Mass Effect Project Renegade
Chapter 11: Therrum
Jack entered the engine room, to check in on the status of the Nomandy. Jack approached Engineer Adams, who seemed to be waiting for the Commander.
"Hey Commander you know that Quarian you recently picked up?"
Jack looked at Tali to see her typing on the console, then back at Adams.
"You mean Tali?"
"Yeah she keeps asking questions about the Normandy." Replied Adams.
Jack thought Adams was trying to bring something up against Tali.
"Is she bothering you Adams?"
Adams expression changed to a surprise look.
"What? No she's helping the Normandy out a lot, Commander I just wish half of these slackers were as good as her."
Jack eyes wandered to Tali, Adam thought he was seeing things, when he saw the Commander give off a faint smile.
"I thought she'd be a real asset to the team."
Adams nodded agreeing with Jack.
"Well let me say this to you Commander, you got an eye for real talent… well I got to get back to work Commander."
Adams turned around to head towards his control panel, while Jack approached Tali, who was concentrated on the Control panel. Tali's helmet heard the approaching footsteps, she stopped what she was doing and turned around to see who this person was, her expression turned to overjoy when it was none other than her savior who rescued her on the Citadel.
"Shepard! Your ship is amazing; I didn't know the Alliance could fit a drive core this large in to a ship this small, Now I know why Humans are doing so well, in the Galaxy."
"It's nothing special Tali, the Normandy is cutting technology in the Alliance Branch, basically a prototype." Replied Jack.
Tali looked at the engine core then back at Shepard.
"I wish my people had the ability to construct this, but it would be a strain on our resources."
Jack noticed the mood change in Tali's voice when she brought up the topic about the Migrant Fleet.
"The Migrant Fleet's not doing well is it?"
Tali shook her head looking at the ground.
"No the Fleets falling apart, we're doing our best to repair and upgrade it, but without the necessary resources were living on borrowed time, My Father has doing his best to rally the Migrant Fleet… you know to keep morale up… I don't know how much fight my father has in him. "
Jack folded his arms and paid close attention to the conversation.
"Is your Father an Admiral in the Migrant Fleet?"
Tali nodded slowly, confirming his suspicions.
"Yes… Well sort of the Executive Member to the Admiralty board, out of the Four Admirals of the fleet, he directs and leads them all… He has pull in the fleet… If anything happened to him there would be a huge power vacuum."
Jack knew of the situation with the Migrant Fleet, but didn't know how desperate they've become. Instead of Interrupting he let Tali continue.
"My Father however has political enemies on the Fleet, and they would even stoop as low as to use me to get to him… Father almost lost it when a virus hit the Live Ships, a few years back… Mother Almost died that day, later that same day; Father went to see Gerrel… They were talking about launching strikes in the Home system; Father however argued with the status of the fleet, we'd burn over Rannoch…. That's why I'm on my Pilgrimage to find something that would benefit the whole fleet…. They're counting on me, I can't fail them."
"Hmm… I'll keep an eye for something Tali, don't worry."
Tali's head tilted up towards Jack.
"Y-you don't need to help Sh-Commander."
Jack placed hand on her right shoulder.
"Nonsense I've made my mind up… oh get your stuff together were heading to Therrum to save Dr. T'soni."
With that said, Jack left the engine room, leaving Tali to her thoughts.
Keelah I wish I could've felt the touch of his hand on my skin…. I hate this suit.
Minutes later Jack sent orders out to the entire team to suit up for Therrum, but before Jack headed to the Hanger, he headed towards the Captain's Quarters. Jack sat at his desk and pressed a button under his desk. A large compartment came up out of the desk showing Jack's inventory. Jack took out his weapons of choice [Black Widow 'Led Ammunition'/ AR-15 V9 'Led Ammunition'/ Stake out Shotgun 'Led Ammunition'/Two M 1911's 'Led Ammunition'/ Marine Corp Type Survival Combat Knife, Imported Tanto BladeOverall Length: 12-3/8in. Blade Length: 7-3/4in./MP5 V39 All Cerberus Imports.]
