Touching down on the cold planet that was currently only just entering dawn at the colony they found it to be eerily deserted.
"It's a ghost town." Taylor muttered as he followed Shepard and Lawson warily.
"Minus the ghosts." Shepard agreed as she led them through a habitation module that had half eaten meals on tables, a shower was still running somewhere and everything looked as though the occupants would simply be around the corner innocently distracted by something.
"Looks like they just got up and left." Taylor put his hand over the food to determine that yes it was cold now.
"This is... disconcerting." Miranda murmured torn between keeping an eye on their surroundings and on Shepard.
Shepard said nothing. Taking a left outside the module she led her small team towards the warehouse district. Approaching a large industrial sized bulkhead she came to a halt as her danger sense tingled in the back of her neck. Wordlessly she motioned for the pair behind her to take up position either side of the door.
Wondering why she was giving such orders they obeyed anyway and nodded when they were ready, their weapons already drawn.
Shepard hit the door release, which was in the centre of the door, and warily looked around. The clicking of mechs coming online was loud in the stillness of the morning. Jogging forward quickly to take cover behind a couple crates she located the source of the noise. "Two LOKI mechs coming online directly opposite the doors." she murmured, "Two more around to the right and it sounds like two Fenris mechs as well. Miranda can you overload their shields?"
"Yes." came the stiff response.
"On my mark do it, Taylor you shoot 'em down. I'll take the ones on the right." She ordered quickly.
"Got it." Taylor prepared in an instant for combat.
"Mark." Shepard muttered. Less than a heartbeat later there was a blue flash that had the mechs freezing up. Shepard ducked around the crates and her Phalanxes roared to life with a vengeance. The force of them sent one mech flying back as Taylor opened fire on the vulnerable mechs to her left. Her next shots sent the second mech crashing over the barrier behind it while the two Fenris mechs charged.
Miranda slowed their attack with a second overload and opened fire with her sub pistol without having to be ordered to by Shepard.
Shepard crushed the mech that was getting back up again with a warp then added her fire to Miranda's to down the dog imitation Fenris mechs before they could get close enough to hit them with their stunning electrical attacks.
"These mechs shouldn't have attacked us, we're human." Taylor pointed out in confusion.
"It appears we're not the only ones here. Did we detect any other ships?" Shepard glanced at Miranda as they both rose from their crouched positions with the threats eliminated.
"The shuttle doesn't have that capability." Miranda shook her head, also a little annoyed at the thought of someone else beating them here.
"Well then, let's see if we can find our elusive companions before they set more mechs on us." Shepard continued on at an even faster pace though her muscles screamed at her in complaint. She was actually thankful for the visor as it filtered the light for her sensitive eyes and thanked the stars for the armour's pain numbing agents that kept her moving for battle.
They fought their way through two more groups of mechs, Miranda proving to be quite the operative and not simply a brilliant scientists. Shepard was smiling beneath her helmet when Miranda blasted one mech over the edge of the canyon to their left with her biotics. It was eerily reminiscent of a particular childhood memory of stargazing.
Finding their competition shortly thereafter all three humans were quite stunned to see Quarians gathered over a fallen mech studying it.
The Quarian marines shouted and instantly drew their weapons at the sight of the Cerbeus logos on Miranda and Taylor.
"Put your weapons down, I said I'd handle it!" A very familiar voice commanded firmly from a slender young Quarian moving between the two sides.
Shepard immediately put away her pistols and motioned for the others to stand down.
Tali looked over the three humans, "We're not here to fight or cause trouble. One of our own was here for his Pilgrimage and is currently hiding from everything out of fear. All we want is to find him and return to the Flotilla." she attempted to be diplomatic with the humans. Shepard had taught her that there were good humans out there and though these belonged to Cerberus they might at least have a shred of decency somewhere in them.
Shepard pulled off her helmet and as she did Miranda glanced at her in annoyance.
"This Quarian could have information about what happened here." she pointed out quickly.
"So we ask him about it then Tali takes him home." Shepard returned, knowing exactly what Miranda was insinuating and not having a bar of it.
Tali's jaw dropped open in her suit and her eyes widened, "Shepard! You're-you're alive!" she gasped in shock.
