REQUIEM
CHAPTER TEN:
LIKE JFK, THEY SAID
October 18, 2185
1310 hours.
Eternity Bar, Business District, Nos Astra, Illium.
Chief Engineer Tali'Zorah vas Normandy, Master Thief Kasumi Goto, Matriarch Aethyta.
Tali looked at her drink like it was the most fascinating thing in the universe; like it was universe. And she focused on nothing else, just the drink, just the little world that was encompassed in it. Bubbles appeared and disappeared as the drink fizzled, the dark purple color offsetting its alcoholic nature. The top brimmed and popped up and sizzled, made up of chemicals most likely only available on dextro worlds.
And Tali was going to drink it; or was, at least.
They had gone shopping for a bit, seen a few of the stores, but it had mostly been clothing stores, Kasumi wanting to desperately keep the quarian away from her affinities like technology stores, and more towards what she called 'girly' things; like jewellery, clothing, makeup, all of that. Stuff that Tali didn't even need. Its all a waste of resources anyway, she had told herself.
And now they both sat at the eternity bar, sitting before the counter on high-standing stools, facing inwards, with two drinks in hand. Aethyta had recognized them from last visit, and from what Tali gathered on the woman, she was a really nice person. Compared to most asari, anyway, Liara being an exception, along with Samara. Her father was a krogan too, which explained her aggressive personality to those trying to rough up her bar.
Soft, yet mind-ripping, ear-drumming, calm music echoed through the area, a restuarant like area to the right where men could sit and could free asari lap dances or private shows, along with more behind her for the more reserved people. Eternity was somewhat peaceful, which is why Tali and Kasumi decided to spend their shore leave here.
Marcus had set them both a message not too long ago about an attempt on Liara's life, and how the Shadow Broker was involved. She almost shot up to go help when she heard about engaging an assassin, but when she saw it was taken care of, she calmed down. He also stated that he had spoken to Liara, and after calming her down, she had agreed to pay for the Normandy's repairs; they were going to be here for at least a week, so as of then, the whole crew was on shore leave.
She was afraid the SB might try and harm Marcus again and had insisted on him taking an escort; he eventually caved, agreeing to let Zaeed protect him, who did so without objection, stating he had no use for 'shore leave.'
"You going to drink that or do I need to concoct another drink?" Aethyta's voice broke Tali's reverie, making the quarian look up and look at the matriarch, who was looking at her with a frown. She didn't know what to say, had nothing to say. She looked dumbly at the asari, who stood there waiting for an answer, hands braced against the bar.
Kasumi came to her rescue though, rushing over to the quarian's side and giving Aethyta the biggest, warmest smile she could muster, "She'll drink it; she's just giving into nostalgia. We had one hell of a fun day, didn't we Tals!?" She turned to Tali, a gleam in her eye. The engineer secretly rolled her eyes. Oh ha ha. What's that funny human term...you're a riot? I think that's it.
"Yeah, really memorable," Tali replied with an enthusiasm she didn't feel, finally picking up her drink, taking out her straw, sticking it into the drink and into her vocalizer, and beginning to sip, "Best day of my life." She couldn't help the sarcasm at the end. I won't pretend.
The thief rolled her own eyes, gaze switching to the matriarch, who wasn't even looking at her. She tried to gain the asari's attention, but all she got was the asari's loud and resigned, "Oh fuck me twice. Not this idiot again."
Tali and Kasumi frowned at the same time, both turning to the source of the matriarch's annoyance. A young, human man with a short, puffy white beard and calm blue eyes was arguing with an asari stripper, who didn't seem all too amused about her lap dance shift being interrupted. He didn't look particularly strong or intimidating, and his face was eerily familiar. He wore what looked to be a cheap replica of N7 armor from two years ago, almost reminding her of Marcus. He looked ridiculous in it, and the replica assault rifle on his back and cheap predator pistol didn't help his image.
He actually looks kinda cute...
The man waved off the asari, shoving past her and shouting at the matriarch, his words unintelligable. Aethyta looked pissed, eyebrows furrowing in deep frustration and anger. And as the man came closer, Tali recognized him. She had seen him two years ago in the Dark Star Lounge during the Saren's campaign, during one of their shore leaves.
Conrad Verner; her boyfriend's biggest fan.
He stopped at the bar, turning to the two girls at the table and smiling, winking and clicking his tongue in an attempt to look cool, "Hey ladies; what are you two doing at a place like this?"
