Mass Effect Project Renegade
Chapter 17: The Secrets of Noveria
Noveria Docking station/Ground Team: [Jack/Ashley/Zoey/Liara/Tali]
Jack knew Benezia had to be brought in, she had information to Saren's whereabouts, if he could apprehend her he could stop the Reaper scheme before it even starts. As the Ground team exits the Normandy, the crew is stopped by the entrance of the station. The Security Guard Captain held up her hand gesturing the crew to freeze.
"That's far enough."
Jack just gave the Captain a dead stare.
"Can I help you?"
The Captain checked her Omni-Tool, checking the status on any new incoming information.
"This is an unscheduled arrival I need your credentials."
Jack remained silent for a couple seconds.
"No."
The Sgt. by the Captain just gave Jack a hateful glare.
"We're the law here show some respect."
Jack's head snapped towards the direction of the Sargent.
"Shut up, and as for my credentials I'm saying this again No."
"Sargent sterling, secure their weapons." Ordered the Captain.
As the Sargent stepped forward the Crew raised their weapons at the Security detail. The Captain Immediately activated an energy Surge, shorting out the crews weapons, the action caused the Sargent to openly mock them.
"Your weapons are decommissioned, they're no longer a threat."
Jack gave off a deviant grin.
"You must think you're so smart, guess what mine isn't galactic issue."
As Jack equipped his AR-15, the Captain's eyes widened.
"Illegal Weapon! Take him down!"
The Five officers opened fire on Jack all unloading a barrage on him, as their weapons overheated, Jack was still standing. Jack just cracked his neck and pointed his rifle at the security detail.
"Self defense."
Jack Fired exactly five shots, all bypassing their shields. The Security detail dropped and the camera on the door caught the incident, Jack signaled his crew to follow him in, as the effects of their weapons have worn off. As Jack approached the management and detail desk the gun alarms go off. The alarm was quickly silenced by Gianna Parasini.
"It's okay, don't worry about the alarms people…. Ah Commander Shepard, I don't know how you survived, but Noveria Security Detail is not pressing any charges due to their security detail fired first, and also that you are the first Human Spectre…"
Ashley crossed her arm with disappointed glare.
"Yeah real nice welcoming committee, I like how you shot at our Commander."
Gianna's eyes shifted to Ashley, then to Shepard, examining him for any wounds.
"Well you're no worse for wear, but Noveria customs would like to extend our apologies."
Time was not on the Commander's side, he had to extract Benezia quickly before she could make it off world.
"I'm looking for Matriarch Benezia, do you know where she is?"
Gianna checked her console on the recent arrivals.
"Ah! Here it is, yes Matriarch Benezia came here with a lot of Asari Commandoes as an escort, including ten or twenty shipping crates, It says here she went to Peak 15 and is schedule to leave by tomorrow."
Zoey stepped in for Jack.
"You let a wanted Fugitive through your facility without even holding her, just tells me what Noveria's all about."
Jack signaled Zoey to calm down; Zoey took a couple steps from the desk.
"I need access there immediately."
Jack's voice was tensing up, she already had a two day head start on Noveria, and she could be expecting them too. Gianna gave Jack directions to the upper district of Noveria.
"You need to talk to Anoleis, to leave to the Administration garage. "
"Thanks" Replied Jack.
The Crew made their way to the elevators and waited for the top floor. As the crew waited the elevator speakers announced the Local Galactic news of the Galaxy.
"In recent reports several Human Colonies on the border of the Terminus have gone out on their seventh threat to secede from the Systems Alliance, from recent Restrictions posed on their freedoms by the 'Tyrants' on the Council. The recent Interview landed by Westerlund news on Commander Shepard, caused the situation to fragment to multiple colonies, demanding the Systems Alliance to separate them from the Council.
Political Assessments in the Parliament of the Systems Alliance are teetering on the balance of multiple parties
Independents 12%
Conservative 39%
Xeno-Assimilates 10%
Terra Firma 39%"
Terra Firma is preparing to seek support from Commander Shepard, hoping for public support , Senator Scott Malcom of the Terra Firma platform recently said 'Support from Commander Shepard would win us the Parliament Floor, making it possible to separate from the Tyrant's on our border.'