"Alive and kicking as of," she glanced at her omni-tool, "eight hours ago. Takes a couple years to bring someone back from the dead apparently. Then I was woken up before being fully healed by explosions from a mole trying to sell my body to the Shadow Broker. Today has not been one of my best mornings." she was attempting to try and stave off the grin for as long as possible, taking in the dear Quarian before her. "This," she pointed to her scarred and slightly glowing face, "is very uncomfortable."
Tali smirked, "I bet. So... Cerberus rebuilt you?" she glanced warily at the woman who was looking very annoyed right now.
Shepard understood the depth of the question, "We have an... understanding at the moment. This is not the first human colony where all the humans have been abducted without a trace. Hundreds of thousands of our people have been taken." she let that sink in.
"Oh keelah." Tali murmured in horror, she hadn't known that at all.
"The Illusive Man has a theory that I'm looking into, if it turns out to be correct then I'll agree to not blow up the next Cerberus base I find and concentrate on Collectors, who've really pissed me off with wanting to buy my arse like some trophy." Now she looked angry and her cybernetics lit up, "If they're behind these abductions I'll do what's necessary to bring them down, even work with Cerberus."
Tali nodded, this was really big and it was something Shepard would do if she only had no other option, "The Council or Alliance aren't doing anything?"
"They think it's just slaver attacks. But look around, you see any evidence of a fight bar the mechs? People wouldn't just up and walk out with slavers, they'd fight tooth and nail before either being killed or taken. Lots of weapons scorching, blood, bodies, in short a very big mess. Here." she gestured towards the window, "Nothing. But just like the Reapers the Council doesn't want to see it. It's a human problem. The Alliance takes its cues from the Council, ignore the problem, it'll stop eventually."
"Yeah, when there are no humans left." Taylor grunted.
Shepard took a step forward and the marines lifted their weapons again, she stopped. "Tali, we're not going to take the kid, I just want to know what he saw. All I need is confirmation on what took the humans." she tried to soothe them.
Tali considered her, she looked like Shepard, talked like Shepard but was she really Shepard? "Only Shepard knows what my Pilgrimage gift was. What was it?" she asked firmly.
"Geth data." She answered simply.
Tali relaxed immediately, she ran into Shepard's arms and burst into tears.
Shepard held her with a smile, the Quarian only barely passed her shoulder, "So did you get the Neema?" she asked softly, cradling the young woman against her like a lost child and feeling a sense of the familiar, that everything was going to be alright.
Tali nodded.
"So Tali'Zorah vas Neema nar Raaya. Very nice ring to it." Shepard grinned in approval.
"Touching but we don't have time." Miranda growled from behind her.
Tali went to pull back but Shepard held her tighter, she could feel the growl in the back of Shepard's throat and knew that Shepard and this woman were not on friendly terms. She smiled at that fact and hugged her tighter, sniffling from the tears.
"So I take it you guys have a better idea of what's ahead. Thoughts?" Shepard didn't comment on or even respond to Miranda's interjection.
Tali detected the unusual low note of Shepard's voice and pulled back again, this time Shepard let her, "Well Veetor has taken refuge in the warehouse district and activated the security mechs. It would be best to split into two teams..." she began but one of the marines interjected angrily.
"Now we're working with Cerberus!" he snarled at her.
"No Prazza." Tali snapped back at him, "You're working for me if you can't handle that get back on the ship." she growled at him firmly.
He backed down quickly but with great reluctance.
"I get the strangest feeling that Cerberus has somehow offended the Flotilla." She cast a wry glance at Miranda.
"They attacked one of our ships." was all Tali growled in explanation.
"Ooh." That was all the explanation needed, Quarian ships were like their souls. You did not mess with their ships.
"That's not how I would have described it." Miranda returned snidely.
Shepard simply held up her hand for silence from the woman, "Let me guess, they had something Cerberus wanted so you figured you'd just take it and the Quarians objected." she scoffed, "Tali you take your team west, we'll go east. Anyone fires stray shots in either direction I'll sit on you so fast you'll be seeing stars for a week." her gaze rested on Miranda in a silent communication that was clearly articulating especially you.
Miranda barely nodded but could see Shepard had understood the subtle response.
"Yes Commander." Taylor instinctively resorted back to his Alliance training at her commanding tone.
Shepard turned to Prazza, "Tali how many Cerberus facilities did we wipe out?"