Minutes Later Jack and the ground team were zooming down to Therrum inside the Mako. Before the Mako hit groundside, Jack hit the boosters softening the landing. Jack hit the comm to link to Joker.
"Joker, this is the ground team, we successfully made a landing on Therrum's surface, keep Comm channels on in case of an emergency evac."
"Roger that Commander, Over and Out." Replied Joker.
After minutes of Mowing down Geth on Therrum, the Mako was approaching a rockslide. Tali immediately caught on to the barricade.
"Shepard Watch out!"
"Shit!" Replied Jack.
Jack's eyes widen seeing the boulders, he immediately initiated evasive maneuvers by swirling the Mako in an 180 degree angle until the Mako hit the two boulders in their way. Nick decided to make a snarky comment about the Jack's driving skills.
"Nice Driving there Shepard, may next time I should drive-"
Jack punched Nick in the shoulder.
"Or maybe I should dump your ass back on the Citadel."
"Hey don't talk to my friend lie-" Wrex was cut off by Jack trying to defend Nick. However Jack looks at Wrex.
"You too Wrex."
"You're on your own Nick." Wrex replied.
Ashley looked through Mako's window.
"What now Commander?"
Jack looked at his surrounding and decided to take action.
"Well we can scratch the Mako getting us any further… lets get out of here on the double."
The occupants in the Mako poured out through the back, securing the area around the Mako, Jack went in between the boulders to check out the other side. On the other side Jack saw a few squads of Geth, he decided to inform the crew.
"Alright everyone on me, so here's the situation there is about twenty Geth Troopers, twelve Geth Shock Troopers, Four Geth Rocket Troopers, and one Geth Sniper in the observation tower on the ridge, as for reinforcements I'm not sure."
"Resistance is going to be heavy Commander." Replied Tali.
Garrus stood by the boulder by Jack.
"Is there a way to flank them from your angle?"
Jack leans on the side again looking at the terrain, seeing for any advantages the ground team could use.
"No, just some rock formations to take cover and evade Geth fire."
Wrex looked at the two boulder and it looked like a funnel.
"Hey we could always make them come to us."
Nick seemed eager as he charged his Katana Shotgun.
"Yeah! Funnel them in!"
"I'll man the Mako's cannon then."
Jack shook his head signaling no.
"These things may be walking lamps, but they're not stupid…. They know we're coming."
The Ground team was running out of options, time was short, and every minute they wasted here, gave Saren time to find the Conduit. Garrus was charging his Vindicator.
"Suggestions?"
Jack looked at the cover behind the Rocks.
"Just one…"
Jack equipped his AR-15 and sprung out of cover taking potshots at the Geth Troopers, while evading Missles and Plasma fire. Jack rolled to cover; in cover Jack signaled the ground team.
"Alright Move! I'll provide covering fire!"
Wrex charged out of cover knocking over to Geth Troopers, while shadow slid under Wrex revealing two hidden blames on each side of his arm, thrusting the blades in the Geth Troopers Heads. Nick blasted a Rocket Trooper with his Katana Shotgun, Tali ran to cover by Shepard, Ashley, Jenkins, and Garrus came out of cover barraging the Geth with their Assault Rifles, and Kaidan was biotically throwing rocks at the Geth. Tali tapped on Jack's shoulder.
"Sheapard that Geth in the observation tower is still providing fire to the Geth."
Jack strapped the AR to his back and equipped his Black Widow. Jack came out of cover and quick scoped the Geth in the tower. As the crew thought the area was secured, a Geth Destroyer came charging out of cover and went on a suicide charge to Jack's Direction. Ashley Immediately pointed her avenger at the Destroyer, but was afraid to hit Jack. Garrus was trying to get Jack to move.
"Shepard out of the way!"
Jack immediately activated the Black Widows bayonet; he set the rifle like a stake. The Geth Destroyer was skewered in the charge, Jack jumped behind the Destroyer grabbing it's synthetic spine and tearing it along with the head out of its body.