Financial reports on Human Corporations are preparing to shut down and move their business out of Citadel Space and back in to Systems Alliance Territory, due to high tariff's placed on them by Council, many Human business owners are calling this tariff racially motivated."
The Ground team exited the elevator and made their way towards the Administrative Office. As Jack approached Administrator Anoleis, The administrator seemed more concern of his work than an approaching Spectre.
"You'll excuse me if I don't stand up, I don't have time to entertain refugees from the Urban-Blight called Earth"
Both Zoey and Ashley glared at Anoleis, while Jack just took the direct approach grabbing the administrator's head and slamming it on to his desk, as the administrator was dazed, Jack threw the desk breaking against the steel wall. With a knife drawn on the administrator, Jack pressed it closer to his neck.
"Funny thing about Human's you can never predict what we might do next, now give me the pass to the garage, before I paint the wall with your blood."
Anoleis was shaking, he immediately handed it to him, Jack then dropped the Administrator, and proceeded to the Garage. Liara, looked at Jack, learning from this.
"I guess those rumors were true about Humans, you're very effective of how you get things done."
Jack just stayed quiet on their way to the garage. As the ground team entered the Garage, they immediately went for cover as Geth began to fire on their position. Jack drew his Colt's and sprung out of cover, firing several rounds at the Geth platforms, each shot critical areas. A Geth stalker pounced Tali, striking her suits systems, causing it to haywire.
"Shepard!"'
Jack's eyes widened and body slammed in to the Geth Stalker while firing at it with his handguns. As the last Geth platforms fell before the ground team, Jack immediately headed for Tali's location, Tali was obviously shaking from the suit's malfunction he grabbed a hold of her right arm, and used his Project vision on the suit's systems.
[SYSTEMS OPERATIONAL][CONNECTING TO USER SYSTEM]-[HOST SYSTEM MALFUNCTION REROUTING SYSTEM…. COMPLETE, SUIT OPERATIONS NORMALIZED]
[RETURN/SYSTEM SHUTDOWN]
Tali stopped shaking as her suit's functions normalized.
"Th-thanks for saving me again Shepard."
Shepard lent her a hand to help her up. The ground team made their way in the Garage's Mako, to continue their journey to Peak 15.
2162
RSF
Nara was explained how she was revived, she was awestruck, that she was brought back from the dead, Her Immune System Perfect, wounds treated, she didn't know how to explain it, but she felt new. She was eager to return to the fleet and tell everyone of this.
"I'm sorry Nara, no one can know of our Operations here, we technically don't exist…"
Nara was starting to feel shivers in her body, were they going to kill her?
"You're going to kill me aren't you?"
May immediately shook her head.
"No! We're going to wipe your memory; you'll have no memory of us, or your death. "
Nara stayed silent; she would never know that she could leave her suit again. Jack held up a device in front of her eyes, it gave off a blue shock, knocking her unconscious.
Several Hours later…
Exela
Jack placed the Unconscious Quarian Nara down where he found her, he then placed the extracted data from the Geth down in front of her body, he placed a predator handgun in her hand. He stood up and examined the scene hoping for her to buy it, but before he left, he placed a data pad containing 800,000 Credits on it.
End of Flash Back…
As the Mako stopped at the Peak 15 entrance, the garage access was blocked by Ice. The Crew unloaded from the Mako and headed in to the engineering access door.
The Ground team fought their way towards the access elevator and stopping at the research lab where they spotted bugged like creatures, they were feral, and killing anything in their site even the Geth. It took twenty minutes for them to fight their way up to a second elevator leading to the stations VI.
Jack jumped down the access point accessing the VI.
[SYSTEM FORCE START]
[GRANTED]
[SHUTTING DOWN]
The VI told the crew where Benezia was located and that it could unlock at tram sending them to their location. The Crew boarded the Tram and waited for their arrival to the heart of the station.
