Chapter 16:
Saren
Author's Note: Okay so in this chapter we will find out who will be returning to the Normandy alive and who will be left on Virmire when the nuke destroys Saren's base. Or maybe if I'm in a good enough mood there will be no tragedies… maybe. So please read and review. This chapter will be completely AU since the game didn't show what happened with Kirrahe's team.
Oh and also I've gotten several comments and emails about Patrick and Tali's relationship. I'm sorry that their progression has been slow, but that's only because in the past, I've gotten several complaints about ruining a couple by making them fall for each other too fast. I was determined not to do that this time so ironically, I went too slowly. My apologies and I hope that I can redeem my self by the end of the story.
Also, I have decided that this story will have a sequel. Just thought I would let you know.
And so ends the longest Author's Note I ever wrote.
Note: I realized I made a mistake in the previous chapter since that in Saren's research facility there is a second Prothean beacon that Patrick would have needed to find with Shepard. I'm just going to make it slightly AU so that Patrick finds the beacon when he's with Kirrahe and the Salarians. I just wanted to let you all know.
Disclaimer: I do not own Mass Effect.
"It was a brave thing you did back there, Serviceman Hamilton," Patrick glanced at the dark-faced Salarian who was staring at him with black eyes, a sniper rifle strapped onto his back. Patrick and the Salarian team had just left the others and were crouching in a stream, water sliding through their boots. Patrick had been standing quietly, listening to Kirrahe talk to his team until the Salarian who was crouched beside him, turned to face him, a glimmer of childish youth in his dark eyes. "I'm Iz." Patrick shook the Salarian's hand, "I'm the medic for our team. I just thought I would introduce myself incase…" Iz paused.
"Incase I get shot in the head?" Patrick smirked quietly, not wanting to draw attention to him.
"I can sense by your body language that you are a new soldier," Iz said, scrutinizing Patrick with sharp eyes, "But you have spirit and you don't show much fear. You had to have had courage if you volunteered to fight beside us when there is a strong possibility that not many of us will make it out of here alive."
"Don't let my humor fool you," Patrick grinned, "I use humor as a way to cover up my fear. I'm scared to death on the inside."
"You and me both," Iz laughed, a high-pitched sound before turning to talk to one of his fellow Salarians, leaving Patrick alone with his thoughts once more, hoping that his decision wouldn't be in vain. Both Kaidan and Ashley had to survive.
"Hamilton."
A voice buzzed and Patrick took out the com link, Shepard had given to him right before they separated.
"Hamilton, do you read me?"
Patrick put the com link to his lips and whispered, aware that some of the nearby Salarians had turned to stare at him, "Yes, Alenko?"
"I was hoping to get in contact with you before you started your mission with the Salarians," Kaidan sighed, his voice coming out crackly on the other end of the com, "Which you shouldn't have done. I trust you with my life, but my life is expendable. You are young." Patrick opened his mouth to snap at Kaidan, hoping the lieutenant understood that he was just as important as any other member of the team, "Don't say anything, Hamilton. I don't want to argue with you. I just want to say… you're stronger than you think. Much stronger. You just don't realize it."
"Not as strong as you or Shepard," Patrick said softly, not liking how their words were coming out. It made it sound like a goodbye.
"Hell, I doubt Shepard's human with how strong he is and as for me," Kaidan sighed, "My biotics give me strength and I wasn't born with them. Most first generation human biotics were injected with fluids that allowed our bodies to produce biotic fields. Any human who is injected with the substance would gain biotic abilities. Anyone."
Patrick wanted to ask what Kaidan meant, but he cut him off before he could say anything, "Shit. Shepard is waving over me and Ashley. He wants us to accompany him into Saren's base."
"Good luck." Patrick whispered.
"You too, kid. You too."
Patrick sighed and shut off the com link, praying to whoever would listen that that wouldn't be the last time he and Kaidan spoke.
