Threat neutralized.
Michael pushed forth, armoured boots crushing Rachni limbs under his weight as he took point down the long, and now gore-covered, corridor.
"Why did they do that?" Kaidan muttered the question. "Just jump out of the floor like that...but right in front of us...they had to know that's suicide by now."
"No one said Rachni were smart." Wrex grunted, the Krogan's heavy footfall right behind Michael as the mercenary followed.
"Rachni war suggests otherwise." Michael noted, taking in the slaughtered dozen of Rachni with calm eyes. Fourth time, assaults sporadic and disorganized, blind rushes without any concern for survival, none have retreated. "Their behaviour is different from what reports from the war suggests."
A shrug from Wrex: "I'm not complaining."
Agreed.
"Perhaps this behaviour, if it is unusual as the Commander says, is tied in with their escape of the facilities containment procedures?" Liara suggested, the Asari had been quiet for a long time now, but when things could be analysed...Michael nearly smiled.
"So they manage to escape...and lost their minds?" Kaidan asked. "Sorry but that doesn't make sense."
"Or perhaps their minds were lost already." Liara retorted. "If so the assumption that they are intelligent would perhaps have given them a window to break free, Saren was breeding these Rachni to fight for him after all, can't imagine they were supposed to be mindless."
"Irrelevant, we will find out soon enough." Michael snapped, silencing them as he moved closer to the door ahead, hand reaching out towards a gutted Rachni leaning against it...
Only for the door to open and drop the corpse inwards.
"Don't move!"
Danger.
Michael's shotgun was up, instantly finding the shouting man's head in his crosshair as he took a step into the new room, then one to the right, letting Wrex crush the dead Rachni under his bulk as the Krogan too stepped into the room.
There were three of them, a dark-skinned human between two nearly white Turians. All with their armour stained with old Rachni blood and with their rifles levelled at the newcomers, their eyes wide as they pressed themselves against the improvised barricade of boxes they had set up at their end of the room, a small semi-circle around the doorway to another corridor.
Colours of armour suggests binary helix guards, defences set up suggests more survivors behind them, their limbs are shaking...exhaustion mixed with stress.
The eyes of the three guards widened at the sight of the Krogan towering over them...one of the Turian's twitching in a way that made Michael all too aware of his own...thirst.
Focus, mission takes priority.
He lowered his weapon and took a step forward, his voice slow and calm: "Don't point guns at us, we're your rescue."
"I...I..." The human, obviously the captain of the guards, shook his head, eyes dim as he looked at Michael, arms twitching, unable to comply, the stress and fear keeping the weapon up even as logic argued against it.
Another step forward, Michael aware of the others in the team filing out behind him, ready to fight if need be. Won't be a need to fight, soft words needed. "We are not Rachni, we came with the tram, we can get you and any other survivors out of here..."
"I...okay." The man lowered his gun...and the two Turians followed his example, their shoulders slumping, all energy going out of them as they leant against their barricade, clearly desperate for rest.
Michael holstered his shotgun, hearing the others in his team do the same as he moved forth until he stood just at the other side of the barricade: "How many survivors are there? What happened?"
"We're still not sure...they just broke free...they were supposed to be docile..." The captain's eyes hardened for just moment...then softened as his shoulders slumped: "...the doctors were wrong..."
"Survivors Captain? How many survivors are there?"
A shake of his head, the man's eyes dim as he struggled to think: "M-maybe...three dozen? Half are guards...the rest scientists...none who seems to know anything..." A soft snort. "...guess those close to the project died when the Rachni got loose...serves them right."
"How did they manage to create Rachni in the first place?" Liara dared asking, but Michael didn't shot her the glare he wanted, holding the Captain's eyes, not trusting the man's loyalties just yet.
"Found an egg...or so I hear." The man shrugged, then shook his head. "So they made their little queen, locked her up...and now her children are rampaging the place...can't say I blame them."
