A/N: Another day, another barrage of updates. So without further interuption , here's the first of many for the day guys.
I own nothing
I was slowly wondering why the hell everything gets rougher before it smooths out. Of course, thinking about all of this while inside the Mako during a blizzard didn't really help matters.
Shepard had been pretty sure of the choices she made for the team. She had both Ezio come along because of his skills. Tali was with us of system hacking. Liara for her biotics. And me, Wrex and Ashley for extra muscle.
I saw Ezio sitting across from me next to Liara. Cloak wrapped tightly around him as he tried to fight off the slight chill in the vehicle. I saw him more than once tinker with his new omni-tool and the pistol Shepard had 'suggested' he take with him. Couldn't blame him though, being an assassin from the 1800's suddently thrown into the 22nd century definately couldn't be easy.
After taking down Sterling and her corrupt police force. Ezio had told us that he had woken up in the garage where we got the Mako roughly two weeks prior and had witnessed an Asari Matriach pass through customs with a large escort toward a place called Peak 15.
He had spent that time clinging to the shadows and learning everything that he could from this dimension as he observed everything going on around him. Even though it was confusing at first, the assassin was a quick learner
Shepard mulled things over, and after deciding that a skilled assassin with his training could have made a valuable asset to the team and brought him on board. When the group split off to help take down the corrupt SOB behind everything I pulled Ezio aside:
X
"So I take it you know how I got here and why?" asked the assassin. "Trust me, half the people on the crew are from other dimensions...me included." I said as I made sure no one was listening to us.
"I was hunting a target when I was approached by a woman. She had this aura of power that I had never felt before. She said that I had a purpose else where. When I woke up I was here on Noveria." said Ezio.
I nodded, "Sounds about right. Trust me." I saw Shepard and the others finishing up. "We'll talk more later. For right now I need to know if you trust me." The assassin nodded, "The woman said that the one called Xero will help me understand my purpose. My blade is yours."
X
The Mako hit another bump pulling me from my thoughts, I felt a hand grab mine. Tali had a tight grip on me, apparently she didn't like Shepard's driving skills.
A sudden feeling of guilt and self-loathing flowed over me. When Tali was held hostage...I nearly lost myself. She was terrified, and I was helpless to do anything. For the first time since all of this started...I felt weak and useless.
My eyes hardened behind my visor. Not again. I won't let anything like that happen to her again.
"Armature!" Shepard shouted. Ashley spun the cannon and fired on the large Geth. After several hits the large Geth crumpled to the ground leaving the frozen road clear the rest of the way to the facility.
X
Peak 15 had a very ominous feeling to it. Even though I had a good idea of what to expect, that didn't take away the unease. "This place...it feels...wrong." said Ezio as his eyes scanned the room.
"I have to agree with him. Something doesn't smell right." said Wrex. "Wrong or not we have a job to do." said Shepard as she lead us into the facility from the garage.
My shotgun was out, and I kept having Prophet scan the area around us for anything hostile. Everything was too quiet. We walked slowly though the corridors, searching every dark corner for anything out of the ordinary.
"Proximity Alert. Hostiles approaching...25 meters." I stopped, "Guys we got company coming." I said swinging my shotgun around. "Where?" asked Ashley. "20 meters." Everyone formed a circle for the best possible defense, Ezio brought out his blades. "15 meters." "Xero?" asked Shepard. "10 meters."nothing was coming, but Prophet was never wrong before.
I looked up. A vent grate was right above us. "Wrex, give me a boost." The Krogan gave me an odd look before putting his rifle down and put his hands together helping me up. I gently pushed the grate open, "Nano vision engaged."
The duct lit up in the heat-like vision.
A throng of Rachni were crawling toward the opening and started shreaking. "FUCK!" I dropped from the opening firing blast after blast into the duct. The others followed suit and unloaded their weapons. The sound's of the creatures being struck and green blood oozed from the holes our rounds made. Blood curdling shreaks echoed through the hall.
We stopped when our weapons started to overheat. "What the hell was that!" screamed Ashley. I stepped forward and slammed the butt of my shotgun into the duct. The sevearly damaged metal collapsed spilling the bodies of the Rachni onto the floor.
"Rachni!" roared Wrex. "Didn't your people wipe them out Wrex?" asked Shepard. "Apparently some managed to get away and are being bred in this place." said Ezio. Wrex growled, "No matter. We killed them once. We'll kill them again."
Shepard looked at Wrex, "What are we expecting Wrex?" "Don't let them get too close, or they'll tear you to shreads. And they spit an acid than can errode away even the strongest of armor, so avoid it at all costs." said the warlord.
We started moving again, this time even more aware than before. Ezio had his shortsword in one hand and newly aquired pistol in the other. "It works like a crossbow, only you don't have to reload the bolts." I said as we moved forward. The assassin glanced at the weapon briefly before aiming it like he would his crossbow.
The corridor opened up into a large atrium The wide space was silent, and the large windows on the side showed the blizzard still going strong outside. I glanced at Tali, her grip on her shotgun was tight. Her three fingers looking as though they might dig into the metal. "Hay." I whispered to her, "You good?"
Tali shook her head yes but didn't say anything. To be honest I was a little scared myself. Memories of so many moments where silence usually meant hell was right around the corner. And with where we are, we were right to be a little tense.
A shot rang out and a squad of Geth began to flow into the room. We all took cover and fired on the synthetics. I pulled out a grenade and threw it across the room, the device flying between two Geth Shock Troopers before detonating and reducing them to scrap.
