Title: Virmire Part Eleven
Author: DinkyMew
Game: Mass Effect (one)
Disclaimer: Bioware owns all characters and content related to the Mass Effect Franchise. Abigail Shepard is my own creation inspired by the character of Jane Shepard created by Bioware. Any original characters contained herein are my own creations and not necessarily affiliated with Bioware. The story may deviate from the actual events of the game series and for this I ask your forgiveness, any anomalies are for entertainment purposes and not intended to offend. **You may not copy, replicate, distribute or edit this fanfiction as it stands without my expressed permission, thank you**
Characters Featured:
Ashley ducked back behind the nuke as the Geth fired another hail of rounds her way. She felt fortunate that the outer shell of the nuke was pretty much indestructible, the small timer slowing ticking down, counting the minutes she had left in her life.
She thought of her friends, safe on the Normandy, gathering strength from the knowledge it had been the right decision. Not only was Kaidan a superior officer to herself, he was also a superior human being.
She closed her eyes, pressing her forehead to the barrel of her rifle as she sucked in long, calming breaths. The electronic fizzing of the Geth ahead sounded nearer and she prepared herself for the shot – the one that would end her agonising wait.
It never came.
Instead she heard the battle cry of a woman, one she recognised all too well as she snapped her eyes open, turning just in time to see Shepard charging back across the plaza, the blue hum of her biotics raging as she threw out a warp that connected solidly with the Geth nearest her. She pressed her attack and Ashley watched, speechless, as her friend kicked one Geth square in the chest knocking it back to shoot it square in the face.
Overhead the sound of an engine drew her eyes and she could see yet another Geth drop ship hover into view, the side-door opening to let the Geth troops out.
"Shepard!" She cried, and Abigail paused, looking to the ship before falling back, dropping beside her behind the nuke as the new wave of Geth troops landed hard on the plaza.
"What are you doing?!" Ashley cried, ducking further as the rain of bullets intensified.
"Saving you!" Shepard shouted back, and then she smiled "Kind of!"
"Thanks." Ashley drawled, glancing back at the timer – fifteen minutes; there was no way they were making it out of here. When she turned back to face her Shepard was also looking at the timer, her face stricken and white as it dawned on her how little time they had left.
"I guess this is it Commander." Ashley breathed. Shepard made to speak – her blue eyes filing with determination when the sound of an explosion behind them made them both flinch.
Ashley whipped her head around to see what this new threat was but was surprised to find an Alliance shuttle crashing its way through a pile of Geth that had been about to flank them unawares. It skidded to a halt with a piercing screech of metal grinding against rock and remained there, derelict a few feet in front of them to the left.
Ashley was waiting for the hatch to open and time slowed in anticipation. The doors across the plaza opened and Geth continued to pour in from all sides and still the shuttle remained closed. With a look to the side she could see that Shepard was watching the encroaching numbers of Geth, trying to assess the best plan of attack with a fearless determination.
"Starting to regret this yet Shepard?" She asked painting her best grin to her lips but it never reached her eyes.
There had to be an out somewhere.
Why couldn't Shepard have left her to her fate? Now the Commander was going to die here needlessly.
The look of determination and grit on Shepard's face spoke volumes, telling Ashley that she hadn't given up the fight yet. The blazing blue aura sprang up around Shepard again and she rose, firing off wave after wave of biotic energy into the inexorable Geth assault and Ashley could only watch In horror as the mechanical aliens were ripped apart in the face of Shepard's power only to be replaced instantly by more Geth troops, the barrels of their rifles flashing a sinister red as they returned fire.
Shepard took cover again and Ashley could see the exertion on her features as sweat ran freely down her face. She gulped for air, as though she had been underwater the whole time.
"Ashley-" Shepard began but was interrupted by the churning whoosh of the nearby shuttle hatch sliding open.
From inside smoke billowed out of the doors; grey waves turned red by the warning lights blinking rapidly inside. Ashley held her breath, expecting a soldier to drop out the door badly wounded – just what they needed right now!
