Evacuation protocols were put into affect as soon as the fighting started. Everyone gathered supplies and began to trek to the hidden shuttles several miles away. Soldiers hurried through the streets, offering aid where needed. Civilians huddled in groups, fear etched on their face, as they waited for the escort troop to return for them. Tali, Garrus, Joker, and EDI had been sent back to the Normandy to restart repairs. Maybe with the spare Geth parts they could get the ship running again.
Liara and Kaidan trailed behind Shepard as she walked through the streets. The pair watched the serious woman soften as she helped her people. She bent to pick up a stuffed animal, rushing it to a crying child that had dropped it.
"Don't want to leave him behind." Shepard smiled at the child as she handed the bear over.
The child shook her head as she gripped the bear tight against her chest. The girl's mother thanked Shepard before ushering the child along. Her smiled disappeared, replaced with a frown when mother and daughter turned a corner. "I promised them that they'd be safe."
"Where will you send them?" Kaidan asked, watching the woman carefully.
"Virmire." Shepard growled out. "It's our longest standing hide out. Something about the atmosphere scrambles Geth scans and keeps the civilians hidden."
"Where will you go?"
Shepard frowned before turning to him. "On the offensive. I'm tired of hiding and waiting for them to find us."
"Is that advisable?" Liara asked, looking around. "It looks like you've lost this fight. Maybe it's best to surrender and negotiate."
Shepard's eyes narrowed, furry flooding her features. "Come with me."
The woman turned and pushed through the crowds. They had to hurry their pace to keep up with the Commander. They left the city and went deep into a cave. The lights were dimmed, casting shadows everywhere. They both tried to ask questions but she ignored them both, pushing deeper into the cave. They turned a sharp corner and Shepard stopped.
"This is why I won't surrender." She stepped aside, allowing the two to pass. Things scurried about in the large space. Turians, Asari, Humans, Krogans… every species moved about, keeping to the shadows. Lights shown from their eyes, circuits emerged from their skin, and the hum of machinery echoed off the walls.
Liara couldn't believe what she was seeing. It was horrible to watch them quiver with fear. One, a human, crawled forward on it's hands and feet, hunched over. It kept it's eyes averted as it reached a dirty hand up to touch her. An arc of electricity jumped, causing her to jump back and send the human scurrying away.
Kaidan stood beside her, hand on his pistol and skin pale with disgust. His eyes darted around, unsure. Shepard stepped forward and knelt, her hand out to an Asari that inched closer. This one was small, a child. Electricity jumped from the contact but Shepard didn't move, accepting the child's hand.
"Sometimes we rescue our taken in time." Shepard whispered. "Most die during the process, those are the lucky ones. The Geth don't want co-existence. They don't want separate races working together. They want us, our bodies."
"What…. What's wrong with them?" Liara asked, afraid to ask.
"They were broken, made primal." Shepard handed the child an energy bar and watched as she ran off, cradling her prize. Others tried to take it from her, but the girl was to small and fast for them. Any softness left Shepard's face, fury taking hold. "Yes we were losing. The only choice was to resort to guerilla warfare and hide on remote planets. But that's changed now."
"What changed?"
"You guys and your ship."
The colony was evacuated, supplies were left for the creatures in the cave, and Shepard returned to the Normandy with her N7 team and Hunter. They immediately started work on the engine, slowly bringing life to the downed ship. The days melded together as they worked endlessly. It was on the fifth day that Shepard emerged from one of the crawl spaces and went to the center console. She tapped a few keys then nodded at Tali to do the same.
"Edi, instruct Joker to start powering the engines." She called out.
"Commander, my sensors indicate that there's a forty-three percent chance that the core will…"
Shepard growled. "Don't question me. Just follow my orders!"
"Yes Commander."
Shepard mumbled curses under to breath before crawling back into the crawl space. The core started to hum as it was slowly being brought to life. Light began to illuminate the compartment and Shepard watched the core wearingly.
"Commander, sensors indicate imminent melt down."
Shepard cursed and hurried through the space, heading for the coolant system. She worked furiously, fingers getting singed with the live wires.
"Commander?"
"SHUT UP!" She yelled and taped two wires together.
"Ten seconds to melt down." Edi called out.
Shepard ignored her as she began to count down, working faster. She bit the rubber insulation off another wire and waited, counting under her breath. Just as Edi said one second, Shepard touched the two wires and the coolant system flared to life. The core stabilized and she could hear the thrusters come to life. Alarice grinned, her plan just might work.
They took another day to gather supplies and run tests. The Normandy was space worthy. She'd survive a few relay jumps but needed serious repairs and Alarice knew just the place to get it. The Alliance had lost all of it's dry docks and manufacturers early on. The Geth knew where to hit first to cripple the nation. But she knew of one place they could get the repairs they needed.
Alarice had brought Hunter and one other soldier with her, sending the rest to Virmire with the civilians. The Lieutenant had been in her crew since the beginning of the war. He was a tank on the battle field, refusing to give up. The other soldier was an N7 demolisher named Leyna. She could make anything explode and was an excellent hacker. Hunter stood at her left, Leyna at her right, as she regarded the Normandy crew.
Alarice had to reminder herself that they weren't her friends. That they came from a different place and belonged to a different Shepard. In today's world, trust was hard to come by and Alarice wasn't sure how to approach her. This place as a closely guarded secret, known by only the highest of officers. But they had no choice.
"We're going to Hagalaz." Shepard announced, taking in everyone's reactions. "The Shadow Broker's ship is still active and an ally runs it now. He'll help get the Normandy to fighting shape."
"Who is your Shadow Broker?" Liara asked.
"I am not at liberty to say." Shepard answered, holding up a hand to stop the protests. "I am already breaking several protocols bringing you guys there. The ship's existence is a closely guarded secret, our ace in the hole. You'll learn soon enough, I'm just asking for some patience."
"I don't like going in blind Commander." Kaidan replied, pushing away from the table. "But I will follow your lead."
Shepard nodded. "Then get to your stations and lets get off this planet before the Geth show up."
"Our opportunity has passed Shepard." Edi called out, stepping forward. "Scanners show several Geth signatures entering orbit."
Alarice cursed, "We can't fight them. They'll tear us apart. Joker get us out of here."
"Yes Ma'am."
"One more thing Commander." Edi pulled her attention back to her. "Your Normandy just entered the system, guns ready."