7: Discovery III.
Anders and Fenris were closing in on their smokey destination. Their walk has been quiet as the Elf usually had nothing to say to the Mage. As Anders walked he couldn't held thinking about how everyone no longer trusted him. And why should they? He knew he went behind their back and fulfilled his own personal vendetta. He didn't trust any of them with this, why should they trust him? But he couldn't help but feel so alone. His only source of company was Justice who always told him to never regret what he has done, and an Elf who watches him very carefully and is ready to strike him down without a moment of hesistation.
He used to consider Hawke a good friend. One of the only people to never judge his decisions. One of the only people who stood by his side no matter what. He was someone he could turn to for anything and for a brief moment of time, Anders loved Hawke. But Anders noticed Hawkes interest in the Elven Blood Mage, Merrill and that hurt him. Sometimes he wonders what what would have happened if he simply told Hawke how he felt. It is probably the only thing he did regret. He still considered Hawke a good friend, only he didn't know how Hawke felt about him anymore. Hawke won't even look him in the eye anymore.
Sometimes Anders wondered if he should leave. It is obvious that he is no longer welcomed. They only keep him around to use him for his Healing powers. No one talked with him, no one bothered to acknowledge his existence. He felt like a slave, only acknowledged when needed and then no longer cared for. There are times when he convinced himself to leave, but he couldn't. As much as he wanted to, he still hoped for one day to have Hawkes forgiveness.
Even though he knew the answer, he had to ask anyway. "Hawke doesn't trust me anymore, does he?"
"No." Fenris answered.
Althrough Fenris disagreed with Hawke choosing the Mages side, Fenris trusted Hawke and sided with him in the end. Fenris held no love for Mages andn ever trusted either Merrill or Anders. When Hawke tasked him with watching Anders and to kill him should he ever slip up, Fenris thanked him for this oppertunity. He would never forget the look on the Healers face when he told him what Hawke ordered him to do. It was a look he felt satisfaction with. He would never hesistate to ruin the Mages mood. Hoping that one day Anders will give in and give Fenris an excuse for killing him. Anders knew this, but enjoyed Fenrises disappointment when it didn't work. He liked to think of it as a game between the two.
"You know, you could kill me now and Hawke will never know." Anders said, testing him.
Fenris considered it and then he said. "As much as I want to, Mage. Even I have a certain sense of honor. No, for me to kill you you would have to slip up... Or attack me."
Anders heard the tone in Fenrises voice when he said "Or attack me." It was a suggestion. A dare. Anders wondered for a second, who would win in a fight between the them. Fenris is fast and a skilled fighter but he is no Mage. If Anders fused with Justice as he usually did, he would be unstoppable and he felt he could kill the Elf. The image of the Elf dead before his feet was a pleasurable thought. But he would not give in. He knows he is a better than that.
Finally they reached their destination and they both hid behind trees next to eachother. The examined the area around them. Trees were crushed with the crash. The other half of the bird was smokey. Those who survived (which wasn't many) did what they could for the wounded and the dead. All except three. A man full of scars, a bald woman with ink all over her partially exposed upper body and Anders suspected that there were more ink under clothed skin, and a hooded female. The three conversed, commenting and joking about the "hard workers". But something caught the Mages eye.
"Some aren't human." Anders pointed out. "What are they?"
"They aren't abominations." Fenris figured.
"Are they even from this world?" Anders wondered out loud.
Fenris didn't answer. He breathed in quietly and exhaled as he got off of his tree. "Let us go and report back to Hawke."
"Wait... I think I see something."
Anders squinted his eyes. Not far from the smokey half bird, he saw tall bushes swaying against the wind. He took a closer look and noticed a familiar silver polished helmet. He saw the symbol on the middle of the helmet and his anger quietly awoken. He heard Fenris unshealthe his large sword as blue smoke radiated off of Anders slowly. Anders turned back and his eyes became blue and white light.
"Templars." Anders said in Justice's voice.
And before Fenris could react, Anders jumped through the trees...
Jacob remembered everything exactly. He saw the Normandy get ripped in half. Saw the Commanders unconcious body fly out of the front half of the falling ship. He held on tightly to a bar by the elevator and held onto a screaming female crew member. He remembered losing his grip and the womans back hit Shepards private terminal. He heard a crack and then saw the limpless body fly out of part of the ship he was in, never to be seen again. He saw Jack and Samara put up a protective Biotic field around the ship which helped the ship survive. But the impact was the worse part.