Instead a tall figure clad in heavy armour rushed out of the open doorway and charged straight past them barrelling into the nearest pack of Geth. Ashley could only watch in awe as the stranger became a frenzy of death.
Gauntleted fists smashed into the Geth ranks and forced them back, one after another, shattering under the weight of each hard blow. Overhead lightning cracked, illuminating the sky as Ashley watched the scene unfold before them. The brilliant flash of light was reflected in the shining silver plates that reinforced the strangers protective black under weave; he moved through the throng of Geth the flash of his pistol blazing brightly even through the driving rain.
The front line fell back and the onslaught slowed to a halt as the Geth line began to reform. The stranger took this as his opportunity to retreat and fell back to where Ashley and Shepard had taken cover.
He did not take cover for himself though, instead seeming to tower above them in a shining splendour that reminded Ashley of pictures she had seen of Knights from Earth's history. His voice was muffled by the full-face helmet he wore which was also silver like the plating on his armour. There was a slit in the visor where she could see intense blue-green eyes burning from inside. Then the mysterious stranger placed one hand on his hip and raised his pistol into a heroic pose.
"Saving damsels in distress" the tone was full of mirth and joviality to Ashleys surprise. Who was this guy?
"Just what I do best!"
A hail of gunfire came dangerously close, one round evaporating inches from the strangers chest as his armour's shielding system took a hit. This seemed to drive home to the stranger the immediate danger he was in and as he brought his free hand up an Omni-Tool sprang into life.
Blue-green eyes sparkled from inside the visor now and Ashley could have sworn the man inside was smiling. Smiling! At a time like this!
The Omni-Tool widened and flattened and at first Ashley wasn't sure of what she was seeing, but to her amazement the Omni-Tool spread out into a large protective shield that was at least 5 foot long, stretching to cover most of the strangers body.
He casually used it to deflect a barrage of rounds and Ashley looked around for long enough to note that the Geth were almost right on top of them now. The stranger's voice drew her attention back from their impending doom
"You ladies wait here, I'll do the honours!" and with that he charged into the pack once more.
Ashley couldn't believe what she was seeing as the man waded into the thick of the onslaught, his protective shield whirling around in perpetual motion as the man attacked and defended simultaneously.
The shield blocked a wild swing by a nearby Geth trooper and the stranger dropped to one knee as he raised his pistol and jammed it point blank into the troopers face.
His Omni-Shield lashed out to the side crunching with sickening force into the next Geth Trooper, sending it reeling back into others, taking down a large pile as its circuitry began to overload – the electrical spike jumping from one metal body to the next.
With a deadly jerk of his arm, the stranger used his pistol to punch right through the weaker circuitry wires in a nearby Geth's shoulder. The pistol guided the helpless Geth trooper attached to it in front of him as a protective barrier while he continued his assault, his body a wave of deadly force as his plated boot found the chest of another Trooper forcing it back.
A pistol round discharged with an audible boom as the Trooper stuck to the muzzle incinerated into nothing.
The stranger barged the carcass out of the way and dropped to one knee again as the pile of Geth that had collapsed around him exploded in a heap of deadly metal. The shrapnel exploded in a wide swath of destruction as Geth parts annihilated their synthetic comrades. The strangers shield protected him from taking any damage and when the blasts ceased he stood from the smoking scrapheap that formed a circle around him.
Still the Geth came from doors to the side and Ashley wondered how much longer the stranger could continue to fight. Every part of her willed her to leap into the fray to lend a hand but the man was a one man wrecking crew. If she tried to help she might well get them both killed, and she'd caused enough trouble for one day.
She sat back and watched in a state of near reverence as his shield continued to demolish Geth at every turn. Then suddenly it winked out and the figure dove into a tight combat roll to avoid a hail of gunfire.
The evasive manoeuvre took him back to their position and this time he did crouch into cover alongside Ashley and Shepard. Ashley looked over and noted for the first time a look of intense scrutiny on Shepard's face. What was that all about?
