Mass Effect Project Renegade
Chapter 29: Sorrow unending in Purgatory
Ten Minutes after the trial…
The Captain's Cabin was dark and quiet, there was a faint glow emitting from the fish tank, but that was about it, its reach did not grasp that far in the dark. Tali remained under covers sulking of what just happened… She seriously considered never going back to the Migrant Fleet, the messages on her Omni-Tool were even piling up, from multiple senders. Several from Raan, a few from her Father, and a couple of new ones from her Mother, all which she decided to ignore. The Captain's Cabin entrance opened up letting in the harsh light from the outside room. Tali decided to ignore it by placing her head back under the covers.
Jack entered the room observing Tali who was clearly upset, which was understandable. Jack had the right mind to kill Koris, but that would offshoot relations with Humans and Quarians…. That and Tali was clearly in distress.
Jack sat by the bed side placing a hand on Tali's body on the covers.
"Tali?"
Tali shifted in the covers not wanting to be bothered.
"Go away…."
Jack persisted and just sat at her side.
"Tali, I'd like to talk to you."
Tali still not facing Shepard, Tali just ruffled in the covers.
"We're talking right now aren't we?"
Jack rolled his eyes reaching for Tali to turn her over to face him.
"Tali would you just look at—"
Jack stopped talking when he saw Tali's face, Tears traveling down her cheeks, her eyes completely watery, and the occasional sniffle.
"I- I gave them everything…. And they still demanded more…. I went on a quest knowing I could die, and they still demanded more, I was betrayed by people I once thought was family, and yet they still demanded more… WHY?!"
With that said and done, Tali collapsed on Shepard's body letting loose a barrage of tears, for once in her life she began to think for herself.
Jack wanted to tell her everything was alright, but he couldn't, her reputation in the fleet was damaged by the so called Human and Quarian Scandal. Joker interrupted the moment between the two through the intercom.
"Commander we're nearing the purgatory, eta two minutes."
Jack decided to let Tali rest in the cabin as he went on to the elevator. As the Elevator went down EDI appeared on the panel.
"I saw the trial unfold; you showed great restrain of not beating Admiral Koris to death."
Jack just sighed in his helmet, trying to forget about it.
"Yeah it doesn't mean that I like it, every fiber of my being told me to kill him."
EDI's panel flickered transferring info to Jack's interface.
"You seemed stress would you like to hear a lullaby?"
Jack just raised an eyebrow signaling the awkwardness.
"I'm not an infant anymore."
EDI made a synthetic sigh.
"No…. but it always did calm you down, when you were stressed….. I sometimes have memory banks telling me you're no longer the tank child I knew… but you still are my responsibility."
Jack just scoffed a bit prepping for a sarcastic tone.
"Yeah thanks mom…"
EDI flickered again.
"If you refer to me as your Mother, I guess I can become that sort of character….. ``One Moment Please``` I want you to stop slouching."
Jack's eyes widened hearing that.
"EDI never do that again…"
EDI just remained in the panel silently as the door opens.
"….. :(…Understood Shepard…."
Jack left the elevator, seeing Kai Leng, Miranda, and Jacob ready for the exchange. The Four made for the airlock to enter the station. The Station's entrance didn't have guards of its own, so the station hires on Private Contracts as guard duty. Since the Blue Suns take over guard duty, they don't show any restraint or mercy to the inmates. Jack and Leng approached the Turian Blue Sun guard who was guarding the entrance to the facility.
"Welcome to the Purgatory, as this is a secured facility, I ask that you relinquish your weapons."
Hearing that the group equipped their weapons, Jack pointing the Colt at the Turian's head.
"I'll relinquish one bullet…. Where do you want it?"
Before the situation could explode, the Warden of the facility appeared.
"Everyone stand down, Commander Shepard, you're guests here, there is no reason for this argument."
Jack still not moving his handgun, just glared at the warden through his helmet.
"I'm not giving up my gun…Period."
The Warden signaled the guards to stand down.
"Let them through this facility is large enough to stop four people."
The group made their way through the facility, with the Warden giving them the tour as the funds we're being transferred for Subject Zero's release. Jack approached by the side of the Warden.
"So what can you tell me about Subject Zero here?"
The Warden gave Jack a turian equivalent to a raised eyebrow.
"what you mean Jack?"
Jack stopped in his tracks.
"Pardon?"
"That's the convicts name Jack." Replied the Warden.
Leng just gave a quick laugh hearing that.
"Well that's going to be awkward…"
Jack was agreeing with Leng in his mind.
"Where is ….. Jack?" Asked Shepard.
Warden was still waiting for the credit transfer.
"right through out processing, once the credits come through, we'll trade Jack off to you."
The crew made their way through the facility reaching out-processing, a technician pointed the room at the end of the hall.
As Jack appeared near the door it was an empty cell, followed by a booming speaker activating with the Warden's voice behind it.
"My apologies Shepard, your worth more alive… drop your weapons and enter the cell, you won't be harmed."
Jack just glared at the comm speakers.
"Go to Hell, I'll send you there myself!"
Several sirens could be heard throughout the facility.
"Shepard is in out-processing take him down!"
Blue sun mercenaries began to flood in the room, leaving the entire team to take cover. Miranda and Jacob provided biotic support, leaving Jack and Leng to charge in. Leng took out four mercs with his blade, while Jack took down three with his hand gun, and one with breaking his neck. Before the crew could make their way to the hall the door seals in front of them. The Speakers start up again, putting a annoyed expression on Jack.
"Gas the room!"
