Chapter 6 Virmire
A/N So sorry for the long delay semester tests were coming and the teachers piled on the work so once again I'm sorry, the good thing is Christmas break is coming so yay. Also side note I thank all those who have stuck with the story I greatly appreciate it, so now here's chapter 6
Joseph's POV (still)
After working for a week I finished the upgrades to the ships' core. I thought that I should see if Brent wanted to hang out since it has been so long, followed by spending some time with Liara.
So I left the Engine Room, entered the elevator and made my accent to the living quarters where I thought Brent might be.
As I entered I found Brent out, lying upside down half hanging off his bed, armor lying next to him. I approached him but I must have startled him because he fell off his bed and smacked me with a biotic push sending me flying into the wall on the other side of the room, and without my armor on the pain was incredible.
"Oh my god, Joseph I'm so sorry. It was reflex." Brent apologetically said as he rushed to help me up
I sat up holding my chest where I got hit "That was unexpected."
"I'm so sorry dude."
"It's ok, you didn't mean to."
"What are you doing here anyway" Brent finished as he helped me up
"I was coming in here to see if you wanted to do something since I've been busy and since we will be heading to Virmire soon I wanted to talk to that too. Have you thought about it?"
"Of course, I've been thinking about. I'll do whatever is in my power to stop Ashley or Kaiden from dying."
"I wonder if we can convince Shepard to take one of us and send the other with Kaiden or Ashley."
"Yea, I thought of an idea for that too. I'll be sending Jesse with Captain Kirrahe to protect whoever Shepard chooses."
"What about you and me?" I asked as I'm trying to figure out Brent's plan
"You're going with Shepard; I want you to protect her. Things in this universe are beginning to change and I need you to watch her back. As for me I will be guarding the bomb…"
"Wait, you're going to guard the bomb. Don't you know that you might die instead of Kaiden or Ashley?" I say getting upset that he would assign himself to such a dangerous task, I mean he could really die and not come back.
"Now, now Joseph my barriers are the strongest among the crew so I can protect it until you get to Jesse and the STG group and regroup with me." Brent said casually
"What if the plan turns south what then?" I ask
"Then I do what I do best… I improvise." Brent replied like this conversation was nothing
"*sigh* fine I know when you have your mind sent on something you won't change it. Just be careful ok, I don't think there's a respawn in this." With that I turn and leave for the elevator as Brent equipped his armor for the mission ahead… I just hope everything goes smoothly for once.
"Now if you will excuse me I have to equip my armor. You should do the same when Shepard calls."
Hours past as if in seconds and soon Shepard called us to prepare for the drop. However instead of her usual crew of Kaiden and Brent, she picked me, Garrus and Jesse. I guess Brent convinced her to follow his plan. So Jesse and I prepped for the drop.
I entered the Engine Room and saw Jesse kiss Ashley; I figured that he knew that this might be one of the last times he gets to see of her, Garrus however was already in the Mako awaiting us.
Shepard motioned us to the Mako and we soon departed the Normandy.
As we landed with a slightly rough thud Joker entered the Comm channel.
"Commander I'm reading a signal, must be our Salarian infiltration team."
"Understood Joker, stay under their radar while we make our way to the Salarian base."
Understood Commander" Joker responded as the Comm cut out
I sat in the Mako as we progressed through the terrain and Geth. Shepard was driving as usual and Garrus was on the gun, as we progressed further it was clear that Garrus was a badass shot with the gun. I tried to relax from the thought of losing someone today. However the only thing keeping be from breaking down was the thought that Brent would do whatever it took to get everyone out of here alive.
I was so lost in my thoughts to calm myself I didn't realize we approached the first gate. We left the Mako only to be greeted by gun fire. However that didn't last long. As I launched myself into the nearest cover I saw Garrus and Jesse pull out their sniper rifles. Soon the air was filled with the sound of sniper rifle fire and sputtering Geth. Finally the entire gate was cleared of Geth. I holstered my gun and released my biotics as we approached the stairs. But I stopped Jesse to get a few things straight….