The stranger tapped a button on his wrist and his helmet peeled back from the visor, disappearing into the neck of his suit in two fluid movements.
Though the man was sweating freely, Ashley noted with approval that their saviour was…well….hot! Dark brown hair combed to one side topped a powerful face. The man's stubbled square jaw and strong chin framed a face full of handsome features. His blue-green eyes sparkled with amusement which was mirrored by the grin on his face which flashed a set of perfect pearly whites. The dimples at the corners of his mouth sealed the deal for Ashley.
'If this is the last sight I see before I die, then I'll die happy' she thought with grim humour.
She looked at Shepard to confirm the mans' hotness but the look on Shepard's face was one of thunderous intent. The fury there was plain for all to see and it startled Ashley. What was with her? Hadn't his guy come to help them? If he saw the look on her face he did a good job of ignoring it as the smile in his eyes continued.
"If you are quite done enjoying the show, I think it's about time we got out of here." He gestured to his shuttle.
"If you please ladies, your carriage awaits." He did not wait for a reply though and reared up from their hiding place to fire some covering rounds into the approaching Geth lines.
His Omni-Tool flared into life again and Ashley wondered if he would get back in the thick of it, but he tapped the interface idly for a moment and then raised a clenched fist to their enemies.
Through the rain and her suit she could feel the air freeze around her as a blast of cold air sent a shiver down her spine. Waves of frozen particles erupted from the strangers Omni-Tool in a cone of destruction that froze everything it touched. Geth troops were flash frozen instantly and the rain that poured from the sky turned to sleet as it entered the frozen mist.
Behind the frontline the surviving Geth shattered their comrades as they continued their inexorable approach.
It had bought them enough time to make a dash for the shuttle though and Ashley felt strong arms propping her up, almost pulling her off the ground as they ran for the Shuttle door.
Thermal energy peppered the air around them as the nearest Geth began firing off rounds in a futile attempt to stop them but before any bolts could hit them they were safely under the cover of the ship.
The stranger helped her gently to the floor and brushed past Shepard as he stood, making his way towards the cockpit. Shepard's eyes still blazed with intense fury but she moved towards Ashley and placed a hand gently on her shoulder.
"You alright Chief?" she asked worriedly.
"Yeah, commander, I'm fine." She said in reply as she tested her joints and muscles for bruises. Abigail nodded in approval and made to rise but Ashley's hand stopped her.
"Shepard what the hell just happened? Who is that guy who just pulled our asses out of the fire? And why do you look so pissed off?" she demanded. She had the right to some answers.
"That" Shepard almost spat the word out as she turned her gaze to the cockpit "Is Hobbs. And why I'm pissed off? Is a long story" she relaxed with an audible sigh, and some of the anger left her voice.
"But you're right. He did just save us."
Taking a deep breath she moved toward the cockpit, leaving Ashley to gather her thoughts.
-x—O—x-
"Shepard."
Anderson's voice cuts through my train of thought and I stop reading to raise my eyes and find him standing in the doorway to my room. He stands there, looking at me expectantly and with a jerk I realise he is waiting for me to speak.
"Come in." I say, unsure and he gives me a polite smile stepping over the threshold, taking the time to glance around my room as he lets that soldier's guard down slowly. I watch him, I find him interesting, and eventually his eyes come back to mine – jet black almost under the strip light of my room – and he moves to sit on the chair next to my bed.
"So, I've been keeping my eye on you." He says, his voice carrying that same rich tone that I remember from last time we talked. "Matron says you have been behaving better. Even getting along with your peers."
"Yeah." I say, trying not to look pleased – but I feel it, deep and glowing inside. "I didn't think you would show up." I say honestly and he looks at me, his brow furrowing.
"I always keep my promises Shepard." He says sincerely and with that he reaches into his pocket and pulls a chain free – dog tags I realise – and hands them to me. "These were your father's when he enlisted." Anderson said with a smile "It was no easy feat getting a hold of them, but lucky for you I have friends in high places."