Queen, large Rachni, problematic. "Where is this queen? Have they freed her?"
"No." The man shook his head, brow furrowing in confusion. "As far as I can tell they haven't even tried..." Theory of their mindlessness probably correct. "...but then again she's locked up pretty tight down in the hot labs...we think the Rachni have made their hive down there, but who knows? I just shoot them when they appear..."
"Hot labs?"
"The labs for dangerous experiments, it's down below, highest security clearance and all that..." The man explained, wearily shaking his head. "I thought Benezia went down there with her Commandos to stop all this...but nothing has happened."
Liara gasped...and Michael ignored it as he leaned forward: "Benezia is alive? And in the hot labs?" Primary objective...
"Yeah, last time I heard from her." The man shrugged in disinterest...only for his eyes to flash as he looked at Michael: "Why do you care? Who are you anyway?"
Lie? No, unnecessary, shock and awe. "Commander Shepard, Council Spectre and charged with the apprehension of Saren Arterius and his allies."
The man blinked, staring, dumbfounded.
One of the Turians snorted. "A human Spectre? Yeah right."
"That is right." Michael retorted, narrowing his eyes at the man. "Private."
There was a flinch, the Turian straightened...and looked away.
"Saren...?" Looking back Michael found the Captain's eyes narrowing. "Benezia works for...you're going to arrest her!" He reached back towards his gun-
And Michael's hand clamped down on his arm even as everyone else in the room were suddenly drawing their weapons, eyes darting left and right in readiness for the fight moments from starting. Keeping his voice low and calm Michael pretended not to notice though, eyes fixed on the dim ones of the tired Captain: "Think very carefully now...how much does Benezia pay you? Enough to be killed by me and my team? Or by the Rachni she let loose?"
"I..." Hesitation, not only by the captain, but by the two Turians at his sides, the two exchanging weary looks.
"We have gotten the tram working again, but have also ensured that only we have access to its computer." Michael continued. Fight unnecessary, arguments sound, will work. "We, when done here, will leave...along with any survivors. So I'm asking you...would trying to kill me – a Spectre on a Council-approved mission – and my team, be a good idea?"
A blink, slow and weary. "N-no..."
"No, it would not." Michael agreed, nodding slowly even as he held the man's dim eyes. "Instead I suggest you give me access to these hot labs, tell me how to destroy these Rachni, and wait for us to escort you and the other survivors to the tram."
"That sounds...good." The man slumped in Michael's grip, nodding eagerly if tiredly even as his two guards lowered their weapons. "I'll open the hot labs right away...Benezia is down there with the queen..."
"Would killing the queen stop the Rachni?" Liara asked even as Michael let go of the Captain and took a step back.
The man struggled at the loss of the grip on him, nearly falling atop the barricade as he blinked away the tiredness: "Don't think so...they...the scientists say that if the Rachni were taken from her at birth...yet they still live..." A shrug. "There's the self-destruct though."
In Michael's helmet there was a sigh, Ashley's voice a mutter: "Oh this is just too much, zombies, giant bugs and now a big red button..."
Heh.
Michael smiled.
Focus, mission.
The smile died. "Self-destruct?"
"Yeah, in case of critical contamination..." The man looked around with a tired shrug. "...looks like we got that covered...well then you can go down to the central core and manually flip a switch...and turn this place into a crater."
"That sounds...dangerous." Kaidan muttered, doubt in his voice.
"Well it's only for critical problems..." The Captain pointed out with a sigh. "...you're not expected to survive anyway then." A shake of his head. "Even less so considering that the Rachni seem to have made their nest right down there..."
High risk, loss of life probable, Rachni must not leave facility however...should... Michael glanced back and found Liara looking at him, her eyes sad.
He looked away. Currently a non-issue, will deal with when primary objective is secured. "It won't be a problem."
The Captain arched a questioning eyebrow...and Michael was sure the team at his back did as well...all but Liara. "If you say so..."