The two Biotics had to shorten the protective field to only those around him, which included the rest of Shepards companions, Yeoman Kelly Chambers, and Dr. Karin Chakwas who came up just before the jump through the Mass Relay to speak to the Commander. All others, have died upon impact. It was a terrible scene. Bodies flew, bones cracked, wires ripped from the exposed walls and electrocuted some and this was only in one part of the ship. He couldn't imagine how devastating it was on the other levels of the ship.
The impact still affected those within the field. Some were unconsious after hitting a wall. Others were unlucky and remaind consious and had to see everything like Jacob. In the end, everything was done and some of those who survived felt they should gather the dead to bury them. Jack, Kasumi, and Zaeed just sat back and watched Jacob, Samara, Mordin, Thane (whose sickness began to react violently in the new atmosphere), Tali (Who became fearful of the crack on her protective helmet), Dr. Chakwas, Kelly Chambers and even Legion carried the dead out.
Jacob noticed Dr. Chakwas took a small break and looked up at the new Dawn sky. He approched her.
"Doctor." Jacob said, letting his presenced be known.
"Mr. Taylor." She replied.
"Do you think the others survived?" He asked her. "Do you think Shepard survived?"
"That man has died once and not even deaths cold grip could hold him down. He is a hard man to kill. Him, I am not worried about." She answered. "But I do worry for the others. Especially Joker. With his bad leg, it would be a miracle that it would survive the crash."
"So you think there is a chance for survivors?"
"If Ms. Lawson or Dr. T'Soni thought as quickly as Samara and Jack did, than I do believe so. They had a smaller part of the ship to protect. It would be possible that they all survived."
Jacob liked those odds. He knew Miranda from even before he met Shepard. He knew she was a sharp thinker. As soon as she would see the ship ripped apart she would put up a biotic field to protect those in the front part of the Normandy. Still, the thought of any of them dead or even Shepard was a very unwelcomed thought.
They both turned their heads at the sound of Thanes uncontrollable coughing.
"What is wrong with him?" Jacob asked.
"He is having trouble breathing. With his Kepral's Syndrome and the humidity of this area, it is worsening the diease."
"Is there anything we can do?"
"Kepral's Syndrome cannot be treated. We just have to sit by and hope for the best for Mr. Krios." Dr. Chakwas said in a sad tone.
Jacob heard Jack laughing and looked towards the lazy three and he felt a bit of anger. "So many dead, and they are having a good time over there." He muttered to himself.
"Mr. Taylor. I do believe we may be in trouble." Dr. Chakwas said.
Jacob saw a group of armored men come out of the trees. Jacob wondered how they could see under their helmet with such little slits. They reminded him of the Crusaders from Ancient human history. In fact, they looked very similar and even weilded sheilds and swords. The group looked at the Normandy but starteled as they looked at Samara, Tali, and Thane. Jacob walked forward.
"Gentlemen, my name is Jacob Taylor. I hope we can have a non-eventful encounter. Too many have died this day, no need to add to that list." Jacob said in a peaceful voice.
One of the "Crusaders" took off his helmet and approched Jacob. Even the lazy three stopped their conversing and examined the newcomers carefully. The man approching Jacob had short ginger hair and a orange beard. He had blue eyes that looked old even though his face showed he was young. This was a man of title. He did not introduce himself but he did eye the aliens and then back at Jacob.
"Are you housing Abominations?" The man asked.
"Excuse me?" Tali asked, offended.
"Settle down, Tali. Let me handle this." Jacob said, turning his attention back at the man. "They are not Abominations. They are Aliens. You know? Beings from outer space?"
Some of the "Crusaders" talked to eachother wondering what the hell Jacob was talking about. The man raised his eye brow.
"You know... Space? The vast empty darkness above the sky?"
"Mr. Taylor, I would be careful if I were you." Dr. Chakwas warned. "I don't think they know what you are talking about."
"Yeah, I am starting to get that feeling." Jacob commented. "Look, we really do not want any-"
Jacobs words were cut short with a loud roar coming from behind. Jacob turned and saw the fast approching blue smoking man. He jumped and grabbed Dr. Chakwas out of the way.
"TEMPLARS!" The blue smoking man shouted as he grabbed his staff.
Blue fire rained from the staff. The Templars reacted quickly and shileded their leader from the blast with their shields. The man collided with the shields in a small explosion that sent some Templars flying. Jacob stood up but a man with a huge sword in one hand held him down. He had pointed ears and snow white hair. Weird white markings, that almost resembled veins, popped out of his body. The snow white haired man looked at Jacob.
