Mass Effect Project Renegade
Chapter 14: Not Cerberus…
With the information Jack just received on a direct location on one of the Fake Cerberus facilities, Jack decided to put his hunt for Saren on hold and hit this base, whatever deception these facilities were doing, it ends now.
2162
Terminus system/Cerberus Facility [Rising Star]
Jack and May entered 43's lab while setting the Alien on the table. 43's head was covered in black latex, with two eye pieces glowing red.
"Ah a specimen, thank you Jack, you shouldn't have."
Before Krieger was about to touch the Alien, May slapped Krieger's hand.
"No Krieger a patient, revive her."
Krieger made a loud noticeable sigh.
"Fine, let's pop the faceplate to see what we're dealing with."
As Krieger removed the faceplate all three of occupants in the room eye's widened.
"She, looks Human." Stated May.
Krieger scanned the Alien, after a few seconds his Omni-Tool lit up.
"Hmm Humanoid species…. Dextro… Though adaptive to Levo…. Near horrible Immune system, Alright lets strip her down, I'll clean her wounds out and inject her with this[A Syringe containing Red bubbling Liquid.]."
Jack's eyes widened seeing the syringe.
"That's Project Renegade's formula."
"This will revive her, fixing her system and improving her, she will be an excellent test—I mean Patient" Stated Krieger.
May and Jack started to strip the Alien completely bare, The alien unresponsive laid on the operating table covered over by an operating sheet. Krieger activated the tables restraining guards to protect the patient. Krieger approached the Alien and injected the Syringe in her heart, with a moment's notice, the Alien who still was unconscious gasped for air, making the heart monitor start.
May gave a noticeable smile that she felt she did something good as saving someone's life.
End of Flash Back…
Ontarom/Jack, Zoey, Nick, Tali, Bethora, Wrex, Garrus, Shadow.
As The Mako was dropped on Ontarom, Jack who was behind the wheel was driving towards where the facility was, The Mako came to a full stop shaking the passengers of the crew, Jack was the first to exit, stepping over the corpses as he made his way towards the bunkers entrance. There it was the Posing Cerberus logo, the color was tan and the edges of the symbol went further. The Ground team came out of the Mako after Jack, unlike Jack they investigated the corpses.
Bethora kneeled down to examine the corpses.
"Heavily armed and armored units hmm….."
Garrus followed in suite.
"Alliance Spec ops maybe?"
Zoey stepped in to correct their judgment.
"You two don't know what you're talking about this isn't Alliance issued armor."
Bethora stood up while approaching Zoey.
"And I assume you're the expert on the System's Alliance?"
Zoey put a hand on her hips, while glaring at Bethora.
"As a matter of fact, I am, I fought with the Humans during the First Contact War when your Government was bent on murdering innocents."
Jack stepped in to stop the fighting.
"Enough, we don't have time for this!"
Zoey rolled her eyes at Bethora and walked towards the bunker as Bethora continued to examine the corpses.
Shadow pointed at the Krogan corpse.
"I don't think the Alliance has Krogan in their groups."
Nick kicked over the Krogan Corpse to look for any type of logo on them.
"We're dealing with Freelancers, these mercenaries don't have logo's"
Jack equipped his AR-15, while advancing towards the bunker.
"On me every one, we're going in."
The Ground team followed Shepard into the bunker. As the team began their descent in to the facility, it was quiet and littered with bodies. Shadow was making a noticeable inhale through his nostril.
"You can always remember the smell of a rotting corpse, except these guys just died recently."
Nick's eyes traveled towards shadow.
"What are you suggesting Shadow?"
Shadow equipped his handgun.
"The fight isn't over yet…"
Jack signaled the entire group to equip their weapons, as he heard gunfire echo throughout the facility, the next room would lead to the facilities heart. Jack ordered the crew to take positions on both sides of the door.
As they took their positions, the crew was silent as the gunfire stopped. Nick had an idea of his own.
"Let's go charging in then."
Wrex gave off a silent laugh.
"ha right behind you."
Jack stopped both of them from going in.