"Where the hell did you learn to shoot like that? I think you kill more Geth than Garrus." I comment, baffled by the sight of Jesse actually beating Garrus in a snipe off.
"Well, since I had so much time to myself because you and Brent were always on missions, I asked Garrus to teach me to use a sniper rifle at an improved manner and he did. Eventually as the weeks progressed the student surpassed the master." Jesse smiled as he turned and headed back for the Mako since Shepard had already opened the gate.
I stood at the base of the stairs for a second picturing Jesse beating Garrus in a shootout, the thought made me chuckle a little bit. Then I turned and jumped back into the Mako as we continued down our path to the camp and with that progress a growing feeling of something bad is going to happen today.
As we opened the last Joker entered the Comm again…
"Commander, Normandy's touched down at the base, but it looks like we're grounded. The Salarian captain can explain when you get here"
"Geez Joker you ever call to just say hi or with good news." I joke but get only a slight chuckle from Jesse and Joker.
After a slight travel we had finally arrived to the Salarian camp. As we left the Mako I saw Kaiden and Ashley talking to each other. I looked around to find Brent hanging in the back of the camp.
I walked over to him with Jesse trailing behind me. But before I could say anything Brent signaled us with his hand to follow him.
Brent motioned us behind Wrex who, as the game shows, argued with Shepard about the decision to destroy the base. It turns out Saren is using this place as a research area and he found the cure for the genophage. Wrex argued that this cure meant a lot for the Krogan and just as he was about to storm off Brent stopped him by standing right in front of him. Now Brent was big but compared to Wrex he was a tad short.
"Move out of the Brent or I'll make you move." Wrex growled
"Listen Wrex these krogan Saren is breeding up, they are not real krogan." Brent says folding his arms "These Krogan are a tool for Saren to use. What do you think he will do once he is done with them? Look at what the Council did to your people; they neutered your entire race. You cannot tell me that Saren will be as generous." Brent finished still standing his ground
Wrex remained silent for a moment as all eyes were on him, waiting for his answer.
"You're right." Wrex finally said admitting defeat "Brent, promise me that when we find Saren I get his head."
"Sure Wrex. Now we have a base to destroy." Brent finished as he moved to the side of Captain Kirrahe
"Thanks for reasoning with that Krogan." The captain stated
"No problem he just needed a nudge to keep him on the right track." Brent replied
"Alright, back to business I will lead a team to draw off the Geth force will Shepard takes a shadow team to infiltrate the base."
"That's suicide your team will be killed." Kaiden threw in
"And that what makes what I'm going to ask you even more difficult. I need one of your men to accompany me, to help coordinate the teams."
Shepard stood thinking about it until finally she came to a conclusion.
"Take Ashley, her combat experience will help you." Shepard replied to the captain
"I also want you to take Jesse along with you as well… just to use as backup" Brent abruptly says
Jesse was taken aback by this since he was kept out if the loop. "Wait I'm going with them?"
"Yea I'm assigning you to go with them. They will need your fire power" Brent says as he looks over to Jesse
"We won't turn down more help." Captain Kirrahe said "But there is also the case with the bomb. Who will…" but the Captain was cut off
"I'll do it." Brent and Kaiden said at the same time
"Listen Kaiden no offence but I think it is best for me to do this. I can protect the bomb better than anyone else here because of my biotics."
Kaiden couldn't even say a word for Brent defeated him with a single speech. "Fine, just be careful." He said in defeat
"If that is all done than, we need to get things going before Saren attacks us." Shepard stated
As Kirrahe rallied his men Brent had a few words for us as well…
"Listen up you guys no matter what happens we need to make sure this bomb goes off. But we mustn't abandon each other. We have to keep everyone alive; I will not let anyone die on this planet. Jesse protect Kirrahe and Ashley, Joseph protect Shepard. You guys don't have my support on this mission so if things turn bad I want you to do your best to save as many people as you can, got it." Brent finished
Jesse and I nodded our heads in unison as Jesse ran to catch up with Kirrahe and Brent boarded the ship waiting the moment he will be needed. Leaving me, I turned and followed Shepard, who had Kaiden and Garrus following her, as we began our advancement into the base. I only hope things go better on this mission.