Tali didn't even answer as she rolled her eyes, just looking at him in his N7 armor that didn't fit him. Kasumi just giggled, also choosing not to answer. Conrad flashed them both another wink, before turning back to the bar and at Aethyta, who was glowing with a biotic aura, "Lady, you already know who I am, so lets cut to business." His attempts at intimidation fell low. Damn this kid is a real tryhard...who does he think he is? Who is he...
Marcus. He's trying to be like Marcus.
Oh keelah...this'll be hilarious...
Aethyta barked with laughter, "Yeah, and I told you it was a load of shit. I also told you I'd slap your ass with a singularity if you turned up in my bar again; you're pushing your luck, kid."
"I'm no kid!" Conrad replied with a squeak, "I am Commander Shepard, Alliance Navy, Hero of the Citadel! And I am here to take the deed for this bar! I know you're selling red sand; an informant working with the police told me!"
Aethyta tried to look serious as she leaned forward, "Really? Then it looks like you've caught me; arrest me, commander! I sell red sand! I should never have trusted this mysterious woman; I shall have to do some cleaning up!"
"Damn right," Conrad replied, grin triumphant.
Tali was on the verge of facepalming...if she could, Keelah, he's so dense. He doesn't even recognize sarcasm when he sees it...should I just call him out on his crap? Actually, no, I'd like to see this bosh'tet embarass himself alittle more...if only Marcus was here...
Aethyta decided to stop yanking him around, tone and face serious, "Listen boy, I do not sell red sand here. Not in my bar. I do not tolerate druggos, and if I ever caught one sniffin' in my bar, I'd reave him or her into an early grave. And even if I did, I'd be perfectly within my right to sell it. This isn't the fucking Citadel you dolt, its Illium. In the Terminus Systems. Its perfectly legal to sell red sand here, just not unregistered or without a permit."
"Ah!" Conrad pointed forward, "But you don't have a permit!"
"Because I don't sell the stuff, dickhead," Aethyta replied, "Now get the fuck out before I call police."
"My informant-"
"Probably isn't an informant," Aethyta spat, pointing out the door, "Did you ever consider or comprehend the idea that she may be a rival competitor trying to shut me down and is using your stupid, gullible ass to help? Did you ever think of that? No, you wouldn't have, because you're a tool. You stupid ass fool."
"Insults are nothing to me," Conrad replied, "I am Commander-"
Tali finally decided to put an end to this situation, "No, you're not."
Conrad spun to face her, as did Aethyta, with a smile, "See, evidence from the source. Now get out kid."
"Who the hell are you?" Conrad replied, voice trying to be harsh but failing as his voice seemed to break, "You-you don't dictate who I am! I don't even know you! You're just some...quarian!"
"Of course you don't know me. Because you're not Commander Shepard," Tali insisted, Kasumi barely containing a fit of giggles as she slapped Tali's arm with humor. Humans. Conrad looked at her, gaze confused, so she could continued, "If you're Commander Shepard, you should know this. What were the names of all the people on your squad during the Skyllian Blitz?"
"I-I don't know..." Conrad scratched the back of his neck, "Hard to remember..."
"What's your favourite rifle?" Tali asked.
"Diamond Back of course!" Conrad replied, grin forming and his posture suddenly more confident. Tali almost beat herself internally. No! Wrong question, anyone could research that...something unknown...
She smiled at the thought as she brought it up, "Who are your best friends...?"
Conrad's smile almost dropped, but he kept it for appearence's sake, but she saw the color drain from his cheeks, "As-Ashley...Williams a-a-and Kaidan Alenko!"
Tali sighed. Keelah, really? Just the humans? Typical. She laughed as she picked up her drink and chugged it, "Well, you're not Commander Shepard, because you got all but one question wrong."
Conrad slammed his hand down on the bar, the force making her barely shudder, "How dare you question me! I think I know who I am! I am Commander Shepard, and I-"
"Say my name."
Conrad was dumbfounded and everyone looked at Tali with a raised eyebrow, "I...what?"
"You heard me," Tali turned to him, look amused, but hidden from the ridiculous man, "Say. My. Name."
"I don't-"
"Here's a hint. One of the Heroes of the Citadel," Tali hinted.
"I-"
"Starts with a T."
"I still-"
Tali slammed a credit chit on the bar, put her drink down and slid it away, standing up to tower over Conrad, which surprised even her. Keelah, he's small...Her words were not hostile or kind, just neutral as she finished.
"I think the real Commander Shepard would know the name of his own girlfriend."