The rest of the Geth were quickly dispatched as a loud shreak lashed through the air. We all looked up on the landing above us where a Rachni warrior stood as more shreaks and loud skittering was heard all around us. "Defensive positions!" shouted Shepard.
The grates around the room burst open and dozens of Rachni started to pour into the room. Gunfire roared through the large space, green blood splashed across walls and the floors as we kept the heat on.
Liara grabbed three of the creatures and threw them into the far wall with he biotics. Ezio stood next to Wrex, slashing, shooting and stomping on anything and everything around them.
Shepard threw a grenade that took out four with one large explosion. Ashley and Tali were hunkered down behind cover taking well placed shots. I was with them adding my own volley as the creatures continued to pour in. Ashley had to throw her assault rifle aside after acid landed on it and drew her pistol.
One of the creatures tried to jump on Shepard while she was shooting down another group when a throwing knife flew through the air and pinned it's head to the wall. Ezio quickly spun and took the head off another Rachni with his sword.
"There's too many of them!" shouted Liara. Wrex lifted one of the creatures up and threw it across the room. I kicked one into a wall and felt acid land on my chest. "Maximum Armor." Even with my armor fully powered I could still see the acid trying to eat it's way through.
I heard Tali scream and saw that she had been seperated from us. The acid had worn off allowing my suit's energy to replensh. "Maximum Power." I launched my self into the air and landed hard on top of a few Rachni, crushing them under my feet. Drawing my shotgun in one hand and keeping my rifle in the other I fired in different directions laying waste to anything that wasn't standing on two legs.
Across the room, Ashley primed a grenade and went to throw it when one of the creatures lept onto her back causing her to toss the device in the wrong direction.
Everything seemed to slow down. The disc grenade bounced off the floor and landed close to me and Tali .I only had a split second to think.
I spun around and wrapped my arms around Tali as the device exploded, the blast sending us crashing through one of the windows and plumeting toward the ground. Tali tightened her grip om me as we fell. Looking over my shoulder, I saw a skylight fast approaching and tried to activate my armor.
"Energy depleted." Fuck.
I held Tali tighter as we smashed through the skylight and slammed into the ground.
X General POV X
The Rachni had been dealt with for the most part, but that wasn't the first thing on Shepard's mind.
She stood by the shattered window trying to find where Xero and Tali disappeared after the blast. "It's my fault...dammit! Why didn't I see that thing?" said Ashley. "Blaming yourself solves nothing." said Ezio. "He's right. We have two missing people and that takes priority." said Shepard.
"Ash, Wrex, I want you two to head to the lower levels and try to find them. The rest of us will continue on." Ashley bent down and picked up Xero's dropped rifle and nodded, "Consider it done." she said as she and the Krogan headed off to find them.
X Tali's POV X
All I could remember was being sore. I remember the explosion, the fall, then...
My eyes snapped open seeing the shattered skylight above me. Slowly, I sat up and checked myself over. No serious damage, no suit tears, everything felt okay other than the dull ache.
I looked behind me and my heart froze.
Xero laid in a crater made by his own body, and he was motionless. "Xero?" I asked crawling over to him. "Xero?" I shook him lightly with no response. "Xero! Xero wake up!" I screamed, my heart starting to break.
"No...keelah...no." I could feel the tears coming down my face, why did this have to happen? He gave up his own well being because of me...how could I live with that.
My thoughts came to a hault when I heard a loud intake of breath and coughing. "Xero?" His head slowly rolled over to see me, "Hay." he said weakly. I quickly removed his helmet and saw that his mouth was dripping with blood. "How bad?" I asked fearing the worst.
He groaned, "Kinda bad. According to Prophet; shattered left femur, four broken ribs, concussion, my right arm is all but useless, and I think I have a little internal bleeding. Nothing to big." I was in shock, "Keelah...I don't know what I can do..."
Xero smiled and held my hand, "I'll be okay. Gotta give the nanites in my body time to fix the damage. Could take a little while though." I smiled back at him dispite the situation and shivered from the cold that was seeping in through the shattered windows.
"Cold?" he asked concerned. "I'll be alright." I said around chattering teeth. Xero slowly opened his arms, "Come here." I suddently felt very hot in my suit. "Um...I ah..." He chuckled, "No reason to be nervious Tali."
He sounded so kind, selfless once again. I found myself laying down close to him as he wrapped his arms around me. I could feel the heat from his suit seeping into mine, and my body started to heat up from the close contact with him.
A sigh escaped my lips and I curled into him more. I felt safe, and the sound of his heart beating made me smile. "Tali." I looked up into his red eyes and the warm look in them made my heart flutter. "Nothing's going to happen to you. I promise." His said as his hand gently ran over my veil.
My grip tightened on his form and I rested my head in the crook of his neck. Nothing else mattered to me anymore, as long as I had him.
X Xero's POV X
I couldn't help but feel at ease. The beautiful girl in my arms brought me peace, and gave me a purpose to fight. Hearing her light breathing, I put my helmet back on and swore to every higher entity in existance that no one will take this angel from me.
X General POV X
Unknown to the couple. The sounds of chirping and skittering started to come from the lone vent in the room they were in.
They weren't alone.
A/N: With the two seperated from everyone else, how bad can things get?...This was a pretty short chapter, but I'll be having several more updates for you guys today so be ready.