20 minutes in
We have been under heavy fire as there were more Geth in this facility than I would have expected. We even encountered a number of Turians and Asari who followed Saren, however they were different they had a dim glowing blue light swarming their skin and they were much faster and stronger than anything we have faced so far. I would have guessed husks but they retained their mind.
After much fighting we entered a room that had a window with a view of grass and water but strangely it looked more like a prison. We entered to only to hear a voice speaking. With further investigation of the room we found a Salarian in a holding cell on the far side of the room.
"Please, please let me out I can't stand another minute in here." He begged
Shepard approached him but I stopped her, if this was anything like the game he would go crazy and attack us. I was able to convince her to leave him saying that he was indoctrinated. As we began to leave you could hear his screams as he charge the door blocking him. He hit it with such force the sound of his neck breaking could be heard.
Soon after we deactivated the AA guns and made our way to the location of the bomb drop. Oddly enough I didn't find that one Asari doctor that worked here. I guess it doesn't matter anyway.
As we walked across the opening in the building the Normandy flew over us its metal reflecting the light. The Normandy came to a hover and finally set down on the ground, opening up to reveal Brent carrying the bomb with his biotics.
"Glad to see everyone is doing ok. See anything interesting?" Brent said as he walked to the designated location mere meters in front.
"Yea we encounter a few Turians and Asari who had strange blue streams flowing across their body" I informed
"Husks?" Brent asked as he set the bomb down
"I thought that but these were much stronger and had retained their minds." I finished
"Strange… well I doesn't matter I have almost finished rigging this thing to blow with a simple press of the button. If I was you I would go help Jesse and Kirrahe out it sounds like they could us it." Brent said as he finished arming the bomb
"Right we'll be back soon to pick you up." Shepard said as she turned and made way for the STG squad
As we walked away I looked back to see the marines that escorted Brent out head back into the Normandy as it began to depart. As it flew away the sound of its engines died and soon only the sound of clicking and gun fire remained.
"Time to get Jesse and leave this death trap, I won't let this end like the game." I whispered
Brent's POV
As I finished arming the bomb I looked over to see Shepard and Joseph disappear from my sights leaving me alone.
As sat next to the bomb I thought that since things are already beginning to change I wonder if Cerberus will be the same and will we find everyone in the same spots as Mass Effect 2.
But I couldn't think further into it because a Shepard's voice broke into the Comm channel
"Brent a Geth dropship is coming your way, be careful"
"I guess its show time." I said to myself as I began to stand up "Understood Shepard, get everyone and meet me back here when you're done." I finish as the Geth dropship hovered over me at about twenty feet up.
I could feel the heat that the ship was emitting. Soon the sound of bodies crashing into the ground stole my attention, but instead of Geth I was greeted by three turians each having that same blue stream going across their bodies like the ones Joseph described, but these were… different their eyes were looked like something I have seen before but I couldn't figure it out.
As I maintained my barriers to protect the bomb the Turians bodies turned blue revealing to me that they were in fact biotics. As I watched them something turned in my stomach. Now, I had confidence in my biotics power but something made me feel as if I wasn't going to be enough to stop these three.
I watched as the turians approached me. It was as I looked into their eyes did I remember where I've seen it before but as the realization struck me the three turians launched their biotics shattering my barrier and sending me falling to the ground.
I jumped up as fast as I could but I was immediately lifted in the air and was struck by a biotic shockwave. I slammed into the nearest wall sliding down it like a drop of water runs down glass.
This time I launched an area shockwave to buy me enough time to stand. Fortunately for me it worked for the three turians stumbled back.
"Who are? I've never met anyone who could beat my biotics." I asked curiosity taking hold of me as I regain balance.