The color completely drained from the man's cheeks this time and he backed away, slowly, "I-wow! Really!? You're Commander Shepard's lady love!?" And Tali wasn't kidding when she thought he squealed.
I'm convinced he was a girl in his previous life.
He moved forward, all evidence of his facade gone as Aethyta calmed down, leaning back against her bar and moving to serve Kasumi another drink, who had skulled hers subconsciously while observing the clash between Not-Marcus and Tali. He held out a notepad, with a pen in the other hand, devices rarely used in the current age as he shoved them into her grip, "Could I please have your autograph! My wife won't believe me if I told her I met the Commander Shepard's secret-lover! I simply need to have it!"
"I-"
"Please?"
"I don't-"
"Please?"
"Conrad!"
The man look flustered and annoyed, "What?"
"I can't write human," Tali replied, "I can only write in khelish."
"But you're speaking english right now!" Conrad replied.
"That's your translator translating my words into your language so you can understand me," Tali replied, "I'm speaking khelish. My translator is translating your words into khelish so I can understand you."
Conrad looked sad and was about to ask if she could sign her autograph anyway when a gunshot rang out and screaming was heard.
The world was a blur as Tali glanced down, Conrad flying backwards at the sight and Kasumi screaming at her, but the quarian couldn't here her; she only looked down. She let her eyes travel down her body to their destination...
...where they landed on a suit puncture, a gunshot having pierced her side and red blood oozing out of the wound and coating her veil. Her suit was already sealing the breach and injecting medi-gel into the wound, but it didn't stop the shock in her body. She glanced back up, eyes landing on her attackers; eight police officers, all human, one holding a smoking predator pistol at her, and looked to be preparing to fire again.
He never got the chance as a biotic warp hit him in the head, the force tearing his head clear off his shoulders and causing it to spread a trail of dark crimson blood as it flew through the air to land at his comrades' feet, his body just falling to the ground, pistol still in his grip as he collapsed, dead. His comrades split like rabbits, both repulsed by their ally's decapitation and to prepare for the coming fight. The screaming almost ceased as people fled, dancers and drinkers alike fleeing out the front entrance.
Pain finally lanced through her side as Tali got over her shock, the marine wasting no time in dropping her Tali facade, and melting into her role of Brigadier General Zorah. She had no weapons, so she had to think on her feet, immediately opening her omni-tool and deploying Chiktika at the same time.
"Go Chiktika!" Tali shouted, "Aim for the eyes, Chiktika, good girl!" She watched as her drone shot over a railing, zapping at one of the rogue officers and causing him to straighten up to shoot at the drone, only for Aethyta to ram into him with a biotic charge, the asari sending the man smashing into a wall, most likely causing his bones to explode with the impact of it.
Kasumi melted into the background, the young thief using her cloak to dive behind the enemy and surprise, Tali's role clearly being a diversion. With a smile, the quarian ran out and into the open, drawing the attention of three of their assailants, the three officers raising SMGs at her. The middle one had his throat slit, and the other met his end with a footsweep, followed by a 'shadow strike' as Kasumi termed it, while the third, who turned to face Kasumi, found Tali's boot knife firmly inside the back of his neck, Tali ripping it out and kicking his lifeless body forward and onto the ground. The thief gave her a nod.
They spun to deal with the rest of their enemy, but as they did, Aethyta came burning around the corner, wreathed in biotic fire as she locked onto her enemies and her face creased into anger, "Get the fuck out of my bar!" And with that, she picked up what was left of the rogue officers and tossed them out a window, tumbling to their deaths.
Kasumi smiled happily, the fight having died out. Aethyta relaxed, her biotics evaporating as she turned to the two of them and then to Conrad, who was still hiding in the corner, not even trying to help them as he cowered. Aethyta walked up to him, pinched his arm and told him to get up, "Come on, sit up you big baby. You sound like a babe demanding her mother's teat."
Kasumi was suddenly at Tali's side, examining her wound, but the quarian shrugged her off, "I'm fine, seriously. My suit sealed up the breach, and the worst I'll get is a heightened fever, nothing to worry over. I'll go check with Chakwas later, but we have to warn Marcus."
"Why?" Kasumi asked, but then it hit her, "You think its the Shadow Broker again?"
"More than likely," Tali opened her omni-tool and immediately hit Marcus' icon on her contact list, desperately hoping for him to pick up.
Come on you bosh'tet...
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October 18, 2185
1310 hours.
Market Place, Business District, Nos Astra, Illium.