"No, we're not going to charge in there blindly, we'll alert whoever is on the other side."
Tali approached Jack.
"Shepard, what do you suggest we do then?"
All eyes were on Shepard.
"Breach and Clear."
Garrus gave off a slight grin, Bethora pulled out a Carnifix while giving Jack a nod, Zoey took out two smgs, Nick charged his Avenger, Both Tali and Wrex equipped there shotguns, Shadow checked his hidden blades then equipped his handgun, and Jack just stood in front of the door while placing a circular explosive which magnetically stuck itself on the door. The explosive device gave off three beeps, on the third beep it destroyed the sealed door causing it to fling across the room smacking a group of mercs out of the ground teams way. Jack fired the first two shots into the Mercenary party before ordering the ground team to move in.
"Go, Go, Go!"
The team charged into the room, spreading out and seperatly maneuvering the large containers that occupied the rooms. Jack approached the first Human Mercenary that was in his way, the mercenary tried to charge at him, but to his dismay Jack just quickly wrapped his right arm around his neck and snapped it, the second one pointed his avenger at Jack and started to spray projectiles at his direction. Jack immediately dodged the oncoming projectiles while advancing towards the mercenary. The Mercenary's gun overheated, while Jack approached him and smashed his head in to the crate. Jack turned around to see a Mercenary tried to grab in a stranglehold, but was immediately flipped on his stomach, Jack slammed his Left foot in to the Mercenary's back breaking his spine. A Krogan Mercenary went Berserk and tried to charge in to Jack, Jack quickly used his palms to stop the Krogan, the Krogan mercenary couldn't believe it, a Human stopped him, while he was still in shock Jack began to pummel the Krogan. With the Krogan feeling wobbly, Jack Tilted his head back then slammed it right in to the Krogan, breaking his helmet, plate, then skull. Two Turian Sentinels activated their jumpacks and charged Jack at high speeds.
Jack Kicked the Turians on the right in to the large crate stunning him, Jack then destroyed a part of the Turians Jetpack making him spiral out of control with the other Turians connected to his Jetpack, with in two seconds the Turians Jetpack explodes on the ceiling. A large Human Mercenary hit Jack with a steel crow bar which bent around the shape of Jack's neck, Jack elbowed the Mercenary so hard his ribcage broke, Jack then spun around twisting the Mercenary's head around, facing his back. A Mercenary sniper, pointed his viper rifle at Jack firing three rounds, Jack who dodged the projectiles switched to his master key firing 3 slugs in to the mercenary ripping him to pieces. At the End of the crates was a Mercenary with a Missile launcher. The Projectile was fired from the weapon, targeting Jack.
Jack however just looked at the Projectile.
[Countering Interference…]
A Red Spark just lit Jack's eyes sending the Missile to spiral out of control throwing the missile back at the mercenary.
As the last Mercenary dropped the group, regrouped by the next door. Bethora approached Jack, who was checking his equipment.
"Nicely done Commander, I've seen your prowess on the battlefield."
Jack laughed a bit.
"This is nothing; you should see me fight on a more spacious area."
Bethora eyes were full of want and gave Jack an eye of interest.
"I may take you up on that offer Commander."
Zoey just glared at Bethora seeing her as a 'potential' threat.
Nick who seemed excited approached the group.
"Did you guys see the way I just toppled those three mercs?"
Wrex was quick to join in.
"Hell yeah I did, great kill Nick!"
Garrus who just shook his head at the ground.
"Nick you toppled them with a giant crate."
Nick looked at Garrus with a raised eyebrow.
"Jealous much?"
Tali approached Jack, who was watching Jack's fight.
"Shepard, I still don't know how you took out 8/10 of those mercs in hand to hand."
"It's nothing special; If you're interested I'll hold a sparring match with you." Replied Jack.
Tali was blushing under her face plate.
Zoey approached Jack next.
"Shepard you're better than a Drell assassin."
"It just takes years of practice to hone your skills with the mastery of Close quarter combat."
Wrex pointed with is thumb behind him.
"So… back to the Mako?"
Jack looked at the second door.