"If you value your lives you will stay out of this." He warned.
The white viened man than disappeared in the mayhem and cut down Templars with his blade and also fought against the smoking blue man screaming out "ANDERS CALM DOWN!". Jacob could not believe what was happening but watched as Jack could not pass this up and joined in the fighting.
"JACK!" Jacob called for.
Jack was ripping Templars apart with her Biotics and fought both the white veined man, who was confused, and the smoking man known as Anders.
"Samara! Get Jack out of there!" Jacob ordered.
Although Samara only followed Shepards order, she realized the stupidity of Jacks decision and got into the fight only to take Jack out. Soon an angry Jack was fighting an Asari Justicar while the pointed ear man and Anders continued to fight eachother. Only one Templar survived and escaped.
Jack was flipping in the air unleashing blast after blast with her Biotics. Apparantly her attacks were no match for the Justicar because Samara hovered from the ground wrapped in her field with her arm outstretched seperating blast after blast from harming her. In frustration, Jack launched into the air with all the biotic power she could muster within her fist.
"EVERYONE GET BACK!" Jacob screamed as he got to his feet and ran away.
Jack landed punching the ground and the Earth shook beneath them and cracked and seperated all around her. The groud fell way. Samara flipping in the air, swept Jack into the air and then brought her down hard on the ground knocking her unconcious. Samara then dragged the unconsious Jack and tossed her in front of Zaeed and Kasumi.
"Watch her." Samara said.
The fighting wasn't over yet. The white haired man, whom Anders called "Fenris" was still fighting the blue smokey aura that is Anders. Fenris moved with unbelievable speed with such a heavy weapon, dodging attacks from Anders staff and personal power. Fenris did not look as if he was enjoying this like Jack does when she fought. He had a face of determination and concentration. He had to focus his moves otherwise he would get hit by a blast. Fenris jumped in the air and twirled his blade towards Anders throat. Anders leaned back and in a slow chance to recover his balance, Fenris kicked Anders in the chest. Anders fell down and Fenris jumped in the air once more with the intention of bringing down the blade on Anders.
That didn't happen. Anders rolled to the side and got up fast and brought out another powerful blast. Samara got in between Fenris and Anders blast, her outstretched arm seperated the blast. Samara gave in her own Biotic blasts while Fenris moved around her. Anders couldn't keep up with the defenses. Samara approched Anders while he continued to dodge, tirelessly, Fenris's attacks. Once she was close enough, Samara hit Anders in the stomach which sent Anders flying back until he hit a tree and was knocked unconsious. The blue smoke disappeared, the staff was within arms reach.
Fenris was out of breath and so was Samara.
"Thank you." Fenris said in between breaths.
"He was a danger not only to you but to my friends, as well. I had to do what I could." Samara said. "Had I not intervened, would you have killed him?"
"Yes." Fenris said without a seconds thought.
Fenris caught his breath and then shealthed his greatsword and approched Anders. He grabbed the staff and picked the man up on his shoulders and began to walk back where they came from. He stopped in front of Jacob.
"Wait here. Help will soon come." He promised.
Jacob watched as Fenris walked through the trees and continued to watch him leave until he was no longer in sight. Jacob could not say anything because he had no idea what just happened. Abominations? Templars? Magic Staffs? Elves? This was starting to sound like a world of Fantasy. Things he used to enjoy reading about when he was child. He needed time to process everything. But he was glad that help would arrive soon. He only hoped that the others were alright and wondered what happened to Shepard. He continued replaying the memory of Shepard falling over and over again, wondering if that will be the last he ever saw of the Commander...
Huh? Another two chapters in the same week? Boy you guys are lucky. You all got four chapters this week =] but man oh man! This was an intense chapter! Fenris Anders/Justice and Templars fighting eachother, Jack and Samara fighting eachother and Fenris fighting Anders and so on! I gotta say, I did not expect writing Samara being apart of the fight between Fenris and Anders, but this only proves that Fenris probably could not kill Anders in a fight. A lot of stuff happened these two chapters which added much needed action. This story is just getting better in my opinion. Soon everyone will meet up together and that will be exciting!
Shout out to Focusphobia who actually gave me the idea of Biotics and Mages being able to fight eachother fairly. I would have come up with that myself eventually but not as soon as now so thank you! And also to ARavingLooony hope you liked the ignorant Templars part ;D
As usual, you guys are awesome. It makes me very happy that people are reading this story and I promise you this is basically ACT I lol meaning there is so much more to come! .