Thanks again for all the comments and your continued support! For those of you you have played (or started playing) ME3, you'll notice the differences in this chapter compared to the game. For those of you who have not, no need to worry about spoilers.
Shepard impatiently tapped her coffee cup; the repetitive click click of her fingernail against the ceramic was the only sound that filled the mess. James, who sat next to her, leaned with his back against the table, legs facing out. His arms were crossed over his chest and jaw tensed in restlessness.
"These Cerberus assholes are persistent," he grumbled, wiping the sweat off of his brow. With the heat within the ship constantly rising due to the contained heatsinks, comfort had been at a minimum as of late.
"You don't know the half of it," the Commander replied. It had been over three days since they began drifting through the Bok globule, the thick cloud of dust and the Normandy's stealth systems the only things keeping them concealed from their pursuers. But, despite their ability to stay hidden, they had never gone long enough without detecting other vessels in the area.
"How do you know this isn't a trap? Some scheme to take us alive?"
"I don't," she admitted. "But if it is, they'll have one hell of a fight on their hands."
"Heh, that's for sure," James said with a smile. His smile quickly faded when Miranda rounded the corner. He met her with an untrusting glare, hoping she would continue on. But she didn't.
The brunette approached, her attention focused on the Commander.
"I think I have work to do," James muttered as he left his leisurely posture. He gave Shepard a quick nod before leaving the space.
Miranda seemed unfazed by the cold reaction to her presence. "They don't seem to trust us much, do they?" she said in a matter-of-fact tone.
Shepard regarded the other woman as she seated herself opposite her. "They don't know you, Miranda. Do you blame them?"
"Not really." She gazed at Shepard searchingly. "Do you trust me?"
"I want to," the Commander admitted. "We'll have to see how this plays out."
"Understandable. That's one of the things I admire about you, Shepard. You're careful and you don't let false hopes cloud your judgment."
"Commander," EDI's voice cut in through the comm system.
"What is it EDI?" Shepard asked aloud.
"It has been exactly 1 hour and 16 minutes since the Normandy's detection systems have identified any other vessels in the area. My calculations deem it safe to proceed with normal operations."
"My orders were for you to tell me after 30 minutes."
"I apologize, Commander. However, as a result of my recent calculations, I determined that waiting 1 hour and 15 minutes would be ideal."
After all they'd been through, Shepard knew better than to distrust the AI's judgment. She had pulled their asses out of hell more than once. "Thanks EDI. Tell Joker to get us the hell out of here."
"Yes, Commander."
They hit Sur'kesh's atmosphere within a few hours following their successful escape from the nebula and, as far as they could tell, they hadn't been trailed. Sur'kesh was a beautiful planet, lush with flora. Blue hues streaked through green, rivers obviously being an abundant source of water. It was breathtaking. There still existed some regions of Earth that were well-preserved, but not so beautifully as this.
"Sur'kesh spaceport, this is the Normandy. Seeking permission to land," Joker announced through the communication channel.
After a few moments of dead air, a voice finally responded. "Permission granted, Normandy."
Following the confirmation, the Normandy descended to dock. Once secure, Shepard exited, followed by Garrus and Saren. They could tell right away that Sur'kesh wasn't in as peaceful of a situation as it appeared. Various gunshots could be heard all around the facility. As they approached the end of the docks, the squad was promptly greeted by a group of arriving salarians, one of which she recognized almost immediately.
"Commander Shepard!" the familiar salarian greeted her. "The Citadel Council informed us you would be arriving."
"Captain Kirrahe!" Shepard exclaimed.
"It's Major now," he corrected with a grin.
"Congratulations Major. It's good to see you." Shepard shot him a returned grin and shook his hand.
Garrus, too, came forward to shake the honorable salarian's hand. "It's been a long time Major."
"Garrus Vakarian," Kirrahe said with a smile. Then he paused, glancing at the other turian who hadn't come forward.
The salarian leaned forward to murmur lowly to both Shepard and Garrus. "He seems familiar… but I can't place him. I don't remember you having two turians on your team the last time we met."
"He's new to our squad," she said quickly. "He joined to aid us against the Reapers."
Saren stepped forward and reached out his hand. "Desolas," he said, introducing himself while eyeing the salarian searchingly.
Kirrahe nodded and took Saren's hand in greeting. "Well met," he greeted before returning to the matter at hand.
"It's good you're all here. We have quite the situation on our hands," Kirrahe stated.
"So I hear. What's going on?"
"Cerberus has been hitting our facility hard," Kirrahe said gravely.
"Cerberus!" Shepard's grey eyes widened in shock. "What are they doing here?"
"We cannot yet determine why, but they are demanding one of our scientists, Rentin Tornus."
Saren shifted nervously at the name but remained silent.
"And you don't have any ideas as to why Cerberus would want him?"
"I have my suspicions, Commander, but they are not concrete." When Shepard stared at him, waiting for him to continue, he did. "Our people found Rentin orbiting Virmire after the nuclear detonation. He was incoherent, rambling about experiments and 'the machines'. I believe it's possible he has information that is valuable to Cerberus."