The Crew approached Jack praising him in their own way.
Jack accompanied by the ground team moved into the Prothean dig site, while Jack destroyed the Geth Armature. As the crew entered the dig site, the crew crossed the bridge that led to the elevator, Jack however lagged behind as something about this scenario was suspicious.
"Not one step!" Said a feminine voice behind Jack.
Jack immediately turned around equipping his AR and pointing it at the figure behind him. The Unknown figure was wearing black armor with a black helmet, to Jack it looked like Alliance/Human standard.
"Who the Hell are you?" Jack asked while aiming his weapon at the target.
"My name is not important, I'm a freelancer, I received information that Doctor T'soni is here, I'm here to retrieve her before Saren captures her."
Garrus steps by Jack, with a surprised expression.
"Capture? Commander I think it's safe to assume T'soni is not with Saren."
The Freelancer took a glimpse at Garrus, she immediately balled her hands in to a fist.
"You must be Saren's Assassins, well I'm here to put an end to your lives!" replied the Free Lancer.
The Freelancer threw a powerful biotic blast towards Jack and Garrus.
"Commander Watch out!" Said Ashley.
Before the blast could hit the two Jack threw Garrus behind him, Garrus tried to pull Jack down but immediately stopped when he saw the blast disintegrate around Jack. The Freelancer was shocked of what just happened. The Crew was even shocked that Jack was not affected by the blast. Jack started to approach the Huntress.
"Biotics won't help you lady." Stated Jack.
The Huntress took a step back, while in disbelief of what just happened.
"What the Hell?! How did you survive that?!" Asked the Huntress.
The Huntress drew her side arm and pointed it at Jack, She fired shots at Jack but he evade every one of them, as he got close enough he knocked the gun from her hand, then proceeded to head butt her which cracked her helmet while earning a grin from Wrex. The Huntress fell to the floor, dazed and unprepared.
"To be defeated by Saren's Assassins, go ahead finish me off."
Jack pointed his Rifle at the Huntress, preparing to execute if she made a move.
"Listen Lady I don't know what drug you're on, we're not with Saren, I'm trying to Kill Saren… However I need T'soni first."
Behind the cracked visor, a pair of Green eyes widened from Jack's remark.
"Wait… You're Hunting Saren down too?!"
Jack nodded while slowly lowering his weapon, while keeping his finger on the trigger. The Huntress kneels down as a knight would and begs for forgiveness.
"Please forgive my hostile actions towards you, I thought you were Saren's assassins."
Jack strapped his Rifle on his back while offering a hand, to help the Huntress up.
"Who are you?"
The Huntress removed her cracked black helmet revealing to the crew that she is an Asari,[Purple Skin, With green eyes.]
"I am Zonya Tar Lonax, you can call me Zonya or Zoey if you feel like it."
The crew let out a sigh if irritated, because of the delay she caused.
"Listen, since we're both after the same objective, would you like to come along?" asked Jack.
"Before I do join you, I must know…. Who are you?" replied Zoey.
"I'm Commander Shepard of the Alliance now owner of the SSV Normandy."
Zoey's eyes widened and her expression changed from Lethal Huntress to a very nervous expression.
"C-Commander Shepard… It's an honor to meet y-you… if you would allow it, may I join you on your mission to hunt down Saren?" Asked Zoey while shaking Jack's hand.
Jack nodded, while looking at Zoey.
"Of course, if you follow my orders on the mission your free to stay on the Normandy and help with our mission against Saren."
Jack saw a smile grow on Zoey's face, as she gave a salute to Jack.
"Thank you Commander, I won't disappoint you on this mission."
Ashley however was not happy with the decision; her expression towards Zoey was a little hostile, letting another alien join the crew.
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The crew exited the elevator as it stopped on the bottom floor, the crew approached a barrier containing a levitating Asari.
"Can you hear me out there? I'm trapped and I can't get out? (Notices Jack and the Crew.) Are you… Are you real? Oh no don't be stupid Liara, Humans don't come out this far, your hallucinating… and talking to yourself… ha, ha Oh Goddess I'm going to die here!" Said Liara.
