Typical Scotland, some of the most breathtakingly beautiful views in the world and it was raining. The grey skies were not helping my mood. With everything…with these memories flashing though my mind, I could barely think. Loch Lomond was behind us now and we were approaching Rannoch Moor and Glen Coe. I could barely look out the window now, the craggy mountains causing flashbacks that tortured my heart. We weren't that far from where I had my first real betrayal.
I don't even know how he was able to walk away. He was my brother, powering on, leaving me with a broken leg in the dark. The mud had been freezing, my naïve mind unable to comprehend what had happened. I glanced out the window, catching sight of some of the valleys the West Highland Way, a 96mile long walking trail, meandered through. I looked away painfully, my foot tapping in agitation.
We had been so close. So close and yet…for god sake, he even let me sleep next to him when the lightning storms came every now and then! He even pile drived one of my bullies into the river! He even took up dancing with me just so I had a partner to practice with. There wasn't a damn thing we wouldn't do for each other, and yet when I needed him the most, he marched away from me. Never to be seen again.
The image of his back on that dark, rainy September was burned into my memories. I doubted the Reapers could remove it. I glanced out the window, leaping when I realised we were in Glen Coe, less than 2 minutes from Kinlochleven. My heart was nearly breaking my bones it was beating so hard. I frantically scanned the mountains separating me from Kinlochleven.
"Mari, drop us off on Garbh Bheinn for a few minutes," I nearly squeaked. Mari seemed to frown at me through the window separating crew from pilots. I moaned, distressed. "I'll point it out, it's a Munro mountain," I hauled myself out of the chair, ducking into the cockpit and hurling myself on the co-pilot seat. I scanned the ridge before me. I pointed to a mountain, but poor Mari misunderstood, she couldn't see the mountain just behind that one. "Not that mountain there, that's Aonach Eagach Ridge. We want the mountain just behind that…no, that one…well technically it is that one. That's the actual peak but in this weather I just want to go to that lower peak there, just to the northeast a bit," That way I might be able to see the bloody town!
I pulled my helmet out, letting it flick out and lock in place. I heard a bustle behind me as people realised we were close to landing. I swallowed hard as we mounted the ridge, gliding through the cloud as the mountain slope rose up to meet us. I struggled out of the seat, knees quivering as I hovered near the doors, my throat parched. When a green light above the door lit up, I threw the door open, nearly falling on my face as I tumbled out of the shuttle. I hobbled over the uneven terrain, eyes on the edge of the slope. When the town revealed itself to me, grief finally caved my knees.
It was really gone…time had forgotten about this place. I pressed my finger tips to my mouth, trying to stop the wails of horror deafening me. The landslide that had led to the abandonment of the town had swallowed the entire north side of the town, even shoving the river further south. The relief at seeing my home, the cluster of buildings to the east, intact…my chest swelled. My eyes stung, stung like the bracken and bramble that had stolen my town from me.
My high school had been obliterated, firmly under the toe of the slip. The south of the village didn't look much better. Trees had overrun the place, tearing apart buildings, roads and my memories. I was almost as unrecognisable as Glasgow. Was there nothing here that was how I remembered it!? It almost felt…like time had abandoned me! I couldn't…I couldn't handle being stranded again! Why did everything in this place forsake me?!
"Take your time," Val crooned softly, squeezing my shoulders firmly. It dragged me back to reality. "We're all here for you,"
Yeah…yeah I…I wasn't alone. My breath shuddered free, the bleeding sensation in my chest reluctantly releasing its hold. I leaned into Val's hands a touch, relieved. I could do this, I had to do this. I breathed deeply, sucking in the crisp air, feeling the rain trickling down my neck. …Why would water do that? Wasn't I wearing my- My hands found nothing. Where…
"You dropped it in the cockpit," Val muttered. Oh…bollocks. I cleared my throat, trying to dislodge the emotion stuck in my throat.