"Serviceman Hamilton," Patrick looked up at Kirrahe who waved him over so that he was standing beside the tall Salarian. "I want you up here with me." Patrick nodded and Kirrahe turned to look at his team, a group of a little less then a dozen soldiers, "I just want to let you all know that it has been an honor fighting beside you."
His team gave him a curt nod, emotion shining in their eyes as they said goodbye to one another and Kirrahe sighed, turning to face Patrick before staring at the path in front of him, "Okay. Move out!"
The whole team automatically split into four small groups and Patrick, having no idea where he belonged, stuck close to Kirrahe as they walked along the beaches of Virmire. They walked in silence for a couple moments; the only sound was the small splashes their combat boots made in the water, until Kirrahe signaled for them to stop.
"Three geth troopers up ahead," Kirrahe whispered, taking out his pistol, "Team Delta, get in position." Patrick turned to look at Kirrahe, confusion probably clear in his blue eyes so the Salarian explained, "Delta is our snipers."
Patrick turned to stare at the group, surprised that Iz was crouched beside them, and they all took a small breath before firing off three shots and the three geth troopers fell down, destroyed.
Patrick glanced at Kirrahe and gave a small grin, "I'm impressed."
Kirrahe nodded, but didn't look pleased at Patrick's comment.
"We're not here to impress. We're here to destroy. Hopefully, Shepard will succeed today." Kirrahe looked off into space for a moment, as though seeing a future only he could see. "Even if my whole crew and I won't make it out alive."
Patrick stared at Kirrahe and then at the rest of the Salarian team.
They had lost so much…
The dozen that stood there couldn't die.
Patrick wouldn't allow it.
The Serviceman sighed.
He had to stop trying to ensure everyone else's survival and maybe start paying attention to his own.
"They're confused! Now's the time to attack! Alpha, Beta, move forward! Delta, flank them!" Kirrahe shouted and Patrick pulled himself over a couple rocks, finding himself beside Iz and the rest of the Delta team, Kirrahe close behind them, shooting his pistol off at everything that moved.
"Shepard must have cut off their communications," Iz murmured, "That's the only reason we were given this opportunity."
"The Commander always pulls through," Patrick breathed, his chest tight. They had been sprinting none stop for half an hour or so and they had finally reached the outskirts of Saren's base.
Patrick sighed. This was without a doubt going to be the most important battle of his life.
As he pulled his sniper rifle to his shoulder, Patrick waited for Kirrahe to shout an order.
But nothing came.
Patrick turned around sharply as he heard the firing of a gun and watched Kirrahe slide down, his head crashing into the small river they were squatting in, his blood staining the water crimson.
"Captain!" Iz wailed his black eyes wide.
One of the older Salarians swore loudly in a language that definitely wasn't English before turning to Patrick, "What should we do?"
"What?" Patrick asked in bewilderment, crouching down behind a rock as the geth kept firing off shot after shot.
"You're in charge now that Kirrahe is…" The Salarian stared at his Captain's mutilated body, "Dead."
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Patrick swore before staring at the Salarian team members that were all under fire. Patrick swore again before turning to the Salarian, "This is a fight we cannot win at the moment. We need to regroup. Can you take half the team one way and I'll take the other half another? Splitting up may be our only chance for survival."
The Salarian stared at him coolly, "You are not one of us. A Salarian would hold the line no matter what loses we suffered." Patrick stared at the Salarian evenly, wondering if Kirrahe's soldier would not follow a human's orders. "But in this case perhaps you are right." The Salarian stood up, "Team Alpha, Beta! You're with me! Delta, follow Serviceman Hamilton."
"Come on," Patrick led the way, his heavy boots splashing in the water as he ran, Iz and the other three members of Delta following him loyally. He was not their commander, but he was a leader to the and in a time of crisis, any leader was better then fending for yourself. Patrick understood this because that was often how he felt when he was with Shepard.