The turians looked at me, their eyes digging into my body "We are Sarens' followers. We are the ones that protect him against those who would oppose him. We are those who are blessed by him. We are his eyes and ears. We fight those who others cannot beat. We are the Overseers" They spoke in unison
"Well if we are to fight tell me your names." I asked for I have never seen anything like this on the game.
The turians stared at me for a moment…
"Names mean nothing to us or you but we shall tell you so you know those who killed you." They spoke again in unison
"I am Tiax. I am the one who breaks lives." The middle turian said
"I am Sarevok. I am the one that crushes lives." replied the left turian
"And I am Xzar. I am the one that destroys lives." the right turian finished
"And we are the Overseers." They speak again in unison
"Tell me one last thing how did you three become so strong?" I asked hoping for more answers
"We are the ones blessed by him. The bringer of death, the harbinger of or ascension" They finish
It was with that last sentence did I realize why they were so strong they are implanted by Sovereign. That is why I recognize them; they are what Saren becomes in the end of the game.
Knowing how much of a challenge this is going to be I can't hold back. However just as I going to make my move I was struck by Tiax. I was sent flying once more but this time I got slammed by the combined force of all three. If not for my own biotics, that slowed it down, I would have been killed. I attempted to stand when I felt a massive amount of weight slam on top of me. The three were trying to crush me to death.
I struggled with no success then I felt my anger boil but it was different somehow…
"Enough!" I roar sending a massive biotic wave across the area breaking their holding and sending them falling back a few feet.
"This is what Saren warned us about." Xzar said calmly
"We need not worry for we have prepared for this." Tiax stated
My anger took hold of me. I wouldn't let these three beat me.
"I'll smear your blood across the floor and send your bodies back to Saren in pieces." I reply as my biotic energy began to turn from blue to an extremely dark blue.
I stood up and approached them expecting them to back down; however instead of running they stood their ground.
The three surrounded me and their biotics flared up, the blue swarming their bodies nearly engulfing them completely.
I didn't know what to expect but I didn't care. I began to walk towards Tiax, who was the nearest to me, when I was struck by the largest biotic slam I think has ever been created. My body fell to the ground and it felt as if someone dropped a ship on me. I raised my biotics in the attempt to cancel out their biotics but it wasn't enough. I could feel the pressure build in my body as my bones began to break and my armor bend, again.
It was soon that something else entered my body, something I haven't felt in a long time… fear. My rage began to die away and so did my biotic power, and with each passing second the pressure from the three increased.
I thought it was all over for when I heard a shout followed by a large smash.
Preceding the unknown noise the biotic field crushing me disappeared. I began to stand when I felt a hand help me up. I looked up and saw that Joseph was the one that helped me.
"Dude you need to learn that you are not a one man army." Joseph said as he helped me regain my balance
"How did you know I needed help?
"Well, you wouldn't answer your Comm and we could see the dark biotic field form, so Shepard sent me to assist you."
"Thanks but we need to be careful with these guys, their combined biotics are greater than even my power. I think they were implanted by Sovereign" I say as I stood on my own.
"Don't worry they're nothing we can't handle."
"Human courage and spirit, something that will not help you in this fight." The turians spoke
"Man these guys are annoying." Joseph pointed out "What do you say we shut them up." Joseph finished nudging me with his elbow
With his words Joseph suddenly launched a singularity followed by a shockwave. His sudden biotic offensive moves surprised even me.
The singularity failed but he was able to strike Xzar with the shockwave. The shockwave failed to send him fly but it was enough for me to slam into him sending him soaring into the air. Before Xzar could slow himself down with his biotics Joseph flew into the air and slammed his fist into the turian's stomach, sending him plummeting into the ground. The other two attempted to intervene but I cut them off with a barrier.
I tried to hold the barrier but even the two were still more than I could handle, as they shattered my barrier and sent me flying with a push the moment it dropped. I soared and hit the ground sending me into a tumble until I stopped next to Joseph who was struggling with Xzar.
"Are you ok?" Joseph said he snapped the neck of Xzar.