Michael squared his shoulders, a jab of annoyance making him snap his next words: "Show me the way to the hot labs."
"Yes..." The Captain hesitated, then took a step back and gestured for Michael to follow. "...sir."
8
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"Kill the lights."
Michael glanced back, watching as Kaidan with a swing of his glowing omni-tool overloaded the lamps along the corridor, darkness descending upon them an instant later. Even in it however he could sense Kaidan's and Liara's questioning looks. Not Wrex though, the Krogan understanding the need for every precaution. Asari commandos had a reputation of power and lethality...one every unsealed record of their actions confirmed again and again.
"Radio silence from now on, keep low." Michael muttered...before his hand moved towards the door ahead.
Silently it slid open...and the team instantly slipped into the new room, Michael sliding to the left as Wrex stopped up front with the two biotics to his right, all crouching, tense and ready as their eyes took in the new room.
The room was squarish and large...each wall a hundred feet in length, walls that were covered in black pipes and cables that ran downwards and in the darkness of the room nearly looked organic. The walls were also tall, the ceiling was high above, concealed in darkness...and the team were standing on a grilled floor showing the way the walls continued twenty feet below their feet...to a purple liquid covering a floor glowing with dim lights. The liquid was perhaps ten feet deep...and bubbling ever so slightly.
Acid?
In regular intervals the grilled floor they stood upon opened into squarish holes that were surrounded by metal walls reaching to Michael's abdomen...and above the holes themselves large cages of blackened steel hung in chains reaching up into the darkness of the ceiling...all with their gates hanging open.
They grew Rachni here. He glanced down at the liquid below his feet. With security measures, acid likely.
Michael counted a total of twenty-five such cages. Less than Rachni numbers, initial growth chamber and then transport to another part of the facility? He shook his head. Irrelevant, focus.
Keeping still he shot Wrex a questioning look...who sniffed at the air before shaking his head. No Rachni, then- He raised his hand to order the advance...only to stop, his own nose twitching as he smelled...something.
A sniff...and he frowned. Flowers?
He glanced upwards, the ceiling telling him nothing, the walls...everything was still.
Yet...
Another sniff...and his hands moved to free his sniper rifle.
Perfume.
He nearly snorted at the foolishness...yet gritted his teeth in tension. Arrogance does not imply them being incapable, caution.
Three quick gestures with his free hand...and the team moved.
Kaidan and Liara moved to the right, the human a step in front of the Asari as they moved past the first hole before taking cover behind the wall of the second, the two guarding one corner each with eyes wide in an attempt to catch any movement.
Meanwhile Michael ghosted to the left, taking cover behind the first wall he came upon and dropping onto one knee as he readied his sniper rifle, keeping his eye away from the scope as he craned his head around, trying to spot the foe.
Wrex on the other hand moved forward, in a crouch the Krogan was still large...and looked painfully inviting as he slowly moved forward down the centre of the room.
As ordered.
Neither Kaidan, Liara or Michael spotted the foe first though. Instead it was Wrex who suddenly dropped flat on the floor as he called out: "Two o'clock!" A moment later a shot rang out, a heavy calibre bullet smashing into the grill next to Wrex's foot.
Michael saw the small movement of an arm as the sniper – hidden among the tubes along the right wall – ejected her spent shot and instantly aimed down the scope...
A brief glimpse of an Asari's head...and the rifle jumped against his shoulder as Michael fired.
The wet thump of the Asari commando falling down onto the grilled floor was nearly lost in the sudden bark of assault rifle fire as five commandos at the other end of the room appeared from their cover to blast away, forcing a grunting Wrex to roll into cover with orange blood running down his thighs.
Michael swung his rifle around...only to have it smashed out of his hands, a dark blue haze of biotic power dazzling him as the attack exploded in front of him as the rifle fell over the railing and down into the acid.
Above-
Michael moved on an instinct drilled into him for years.