"No.. Not yet the bodies continue behind this door."
Tali stood behind Jack.
"Shepard, do you think there are more mercenaries in the next room?"
Nick gave off a laugh, while pulling out a shotgun.
"Here's hoping!"
Jack looked at the entire crew who were charging their weapons.
"Stay on my six, don't break off unless I give the orders."
Jack activates the door panel only to find a scientist with a gun pointed at him by a mercenary. The Mercenary's blood shot eyes widened on the approach of unexpected company.
"Stay back I got no grief with you all! I got business with this bastard!"
The Scientist was holding his hands in front of his face cowering.
"Please he's a madman, Mr. Toombs you're insane you need help!"
The Mercenary just stepped closer while still pointing the gun at the Scientist.
"It's Corporal! Corporal Toombs! YOU DON'T GET TO LIE! NOT TODAY! Today it all comes out!"
The Doctor took notice to Jack and immediately pleaded for help.
"Officer this man's completely insane, I need help!"
Jack looked at Corporal Toombs while unholstering his weapon.
"Lower the gun and step away from the doctor, or I will discharge my weapon."
Toombs turned around to pay attention to the Alliance Commander.
"You shoot me and there is a good chance, I pull the trigger and vent a hole through this bastard."
Jack didn't have time to deal with this, so he wanted to get this done with. Jack took a deep breath before exhaling.
"What did the doctor do to you Corporal?"
Toombs lowered his weapon his face, was a face of someone who'd wish he was dead.
"We were on Akuze, when the Thresher Maw came and wiped out my whole unit. The Thresher Maw's the scientists…. They were studying them. They let them hit our unit, just to watch! The Screaming in my head, soldiers being pulled under, their corpses being mangled… THE BLOOD! I-I woke up in a holding cell… The Scientists were delighted I survived; they had someone to run tests on."
Jack put a fresh clip in his Colt 1911.
"So this is revenge?"
The Scientist had a shocked look on his face.
"This is insane, you don't have proof… I demand a fair trial!"
Jack just shot a killer look at Doctor Wayne.
"You'll be lucky if you get a bullet in your head."
Upon hearing that Toombs gave off a weak smile and nodded in agreement.
"Ever have Thresher Maw acid in your veins? I do, they wanted to see what it would do."
Zoey put a hand over her mouth.
"Oh my God."
Corporal Toombs raised his firearm and pointed in the direction of Doctor Wayne.
"They're from a Secret Organization called Cerberus that runs secret tests like this."
Jack just about had enough of this Cerberus charade.
"Interesting…"
Corporal Toombs just gave Jack a hateful look.
"Interesting?! They treated me like a Lab animal!" This is justice for me and my unit! This man deserves to die! So are you going to help me or not?
The Doctor couldn't be killed due to he could have information on putting an end to this farce.
"Corporal step away from the Doctor, this isn't the way to do it."
Toombs just glared at Jack.
"The Fuck it isn't you weren't there! Your unit didn't get taken away."
Hearing that Jack grabbed Toombs and slammed him against the steel wall.
"Don't ever say that again, You know nothing about my unit!"
Tali approached Jack and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Shepard…It's okay…"
Jack dropped Toombs, and looked at the crew.
"Give me a minute with Dr. Wayne… You too Toombs."
The whole crew including Toombs stepped outside the room. Jack with a killer expression on his face, turned to the frightful Doctor. Jack approached the Doctor and held him by the neck lifting him a couple inches off the ground.
"I need answers right now."
Wayne was holding Jack's arms as he struggled for air.
"I don't know what you're talking about?!"
Jack slammed him against the steel wall.
"Bull Shit, who's the organization you're actually working for?"
Doctor Wayne was about to say Cerberus but Jack cut him off by slamming Wayne on the Steel floor, he then placed his boot on his neck.
"No you're not."
Doctor Wayne was trying to gasp for air while he quickly replied to Jack.
"How do you know, do you have proof?!"
The next words that came out of Jack's mouth put fear in to the Doctor's eyes.
"Because I work for them."
Doctor Wayne began to shake and sweat.