2170
RSF Jack's Room.
Jack was on his Computer checking the stats of operations reports and sorting through Platoon missions, before Jack could continue with his reports he heard a knock on his door. He walked over to his door to answer it, when he hit the unlock button the door slid open revealing It was May, who was holding a platter of chocolate chip cookies, which earned a raised brow from Jack.
"May can I help you?"
May shyly looked up in to Jack's eyes.
"Do you mind if I come in?"
Jack stepped out of her way she set the platter on his desk, while grabbing one and offering it to Jack.
"I made these for you, Jack…"
Jack grabbed the cookie from May's hand, then took a small bite.
"Thanks…"
May gave off a small smile.
"Jack can we talk?"
Jack sat down at his desk, turning his chair facing towards May.
"This duty related Sargent?"
May shook her head signaling it wasn't duty related.
"No sir, I-"
Jack looked at May's form, she was nervous, did she do something wrong? May took a few steps towards Jack, she stopped a few feet away from Jack's position. Jack was about to ask what was wrong and get to the bottom of this, but before he could get up from his seat, May tackled him to the ground locking lips with him in the process. The sudden action caused Jack's eyes to widen as he was on his back and May continued her assault on her superior. May while still on top of her superior sat up on him, a second later she immediately ripped her Project Renegade shirt off exposing her breasts. May caught up in the moment grabbed Jack's shirt tearing it off, Jack sat up what surprised him next was instead of stopping his subordinate from stopping, he grabbed her waist pulling her in for a kiss.
As May and Jack locked lips for the second time May's eyes started to leak with tears, she grabbed a hold of Jack's face, trying to deepen the kiss. Jack grabbed May's body and picking her up, faces still together, Jack breaks the kiss, and sets her down on his bed. May started to remove her lower clothing on her body. Jack began to remove his clothing as well. May laid on her back, and just watched has Jack crawled over her body, Jack prepared to enter May's body, but before he did he just observed her face for any signs of wanting to back out. May grabbed a hold of Jack's waist and pulled him down, forcing him to enter her. May let out a gasp, hearing that Jack was trying to pull out, but not before May stopped by wrapping her legs around his body, keeping him in.
"Jack please you don't know how long I wanted you to do this."
Hearing that Jack resumed his entry, May however pushed Jack on his back, and May was the one on top now. Riding Jack at a steady rhythm, she placed her hands on Jack's chest, feeling his heartbeat. Jack grabbed May's arms while pushing her body on the bed; Jack held her arms above her head as she lied under Jack. May gave off a devious smile, distracting Jack while using her legs to Flip Jack off the bed and on to the ground, as Jack hit the ground he made an unsubtle grunt as May made a force entry by rolling over and landing on him. Jack wrapped a leg under hers and rolled over on the ground putting him on top. Jack thinking he was successful continues to pick up the pace with an unsteady rhythm, but May refused to let Jack be on top, she grabbed Jack's shoulders raising her head off the ground for a second; she tilted her head back and then head-butted Jack. The force of the head-butt knocked Jack off of her, Jack stumbled back on his feet, while may just body slammed Jack in to his wall making a dent in the steel wall. Jack's back was leaning on his desk, his body facing May who was about to make her move. May charged at Jack, but Jack just shifted his body behind May pinning her front on his desk.
May prepared to move, but Jack already grabbed a hold of her arms putting it behind her back and holding it with one arm, Jack penetrated behind her, she gave out a noticeable gasp as the force was immense. Jack's thrusts were picking up her lower body, shifting it up and down. May was beginning to make moaning noises as her body was adjusting to Jack. Jack let go of May's arms and moved his hands from her waist all the way down to her rear end. May shifted her body turning around now facing Jack, May held her arm up wrapping around Jack's head pulling him closer to her face. The pace was beginning to pick up between 'activity', Jack grabbed a hold of May's back and brought her with him as he sat down in his chair. May grabbed a hold of the chairs arms as she picked up her pace. May's eyes widened as she felt her lower region spasm, May rested herself on Jack, grabbing a hold of his body, seconds later, reenergized she grabs Jack's body pulling him off the chair and on to the ground.