"Serviceman Hamilton, where are we going?" Iz asked, his breath coming out in ragged gasps and Patrick was tempted to slow down, but knew that the Salarian medic would never admit to exhaustion.
"I don't know, but…"
"Get down!" One of the other Salarians shouted and they all threw themselves onto the ground, Patrick holding his rifle out in front of him as he tried to see what had caused his companion such terror.
"It's a geth Colossus," Iz explained, "This is a fight we cannot win, Serviceman. Our weapons are not strong enough."
Patrick nodded and began leading them the other way before coming to a dead end.
"Fuck!" Patrick swore, but Iz rested a gentle hand on the Serviceman's shoulder.
"There is a tunnel nearby," Iz nodded towards a nearby tunnel, obviously made by the geth or by some other race. "I say we follow it and see where it leads. It is our only hope for survival."
"Okay, follow me," Patrick led the way into the tunnel, never once stopping to think that it could interfere with his communications to the world above and to his friends who were in trouble themselves.
"Where are we going?" Kido, another Salarian trooper, hissed. They had been walking for fifteen minutes and so far, there was no light at the end of this tunnel. There was only more darkness although Patrick thought he saw a green glow coming up, but every time he blinked, the glow disappeared.
"If I knew then I would have answered you the last time you asked," Patrick snapped. The heat in the tunnel, not to mention the stress from the fight, had everyone's nerves up and everyone was waiting for something to happen. Every time someone's boots kicked a rock, one of them fired off a shot. Luckily, no one had been wounded yet.
Yet.
"You remind me of a Krogan, Hamilton," Kido acknowledged, his tone insulting. "So angry."
Patrick laughed, "Have you ever met a Krogan, Kido, or do you just claim to know about them since your species almost destroyed them?" Patrick gave Kido a short glare and the Salarian snorted before returning his large eyes back to staring straight ahead.
"Does anyone else see that green glow?" Iz mused.
"Hmmm," Patrick glanced at the Salarian, "I thought I was the only one who could see it."
"You aren't that special, Serviceman," Kido mocked.
The three soldiers walked towards the glow and Patrick froze as he realized what he was staring at…
A Prothean beacon.
"Unbelievable," Iz murmured, walking around the beacon, too hesitant to touch it. "A real life Prothean artifact."
Kido took out his pistol and quickly loaded it, "I say we destroy it."
Iz turned around to face his fellow soldier, his black eyes bright with shock, "Are you insane, Kido? This is perhaps one of the only Prothean artifacts left standing and not crumbled up into rubble."
Patrick took a step forward, unsure what to do.
Should he reactivate the beacon?
That's what Shepard did in the game, but in the game, the beacon was at Saren's base. For reasons unknown, the beacon was in some abandoned tunnel.
Iz turned to Patrick, obviously looking for support from his leader, "Serviceman Hamilton, I implore you not to give the order to destroy the beacon."
Patrick ignored the Salarian and instead walked towards the beacon. As soon as he got within a foot, the beacon glowed brightly and Patrick felt his feet leave the floor as they had done weeks ago. Then… the memories came back.
Synthetics…
Sovereign…
Illos…
The end of all civilization…
"Serviceman!" Iz screeched as Patrick was sent crashing to the floor.
"Can't any of you humans stand on your feet?" Kido muttered, but bent down and Patrick gratefully took the Salarian's hand.
"Thank you," Patrick murmured, feeling slightly nauseous, but otherwise okay. Before Iz could question about the Prothean beacon, Patrick tilted his head forward, "Let's move out."
Patrick leaned against the wall.
They had made.
Un-fucking-believable.
Patrick glanced around Saren's base, the group of surviving Salarians surrounding him, talking in their high-pitched voices. Not counting Iz and Kido, four other members of Kirrahe's original team survived. It wasn't a perfect number, but to Patrick he felt that, given their mission, it could have ended up being a lot worse. As for Shepard's team, Patrick never got a message from Shepard or Kaidan or Ashley. As far as he knew, everything was fine.