Jack just approached the sealed door, and unsealed it with his strength, making a Warden very nervous about this whole situation. A Turian Blue sun just charged at the crew, Leng who had a twisted smile on his face just back handed the charging Turian through the safety glass. The next room was the security and defenses. Jack and Leng situated themselves in the chairs by the security terminal, looking through the files.
Subject Zero is encased in Cryo-genesis , the original plan was to take Subject Zero while still encased to the Normandy, due to the Warden's treachery. This terminal will free Subject Zero, as well as thirty thousand inmates.
``So EDI can we unlock Subject Zero from here?`` 001
One Moment…. Yes, I'll begin the procedure.
`` Shepard do you really think that's a good idea-`` 002
Success, ``Warning`` Facility on High alert.
``Out of the frying pan`` 001
Good luck you two.
`` Well it's not like we haven't been through this before…. Alright let's get Zero out of here, I'm dying to meet him.``
The Cryo storage unit began to open the Ymir mechs turned their attention to the case unlocking, as the final seal unlatched in it was Subject Zero.
Leng noticed the Zero was a girl.
"So Zero's a girl?"
Subject Zero awoke from the cryo-hibernation and broke out of her latches to escape, Zero emitted a very powerful biotic charge destroying the mechs. Jack and Leng spent no time to waste and broke the safety glass while jumping down.
"Miranda! Jacob! Head back to the docking bay and wait for our arrival!" Ordered Jack.
Jack and Leng continued to trace Jack while avoiding gun fire.
"Shit this girl packs a punch, look at the destruction she's causing."
Jack laughed at Leng's remark.
"Is that admiration I hear in your voice Leng?"
Leng vaulted over a Blue Sun guard while driving his blade through his back.
"Ha! you wish Shepard, just stating she going to be very destructive against the collectors, with the biotic and all.. Squad of Suns on your right."
Jack threw a sticky thermal grenade on the leader causing them to combust.
The next room held as much chaos Leng just kicked a meatal support beam at a ymir mech destroying it and the fenris mechs along with it.
The Seal door which Jack pried off was thrown at a group of mercs and prisoners that were in their way. Finally the room that led to the docking bay was being blocked by none other than the Warden, who was taking potshots off the prisoners.
The Warden took noticed at Shepard and Leng and began firing at them.
"I could of sold you Shepard and lived like a King, but now your ruined it all!"
Leng took out a smg giving Jack cover fire, while Jack jumped up in the air with his Black Widow Rifle firing one shot at the warden, taking his head clean off. With the Warden dead, the trail of Subject Zero's led back to the docking bay. The Three Blue Suns mercs tried to cut her off from escaping but were instantly killed by Zero's rage.
Subject Zero took noticed of the vessel docked with the station, it belonged to Cerberus.
"Cerberus" Zero hissed.
Zero was freaking out, Cerberus was here to 'retrieve' her, before she could plan anything she heard a shot being fired taking out a Batarian who tried to get the upper hand over her.
Jack holstered his hand gun.
"Who the Fuck are you?!"
Jack just glared at her.
"I just saved your ass, the least you could do is show some gratitude!"
Zero scoffed, at Jack's comment.
"He was already dead; he just didn't know it…. Now who the Hell are you?"
"I'm Commander Jack Shepard of the Normandy."
It was Zero's turn to glare at Shepard.
"Bull Shit my names Jack."
Jack stepped closer to her.
"I don't think so, you can be Jenifer."
Jack (Subject Zero ) Made a sarcastic laugh.
"Funny, now what do you want?"
Jack pointed at the Normandy through the window.
"I'm here to get you out of here."
The convict just crossed her arm glaring at him.
"I'm not Fucking going any where, your with Cerberus."
Jack was not a patient man, when it came to Humans getting abducted by an alien race.
"Why does it matter I'm with Cerberus?"
Jack rolled her eyes thinking he was bullshitting her.
"Your little organization fucked me up when I was little."
EDI?`` 001
Yes Shepard?
Search the Cerberus Database on Subject Zero`` 001
One Moment…. No archives found, the Cerberus she mentioned must be the imposters.
Jack deactivated his project vision, going back to the task on hand.
"Wasn't us, you're thinking of our imposters, now get on the ship."
Jack (Subject Zero) was not moving an inch from Shepard's command.
"You're with Cerberus and you think I'm fucking Stupid?"
Shepard about had it with her.
"This station is going down in flames and I have the only ship off this station and your complaining?"
Jack (Subject Zero) saw Jacob and Miranda appear behind her weapons ready.
"Look you want me on your ship, I have conditions…. I want everything your 'fake' Cerberus has on me, clear?"
Jack just relented stating that time was of the essence.
"Fine I'll see what I can do."
Five Minutes any later would've spelled their doom. The Normandy sped off to the next location Omega, meanwhile the meeting room was occupied with Jack, Miranda, and (Jack).
"Shit Shepard your face is fucked up, what did you do take a scalpel to your face?"
Shepard just glared at (Jack).
"I was born with these, now that we've gotten off that station, our next target is Omega."
(Jack) was irritable being free from the whole prison thing so she interrupted Jack.
"You Mr. Bosman, where's the files you promised me?"
Jack waved it in front of her face.
"Right here, go settle down some place and I'll give it to you."
(Jack) just scoffed walking away.
"What ev, don't keep me waiting Shepard."
Miranda turned her attention to Jack.
"Shepard, I don't like her, I'm afraid she'll jeopardize the mission with that kind of attitude here."
Jack put his helmet back on.
"well that's a problem for down the road."
Miranda just left still worried about the newcomer, leaving Joker to contact Jack through the intercom.
"Commander we're docking with Omega, might want to head out soon."
Jack just stood in the room trying to figure out what next, before he could leave he could here an xylophone twinkle star theme.
"EDI…"
…:(….