything about it, I will automatically pick myself to take the injury or… death." I say hesitating to say that last word as I looked at the ground
"So you do it protect those closest to you then." Shepard said
"I guess yea, I've seen the death of so many good people I figured that their lives were wasted and if someone traded places with them how much happier people would be to see them still living. I figure since many people wouldn't take a bullet for these people I would." I finished as a knot formed in my chest. "I figure that your life is much more important than mine and more people would miss you if you died than me. So if I died I wouldn't have to worry about many people mourning my death compared to all those that would mourn with your death. That is one reason I took that bullet… to save you."
"Well I don't know what to say" Shepard said trying to come up with a response to my comment
"Well don't make too big of a deal about it, ok." I say smiling as I stood up stretching my left arm, trying to get rid of the stiffness that formed in it. "I'm always fit for duty so just call and I'll be there. Well see you later Shepard" I said waving bye to her as I left.
I went down to the Living Quarter where my bed was to get some sleep.
I went down there to find Jesse missing and Joseph talking to Liara.
"How do you have such an extensive knowledge of the Protheans? I've never met a human who knew so much." Liara said excitingly
"Well I researched them all my life. I find them so fascinating, like how did a single race spread throughout the galaxy with no competition."
I simply chuckled, Joseph found another friend. They stopped talking and looked at me.
"Don't mind me I'm just going to bed. Continue talking." I say as I throw my blanket and stuff back onto my bed and face planted on the bed letting sleep take hold of me.
My surroundings went dark and all sound from the world left with it.
I awoke to the sound of a crash. I jumped up and found Joseph's biotics flaring as he threw a bed at Jesse.
"What are you guys doing?" I shouted trying to get through to them
"This bastard insulted Liara, and me."
"Wait what? How long have I been asleep?"
"Two days!" Jesse said as he dodged a flying weight set.
"You two need to calm down. Wait two days!"
"Tell that to him, he's the one throwing shit at me." Jesse replied as he barely jumped out of the way of three beds that were flung at him. "And yes you've been out for two days." Jesse finished as he jumped over a flying bed.
My biotics kicked in I lifted both of my friends off the ground. Joseph tried to resist but my biotics have really developed these past weeks and I now surpassed him. While Jesse simply didn't resist knowing he wouldn't be able to get free.
"Alright I'll let you guys down when you tell me what happened." I say calmly
Joseph took a deep breath to calm himself "Jesse said that Liara was a psycho bitch, and technically she's a guy and that we…should…call her Lance." Joseph said giving Jesse a glare
I chuckled at his defense statement. "Joseph she does become a little crazy in two. But that's not the point, Jesse you don't see us dogging you about Ashley." I say smiling at Jesse as he just remained silent.
"What's wrong Jesse cat got your tongue." I say smiling but before I could proceed any further Shepard walked in with Kaiden and Wrex backing behind her.
"What is all the noise about?" Shepard says in a commanding tone
"Nothing just a little argument, I got it under control." I say letting them down "Now apologize." I say in an aggravated tone.
"Are you serious Brent, I'm not apologizing to crazy ass over here" Jesse said pointing towards Joseph
Joseph was about to say something when I cut him off "You both will apologize or I'll bioticly kick both your asses until you do, got it!" I shout pointing to each of them "Now apologize!"
"I'm sorry" They both say in unison.
"Good now get of here both of you." I say getting ahold of myself
They left for the elevator leaving me to pick everything up. Shepard walked over…
"Everything ok?"
"Yea, just some horse play turned violent but that usually happens between them two.
"Ok well get your team ready we will be arriving at Noveria in a few days."
"Got it I will make sure we're ready."
Shepard nodded and headed for the elevator with Kaiden and Wrex following right behind her. She turned around "It's good to see that you're feeling better" was all she said before leaving me. I began to lift the weight set and place it and the beds back to their original spot when a heavy sigh pasted through me.
AN: Thanks for reading and I'll try to get 4 up as soon as possible. Reviews still would be appreciated.