Mass Effect 30 Day Challenge: Day 11
Prompt 11: Favourite Antagonist
SPOILERS: Mass Effect 3
Knives
"That was for Thane, you son of a bitch."
The assassin's body slumped to the ground and Shepard pulled her omni-blade from his gut. Silence echoed through the black-paneled room and she stood over Kai Leng's body as Garrus slowly approached her.
"Dead?" it was the only word he dared utter.
Shepard nodded. "Finally." She hunched down on and looked at the blade she had just shattered with her fist, the weapon that had killed her friend on the citadel and countless others. She picked it up at the hilt and examined the shortened blade. A smile crossed her lips. "What was it you said when we were fighting them by the human reaper?"
Garrus put a hand on her shoulder. "Just like Cerberus to bring a knife to a gunfight," he said softly.
She laughed. "Yeah," she said. "Bastards."
Garrus helped her to her feet and she looked down at the body, still holding the broken sword. "You all right?" he asked her.
She shook her head. "I don't know," she still wouldn't let go of the sword. "Garrus, it's no secret I have a lot of blood on my hands. I've killed Cerberus troops, collectors, husks, I've taken down Reapers and I even got Saren to shoot himself on the Citadel. But I've never enjoyed killing anyone…" she trailed off, studying the sword, now barely a knife, in her hand. "Until right now."
They stood together in silence while EDI still worked behind them at the console, downloading data. Garrus took her hand and gently pried the shattered weapon away from her and she sighed as he did so.
"To be fair," he said, letting the blade fall to the ground. "Of all the enemies we've faced, he's always been high on my list of people who really deserved killing."
Ariel nodded and took his hand. She let out a small smile and then laughed. "What was it I yelled at him on Thessia?" she mused softly, still staring at the body. "I think I said it again before I knocked him out just now."
Garrus also smiled. "I believe, Shepard, that you told Kai Leng that you were going to turn his face into your new hat."
Shepard laughed louder. "Yes," she said. "That's what I said." She shook her head at the body, the blood seeping out of it touching her boots. "I was wrong though," she bent down and picked up the broken sword again. "His face isn't worth the honor of being my hat."
Garrus put an arm around her. "I should think not," he said. "That's where you're going to put Harbinger next time you see his ugly face."
Shepard laughed again. "I don't think I could fit an entire Reaper on my head Garrus."
He hugged her. "Regardless," he said. "He's the only enemy whose face deserves the honor of being worn by Commander Shepard when this war is over."
"I guess so," she said, examining the weapon again. "All the same…" she wiped the blade carefully on her thigh and then slid it into the holster next to her pistol. "After all the trouble I went through to kill this son of a bitch, I think I'll bring along a little something to remember him by."
Garrus nodded. "And rightfully so," he said. "Don't know if there's a hell, but if anyone deserves to rot in it, it's him."
Shepard nodded back and the two of them turned around. EDI stood next to the console and the shimmering green image of the Prothean VI floated in front of her. "The Citadel is in Position." It said in a crackling voice.
Shepard looked at her companions and her hand tightened around the knife that was the remains of Kai Leng's blade. Maybe the little victories could prepare her for the final fight ahead of them.
Maybe.
Answer: Kai Leng
Seriously, killing him in that scene was one of the most satisfying things I've ever done in this game series. To hell with him.