An Irritated expression appeared on Jack's Face.
"Hey Snap out of it!"
The Asari concentrated on Jack.
"You're rude for a Hallucination."
Jack was starting to get annoyed by the Doctor's, apparent logic, thinking he was a hallucination.
"How did you get trapped Dr. T'soni?" asked Jack.
"Ah yes, the Hallucination wants me to retrace my steps, to see where I messed up."
Jack just face palmed his N7 helmet, Ashley appeared behind Jack placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Commander this isn't working."
Tali approached in front of Jack.
"We should still try, right Shepard?"
Ashley glared at Tali while placing her hands on her hips.
"Who put you in charge; did the Commander promote you while I wasn't looking?"
Jack had enough of this; he was growing furious of the situation and the time they were wasting.
"Enough!"
Ashley and Tali, immediately stood up straight and looked at Jack, Jack turned his attention back to the Doctor.
"Now I'm picturing my Hallucinations fighting each other." Stated Liara.
"You shouldn't have messed with things you don't understand." Stated Jack.
Liara glared at her supposed Hallucination.
"I knew what I was doing, Oh Liara stop arguing with the Hallucination." Liara Shot back.
Jack had enough of this, he approached the barrier. He placed both his hands on the barrier, Jack felt his implants flare up in his bodies as the barrier began to disperse. Once again the crews expression was shocked of how the Commander did that, Liara's mouth was agape as she saw Jack walk right in deactivating the console. Liara fell to the ground, ignoring the pain while still trying to believe what happened.
"You-You're real, You're really Real!" Stated Liara.
Jack was about to reply to Liara but was interrupted from a huge explosion above surface, shaking the whole facility. The crew begun to wonder what that blast was, Tali however recognized the sound, it was a Geth Cruiser, Saren must have found out that they reached Dr. T'soni, now he wants to take us out.
"Commander Shepard that was a Geth Cruiser, it's trying to blast us in."
Liara's eyes widened from the blast.
"Commander these ruins aren't stable, the Geth bombardment is causing seismic activities, we should leave right now there is an elevator behind us."
Jack ordered everyone to make a mad dash towards the elevator, as the elevator went up Jack contacted Joker.
"Joker we need a evac ASAP! On the Double, Lieutenant! "
Joker was keying in commands on his controls.
"Aye, Aye Commander ETA Five Minutes! "
Tali was worried that they could be buried in these ruins in less than five minutes.
"He needs to hurry!" Stated Tali
Wrex however was a little irritated from the situation.
"If I die here, I'm going to kill him."
Nick just raised an eyebrow.
"Wrex you can't kill him if you're already dead."
The elevator stopped on the top floor, but before the crew can exit the ruins which were in the state of collapsing, a squad of Geth soldiers walked in Commanded by a Krogan Warlord.
"Surrender or Don't heh, that would be more fun."
Jack drew immediately drew an MP-5 and started to fire all across the room causing the Geth to break down, and part of the crew to hit the deck, over the loud gunfire emitting from the Submachine Gun. All remained was the Krogan Warlord who was barely standing from the barrage.
"Is that all you got?!"
Jack tilted his gun upwards revealing the MP5's lower attachment, Jack cocked the attachment back firing an explosive destroying the Krogan and the barrier behind what was left of him. Not wasting anymore time, Jack along with crew made their way up to the exit, Tali however was nearly hit by a falling projectile, which knocked her off the rail way, leaving her hanging on the ledge of the path.
"SHEPARD!" Screamed Tali
Jack's eyes widened and rushed back to save the dangling Quarian. Jack pulled Tali up with ease with one hand.
"Y-you came back for me?"Tali said teary eyed.
"No one gets left behind."
Fearing that there would be no exit, Jack picked Tali up, one hand under her legs and one behind her back, he immediately ran past the normal Human speed, while dodging the falling rocks. Both Tali and Jack narrowly escaped the cave in and just in time too as the Normandy zoomed overhead.