Dropping onto one knee he raised both arms in a cross over his face...and heard the crack of his gauntlets blocking the attack even as he felt himself pushed down by the force of the impact as an Asari dropped from the ceiling, her dark leather armour covered in a haze of biotic power as her two chopping hands found his gauntlets instead of his neck.
Her hands twisted moving to stab their biotic charge against his eyes...only for him to shoot upwards, his arms coming out and then in, wrapping around the commando's thinner arms, pulling her closer...and then slamming his helmeted head into her face.
She blinked, dazed...and Michael released her arms and crouched low, his hands finding her ankles.
He pulled...and the Asari shrieked as she was pulled off her feet and over the railing of the wall, falling after Michael's rifle head first...
A splash of her dropping into the acid...and the shriek stopped.
His shields flared with several impacts...and Michael dropped back into cover, hands already moving to free his own assault rifle as he looked about to see what was happening.
Wrex was taking hits, the commando's had been disciplined and let him go almost halfway down the room...and now the five were moving to encircle him from three directions. Their darting shapes were nothing but shadows as they moved from cover to cover, their assault rifles spitting stinging hit after hit on the growling Krogan as they wore him down.
To his right Kaidan was firing on something he couldn't see, the man looking bewildered.
Where's T'soni?
Coming up Michael drew a bead on the Asari duelling Kaidan from her cover...and her shields failed with a flash from the volley against her back.
She rolled away from the flanking fire...only to cry out and cough blood as Kaidan's pistol took her in chest, dropping her dead a second later.
Liara was further away, the Asari standing with legs wide as with a grimace of concentration she held out glowing hands to each side, a purple beam of energy from each hand holding the dark blue of two commandos on each side of her at bay...
But even as Michael watched the commandos were starting to gain the upper hand, Liara faltering against the two foes...
His shields flared...and Michael dropped back into cover. "Alenko! Covering fire on me!"
A moment later he spun around his cover and ran, his shields flaring with an impact before Kaidan's pistol forced the shooter down...before the covering fire was cut to an abrupt stop.
Down.
Michael leapt forward, watching as the five commandos ahead came up to aim at him...and rolled down behind the cover of another wall.
Looking back he saw no sign of Kaidan...only a glowing commando silently dropping from the ceiling where the man had been.
Prioritize target.
Having moved further in Michael didn't have to drop out of cover to draw a bead on Liara...nor her two assailants.
Two bursts...and two sets of shields flared.
The two commandos faltered, instinct driving them to try and seek cover...only for Liara's biotics to slam into them with loud crunches, sending both hurtling through the air, limbs flailing wildly, both nothing but rag dolls now.
Ahead Wrex grunted, then growled as he broke cover, his orange blood splattering over the floor even as he rushed forth, leapt...and jumped right over one of the holes and atop a cursing commando.
The Asari rolled away from the charging Krogan, her biotics flashing against him...only for Wrex to bash the attack aside with his own glowing hands. Hands that an instant later gripped the woman's shoulders and pulled her closer...
A crunch...and Wrex spat out the head of Asari even as her still twitching body dropped to the floor.
A moment later another flash of biotics sent the Krogan flying, cursing loudly even as he crashed into a wall, only to roll behind it with a low groan.
Urdnot nearly down, Alenko...
Looking back Michael found the man on his feet once more, his shields flaring as he with a raised hand deflected a biotic push from the Asari advancing on him, her entire being suffused with power as she moved to destroy him in close combat...
Kaidan's own powers flashed forth...and were deflected with a derisive snort of the Asari.
Scrambling back Kaidan once more raised his hand, deflecting yet another flash of biotic power bashing against his flaring shields...before his omni-tool glowed amber.
A flash of white...and the Asari began to run towards him as her shields were shortened out, teeth bared in an irritated snarl as she darted forth like a puma.
Kaidan's desperate push of power was smashed aside by the powerful biotic...before she stumbled to a halt, Kaidan's other hand holding his smoking pistol.
