Chapter 10
"An hour out from Luna Base, Commander."
"Thanks Joker." He answered, looking up from his write-up of the Feros mission. "I'll get down to the hangar soon, and we'll drop in the Mako."
"Sure you don't want curbside service Commander?"
"Are you sure you want to offer?" Shepard answered his pilot's question with a question.
"Why wouldn't I?" Joker sounded confused. "The Normandy's cleared for atmosphere, remember?"
"I remember. But the base defenses are targeting anything that moves." Shepard grinned wickedly.
"Even the heavy cannon?"
"Even the heavy cannon."
"I'll drop you in the Mako." Joker shivered. He did not want to think about what would happen to his baby if those cannon opened up at close range, in atmo.
"Good answer, Joker." Shepard responded, chuckling.
One interminably long elevator ride later, Shepard stepped out into the hangar, fully armed and armored. "Garrus." He called over to the turian.
"Commander?"
"Get your guns. Helmet, too. We've got another fight on our hands."
"Yes sir." Garrus answered, heading over to his locker.
The glare Ashley sent at her commanding officer at his choice of ground party went unnoticed as Shepard turned to take the corridor to engineering.
"Tali."
"Yes, Shepard?" She responded, turning away from her console.
"Head into the hangar and get your gear. We've got another mission."
As he turned to walk away, she blurted out a question. "You're bringing me? Again?"
He slowly turned back to face her, and then closed the distance between them. "Do you not want to come along?"
"No! I mean, I do! Want to come along. . ." She trailed off, hands twisting nervously. "It's just . . . after last time on Feros, I wasn't sure you'd be bringing me along anymore."
"I thought we had agreed to forgive each other?" Shepard cocked an eyebrow at her. "If that's not the case . . ." He let the words linger, waiting for her response.
"No!" She exclaimed, taking several quick steps past him and making for the hangar as quickly as she could. "We're both forgiven."
As they walked into the hangar, Tali made a beeline for her locker and began pulling out her weapons and affixing them to their various hard points on her suit.
"Did we already find the Doctor, Commander?" Garrus asked as he walked over to Shepard, helmet under his arm. "Time really flies down here."
"No, we're not at Artemis Tau. We had a change of plans; we need to go clean out a rogue VI at an Alliance base."
"I see. That would be why you brought Tali?" Garrus inquired, nodding at the quarian.
"Yes. I've been through this training facility before, and it's pretty much all about the drones. I figure if she can hack a geth, she can hack a drone. Can you, Tali?"
"Yes." She answered, moving over to stand next to Garrus and Shepard. "Probably for a lot longer time than I can hack a geth, too."
"Perfect." Shepard said, smiling at her. "Let's go get in the Mako. Joker'll drop us. I'm driving."
"Dibs on the guns!" Garrus said quickly. This drew a grin from Shepard, and a headshake from Tali.
Am I the only adult going on this mission? She asked herself as she climbed up into the infantry vehicle. I hope Shepard drives more calmly this time.
"Shepard, do you have to drive over everything? Wouldn't it be just as easy to drive around the mountains?" Tali complained as the Mako bounced over yet another rocky outcropping.
"Well, Miss Zorah, since you asked so politely . . ." Shepard stopped talking and gunned the engine, sending the Mako flying towards the edge of a cliff. As the vehicle started to go over the edge, he hit the thrusters, pushing them briefly into the air before the moon's gravity started pulling them down again.
"Aaaahhhhh!" Was the only response Tali could muster, while both Shepard and Garrus chuckled. Just before impact, Shepard flared the thrusters again and the Mako set down with a soft thud, before the tires dug into the loose surface and propelled the large vehicle forward.
"How can you laugh at that?" Tali glared at Garrus, trying hard to catch her breath.
"Your girlish screaming is entertaining." Garrus replied with a shrug.
"Bosh'tet." Tali responded with a poke to his side.
Unperturbed, Garrus decided to push the point a little more. "And the Comma- I mean, Shepard, is actually a very skilled driver, when he wants to be. I trust him."
"Thank you, Garrus." Shepard responded with a nod as he started climbing up yet another nearly vertical rock face. "I'm glad to see someone has some faith in me." He finished with a pointed look at Tali.