"Five." Tali answered without hesitation.
"What did we do to the Cerberus operatives inside them?" she asked, not taking her eyes off the marine.
"Killed them."
"About how many?"
"Keelah, over a hundred I'd guess but I wasn't really counting." Tali glanced at the Cerberus operatives, the dark skinned man looked uncomfortable, the woman was stone faced and unreadable.
"So the fact that these two Cerberus operatives are still breathing?"
"Means they're important for something and under your protection." Tali reasoned.
"And what lengths will I go to for the people I protect?"
"Uh, anyone who crosses them tends to die rather quickly and painfully." Tali smirked beneath her mask at what Shepard had just done. She'd made it very clear that she was no friend of Cerberus but the two people with her were needed for something therefore were off limits or there would be bloody hell to pay, as the humans phrased it.
Shepard hadn't taken her eyes off Prazza for a second and he was wilting under her gaze, "So is there going to be a problem, marine?"
"No ma'am." he mumbled.
"Good, as Operative Lawson pointed out we don't have much time. Should the Alliance get here your Veetor will be taken into custody for a full investigation. You don't want that. I don't want that. So let's go." she put her helmet back on and quickly synced communication frequencies with Tali.
They'd just taken out a series of security drones and were on approach to the loading area of the warehouse district where Tali had detected Veetor was located when a panicked Tali spoke up quickly.
"Shepard, Prazza's gone on ahead, I told him to wait but he wouldn't listen. He wants to get to Veetor before you but Veetor's reprogrammed a heavy mech and it's tearing Prazza's squad apart!"
Miranda hissed, "Bloody Quarians, we should have known they'd turn on us." she shot a pointed glare at Shepard.
They could hear the gunfire from where they were which was quickly followed by screams even as Miranda spoke.
"We're coming Tali, just keep your head down, maybe yell abuse at Prazza for me, I love it when you start cussing in Quarian." Shepard smirked beneath her helmet, "Come on, you know you want to call him a bosh'tet."
Immediately they were subjected to Tali hurling abuse at the errant marine.
Shepard had to stifle her chuckle but it was effective in snapping Tali out of her panic.
Taylor even smirked.
Sprinting through the outskirts of the warehouse district they followed the sounds of gunfire and quickly came across the heavy YMIR mech standing at a massive ten feet tall armed with a powerful machine gun and rocket launcher with heavy armour as well as shields protecting it. It was ripping through the Quarians like tissue paper. They got there just in time to see it hammer Prazza, filling the Quarian with so many bullets his chest was a spray of blood as he was thrown against a large transportation crate.
"This is going to be a son of a bitch to take down." Miranda observed coldly, the Quarian's got what they deserved in her mind.
"Tali we're here. You and Miranda deal with its shields. Taylor dance with it around those crates, keep it distracted, I'm gonna cut through the packing section and flank it through that module." she gestured her instructions crisply then quickly set off as the mech was running out of Quarians to play with. She heard the sizzle of the shields being assaulted by an overload, heard Tali sending her drone after it, heard Taylor open fire on it with his assault rifle and heard the explosive fire of the mech's machinegun. She could smell and taste the acrid burning of weapons fire, the metallic hint of blood from all the dead or injured Quarians, the smell of the coolness of morning that was being burned away by the rising sun. All of these things hummed through her senses and built up a battlefield in her mind, she could see it all without needing to use her eyes, she could dance through it with her eyes closed even though she'd never been here before. She smiled to herself, she still had her battlesense and it was sharper than ever before from her own heightened senses from the Lazarus Project. Then the fight was on.
The shields dropped under the combined assault of the tech specialists who now began to work on its armour plating with Taylor.
"Miranda can you warp?" Shepard asked suddenly, taking her position in the module looking down over the field and unnoticed by mech just yet.
"Of course." Miranda scoffed at being asked such a thing.
"Ever seen what happens when you hit a singularity with a warp?" Shepard was charging up her biotics already.
Miranda paused, "Sounds intriguing." she'd never seen it done before.
"I'm gonna hit it with a singularity you count to six then hit it with a warp." Shepard had always excelled at her biotics, she was grace, efficiency and power all in one. Pulling out the mnemonic movement she wrapped the mech in a gravity defying singularity that was so powerful the massive mech was lifted from the ground.