"And where is Rentin?" Shepard asked him.
"I am uncertain. Psychological examinations permitted his return to society years ago. We have heard reports that he settled in the mountains near the Hyshek Ruins."
"Then we're going there," Shepard insisted.
"I will transfer the coordinates to your omni-tool," the salarian said, bringing up the hologram on his arm. After a few moments of poking at it, he nodded in satisfaction. "We'll continue to hold the line while your team sneaks by."
"Thanks Major."
"Anytime, Commander. And good luck."
When they were finally out of ear-shot of the salarian party, Shepard glanced up at Saren quizzically. "Desolas?"
"He was my brother," he replied flatly.
"I see. And what about the salarian scientist. Do you know him?"
"I know his name," Saren admitted. "He was one of the scientists on Virmire."
"So he was indoctrinated," Garrus surmised.
Saren nodded. "And if he's still alive, it means he had a stronger mind than most of them. If indoctrination is broken, most beings will lose the will, or even know-how, to survive."
"Well let's hope he's still alive… and that Cerberus hasn't found him yet," Shepard muttered.
The way to the ancient salarian ruins was vastly overgrown with exotic plant life. The ground was damp and soggy, causing the squad's boots to be sucked down into the thick mud. As they reached higher elevation, the surface beneath their feet became drier until they were finally able to walk, unhindered. As they leapt and crawled over pieces of ancient broken buildings, both turians could make out the sounds of voices up ahead.
"Shepard," Garrus warned, his voice barely above a whisper. "We'd better be on our guard. I think Cerberus may have beat us here."
She nodded in reply, continuing forward with her assault rifle raised defensively before her. It had only taken a few moments for her, too, to hear the voices as they echoed off of the stony rubble. Motioning to her squad, she crept forward, keeping low. Three Cerberus soldiers guarded the entrance to what appeared to be a bunker that disappeared deep into the mountainous landscape. Several mechs littered the ground around the soldiers' feet.
She motioned toward Garrus to take the one on the right, while she'd take the middle. She was just about to order Saren to take the left-most target, when she noticed he was gone. Shooting Garrus a questioning look, he shrugged in response. Suddenly she heard a barely silent scuffle, and Garrus nudged her attention forward. All three soldiers lay on the ground. Two, had their necks twisted at an odd angle, while the third lay in a pool of his own blood, an open wound gaping at his throat. Saren stood among their bodies, appearing proud of his work.
"Looks like I've still got it," he growled proudly as the two approached.
Shepard shot him a scowl. "If you don't stop acting on your own you're staying on the Normandy," she hissed before ducking into the entrance.
"You're doing a good job at pissing her off," Garrus said, flashing his mandibles in a smirk.
Saren's eyes flared with anger. "What's her problem?"
"She likes to be in control, and you're... challenging that," Garrus said as he brushed past the other turian.
Saren's eyes followed the younger turian as he disappeared into the darkness of the entrance. He grunted thoughtfully before trudging in after him.
The bunker was dark and maze-like. Many lined tunnels twisted in different directions, and all seemingly alike. "Shepard, I hear something coming from that tunnel," Garrus said, motioning toward the right-most corridor.
"Can you make out what it is?"
He shook his head. "It's too far."
"Sounds like gunshots and voices to me," Saren put in.
"Alright. Then that's where we're going," Shepard said.
The squad pressed forward, the faint sounds growing in volume as they approached. It was gunshots alright. It could only be Cerberus. But who were they fighting?
Shepard led them, turn after turn, through the dark, stifling halls. When they rounded the final corner, voices and the sound of firearms filled the space. Peering down the hall, she could see a group of Cerberus soldiers taking cover outside of a large open room. Several bodies were scattered around them as they continued to be fired upon, taking cover behind their heavily armored shields. Squinting out into the lit open space beyond, she could make out several armed mechs. She could also see another figure, a salarian, crouching behind a tall pillar. Was that Rentin Tornus? She didn't see how it could be any other. Cerberus wanted him for something, and she was going to find out why.
"Let's take 'em out!" Shepard ordered as she began firing down the hall, catching the troops from behind. Three fell with her initial shots. Two others shifted their shields to protect from behind, while the remaining two covered the front against the mechs.
"Get them!" a man shouted, pointing down the hall.
The two soldiers moved forward, shields securely before them as they released fire upon Shepard and her team.
"Shepard, I can't get a shot in!" Saren shouted as each shot reflected against the approaching shields.
"Garrus, use a concussion round!" Shepard ordered.
He grinned as he moved forward to take aim. "My pleasure." The shot rang out, hitting the two men at their feet. The impact threw them off guard and their shields were displaced just long enough for Shepard and Saren to release a rain of fire upon them. They went down easily, the shields clattering to the floor in a heap with their bodies. This left the remaining two exposed from behind. They went down as well.
However, the mechs didn't cease shooting after the enemy's fall. One shot grazed Shepard's arm, reflecting off her armor. Garrus shot, making its mark in the target's head. Another one – no, two – fell as Saren pushed forward, emptying his thermal clips. As they poured from the corridor and into the room, the remaining mechs descended upon them… but they didn't stand a chance. Mech bodies scattered the area and all was silent as they scanned the room, searching for the salarian scientist. He was nowhere to be found.