Ten Hours Later…
Jack's room was practically destroyed, desk broken in half, walls dented, clothing tossed around, and the two occupants bodies were under the covers, Jack took a deep inhale from his cigarette, before May snatched it and took a large inhale, the two of them talked after their session, and agreed to recognize themselves in a relationship.
End of Flash Back…
The Cart stopped at the Labs and the door located where Benezia is, was locked. Ashley Williams suggested they find a way around maybe navigating through the hot labs, but Jack was done playing it safe, he wasn't going to give Benezia time to plan. Shepard Punched a hole in to the doors console, breaking the lock and sliding open. The ground team was utterly shocked and Zoey somewhat turned on of what she just witnessed.
"On my six were going in to hostile environment."
Jack equipped his stake out and continued through the hall ways of the lab, Jack managed to catch two Asari Commandos off guard by pumping them full of led with the stake out. Purple mist sprayed on the wall, as the bodies were flung by the power of the blast. One Asari Commando fired a biotic blast at Jack which disintegrated around him, Jack pointed the stake out at the Asari firing at her taking her head off. Jack reloaded the shells in to his weapon, but before he could finish reloading a Geth Stalker tackled him, Jack wrapped his arm around the Geth Stalker's neck and tore it off of its body flinging it over the rail. A group of both Asari Commandos and Geth Shock troops were running up the stairs to face Jack, however Jack put away his stake out and equipped his MP5 and fired off a grenade, incinerating the two groups. The Crew continued down the stairs while stepping over body parts of both Geth and Asari. As Jack approached the Second door this one was sealed and locked, Jack put his foot to the door and kicked it down, crushing three Geth Platforms.
Jack looked around the area, then he saw her, Saren's right hand Benezia.
"You do not know the privilege of being a mother. There is power in creation. To shape a life, turn it toward happiness or despair."
Benezia pointed at the Tank holding a Giant bug.
"Her Children were to be ours. Raised to hunt and slay Saren's enemies."
Benezia then face towards the direction of Shepard.
"I won't be moved by sympathy, No matter who you bring into this confrontation."
Jack looked at Liara, then at Benezia.
"Liara's here because she wants to be. Not because I asked her to."
Benezia then looked at Liara.
"Indeed? What have you told him about me, Liara?"
Liara's eyes begun to shake as she replied to her mother.
"What could I say, mother? That You're insane? Evil? Should I explain how to kill you? What could I say?"
Benezia completely ignored Liara and looked at Jack.
"Have you face an Asari commando unit before? Few Humans have."
Jack pointed in the back behind him.
"I expected better from Asari Commandos before I painted the walls with their blood. So you won't look so smug when I put a bullet in your head."
Benezia through a stasis field around the crew but to her dismay Jack was unaffected to the attack, he eyes widened as Jack began to walk down the stairs.
"Funny most of Asari military rely on their biotics for their attack, that won't work on me, nor will it save you from me either."
Benezia took a few steps back, she desperately was trying to figure something out, the plasma barrel caught her attention she biotically picked it up and threw it at Jack. Tali's eyes widened as she came out of stasis first, she saw the barrel coming behind Jack.
"Shepard Watch out!"
Shepard turned behind him seeing the explosive barrel collide with his body, throwing him to the ground. Benezia gave off an evil grin believing she had just killed Commander Shepard, but her Victory was short lived Jack got off of the ground and now facing her with a new face, Jack's face now has his scars back, his eyes reverted back as well. Benezia now afraid took out her smg and was about to fire a barrage of projectiles, but Jack took out his Colt and began firing rounds in to her, [Shots in order/ Right arm/Left Arm/Left knee cap/Right knee cap/two shots in the Cest.] Benezia fell down sliding against the console.
Jack approached her weak body, she was coughing up blood, the crew stayed behind Jack facing his back.