"A-apparently so," I swallowed. "Let's…let's get down there. I-I need to see it up close," Val looped his arms under my shoulders and helped heave me up onto quaking legs. I shambled back to the shuttle as everyone piled in, out of the rain. Mari eased the shuttle up, coaxing it towards the loch for a safe landing spot.
We ended up on the southern road leading in, in an area where the trees were at their thinnest. Mari stayed with the shuttle just in case anything happened or we needed a quick evac. We began the hike through the uncontrolled forest of birches and god knows what other trees, blocking out view of the loch and the ruins before us. I tried to follow the old road, but it was utterly overgrown. The bracken was the worst though, it had gotten through everything. Winter had killed them back a little, but it didn't mean they still weren't a pain in the ass. I led the team, my knees trembling as we got closer, but it very quickly came apparent that there was an even bigger problem that I had to deal with.
I had been too distraught on the hillside to really notice it, now with just the sound of the falling rain, rustling branches and squelching footsteps, I noticed an odd hissing sound in my ears. I turned my head, trying to scan the trees for anything that might cause it. As each step I took brought me closer to home, a tingle in my neck was making me hesitate. My instinct was suddenly changing, wishing to flee, to never return. The hiss eased into a buzz, like a million insects. It was still far away but I…was it getting closer? I paused, eyes whipping through the dormant trees.
I jolted back, a sudden buzz flashing past my left ear. I jumped when I crashed into Val, the turian grunting as he straightened me out. I swallowed hard, my heart fluttering as shadows danced through the gloomy trees. Where were these bugs?! It was November! There shouldn't be bugs out at this time of year! It was just too cold! I shuddered, hugging myself.
"It's November…" I whimpered, my legs demanding to run, my heart pleading to flee. I really wanted to leave. I don't even know why! The bugs were weird enough! Val clicked his mandibles as he scanned the trees ahead.
"It is, yeah," he confirmed. I shivered when the window rattled the branches, the buzzing was slowly growing, even stationary. Why was it getting closer?! What kind of swarm was waiting for me?!
"There shouldn't be bugs…" I nearly sobbed, pressing myself into Val. Indira skidded to a stop beside me, concern turning her lips down.
"Bugs? What bugs? I don't see any," Indira quizzed, jumping to poke her head above the crowd around us. I froze, slowly turning to take in the crew. Was…Was that why they were so calm? I swallowed to try to moisten my throat. I think it just made it worse.
"You can't hear it…?" I asked, dragging a hand down my face. Val grabbed my arms to secure me, clicking his mandibles at my tremors.
"Hear what?" he asked slowly, eyes on the trees around us.
"The…the buzzing. Like…like bees," I managed with a moan. Val slowly spun me to face him, bending down to force me to look him in the eyes.
"Dell, my hearing is about 3 times more sensitive than yours. If there was buzzing, I would hear it," he answered. My eyes nearly popped free from my skull, I spun around to face down towards the town. "Are you sure it's not in your head?"
"I…I don't know?" I trembled. I eased my head around. It…It sounded like it was coming from the hills…the hills behind the north side of the river. And it was still getting louder! "I'm…I'm sure it's not. I-It's coming from that direction. S-Something in my head wouldn't have direction…right?" I even pointed! I wasn't crazy, I knew I wasn't crazy…right? Indira yanked me into a hug, dropping her voice as she lowered mouth to my ear.
"You can go back to the shuttle if you want." she whispered softly, eyes scanning the way ahead. I shuddered, trying to wipe some of the rain, or sweat, off my forehead. I…I had to do this though! I had…why did I want to flee so badly?!
"I…L-Let's see if I can get closer. I-It might just be a barrier?" I moaned pitifully.
We reached the edge of the buildings, rubble lost between roots and bracken. The buzzing was getting worse, like the swarm was almost on top of me. The shadows in the trees started casting forms. I shied away from. At one point, one seemed to rush me. I immediately turned around, almost running before I stopped myself. I shuddered onwards. The buzzing eventually got the point I couldn't hear anything else but it. I covered my ears in a desperate attempt to silence it, but it did nothing. My body was clenching so tight, trying to fight the instinct to flee that my muscles ached horrendously.