"Yea, we need to finish this soon I'm tiring out really fast." I say as I stand holding my chest where I was struck
There was a slight pause with only the sound of gun fire still continuing from where Shepard is. Even with their ally dead the turians seemed unfazed.
"Joseph, you thinking what I'm thinking?" I asked
"I think I do… we get some food after this." He said
"What, no."
"Oh, well then are you thinking we finish this with a single massive attack."
"Damn"
"Alright let's do this"
"What are they planning?" Tiax asked as he observed us
"It doesn't matter they are only human what could they do that could harm us." Sarevok replied
"They killed Xzar…"
"Xzar was weak to fall to these humans, he deserved to die." Sarevok interrupted with anger evident in his voice
However in the turians argument they failed to notice mine and Joseph's bodies become consumed in biotic energy.
"Now!" I shouted as Joseph and I unleashed everything we had left as we smashed our hands into the ground.
The effect created a massive biotic wave that rushed towards the turians. Shock was evident on the faces of the two remaining turians as the ten foot tall wave spread to wall-to-wall. In desperation the turians threw their biotics out creating a stream of blue energy to stop the wave. However it failed… in a sense, the biotics the turians released was enough to disrupt the energy and make it unstable since neither I nor Joseph had any control of where it went. This led to a catastrophic explosion, biotic energy shot out in all directions knocking back anything that got in its way.
The explosion was an unexpected after effect so no one was prepared to protect themselves from it. So in turn the explosion shot us all back, it sent Joseph and I back slamming into the wall behind us. We hit the wall so hard we ended up leaving a large dent in the metal. Since we used most of what we had we couldn't slow ourselves down much. So the strike was enough to break a few bones and possibly a concussion. Factor in the armor we wore, the impact would have been more than enough to kill us both but instead it knocked us out.
I awoke first and wobbled as I tried to stand. The explosion removed much of the platform and some of the siding. I looked around to find the bomb, mostly undamaged amazingly, lying on top of Joseph. I rushed over, well more of a limp, and removed the bomb off of Joseph who appeared to still be unconscious.
"Shepard, are you there?" I ask as I set Joseph in the upright position
"I'm here, Brent what happened over there the explosion reached here"
"We solved a problem." I simply said "I need a pick up for Joseph. He's out, I'm injured but the bomb is still working. So I need you too…"
I was interrupted by a gunshot followed by massive pain. I could feel the bullet rip through my shields and armor into my chest causing me to fall to the ground.
I rolled in pain until I heard a chuckle. I looked up to see Saren coming towards. "Fuck he isn't supposed to be here, he's supposed to go after Shepard." I thought as I clenched my hand over the hole that's formed in my chest plate.
"You are quite the nuisance human." Saren said as he unloaded another round into my right shoulder tearing apart the armor and spilling my blood across the ground "I'm really surprised you were able to defeat my Overseers, but they're expandable." He finished as he stood in front of me and by blood and battered body.
"Glad that I impressed you turian piece of shit" I spat "Tell me what was even the point of sending those three"
"They were meant to wear you out and if they got lucky, kill you."
"How do you know anything about me, and why would you send them to kill me?" I ask as I put pressure on the shoulder bullet wound
Saren crouched down and grabbed me by the throat lifting me up with ease and making it difficult to breathe. "For the how, I know because of the information the Geth have given me; you would be amazed by how fast they can relay information. Now for the why, I sent them after you because you are Shepard's greatest asset and without you it would greatly affect her progress."
"Killing me won't stop her; she'll still kill you and stop the Reapers." I say as I gasp for air
Saren glared at me for a second "You're right but it would slow her down." He stated as I felt a pistol barrel press against my chest near my heart "Now die." Saren finished as multiple bullets pierced through my chest and out of my back. I could feel the bullets every movement as they ripped through me.
Saren released grip on me and I fell to the ground desperately gasping for air. The world around me began to get blurry but I could see Saren, still standing in front of me, with his gun pointing towards my head. "This is to make sure that you can't survive" He said as his finger approached the trigger.