I take the chain from his extended hand, feel the tags between my fingers, press the pad of my thumb over my father's name. My name.
Anderson says nothing and somehow that makes me like him even more. He doesn't try to interpret what I'm thinking or feeling, doesn't try to analyse or sympathise, he's just… there.
I look to him and he offers me a small smile "It would have made him proud to see you get your own set." He says but there is no pressure behind the statement, it simply hangs between us, comfortably in the silence.
"So I was thinking of overseeing your training myself." He says at last "What would you think of that?"
I blink, looking at him seriously "You can do that?"
He gives me a small nod "I can. It would mean you would live here – but you would train with my squad. Handpicked Shepard, best of the best and I want you on it."
I frown, suddenly suspicious "Who else is on it?"
"No one you know." He assured me "The boy you beat to a pulp was the squad leader, but he's graduated now, top in the class, gone on to the Military training now. He left quite a space to fill." He smiles at me, knowing he has me hook, line and sinker with the bait.
"You feel up to the challenge?"
-x—O—x-
Hobbs banked the shuttle right, the rain sluicing off the windscreen as they rocketed away from the Virmire facility and back up the coastline of Virmire. His muscles still pumped with the left over adrenaline, his head that giddy mix of focused and thankful that he had managed to pull off such an awesome rescue. Definitely one to regale the ladies with at a later time.
He pressed his foot to the floor, the engine howling in agony as the shuttle was pressed to its limit. Glancing in the console he could see the facility growing smaller and smaller in the distance behind them, but there was something else that drew his attention, something shaped like a man on some kind of .. his first thought was flying surfboard. Frowning he leaned into the console as it gained speed on their shuttle, the menacing glint of a gun catching the light as another bolt of lightning ripped through the sky.
"Huh…" He muttered just as Shepard came up behind him, "Is that pissed off Turian after you or me?" He asked, glancing back at her. She met his playful smile with a hard one, her blue gunmetal eyes giving him that quick, dismissive once over he had so missed. She leaned forward, over his shoulder, all the right places pressing into him as he fought to keep his focus on the driving.
"That would be me, this time." She said guardedly "Not everyone is a fan of you Hobbs." She glanced back "Do you have a gun on this thing?"
"You want to shoot him down?" Hobbs asked, he shook his head "Not that kind of shuttle my dear." He jerked the steering just in time to avoid a hail of rounds from the Turian behind them. "Unless you want to hang out the door – our best bet is to outr-"
As the words left his lips there was an almighty explosion, one that drowned out the last of his sentence as the very air around them lit up in a brilliant flash – so white and blinding he lost sight of where he was going as the winds rocked and shook the shuttle out of his control. Gritting his teeth he slammed on the emergency autopilot, hoping the sensors could do a better job than himself, but the shuttle continued to bank and buck wildly as the temperature inside spiked.
"Hobbs!" He heard Shepard scream and glanced back to see her gripping wildly to the handrail. Ashley was buckled in, reaching for her to pull her back into the safety of a seat, but she was restricted by the emergency barriers that came over her shoulders, she couldn't reach her.
With a sudden stab of panic he unbuckled himself, launching toward Shepard and pulling her to the floor of the shuttle with him, gathering her in his arms he curled around her protectively as they bounced and slid on the metal.
He felt his head crack off the wall and grunting he activated his omnitool – the orange glow illuminating Shepard's features in the near darkness; she had a gash at the side of her temple, her eyes closed she rocked limply against him.
Pulling up that shield once more he pulled it over them both as the Shuttle whined, impacting the ground and bouncing a few feet before darkness enveloped him.
-x—O—x-
When Shepard's eyes opened she couldn't see a thing; just encroaching blackness, burned red then black, red then black. Outside she could hear the persistent hammering of the rain, the rumble of thunder and she suddenly remembered the events that had brought her here. Virmire. Saren. She sucked in a breath; her chest constricted by the weight of an arm over her and let her senses come back to her slowly.