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The Crew sat in the Comm room preparing to debrief, but before it could initiate, Joker speaks out.
"Close call Commander burning lava and exploding rocks tend to melt our haul and burn our sensors."
Liara who was out of breath from her near death experience, looked at Jack with a shocked look.
"We almost died and your pilot is making jokes?!"
Jack just rolled his eyes ignoring Joker.
"Joker can be a real ass with his bad jokes, but he makes up for it with his exceptional piloting."
Liara calmed down a bit, now that she was in a safe place.
"I see it must be a Human thing." Replied Liara
Both Jack and Ashley gave a glaring look towards Liara.
"It's not, don't assume T'soni." Stated Jack.
Liara's eyes widened from the mistake she just made.
"I'm sorry Commander, I would never-"Liara was stopped when Jack raised her hand stating that's enough.
"Back to business now, Doctor T'soni, your safe now." Jack stated
"I still don't know why you came looking for me, though I'm glad you did." Replied Liara
Ashley cut in the conversation.
"You're a Prothean Expert, Saren is looking for the Conduit."
Liara looked confused all the years she spent studying Protheans, she never heard anything like that.
"The Conduit? I don't what this is, I've never heard of it before."
Jack sat up from his chair approaching Doctor T'soni.
"The Conduit is a Transport a mechanism of some sort, to transport the Reapers."
Another confuse look appeared on Liara's face.
"Th-The Reapers? … The Conduit?... I'm sorry I need a minute to process all of this… How do you know of this?"
"I received a vision on Eden Prime from a Prothean Beacon… the vision was showing death and destruction from the Reapers." Replied Jack
Liara stood up from her chair and approached the Commander.
"Commander I have an idea, I could look into your mind to try to make sense of the vision."
"Fine if you think it can help, give it a shot."
Without warning Liara's eyes go black while Jack's mind reacts to the Alien Intrusion of his memory.
Liara was reading the vision she could not believe what she saw… how this human could hold this information was fascinating, she would need to go deeper. Liara decided to go further in his memories, causing Jack's eyes to immediately break it's disguise and revert back to the project scars,
Jack?
What is it May?
I need to tell you something-
Fearing imminent discovery Jack forces Liara out of his mind and breaks the union of mind. Liara Gasped for air as she collapsed, while Jack rubbed his eyes reverting back to disguise. Jack then concentrated an irritated expression on Liara.
"Don't you ever do that again!" Jack snapped at Liara
A fearful expression appeared on Liara's face.
"Commander I'm-"
"You tried to go through my past, Don't!"
Ashley approached Jack to see if he was hurt.
"Shepard are you hurt?"
Jack just shook his head.
"I'm fine… Liara what did you find out on the beacon's message?"
Liara stood up straightening her clothes.
"Unfortunately the message was too broken up to reveal any solid information."
Jack rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"Well that's just great, all we have to do is find another Prothean Beacon like the one on Eden Prime with the exact same message, great… Everyone Dismissed."
"Commander I forwarded the mission reports to the Council, should I patch you through to them." Asked Joker
Jack lit his cigarette, while inhaling it.
"Go ahead Joker."
The Comm starts to flicker giving off a static signal at first then a strong and clear one, the holo projected the three Councilors.
We've received your report, Commander… I understand Dr. T'Soni is on the Normandy. Asked Councilor Tevos.
Before Jack could even reply Sparatus the Turian Councilor cut in the conversation.
"I assume you're taking the necessary security precautions."
Jack withdrew the cigarette from his mouth.
"Refrain yourselves from telling me to do my Job, in the near future." Replied Jack.
"You are free to act as you see fit, Commander. Our role is merely to offer guidance and advice." Stated Councilor Tevos.
"It's up to you if you're smart enough to listen." Added Councilor Sparatus.
Jack drew his Colt and discharged a round in to the Sparatus's Holo terminal.
"Councilors teach your pet to speak with manners on our next chat, Joker lose the channel."
Joker cut the channel, leaving Jack to sit in the Captain's chair in the Comm Room.