Commander Marcus Lee Shepard, Mercenary Veteran Zaeed Massani.
The market was a bustle of activity; almost every member of every species milling about in the area, moving from store to store, table to table, man to man, woman to woman...it was the ultimate multi-species market. Nos Astra's market place was almost like that of markets back on Earth, but not nearly as multiracial.
Marcus and Zaeed basically had to squeeze through the crowds, trying to find the right stores in the mess of multi-species; asari, turians, salarians, volus, elcor, hanar, drell, even a few krogan, all mixing in, along with alot of humans. Zaeed was only there because Tali insisted he bring an escort, and Jack and Zaeed were the only ones not really doing anything. Jack was still pissed with him over his rejection of her, so the bounty hunter was the logical option. Besides, Zaeed didn't look...that bored...
Finally, the both of them got through, and Marcus looked back at Zaeed, giving him an exaggerated grin. As he did though, and looking at the way Zaeed appeared to cradle his fixed assault rifle, his grin just grew bigger. Word travelled fast throughout the ship about Kal fixing Zaeed's assault rifle, Jessie, and he had become a 'legend' because of it; getting the grizzled merc to thank someone for anything was worthy of a galactic record, let alone legendary status. The quarian had been alot more popular after that.
Now Zaeed carried Jessie everywhere with him, even to the point where he would always have it unholstered, just holding it in his hands, admiring the grip and slender frame of the obsolete weapon; Zaeed deciding to keep the old mass effect mass acellerator instead of replacing it with a thermal clip heat sink.
Zaeed, noticing the spectre's wide grin, looked at him with a frown, "What the fuck are you laughing at? What is it about squeezing through crowds that you find so goddamn amusing?"
He just laughed, "Its not that, its your obsession with that rifle. You won't put it down for one second. I'd swear you're in love."
Zaeed spat, "Love is for goddamn romance stories...or you and that quarian with the excellent ass. Jessie is my comrade, my only true comrade, and as long as I have her at my side, I'll be sure to tear my enemies, and yours, a bloody new hole to fuck with."
Marcus groaned, turning forward, "Thanks for that image, Zaeed."
"Oh, grow some fuckin' balls, will ya," the mercenary, "You sound like a goddamn pup."
"Watch who you're talking to merc," Marcus replied, both of them moving towards a store selling jewellery, the N7 smiling as he did at his coming joke, "You're talking to the man who killed Saren Arterius and sent a Human-Reaper straight to hell. I'll kick your ass."
Zaeed guffawed, "Aye, with goddamn style, I'd expect. You and that Vakarian; the two brothers-in-arms, and then that quarian, with her shotgun, drone and badass fucking attitude. You've found the good ones Shepard, I'd say you're goddamn lucky. I've fought with people I thought were my 'comrades,' and everyone of them would kill me in a second for a hope of more credits. Keep 'em close, and your enemies at gunpoint, I say."
"Wise knowledge from a mercenary who befriends his rifle," Marcus jested, ignoring the merc's 'hey!' as he moved into the jewellery. He stopped when Zaeed suddenly exclaimed, "What the fuck is this? Don't tell me you're turning into a goddamn woman, Shepard. I might feel a little less intimidated."
He turned to the merc, raising an eyebrow, "For someone else. Besides, are you being sexist, Zaeed?"
The mercenary simply scoffed, as if unable to comprehend such nonsense, "Hell no, its just who I am. I've had my ass whooped by an asari before, and before that I almost got choked to death by a hanar girl, so I'm well-aware of the powers of the girls."
Marcus almost tripped when he heard 'hanar girl.' He looked back at Zaeed, dumbfounded, "Hanar girls? I had no idea hanar even had genders!"
Zaeed sighed, not meeting the spectre's gaze, "Neither did I...Goddamn it, now you made me remember a bunch of useless shit. Get the fuck in there, buy your fucking earrings, and lets get the hell out of here. Just being this close to this store makes me want to rip a krogan's crest off."
"Try not to kill anyone," Marcus suggested before disappearing into the store, the mercenary's only response being a rough grunt before Zaeed turned to act as a guard of the store, ignoring the glares of two security guards across from him. Marcus took awhile, looking through the many isles of jewellery before, forty-five minutes later, he found what he wanted, paid for it, pocketed it, and left, Zaeed moving in behind him.
They reintegrated with the crowds, both of them moving towards a weapons store, that apparently Zaeed was interested in. Why he was, was beyond Marcus, as the mercenary didn't seem to want to use any weapon other than this precious Jessie, but that wasn't up to Marcus to judge as they moved towards the store, stopping outside to admire the many pistols, assault rifles, shotguns, sniper rifles and sub machine guns.