"Where did Saren Go?"
Benezia looked at Jack, while coughing up blood.
"To search for the Conduit, he left me behind to find the Mu Relay, I have the coordinates take them, I- I wasn't myself (Cough!), Saren did this to me, his flagship… it brainwashed me, made me follow Saren's path, his beliefs, I felt compelled to do it, I tried to resist so hard, but it was to late for me, I should've realized the first signs of it."
Jack still had his gun pointed at Benezia.
"You went to Saren even though he had history with the Systems Alliance Why?"
Benezia was holding her wound on her chest.
"I-I'd thought if I went to him I could sway him away from this path, but I was caught up in it, he turned me over to his way of thinking, and.. and it felt right."
Jack eyes pierced through Benezia's soul, for the first time in her life she felt the true feeling of fear.
"You're not normal, no Human is that strong, even the scars on your-"
Benezia didn't get to finish that sentence, as Jack discharged his weapon in to her skull while reverting his scars back behind the synthetic gel. Liara was in tears but chose not to notify the crew of it. The Crew raised their weapons at the walking Asari Corpse near Shepard talking.
"This one serves as our voice… we cannot sing… not in these low spaces… Your music is colorless…"
Jack looks at the tank.
"Are you using this Asari corpse to speak for you?"
"Yes we are using this now dead vessel as a way for communication, we cannot hold on to this vessel for long please will you hear us out?"
Jack kept his eyes on the tank, trying to figure out what it was.
"What exactly are you?"
The next words shocked everyone in the room.
"We are the Mother… Those left behind… The children you thought were silenced… We are Rachni…"
Ashley pointed at the acid tanks inside as a countermeasure.
"Commander this thing is rigged with acid, spray it and let's get the hell out of here."
Liara was appalled Ashley would even suggest that.
"No you can't she's the last of her kind!"
Tali even decided to chip in.
"Shepard she's the last of her kind, we don't have the objectivity to make that kind of decision."
Zoey approached Jack.
"Shepard I'm with you on whatever choice you make."
Jack looked at the tank.
"You better start running I'm activating a Containment Protocol, anything Organic left in this facility will be Vaporized."
The Rachni just shook it's body stating it understood, as the tank moved up to the vent the Alarms went off.
Containment Protocol initiated all personal evacuate immediately, you have Five Minutes.
Jack signaled the radio for an emergency pickup as the timer was going down, the ground team got off of Noveria with twenty seconds to spare. The crew gathered in the comm room for debriefing.
Ashley was the first to ask Jack a question on the Mission.
"So Commander what's next do we head to the Mu Relay?"
Jack just shook his head.
"No the Mu Relay can link to dozen of systems, unless we know where Saren is going with the Relay we would be chasing ghosts... I think Ferros will be our next target, but I may put that on hold an asteroid from Terra Nova is going haywire…. Crew dismissed."
As the Crew walked out of the Comm room Joker spoke up.
"Commander I forwarded the mission reports to the Council, do you want me to patch you through to them?"
Jack grabbed a cigarette while looking up at the receiver.
"Go ahead."
Tevos was the first to speak.
"Is this some sort of game to you Commander, did you call to hang up on us?"
Jack inhaled the tobacco, while glaring at Tevos.
"Don't let your pet piss me off and I won't hang up."
Tevos looked at the reports, on Noveria and it shocked her.
"We received your reports on Noveria, is it true Rachni?"
Sparatus interrupted the Asari Councilor.
"and annihilated the facility, killing the queen, do you enjoy committing Genocide?"
Jack dropped his cigarette and put it out with his foot.
"Depends on the species Turian."
Sparatus just glared at Commander Shepard.
"Commander I am a member of the Council and you will treat me with the upmost respect."
Jack concentrated on Sparatus.
"I have more respect to the Varrens than to you, but I will say this and I mean it with the utmost respect… Kiss my Ass! "
Joker disconnected the channel.
"That never gets old."
Before Jack could leave Liara and Ashley approach him.