"Rentin Tornus?" she asked, her voice elevated. "You can come out. We're here to help you."
"Stay away!" demanded a frantic voice.
Shepard crept forward carefully, approaching a console. She could make out a figure as it crouched behind the metal structure, shaking in obvious terror. "Rentin, we just want to know why Cerberus was after you."
"C-Cerberus?" he stammered. "I-I didn't know who they were. J-just tried to keep them out. W-was successful, yes?"
"Yes, they're all dead." She slowly moved around to the other side of the console where the salarian stooped. "We're friends. We won't hurt you," she said, reaching her hand down towards him.
He glanced up at it, confused and distrusting, but he took it anyway and let her help him to his feet. "Are you here for it too?" he asked, brushing himself off.
"It?"
He nodded, his gaze shifting nervously to the two turians before returning his attention to her. "The neuro-core. I've spent years creating it. And they wanted to take it." He motioned towards the dead bodies.
"Why did they want it?"
"To control the machines." He paused, looking around nervously. "I can hear them; the machines. They are here?"
"They are in our galaxy, yes," Shepard told him.
"You can hear them?" Saren asked curiously.
"Yes. I heard them clearly… once. Then the voices stopped. Now they are back, and there are more." His large eyes were filled with fear.
Shepard stared hard at Saren. "Can you hear them too?"
"Yes. But they have no hold. It appears that once the indoctrination had been broken once, it is harder for them to regain control. But we can still hear them."
Rentin nodded in agreement. "Ordered by machine to create neuro-core while on Virmire."
"What does it do and why do they want it?"
"Integrates new machines more quickly with the rest, creating a combined consciousness. But I altered it. Made it superior to the machines' cores," he stated proudly.
"Did you know about this?" Shepard questioned Saren.
He shook his head. "Sovereign controlled most of the facility's operations. I wasn't made aware of every project that was taking place."
Rentin moved over to another nearby console. After hitting a few buttons, a small hatch slid out. From it, he removed a small, square box. He held it in his hands, peering down at it with a mix of pride and unsurety. Finally, after confirming the decision in his mind, he turned back to face Shepard.
He was just about to say something when a few shots echoed through the large open space. Shepard's heart jumped in her chest when the ominous sound pierced her ears. She charged forward, shielding the salarian with her armored body. Too late. Rentin slumped, the lightness of his weight resting against her. Several other shots rang out, and she looked back to find Saren and Garrus unloading thermal clips into the collection of Cerberus bodies.
"One was still alive. He was apparently waiting for a good shot… Looks like he found one," Garrus muttered as he peered solemnly at the salarian who was slowly being lowered to the floor by Shepard's guiding arms. She let his back rest against the consol, and he peered up at her with hooded eyes.
"Hold on!" she said firmly as she applied medi-gel to the gaping wound in his torso. "We need to get you help"
"Please…" he said, taking her hand in his and turning it palm-up. There, he placed the small box. "I know you'll do what is right with it."
Shepard glanced down at the small metal box with uncertainty. "What do I do with it?"
"My research…" he uttered in a pained voice. "Take it. You must – use it to destroy them!"
"Okay," she said softly.
"Thank you." He winced, and his breath grew staggered. "I can die… knowing that my work will end the machines." A final breath escaped his lips as his body relaxed. His eyes closed peacefully as if a great weight had just been lifted from his shoulders.
"If this works, you'll be a hero." She placed a hand on his shoulder before rising to her feet. After a few silent moments of peering at the small box in her hand, she turned her attention to her squad. "Let's move out."
They made their way back to the spaceport on hurried feet. More people had apparently trickled into the area since they left. Now the place was bustling. Shepard wondered if Kirrahe's forces had successfully held the line. When they reached the docking area, they were greeted by not only one familiar face, but two.
Upon seeing his friends, Mordin quickly rushed toward them. "Shepard! Heard you were here. Had to see for myself." He took her hand in greeting. "Garrus here too. Excellent."
"Mordin!" Shepard grinned. "Good to see you, friend." She couldn't help but notice the curious glance the salarian shot in Saren's direction.
"Commander," Major Kirrahe interrupted with anticipation in his voice. "Where's Rentin? Were you able to locate him?"
"We did..." she replied gravely. "Cerberus found him. He gave us his research before he died. It's what they were after."
"Research?" Mordin asked curiously.
"Rentin was working on what he called a neuro-core. He said we could use it to stop the Reapers." She handed Mordin the box, of which he promptly opened.
The corners of his mouth twitched with excitement as he examined it. "Fascinating! I would like to examine this further…" He paused and peered up at Shepard mischievously. "On the Normandy of course."
A smile crossed over her lips. "It'd be great to have you aboard."
"Well, now that Cerberus is gone I must go report to high command. I'll see to it that our fleets are available to you, Commander," Kirrahe said happily. "And good luck!"
"You as well, Major. And thanks."