"I have faith in you, just not your driving. And since when did you start calling him Shepard?" She answered, turning to look at Garrus.
"The Commander and I had a nice discussion about what it means to serve on his ship. And we came to an understanding, part of which is that I am free to call him by something other than his rank."
"As are you, Tali." Shepard threw in. "Although I noticed you already call me Shepard, so that invitation is probably wasted."
Muttering something under her breath, Tali went back to poking around in the Mako's electronic guts. The only words Shepard could make out were "bosh'tets" and "trouble." Smiling to himself, Shepard made a mental note to ask her what "bosh'tet" meant next time he had a chance to talk to her alone.
Shepard swerved wildly as yet another rocket crashed into the ground next to the Mako.
"Shepard, three more incoming!" Tali's voice was urgent. "And shields are at 40%!"
"Garrus, why haven't you taken those turrets offline yet?" Shepard demanded.
"Because you're driving like you're drunk, sir!" Garrus shouted back, trying to line up a shot on one of the heavy turrets currently targeting their vehicle.
"Tali, can you hack one of them? Maybe make them shoot each other for a while?" Shepard asked, trying to see if his other crewmember could have better luck.
"No, I already tried. The Mako's shielding is interfering with the signal."
"So you could do it once our shields are down?" A plan started to take shape in Shepard's mind.
"Yes, but those rockets would immediately rip through our hull." Tali dashed his plan just as quickly as he thought it up. "There's too many of them, Commander."
"Alright." Shepard quickly came up with a more outrageous plan, and immediately started driving away from the turrets. A few moments later, he parked the Mako behind a small hill.
"Commander?" Garrus looked questioningly at the human. "I didn't believe you were capable of retreating."
"Well, I approve." Tali cut in. "We weren't going to last much longer against those turrets."
"Glad to know you have such faith in me, Tali." Shepard said sarcastically. "And Garrus, we didn't retreat. We're just attacking in a different direction."
"If that tactic allows them to recharge their shields, then I think it's a poor tactic." "Sir." He added as an afterthought.
"What'd I tell you about 'sir'ing me, Garrus? I would usually agree with you, though. But right now, we need a different strategy. We need to redeploy."
"Sir?" Garrus was unsure of what the Commander was trying to say. Tali also had her head tilted to the side, which Shepard was beginning to associate with a question.
"Tali and I are going to get out of the Mako and proceed on foot."
"What?" Garrus and Tali exclaimed in unison.
Shepard continued on as though they hadn't spoken. "Garrus, you're going to drive around the turrets and distract them."
"Umm, Shepard?" Tali sounded very worried.
"If you trust me, and do what I say, then you'll be okay, Tali. I promise." I won't let anything happen to her. No matter what.
Do I trust him? With my life? Do I even have a choice after Feros? If I tell him I don't trust him now, there is no way he'll let me stay on board. I have to trust him. I suppose I do, anyway. Although I hope he has a plan. After a moment of indecision, Tali's voice was sure. "I trust you, Shepard."
"Good. How close do you have to be in order to hack one of those turrets?" Shepard started rubbing his hands together as he put the finishing touches on his plan.
"Umm, probably 30 meters or so."
"Good. Those turrets are only 25 meters apart. So you're gonna follow me in on foot. We're gonna run up to the base of the only one Garrus managed to kill, and then you're gonna hide there and start hacking the nearest turret. Do you need the shields down in order to hack it?"
"No." She responded confidently.
"Alrighty then. You are to stay in that cover and keep that thing hacked, no matter what. Understand?"
"Yes."
"Good. Garrus, you're gonna drive around and try to keep them distracted. The Mako's shields should be back at full strength by now, so if you take a couple hits, it's not that big a deal."
"I understand." Garrus moved up to sit in the driver's seat and flexed his talons. Looking back at Shepard, he asked, "Are you just going to protect Tali?"
"In a manner of speaking." The human's smile made shivers run up the turian's back. "Try not to run either of us over, alright?"
"I'll do my best."
"Then let's get it done. Tali, after you."