"I-It's so loud!" I wailed. "I can't…I-I can't even…" I threw my head around, trying to shake the sound away. "I-I don't wanna be here, I-I need to go, I have to go, I need to-" I stumbled forward a step, lifting my head as my vision swam.
That was when one of the shadows formed. Almost humanoid, a large head that reminded me of a mushroom. It was standing perfectly still regardless of where I looked or how I turned my head. I was frozen, gagging. W-What was that thing!? Was it…was it casting a shadow too? I croaked slowly.
"M-Mum?" Gideon whimpered. I barely heard him, the buzzing silenced. I couldn't look away, couldn't breathe. Something grabbed my armoured belt, tugging gently. "C'mon, we can go back to the shuttle, you'll be safe there," I chocked on whatever words tried to form. "M-Mum! C-C'mon! Let's go, something ain't right here, c'mon!" I shuddered as I felt something shove me backwards, away from the shadow.
The wind whipped the trees violently, the shadow roared as it launched itself at me.
I screeched blindly, whipping around and fleeing into the trees, shoving everything out of my way. My legs, so desperate to escape, powered me through the thin vegetation, through the gloom. The buzzing roared in my ears, as if being chased. It only made me scream louder. Dark shadows licked up my vision, threatening to blind me entirely.
I burst free from the trees, sprinting madly over the slicken moors. The bogged down mud barely affected me, my eyes on the far away mountains. Run, run, have to run, just run! Get away from me! Help! Anyone! Something interrupted my blindness, something moving off to the left. I glanced briefly, my legs carrying me faster over the sodden mud and grass. A shuttle floated towards me, one of the side doors open. It lowered to the ground nearby, as if to move into my line of terror.
It needed to do no such thing.
I turned and ran for it, leaping over small gullies in the ground. It had to take me away! Whoever was flying it had to get me out of here! Away from the monster! Away from the buzzing! Away! Just away! I leapt madly for it, clawing my way inside. I crashed into the opposite wall, screaming in terror. A shadow was closing in behind me, ripping a new scream from me.
"Get me out of here!" I shrieked. I clawed at the door as the shadow jumped to enter the shuttle. "Get me out!" The shadow leapt at me. I wailed, throwing my arms across my head. I was dead! I was so dead! I should've kept running! Why did I stop?!
"Go, Mari, go! It's ok, Dellion, you're alright. You're safe, you're safe," A voice penetrated the buzzing, distorted so wildly I couldn't recognise it. Oh god, what did it want?! Who was it trying to impersonate?!
I couldn't stop screaming. Whenever the shadow touched me, I tried to fling myself away, away from this monster, but there was no escape! No getting away from it. I wept, thrashing wildly against it. It would try to reassure me, try to trick me into a false sense of security. I knew better. I screamed when the beast grabbed my wrists, pinning me to the floor. It grunted as it kicked out, ruining my throat with the screeches. It was the end! It was over! I had too much to do!
"Endellion, it's Indira!" the voice cracked, punching through the buzz. My eyes flew open, stung from tears. I gagged. The shadow was on top of me, patches of blue drell poking through in places. Was it trying to shape shift?! Was it trying to-
It raised my arm suddenly, snapping my hand to the shadowy cheek. I squealed, no air left in my lungs. I did want to-!... Rough…the skin was rough, I swallowed, my hand moving back, feeling ruffles flow over my shaking fingers. The shadow that consumed my hand eased, like smoke dissipating. It revealed blue frills. I twitched my other hand, managing to get it free. I reached up to touch the contorted blue face on the other half of the slowly dispelling shadow.
It felt like nothing like what I saw. I felt an eye where it wasn't, a nose, more frills. My sense of touch was determined that this was real. I could feel the warmth, feel the rough texture. Slowly the face shifted, turning into what I was feeling. I hiccupped. Indira lay over me, pinning me down with pain twisting her normally smiling face.