However the moment he was going to shoot, a loud gun shot was heard from high ground and his pistol fell to the ground with a large hole in it. "What!" Saren shouted as he looked up to see Jesse with his sniper rifle. "You dare you filthy human!" Saren shout at Jesse who prepared to shoot again but before he could Saren retreated as he noticed everyone rushing in from the damaged gate that hung open.
It became harder and harder to breathe until I eventually slipped away from the world.
Jesse POV
I ran down to Brent and Joseph as fast as I could, leaving my sniper rifle behind.
Finally I got down and ran to where everyone was grouped. I pushed through to find Brent lying down with a pool of blood surrounding him. "Joker, get the Normandy over here now!" I shouted into the Comm.
I sat down next to Brent who was struggling to breathe "Come on man you can't die here. You always pull through." I say tears began to form
As I sat next to Brent I saw Joseph come over. I stood up anger filling my every muscle. "Where were you? Why weren't you there to stop this?" I shout at Joseph
"I wasn't even conscious; there was nothing I could have done!" Joseph shouted in defense
"Calm down both of you, we need to get him out of here or he won't make it, he's losing to much blood." Shepard said taking command of the situation "Joker where are you?" Shepard asked over her Comm
"I'm coming around right now." Joker said as the Normandy came into sight
As we left I held the device that I fitted the bomb with before Brent took it. I realized that if something were to happen I would have a backup for it. As we entered the Normandy with Brent and departed this shit hole of a world I played with the detonator for a moment before I pressed the button. "This is for Brent you bastards." I whisper as a massive orange mushroom cloud emerged from Virmire's atmosphere. At least the mission was a partial success…
10 minutes later in Med-Bay
I sat in the room with Joseph as Chakwas performed surgery on Brent; tubes running into Brent's body with life support keeping him alive and his armor riddled with bullets holes and large dents in it.
"How is he doc?" I asked unable to wait any longer
"He's extremely lucky the first bullet only hit one chamber in his heart, some rounds punctured his lungs while the rest were stopped by his armor."
"How is it that he is still alive?" Shepard as she walked in
"The first bullet punched into the chest but was stopped at the left rib, breaking it. When he was stuck by the other bullets his subconscious mind was using his biotics to keep the majority of the blood pumping. That was the only thing preventing him from bleeding out on the spot, and his biotics were able to seal any holes that formed in the heart and lungs but only temporarily."
"Will he make it?" Joseph asked
"He'll recover, but the damage has been done so he will have to stay here until he is fully recovered."
"How long will that be?" Shepard asked
"About four weeks to eight weeks considering he heals quickly"
"Alright, Brent is no longer allowed to go into combat without Chakwas's release." Shepard stated
"He won't like that." I point out
"Well he doesn't have much of a choice in this matter." Shepard countered
"Understood" I say in defeat
"Come Jesse let's go get something to eat it has been a tough day." Joseph offers
"Alright" I say as I stand and follow Joseph to the kitchen.
Midway to the kitchen I stop Joseph; there is something on my mind I need to get out. "Joseph I don't think we need to go to Feros."
"Why not?" Joseph asked confusingly
"We need to stay and watch over Brent. What if something happens and Chakwas can't handle it by herself."
"Jesse she has a whole crew too call on if something happens I doubt she would need our help. What up with you Jesse?"
I lowered my head "I'm just worried Brent seems to be the one to nearly die in these missions and he is getting progressively closer each time something happens. I'm just worried about losing one of you guys. I mean you guys were my only best friends in school and… I don't know I need to stop acting like a girl."
"Yea you do it's a little creepy." Joseph said as he put his hand on my shoulder
I chuckled a little bit "You know I think I'm going to skip eating and go and see Ashley."
"Ok see man you later." Joseph said as he turned and made his way for the kitchen
"Things need to change here soon; we can't die here, not here." I whisper as I entered the elevator.
That is the end of Chapter 6 thanks for reading it, Feros is next but I haven't quite figured out who will go or if I'll just skip it. Haven't decided yet so until then goodbye and may we meet again.