Taylor's jaw dropped and his eyes widened at the sheer strength Shepard was exerting on the machine. He could lift things biotically but that was basic compared to what they were seeing.
Miranda was also impressed though she knew that Shepard's biotics had been boosted To her this was evidence of the success of the procedure and not of Shepard's abilities in and of themselves. Counting to six she lashed out a heavy warp right at the heart of the pulsating core of dark energy.
It was a biotic explosion that ripped the mech apart so completely it was literally shrapnel.
Everyone took cover as the entire area was pelted with jagged bits of metal.
"That was incredible." Taylor actually laughed out of sheer awe.
Shepard smirked and wasn't going to comment, but Miranda took the opportunity.
"We boosted Shepard's biotics if you recall, increased power and length of time she can manipulate dark energy." she reminded him curtly.
Jacob frowned at her, "You enhanced what she already had, you didn't suddenly give her biotics Lawson." he pointed out.
Miranda glared at him but said nothing more.
Shepard was pleased with Taylor coming to her defence so she decided to just let the slight on her abilities by Miranda just slide for now. Instead she sought out Tali who was in the module opposite her tending to some injured Quarian's she'd managed to get out of the mech's path.
"Nicely done Shepard." Tali nodded up at her.
"Team work always kicks arse." Shepard smiled, taking off her helmet, "I'd offer you help getting your people back to the Flotilla but I doubt the Illusive Man would be that generous. What do you need me to do?" she asked softly.
"Veetor's in the control room just over there. I'll handle this, you talk with him." Tali gestured towards the aforementioned shed and quickly continued her ministrations on the bleeding out Quarian.
Shepard gave her shoulder a squeeze, "I'm in charge of this operation so don't listen to anything Miranda might try to say about taking Veetor, he's going home not to a Cerberus interrogation chamber." she muttered firmly before heading out as Tali had directed.
Tali's heart fluttered. She was now sure in her heart that it really was Shepard... and that Shepard was in big trouble. She knew Shepard would never willingly work with Cerberus if she had a choice.
Shepard found the door to the control room was secured and glanced at Miranda.
Miranda nodded and activated her omni-tool. The door was soon swishing open.
Inside was dark except for the bank of screens on the back wall that cast enough light to show a jumpy Quarian working on the console.
"Mechs will protect. Must stay hidden. Mechs will protect." he was muttering to himself.
"Veetor?" Shepard called to him softly, not wanting to overly startle him. It looked like he was compiling something, visual footage that was showing the abduction of the colonists... by Collectors. Shepard's heart sank, "Shit." she muttered to herself and strode forward.
"Collectors. The Illusive Man was right." Miranda nodded towards the screens, her voice soft but firm. Shepard couldn't argue with this, especially considering it was a Quarian who complied this evidence clearly not a Cerberus deception.
Shepard gently put her hand on Veetors shoulder.
Veetor cried out and whirled around, almost falling over but that hand kept him steady. He swung out to punch wildly at the intruder but his wrist was caught.
"Veetor calm down, you're all right Veetor, you're safe now Veetor, help is here." Shepard soothed him, hoping that saying his name repeatedly would get his attention.
He sobbed and stopped struggling, "You're, you're human, how did you escape them?" he gulped down air.
"Veetor look at me and take a nice slow deep breath. With me now, breathe in," Shepard breathed in, "breathe out." she exhaled slowly, releasing him as she did.
The young Quarian did so and slowly began to calm down.
"A bit better now?" she asked with a smile.
He nodded.
"Okay, we only just got here so missed the attack. I know this will be difficult for you to talk about but I need to know what happened. Can you tell me what you saw?" she asked slowly, her voice gentle and calm.
He whimpered and wrung his hands but nodded, turning to the console he brought up what he'd been working on, "Seekers, swarms and swarms of seekers. They stung the colonists and the colonists just stopped moving." he nodded to the screen.
The three humans watched as screaming colonists were paralysed by what looked like large wasps the size of two average human fists.
"Then they came, they took them, put them in pods, took them away." he whimpered and began shaking again.
Shepard put her hand on his shoulder again, "May we have a copy of this please Veetor? It would be very helpful." she soothed.
He nodded and activated his omni-tool, "Yes, yes of course..."
"I'm Commander Shepard." she supplied when he glanced at her realizing he didn't know her name.