"You're lying! You're not from Cerberus!"
Jack increased pressure on Doctor Wayne's neck.
"Oh I'm from them alright, why are you pretending to be us?"
Doctor Wayne was gasping for air, while trying to maintain his fear.
"You don't know who you're dealing with here!"
Jack chuckled silently.
"Humor me."
"The things they know would bring Humanity to its destruction."
Jack removed his boot off his neck then kicked Doctor Wayne in the stomach, then brought him up off the ground with his right hand.
"Because of you and your fake 'Cerberus' you have humanity pitted up against each other."
Doctor Wayne just shook his head quickly.
"No we were only trying to save Humanity from the dark reaches of this God forsaken Galaxy."
Jack had enough of Doctor Wayne's lies, Jack's face reverted back to Project Renegade's scarring. The crew waiting on the other side could hear a frantic screaming, like his limbs being torn apart.
Garrus shook a bit from the screaming.
"Spirits! What's Shepard doing in there?"
Toombs had high hopes of whatever it was it would be painful.
"Hopefully making him suffer."
Doctor Wayne's eyes were completely white, and smoke began to come out of his iris. Jack dropped him from his collar.
"You didn't know as much, you were only contacted through an agent."
Jack approaches the terminal behind the Doctor's corpse. With the terminal active, he begins to collect information on this facility and this mysterious organization. As he finishes up he heard a knock on the door.
"Shepard? Are you alright in there?" Asked Tali.
The door slides open revealing the Commander, who was exiting the room with the dead corpse in it.
"I'm fine Tali."
Nick looked in to the room.
"What did you to him?"
Jack looked at Nick.
"I punished him" lied Jack.
Toombs looked in the room seeing the dead corpse.
"Is he dead?"
Jack nodded, then proceeded to walk away.
The trip back to the Normandy was a quite one; all eyes were covertly on Jack. Bethora decided to break the silence.
"Shepard, if you don't mind me asking what did you really do to him in there?"
Eyes still on the terrain, he replied back with an emotionless voice.
"I extracted information out of him."
Garrus decided to chip in to the conversation trying to find out if the information was important.
"What kind of information?"
"The important Kind" Jack replied quickly.
"That's not much to go on Commander" stated Bethora
Zoey had enough with the Turian Inquisition.
"Would you two step off, Shepard obviously can't talk about right Shepard?"
Jack nodded while still concentrating on his view ahead of him.
"Sorry guys this information belongs to C'cough' Alliance Command, top priority."
Nick kicked his feet up on the seats inside the Mako.
"When has anything been top priority with them?"
Tali took a breath of relief.
"Whatever it is, I hope it's worth it, going down hearing about the sick experiments."
Jack smiled and clicked the button on the detonator in his left hand. A second later a mushroom cloud appeared behind them.
"What the Hell?!" announced Wrex.
"That was me" Stated Jack.
The entire crew just looked at Jack with a confused look.
"Why blow up the entire facility?" Asked Zoey
"Scorched Earth Response to an inhumane practice." Replied Jack
"Isn't that a little extreme?" Stated Tali
Jack gave off a sarcastic laugh.
"No what is extreme is dousing gasoline on your enemy and lighting their bodies on fire." 2158 HWS Justice
The ground team's eyes widened as Jack lit his cigarette.
"What?"
As the Crew went to their station on the Normandy, Jack heads to his cabin and forwards the data to Cerberus Command. Ten minutes later Jack's PM blinked Red again.
/
Excellent Find Shepard! The Data you found is starting to tear holes in this fake 'Cerberus' scheme, although we don't know what their intentions are, we have evidence that these attacks were not from us. We've forwarded the reports to The Illusive Man, he is pleased with your findings. While we find more information on the other facilities continue your hunt for Saren, We're all counting on you Shepard Good Luck!
P.S. Good Job of destroying that facility, you really know how to execute the scorched earth response Shepard, we'll begin setting down a facility immediately.
-Cerberus Command
Jack falls on his bed and shuts his eyes for the next day, tomorrow we would be heading towards the Citadel for resupplies.