Tali and Shepard climbed out of the Mako, and Shepard pounded on the hull to let Garrus know he could drive into the fight.
"Stay right behind me, okay Tali?"
"I already said I will, Shepard." Tali sounded exasperated.
"I know. I just want to keep you safe." He put his hand on her shoulder, squeezed once, and then took off at a run. Tali followed behind, a warm feeling emanating from the shoulder he had squeezed and spreading throughout her body.
As they ran, they could see all three turrets following the Mako's progress.
"I never thought I'd say this, but I'm glad you do the driving." Tali said breathlessly, watching the Mako jerk in all directions. "I feel sick just watching Garrus drive."
"Yeah, I'm not sure if that's intentional or not, but it's working like a mofo." Shepard grinned at the thought of Garrus trying to dodge the rockets. Time for him to see how easy it is to drive that freaking thing while getting shot at all the time. Not such an easy thing, is it, Mr. "I'm a turian, I'm awesome at everything."
"Mofo, Commander?" Tali's query made him focus on her again, rather than on Garrus.
"I'll explain later." Shepard said as they reached the broken turret's base. "Which one you gonna hack?"
"Uh . . . That one." Tali answered, stooping to catch her breath and pointing to the right.
"Alright. Stay here, and keep that thing shooting the others." As soon as he said it, Shepard was gone, running out into the fight holding his shotgun.
He's insane! Tali thought, before mentally smacking herself. But I don't want him to die, so I have to focus on hacking this turret. As she got deeper and deeper into the turret's code, she stopped noticing the many noises coming from Shepard's side of the battlefield.
After what felt like hours, but was really just after Tali started hacking her turret, Garrus realized that rockets were no longer chasing him. Panting slightly from the exertion of trying to keep the Mako in one piece, he stopped the vehicle and took a few deep breaths. I failed to realize how difficult it is to drive this monstrosity. How does Shepard make it look so effortless? I am impressed that one of the turrets was destroyed so quickly, though. Tali must really be an exceptional hacker. I actually see, now, why Shepard brought her along.
Looking outside, Garrus nearly choked. What in the great blue hell is that human doing?! I expected him to be hiding right next to Tali, perhaps trying to whittle down the turrets and give the hacked turret a better chance of winning. I can barely see Tali, so that plan seems reasonable. H is acting completely insane! If he dies, the humans will think we killed him.
The cause of Garrus's consternation could be seen running to and fro on the dusty lunar surface. Shepard was trying to destroy the heavy turret that had been targeting Garrus by himself. On foot. Occasional blue crackles of electricity would rake over the turret, interspersed with blasts from Shepard's shotgun. With a final shot, Shepard blew up the heavy turret. At nearly the same time, Tali's turret won its own fight.
Suddenly, Shepard's voice came over Garrus's radio. "If you're not too busy napping in there, Mister Vakarian, would you mind blowing up Tali's turret?" After he finished, he slumped down against the base of the turret he had just destroyed. That was probably pretty stupid. He thought to himself, trying to slow his heart rate. I've done stupider things, but that shit is right up near the top. Fuckin' A, it was awesome though. I bet Vakarian shit his pants when I killed that thing. Tali came running up to him and knelt down, scanning him with her omni-tool.
"Keelah, Shepard, are you alright? What were you thinking?"
"Oh yeah, I'm fine, Tali." Garrus slamming the Mako to a stop right next to them and hurriedly climbing out of the IFV interrupted anything else he was going to say.
"Are you out of your mind Shepard?!" The normally reserved turian was visibly agitated.
"Ya know, Tali just asked me a similar question." Shepard said, grinning up at the turian from his spot on the ground. "Of course I'm not. I came up with a brilliant tactical maneuver, and we executed it to perfection. Easy peasy, rice and cheesy."
"Something is seriously wrong with you, Shepard." Garrus said, shaking his head as he extended a hand to help his Commander up from the ground.
"I agree. And you should have Dr. Chakwas give you a full scan when you get back to the Normandy." Tali added after hearing Shepard's sharp intake of breath.
"I'll be fine." Shepard waved away her concern. "You two did really well, though. I want to make sure you both know that. Now let's get to the base proper, and blow the hell outta some more shit!"