"C-Commander Shepard? The-the saviour of the Citadel?" he gaped at her, hand frozen over his omni-tool.
Shepard smiled ruefully, "Told you, you were safe." she winked.
He blushed under his mask and mumbled unintelligible words.
"The data please Veetor and anything else you can remember would be helpful." she got him back on track and activated her omni-tool for him to transfer the data across.
"There was a-a loud crack, like thunder just before- just before the seekers. I took scans, lots of scans." he nodded, his fingers working quickly.
"Probably their ship entering atmo." Taylor interpreted.
"Their swarms didn't find me, I-I hid in here. The screams..." Veetor began to shake again.
Shepard touched his shoulder once more, "If you didn't hide you wouldn't be able to give us this and we wouldn't know who was taking our people. This isn't the first colony they've attacked but until now there's been no clue left behind as to who took them. Thanks to you, Veetor, we now know and can do something about it. This data will save thousands of lives. Thank you. If you were taking a human pilgrimage this gift would get you any ship in our fleet." she put her fist to her chest in a Quarian salute.
Miranda rolled her eyes. If it were up to her she'd just grab the Quarian and leave, let someone else get the information out of him more efficiently than the Commander was currently doing, making him remember things he might have blocked out our didn't think important.
"Oh, oh really? I... thank you. Thank you Commander Shepard." he stood a little taller, calmer and the fear in him seemed to melt away under her touch and words.
Taylor was very impressed with her. This was nothing like a Cerberus operative would do to get the information needed, they'd force it out of their victim through any means necessary, asking nicely was a forgotten art.
"If you think of anything else that might be helpful, no matter how small, send me a message or send it to Tali'Zorah vas Neema nar Raaya." Shepard smiled and nodded as the data transfer continued, he'd taken a lot of scans and samples.
"T-Tali'Zorah? The Tali'Zorah?" he gaped at her, he'd never met her but every Quarian who'd gone on pilgrimage since her return had been regaled with tales of her exploits and how she'd been side by side with Shepard as she saved the galaxy from Saren and the Geth.
Tali cleared her throat awkwardly in the doorway.
"Speak of the angel." Shepard smirked, her eyes sparkling.
"Hello Veetor." Tali's voice was all smiles as she approached. She'd done what she could for the injured and though she trusted Shepard she didn't trust Cerberus.
"Tali'Zorah!" he squeaked in surprise.
"This young man was about to tell me all about the heroic exploits of one gorgeous Tal'Zorah nar Raaya." she grinned at Tali, putting her arm around the shorter Quarian's shoulder.
He made a strangled cry of embarrassment and disbelief.
Tali burst out laughing, "Leave the boy alone Seph." she scolded playfully, knowing full well that Shepard was doing what she did best in easing the tension.
Shepard smiled and gave his shoulders a squeeze, glancing down at her omni-tool as it beeped to register the end of the transfer. "Tali's gonna take you back to the Flotilla. Tali this data Veetor's collated shows that Collectors are taking humans and how they've done it. Little's really known about the Collectors and the Illusive Man seems to think they're working for the Reapers as they've only been taking humans since we killed Sovereign." she held up her wrist, "Cerberus will go over this data but anything your people could find out would be greatly appreciated." she shot Miranda a 'don't even think about it' glare when she went to speak.
Miranda clenched her jaw and remained silent. The files had said that Tali and Shepard were close, she hadn't realized how close until just now. No one except her inner circle of a small handful of people were allowed to call Stephanie Shepard, 'Steph', she assumed the accent was why it sounded like 'Seph' when Tali said it and it didn't seem to bother Shepard.
"Of course." Tali processed it quickly that was why Shepard was willing to work with Cerberus. They believed her about the Reapers, were they wanting her to lead an investigation and attack force against them? Against the Collectors? "Shepard... can we talk privately?" she asked softly.
Shepard looked to Miranda and gestured with a tilt of her head to the door.
"I can't do that Shepard." she stated flatly.
"I promise no undermining Cerberus, no plans to escape. I gave my word if the Collectors were behind this I'd toe the line. Tali is a friend and has valuable contacts to help. Now I'm going to ask nicely one more time before I throw you out on your arse." Shepard's voice was stern and she glared heatedly at Miranda.