She could smell smoke, burning acrid at the back of her throat and struggled to get up. Pushing the arm off her she wriggled free, toward the glowing red light on the dash.
Slamming her hand on the emergency release button the hatch door popped open with a grinding crunch and screech of metal. There was a rush of fresh air, caressing her skin as the sudden light – although dull – made her squint painfully as she got the first glimpse of where they had landed.
There was sand, which was a good sign, and slowly, painfully she crawled to the open door trembling from a mix of shock and the sharp, cold wind now buffeting inside the wrecked shuttle.
"Tempy." Came a groggy male voice and she turned back, glancing Hobbs pushing himself to his knees. His nose was bloodied, but otherwise he seemed unharmed, shaking his head, once hard, as his eyes widened trying to gain focus once more. "I see your driving hasn't improved." He muttered, a smile stealing at his lips.
"You were driving." She groaned, pushing herself to all fours "This time it wasn't me Hobbs."
"Yeah, but when I retell this," He countered "you will be driving." He smiled playfully, moving over to where Ashley sat, still buckled in, her head tilted to one side. He pressed fingers to her throat and Shepard held her breath momentarily watching his concentrated features.
"She's alive." He said at last, undoing the emergency belts and catching her limp body as it fell forward into his arms. "Let's get her laid down, then you two wait here. I'll see if I can get a signal outside, patch into the Normandy's comms and get them to come and collect us."
"Wait." Shepard said, helping him lay Ashley on the shuttle floor carefully "Where the hell did you come from Hobbs?"
"Now Tempy?" He asked, his eyebrows raising to accentuate his point.
"Now." She said firmly, suspicious. Hobbs was no regular marine, his being here could not be an accident or coincidence – and if someone had sent him after her she wanted to know why. And who.
"We were ordered to do recon on the mission here." He said vaguely "We were listening in to the Normandy's comm when we heard your transmission about going back. I took an executive decision to lend a hand, seeing the number of geth drop ships that were coming your way. You weren't hard to find; as always Tempy, wherever you go things seem to explode."
She ignored the extension of friendship eyeing him warily when Ashley suddenly gasped for breath, her hands coming out in front of her and grabbing for nothing. Shepard caught her fingers, gripping her hands in her own to calm her to sense, but instead the gunnery chief let out a wail of agony, her scream tapering to a gargle as blood began to pool at the corners of her mouth.
"Ashley!" Shepard screamed, and for the first time she noticed the wound in Ashley's side. The floor was already slick with her blood. "Hobbs, do you have medigel?" She asked urgently, looking to see the operative had also noticed the wound. His eyes met hers and she hated what she saw there – that sympathetic warning; she rebelled against, slammed the door shut on it – she would not let Ashley die here. Not like this.
He shook his head grimly "I don't carry medigel." He said "I'm going to hail the Normandy." He got to his feet swiftly, ducking under the protruding, damaged door of the shuttle and out into the rain beyond. Shepard's own comm crackled weakly as a connection was made, but she heard nothing – the system in her suit was obviously damaged.
"Just hold on Ashley." She said urgently, leaning over her friend as she trembled violently. She gripped her hands, Ashley's fingers laced through her own as she tried to steady them, to pull her friend back to a sense of calm "The Normandy's en route." She added, giving her a small smile "It's going to be alright."
"Sh-Sh-Shepard…" She rasped, her hands gripping and releasing as she fought to keep herself still "Thought you had pulled a miracle…" She shook her head "I'm not getting back… am I c-commander?."
Shepard shook her head firmly, grinding her teeth together as she fought back tears "Stop talking like that Williams." She chewed out, taking a sharp breath through her nose "You sound like a pussy."
Despite the obvious pain she was in Ashley chuckled breathlessly, gripping Shepards hands tightly as she swallowed "I'm… sorry." She said, holding Abigail's eyes as she tried to gain some kind of composure to speak "I let y-you down."