That was about to be proven work.
"Serviceman," Patrick glanced over at Iz who was looking through his sniper rifle, "Two Geth destroyers heading our way!"
"I knew this was too easy," Kido growled as he through his own sniper over his shoulder.
Patrick took out his pistol and was about to load it when his COM link beeped.
"Serviceman Hamilton, the nuke is almost set. What are your coordinates?"
Patrick brought the link to his lips, "I'm with the Salarian team in Saren's base. We're against a couple of destroyers."
"Serviceman!" Iz screeched, "More geth are approaching."
"Fuck," Patrick swore, "There are more coming."
"Don't move, Hamilton," Shepard ordered, "We're coming. Ash still needs some time to set the nuke."
"NO!" Patrick shouted, but it was too late.
Shepard had disconnected.
"Hamilton," Kido shouted, "We could use some help over here!"
Patrick jumped forward, his pistol already out and before he had taken a breath, he had fired a shot, destroying a geth trooper. He really had improved from the inexperienced kid he had been weeks ago when he was another person.
A shot fired by Patrick's ear and the Serviceman turned, grinning at the look of triumph on Kido's face.
"Nice one, Salarian!" Patrick shouted and Kido smirked before firing off another impressive shot just as a blast echoed around them, sending the lone human and group of Salarians to their knees.
"Someone fucking take out that destroyer!" One of the other Salarians shouted, but Patrick couldn't react.
Iz was on the ground, a deadly hole in his chest, his black eyes opening and closing rapidly.
"Iz," Patrick whispered, Kido at his side as they bent over to check their companion.
"Come on, kid, pull through," Kido murmured, his voice surprisingly soft.
Iz ignored Kido and instead stared at Patrick, touching the human's shoulder before muttering, "Good luck."
Patrick stood up instantly; ready to take on the entire fucking geth army when his COM link beeped for a second time.
"Get us some reinforcements, Serviceman," Kido nodded, his face contorted in fury, as he joined his brothers on the front line.
"Shepard, don't-" Patrick was about to order, but Shepard cut him off.
"Serviceman, geth troopers have just invaded the bombing site and Williams can't fend them off by herself."
"Go help her," Patrick begged.
"No!" Ashley disagreed, her voice echoing in Patrick's ear, "Go help Hamilton, Shepherd! Forget me!"
"You're too important, Ash!" Patrick argued.
"Shut up, both of you!" Shepard ordered and Patrick could picture the Commander frowning with concentration.
"It's done," Ashley said, "The nuke is set. Now get to Hamilton!"
"No!" Patrick shouted, but as he did so, a blast echoed in the COM link and everything went dead.
Had something happened to Ashley?
Or worse… had something happened to Shepard?
"Hamilton!" Patrick looked over at Kido and his eyes widened at the figure closing in on the Salarian.
Saren.
With the skill of a Spectre, Saren fired a clean shot in Kido's head and the Salarian dropped to the ground dead.
Patrick stared at Saren and the Turian stared back.
"So you're the one who got the beacon, huh? Hmm, I thought you were going to be taller. It doesn't matter. I'm going to enjoy making you bleed."
Patrick took out his pistol and fired two quick shots, but Saren dodged them easily.
"My turn, human."
Patrick ducked behind a crate, watching with horror as Saren took out the rest of the Salarian team, one by one.
Fury controlled Patrick as he jumped out of his hiding spot and fired two more shots at Saren, watching with satisfaction as one of them grazed the Turian's shoulder, making him wince in pain.
Obviously, that hadn't played over well with Saren.
The turian surged forward and shoved Patrick to the ground, his pistol on the Serviceman's chest.
"Goodbye, Serviceman."
A/N: Okay, I know I haven't posted in four months, but I had lost my muse and I was going through a lot of personal shit. I hope that now that I've gotten everything sorted out, posts will become more frequent. My apologies for also the short length, but I hope that you enjoy it nonetheless.