Miranda stepped towards her with eyes narrowed and fists clenched, "I'd like to see you..." before she could even finish Shepard's fist lashed out and smacked her so hard in the jaw her head snapped back and she blacked out.
Jacob guffawed, "Oh she is so going to kick your arse for that." he clapped her on the shoulder, "I wish I'd recorded it." he chuckled, striding over to pick up the unconscious woman.
"Sedate her for me would you please Jacob. I want her waking up on the station and not before. She's less likely to go biotic demon on my arse if it'll kill everyone else around us." Shepard was grinning from ear to ear.
Jacob nodded, "Yes ma'am."
Tali laughed as after sedating the woman he lifted her up and put her the unconscious woman over his shoulder.
"Would you, would you like me to go to?" Veetor asked nervously.
"Just wait outside the door thank you Veetor." Tali nodded and was very grateful that he dashed out quickly. When she looked back to Shepard her heart broke at the distraught look on her face now that they were finally alone. Activating a small cone of silence around them she nodded, "Talk to me Seph, no Cerberus bugs will be listening in."
Shepard threw her arms around Tali and only barely refrained from bursting into tears, "Tali I... goddess the Normandy being attacked only happened for me a few hours ago. I've been fighting for my life ever since I woke up and now I've got a fucking Cerberus leash around my neck. I gave my word if the Collectors were behind these attacks I'd do everything I could to stop them and Cerberus will most likely give me everything I need. But it's fucking Cerberus. Akuze..." her voice was ragged and she breathed out the last word that had completely changed her world.
Tali held her trembling form, "Oh Seph, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. What can I do?"
Shepard took a deep breath, "Contact Anderson, tell him everything, but also tell him I'll do everything in my power to stop the Collectors, I'll never join Cerberus. I'll kill myself first." she scoffed, "Then again, they'll just resurrect my sorry arse more likely so Miri can kill me herself."
"Miri? That woman Miranda?" Tali pulled back to look at Shepard curiously.
"You know she's supposed to have perfect memory, but she has no idea who I am. She thinks just like the rest of the galaxy that I'm nothing more than Stephanie Shepard, hero of the Citadel. She's forgotten that we knew each other a long time ago." she smirked wryly, "Funny story. Miri Solheim was my first love. We promised to write every day when my family was sent away, I did for two years. Never got one back from her but her father sent me one telling me to stop or bad things would happen. I was a rebellious teenager and didn't listen. He sent an assassin after me, killed my dad. Now she doesn't fucking know me and threatened to kill me if I do anything to turn on Cerberus. Go figure that one out."
"Oh Seph." Tali squeezed her arm sympathetically. "That's horrible!"
"When we knew each other she was so full of life, so bright and friendly and compassionate and amazing. Now she's a stone cold bitch working for terrorists. What the fuck happened to her?" Shepard rubbed the back of her neck deep in thought, partially turning away from Tali.
Tali was silent for a long moment, unsure what to say. Stepping up to her she slid her hand up Shepard's shoulder, "Seph, be careful. You can't trust her, you can't trust any of them." she warned softly.
Shepard took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "I could really use you with me."
"Seph I can't. I really wish I could but I've got an important mission of my own on Haestrom in Geth space. I can't leave it to anyone else." Tali felt so horrible at the drop of Shepard's shoulders.
"Geth space?" Shepard was instantly concerned and looked to her friend with worry etched into her features.
"I... I wish I could tell you more but..." Tali lowered her face, wringing her hands.
"Cerberus. I understand." Shepard reached out and touched the chin of the young woman's mask. "You ever need help I don't give a shit about Cerberus, I'll come for you." she promised with complete sincerity and deep intensity.
Tali melted at that gaze, "I-I, thank you, that means so much to me." she sniffled as tears threatened.
"You're family Tali'Zorah." Shepard pulled her close for one last hug, "You be careful out there. No getting your arse shot off by geth or blown up by whatever it is you're doing on Haestrom. Got it?" she growled.
Tali smiled, "Yes Commander. You take care too." she murmured.
Shepard touched her forehead to the top of Tali's faceplate, it was a symbolic kiss on the cheek just between them before they parted ways. Tali back to the Flotilla and Shepard... Shepard back to the Cerberus space station and the Illusive Man with a heavy heart and lead feet.