Shepard pressed to her, willing her strength to her "Just hold on Chief." She begged, knowing that in that moment she would bargain with anyone if they could give Ashley a few more minutes. "You're going to be fine." She insisted desperately.
Ashley dropped her eyes to the wound in her side, shaking uncontrollably as she began to cry "That's too much blood." She gasped, her voice cracking as her tears sank into her tone. "It's too much."
Tears streamed down Ashley's cheeks as she turned her dark eyes back to Abigail "What's happening?" She asked, her voice paper thin and so small against the roar of the thunder outside the shuttle. She gulped for air, as though she was underwater, and Shepard ground her teeth to keep her own tears at bay.
"Please Ashley…" She cried, the tears spilling over her lashes regardless "Please Ash, don't go."
Ashley blinked, the colour draining from her face suddenly and she relaxed a little, her eyes growing heavier "What's happening?" She asked again and Shepard shook her head, gripping her hands desperately.
"Tempy," Hobbs cut in. Shepard flinched, she hadn't seen him come back inside; he looked to her sombrely "The Normandy is en route, but it's 15 minutes out." He dropped his voice as he added "She doesn't have 15 minutes Shepard."
She blinked at him, shaking her head, unable to comprehend what he was saying to her. That she was going to lose her best friend? Her sister? She was going to lose her here, now, in this wrecked shuttle and there was nothing she could do about it? She was Commander Shepard – she didn't wait for miracles, she made them happen.
She shook her head, her vision blurring with fresh tears as he moved to kneel next to Ashley's head. "You're dying." He said to her and Ashley looked up at him in horror, her eyes widening in panic before he shushed her gently "It's alright." He said, his voice was gentle; warm and coaxing, and as Shepard watched Ashley calmed a little, listening to his tone and his words.
"Think of all the good things." He said gently "Think of your time with Shepard and your friends." He paused deliberately letting her take that in "It'll start to get warm." He whispered "It'll just be like falling asleep, nice and safe. Think of a time you felt safe falling asleep." As he spoke her trembling died away, the grip on Shepard's hands still as strong as before.
"Think of the good things." He repeated and slowly Ashley nodded.
"Who are you thinking about now?" He asked gently and Ashley looked to Shepard, her eyes welling with tears as she smiled brokenly at her friend.
"Joker." She whispered her voice barely there anymore.
Shepard felt tears spill over her lashes but she would not let herself sob; instead she gripped her friend's hands, showing nothing but pride in her marine – nothing but pride in her courage. The same courage she had seen countless times in battle; the same courage she herself had borrowed when she felt like the world was collapsing in.
She knew if she tried to speak she would wail and so instead gave her a tight smile, her eyes bright with tears as she nodded her acknowledgement.
Ashley's eyes drifted closed, the time between blinks became longer, and she sighed gently as the trembling ceased altogether.
"I'm coming." She said softly, and Hobbs pressed a hand to her shoulder.
"Who are you talking to Ashley?" He asked, holding her shoulder "Who's there with you?"
The reply was so small and thin Shepard had to strain to hear it "My dad." She breathed raggedly.
"Go to him." Shepard blurted, her voice cracking painfully as she felt Ashley's grip on her fingers fail "Go to him Ashley, I'll see you again."
Hobbs waited a moment longer, before sitting back, glancing to Shepard with his sharp eyes. "She's gone." He said slowly, but Shepard barely heard him. Gently he took Ashley's hands from her own and moved to sit behind Shepard, pulling her gently back into him.
At last, in the bulk of his arms she turned her face away from the body of her friend and allowed herself that moment of weakness.
Curling into the protective frame of Hobbs she opened the floodgates of grief and shock, letting all her emotions pour out to crash against this man who had always been a rock.
He spoke gently to her but she couldn't hear a word he was saying – the noise in her head was far too loud and raged with the pulse of her hot blood. Somehow something terrible had happened, and it was all her fault.
Suddenly there was a crack in her world.