"I-Indira?" I breathed, my voice dead. Indira's face burst into life, relief pulling the wrinkled skin straight again. She grabbed my arms and pulled me into a sitting position, hugging me tightly.
"Oh blessed be Arashu, you're back!" she cried. "Are you ok, Dellion? Are you all here?" Indira grabbed my face, nose and forehead pressed to my sweating, tear stained face. I tried to form words, the shadows receding from my vision. I gagged when a headache vibrated my entire body, a robotic snarl of fury following in its wake. I nearly collapsed onto Indira, sobbing uselessly.
"Nyryntha is so fucking pissed," I wept. Indira breathed heavily.
"Good, good, that means she doesn't have you," Indira pulled me into a hug, cradling my stricken head. "You're ok, you're safe. Everything is ok,"
"W-Where…am I?" I bubbled. Something tapped my shoulder. Looking up, I spied Mari reaching over, a bottle of water in her hand. I took it with quaking hands, struggling to gulp down the liquid. Indira gently fixed my hair.
"You're on the shuttle, just above Kinlochleven," Indira explained. I blinked blearily.
"Oh…h-has the mission not started yet?" I muttered weakly. Indira frowned a touch, glancing out the window.
"Yeah, it's started. You were freaking out, remember? We got you out of there. You've spent the last half an hour trying to kick my face in," Indira grinned. I gawked. Indira was…that shadow? The entire time? I…oh God. I covered my face. Indira hugged me again.
"I-I am s-so sorry," I stumbled. Indira snorted.
"For what? You were completely off your rocker! That's what friends are for, taking hits and giving love!" Indira winked. "Now, we're still struggling a little bit trying to find your house, the team ran into some mechs so they are a little busy with that," I blinked, my mind chugging through a thick haze. That's right, we came here to look for my home, for answers. I…mechs? Why would mechs be here? I swallowed.
"T-Then let's get down there!" I cried. Indira scowled.
"Oh no you don't, we've just gotten you back! You are staying right here and you are going to direct them from here," Indira ordered firmly. I blinked slowly. Indira brought out a small sphere, planting it on the ground. I jumped when several screens appeared, all camera feeds. They seemed to show POVs from the crews. I saw the wreckage of human-like mechs motionless on the ground, everyone moving to recollect. I didn't see Gideon, which caused panic to swell my heart. I reached for the radio, struggling to think.
"H-Hey everyone. D-Dell here," I called, the cameras jolted slightly as they heard.
"How are you feeling, Captain?" Saldan asked. I managed a weak smile before realising he couldn't see it. I coughed, glancing out the window. I was relieved they couldn't see my face…
"Better, I think. I-I'm up on the mountain again. I can't hear the buzzing from up here. What's the situation?" I managed slowly.
"We've cleaned up some mechs that we ran into. Although, someone has forgotten his own mission and Gideon is nowhere to be found," Cops growled softly. My heart crashed against my ribs. N-no, no, no, no! I-If there were mechs, they could have been left by a Saboteur! Oh God-
"I'm ok, mum. I found your house! But um…well…do you know what DSST means?" Gideon's voice broke over the radio. My panic waned, I clapped my hand over my heart in relief. The bastard! Giving me a bloody heart attack!"
"No, I don't, and don't you try to change the subject! I told you to stay with Mat'al!" I snapped, my heart easing back into a sensible rhythm.
"I did! Sassy told me to go hide in some hostel building or something and then I uh…" he trailed off slowly. I sighed, agitated.
"And then you wandered away," I grumbled. Goddam that boy! I looked to the map on Indira's Omni-tool to see where everyone was. I scowled a little. "Team, you need to cross the river,"
"Uh, also I uh…I'm having a very interesting conversation with a …Marshal?" Wait, Marshal? He was still functioning?! "But is…it's really complicated. He keeps mention Saboteurs but won't tell me why because it's confidential information and he doesn't know who I am…he also says there some kind of indoctrination prevention chip or something on your spine at your neck," Wait, what?! Saboteurs? Confidential? Chip on my neck?! "And uh, someone's been here in the past 6 months too, I think,"
Oh this was too much to process right now…
"I didn't…I didn't think Marshal's electronics would still be going…," I babbled. Marshal had been a prototype AI my dad had been playing around with since I was a child, I had known him since I was young but it was only recently when dad actually gave him intelligence. He had been a simply VI before that. And he remembered those VI days to boot which was always a pain in the ass. After a time, I heard Gideon sigh.