The commando stared at him in shock...and then twitched as another four shots slammed into her chest, sending her twitching body tumbling backwards.
Holding his own.
He looked up...and found his head swimming as a foot struck him square in the face.
Rolling with the force of the impact he came to his feet, rifle coming up in time to block another kick as the Asari that had managed to flank him spun round with her leg flying, her hands behind her back and freeing a shotgun.
Evade.
Dropping and rolling to his right Michael barely avoided the blast of the Asari's shotgun. She's shielded, engage in close quarter.
Michael's rifle swept from right to left, bashing her smoking shotgun aside before the butt of his rifle took her in the shoulder, forcing the weapon out of her hands even as her leg swept at his back, knocking him against the railing and making his own rifle fall onto the floor as he was forced to grip the railing or fall over.
Right flank.
He moved left, trying to keep his eye on both his current foe and the second commando coming in from his right with her biotics flaring...
Only for the flanking Asari to cry out as a powerful blast of biotics smashed into one of the cages above its hole, the force of the blast snapping the chain it hung in like it was nothing and sending the heavy cage flying into the commando with a crunch of breaking bones.
His foe darted forth with a low kick...and Michael jumped back, left hand pushing the foot down before he spun clock-wise and sent his right leg swinging against the commando's head...but hitting nothing as she darted backwards, her brow furrowed in concentration as Michael did the same. Fast, not as strong, less reach, bioticaly charged, skilled, keep close.
Another appeared on his right...only for her shields to flash as Kaidan overloaded them...and then flew backwards in an explosion of blood as Wrex's shotgun found its mark.
Two left, where's the second?
There was no time to focus on it though, Michael ducking under kicking leg glowing with biotics, his own sweeping round...only for the Asari to gracefully do a back-flip over his attack.
Michael didn't let himself be impressed however as he leapt forth, fists a storm against the Asari, her wrists deflected the brunt of the impacts sideways...but she was still forced backwards...towards the railing.
A little further...
Michael gasped, a surprisingly strong arm suddenly around his throat as the second Asari leapt onto his back, legs coming round his waist as she with a nearly animalistic hiss forced his head backwards with the force of her arm's pull...
The one before him bared her teeth in a grin, lunged, and stumbled as Michael's foot shot out and caught her in the jaw as he bashed the back of his head against the face of the Asari on his back.
The woman held on though, grip on his throat tightening.
That was a mistake. He gripped hold of the Asari's arm across his throat, his right hand moving down as he dropped onto one knee. A foolish mistake. His knife came free, up...and the Asari gurgled as the blade slammed into her neck.
Ahead the last one was aglow with biotic power, leaping forth...
And Michael shot forth from his kneeling position, the knife coming free in a spray of blood...
His left wrist deflect her right fist, his head ducked past her left...and his knife slammed into her chest.
A gasp...and the Asari's hands moved to clutch at his shoulders, eyes widening, mouth opening in a silent question...and then she slid off his blade, down his armoured frame...and dropped to the floor.
Michael looked up, head turning left and right. "Ambush neutralized." Sheathing his blade he looked to the others. "Status?"
Liara and Kaidan exchanged a look, then looked down at the corpses around Michael's feet...before Kaidan shrugged: "Merely bruised ready when you are Commander."
"I as well." Liara echoed, breathing out as she looked around herself. "Never thought I'd fight commandos...or win..."
Michael ignored her, the enemy were dead, their relative skill was unimportant now. "Urdnot?"
A growl, a clawed hand coming up onto a railing as the Krogan lurched to his feet...
Wrex was covered in orange gore of his own blood...but the red eyes were calm as he regarded his already healing wounds. "I'm fine, had worse."
"Then..." Michael hesitated, seeing Liara's sudden shudder as she realised what was to come.
The mission is all, focus on the mission, all else irrelevant.
The thought wasn't as comforting as it had once was, but it helped.
"...move out."
8
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Thank you to Abydos Jackson for having time with this despite the time of the year.