"Mum, Marshal wants you on loudspeaker or some reason. He's asking for your ID codes," Gideon grumbled. I frowned softly.
"My ID codes? Why would he want those…" My codes weren't usually required to do anything with Marshal, he usually was intelligent enough to recognise…ah, of course, I wasn't there. "Well, the ID-1 is J7AHS-24, ID-3 is KASIH-32 and ID-19 is LA4OJ-53…Marshal, what's going on?" I called.
"IDs accepted, last login is 24/03/2016. Apologies, Miss Shaik, but I have had several thousand attempts to enter the Vault in the past decade alone using your biometrics. I had to ensure it was indeed you," Gideon responded. I…guessed his speaker system was malfunctioning. It always did that. Dad installed a printer just in case it happened. Glad to know it was still going! But…the vault in Ireland would probably have nothing in it by this point, I would hope. There was nothing there…right?
"And why would they want to get into the vault?" I asked. There was a brief pause and a rustle as Gideon moved.
"Uh, he says the only contents of the vault now is the evidence of your…disappearance?" Wait…it had…what? Oh…Oh we had to get to Ireland! I needed that! I had no idea what this evidence was, but someone had been desperate to get into it, to destroy it? I shuddered. No, I had to get to that vault before whoever was trying to get into it!
"If there's…nothing left in the house, everyone back to the shuttle. We're going to Ireland," I ordered, a new goal firing my engine back up to speed. I glanced to Indira as she scowled, but I needed that evidence dammit!
"Dellion, you need to take it easy," she scolded, almost mimicking Raisha. I struggled to ignore her.
"Ah, he says don't do that. One of the human Saboteurs is there, trying to get into the Vault," Gideon added as I leaned back. I raised a brow. Oh good! Another reason to go to Ireland! We had to know more Saboteur faces!
"All the more reason to go! C'mon people, we came here for answers and a Saboteur. Both of those are in Ireland. Let's go kill the prick!" I summoned. I cut the connection to Gideon, relieved to see the team had reached him.
Mari moved the shuttle back to the original drop off point, although the buzzing had returned slightly. I swayed nervously as I waited for the crew to arrive, clucking my tongue when I realised the sound was beginning to grow. Blessedly, just before I ordered Mari to move back, the crew burst free from the trees, jogging over to us. Val burst ahead. I strained a smile as Mari hovered, turning to door towards the crew. Val leapt up, immediately taking my head in his hands.
"Are you alright?" he asked, almost pleaded. I smiled weakly.
"I'm fine, Val," I assured. Val crashed his mandibles against his cheeks, almost snapping them off.
"I'll ask again. Are you alright?" he pressed. I blinked slowly at him as people began to file in.
"I will be when I get off this planet," I muttered. Val breathed slowly.
"We'll go to Ireland soon, as soon as we drop that little bugger off first," Val growled at Gideon as he sulked. I blinked Gideon while he nursed is arm. Mat'al sat purposely next to him.
"I'll be care-" Gideon began.
"No! Just keep your ass in the chair and shut up!" Val snapped. "Honestly, how I am meant to keep my team alive when they decide to wander off from the assigned location!" Gideon turned his eyes to me, pleading. I sighed.
"Drop Gideon back off in Glasgow. I need to get over to Ireland ASAP," I ordered. Gideon pouted. He nearly screamed when a loud pop filled the air. I nearly leapt through the roof myself. He rubbed his thigh as Mat'al reloaded his air pistol. I sighed, my heart slowly settling, but refused to comment. I glanced out the window one last time, gazing over the ruined town. I was glad to pull my eyes away, away from the horror… away from the buzzing.