They only had low-rate, non-military authorized weapons, and nothing like anti-material rifles, heavy anti-vehicle weaponry, or high-tech assault rifles. Most of them were predator pistols, avenger assault rifles, viper marksman rifles, katana shotguns and Shuriken SMGs. Nothing that the two would be interested in.
"This shit would be useless to anyone who wasn't a goddamn volus," Zaeed complained, taking a moment to think over what he said before chuckling at him, slamming Marcus in the back at the realization of his own joke, "Volus soldiers...now that would be a sight to see."
"That it would," Marcus responded, trying to envision volus troops. Bowling balls with assault rifles, charging any strongholds and they constantly kept tripping over, with their short, fat, stubby legs, the volus dropping like flies as a single suit breach caused them to pop like balloons; open-air exposure causing their skin to split and deflate. The imagery was sick, but Marcus couldn't help but find some kind of sick humor in it. And they won't stand a chance when the Reapers land on their worlds, land on Irune...
...he disposed of that thought very quickly.
"Come on. Should probably get back to the Normandy before your quarian starts to worry too much," Zaeed joked, turning to the skycar at the end of the market as they both began to move, "I don't understand why she'd be worried though; I'm pretty sure you kicked Vasir's sweet asari ass, so you're probably safer than anyone. Its the T'Soni girl you should be worried about."
"Vasir isn't the only operative at the Broker's disposal," Marcus replied seriously, "And with the Broker knowing I killed Vasir, he'll most likely know I'm a threat and make efforts to eliminate me, and in my current state, I'd be defenseless, hence your presence. And I couldn't bring my own weapons and armor because it'd draw too much attention. Have to keep myself low-key; at least until the Normandy's repairs are complete and we can leave. Liara says she's fine, but she'll be coming with us. Can't risk the Broker trying to kill her again."
"Damn right," Zaeed replied, "But I saw what that girl did on the news, during that car chase. She can take care of herself, no doubt about that."
"So can I," he replied cryptically, not even turning to the mercenary, "Yet you're still here."
They continued silently towards the skycar, but were stopped when Marcus heard a salarian cry out behind him, both of them turning as he ran up to them, eyes wide and waving his arm up above him. They stopped, turning to face the man as he caught up with them and stopped inches from them, huffing and puffing. He looked up, the salarian's blackened face wiping clean with a broad smile.
"Commander Shepard!" the salarian shouted, "I just wanted to congratulate you on how you defeated the Collectors."
Marcus smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. How does he know about that? The Collector extinction isn't widespread news yet. Maybe he got wind of Delan's smear campaign, or another source told him. But as he looked out of the corner of his eye, and noticing Zaeed's skeptical frown, his doubts began to eat away at him.
"Thank you...?" Marcus trailed off, but the salarian didn't seem to catch on, so he continued, ableit minus the eye roll, "What's your name?"
"Oh, nothing important..." There was a gleam in the salarian's eye, "At least not anymore..."
That gleam told Marcus all he needed to know and in a heartbeat, as the salarian stepped to the side, the spectre recognizing the idea from his mission to help Garrus almost a month ago, he raised a biotic field infront of him and deflected a sniper shot; the field seeming to flash as the round disintegrated upon impact with his field. Zaeed reacted with lightning speed, the mercenary grabbing the salarian's throat, bringing him closer...
...and then shoving his omni-bow into his chest and firing, the salarian giving out a quick choking sound before his torso exploded in a drainage of green blood, bits of the salarian's ribcage and spine blowing out with the gore from the force of the impact as Zaeed tossed the man's body away carelessly, his shields shrugging off another sniper round as both of them leapt into cover, crowd scattering as a panic arose.
With only his biotics to defend himself, Marcus was in a tight spot. He peeked over his cover to see a dozen black-armoured forms rushing through the market towards them, but didn't get to see more as another sniper round hit his cover, almost ripping open his skull if he hadn't turned back at the last second. He cursed as he turned to Zaeed.
The bounty hunter was waiting for his shields to recharge as he lowered Jessie, weapon in one hand as the other grabbed an incendiary grenade from his belt, primed it and lobbed it...all without checking for civilians...He'll never change...but that doesn't mean I won't try to change him...
The grenade impacted just infront of the armed squad of mercenaries, a raging inferno blocking their path as they tried to think of other options. Marcus checked again, identifying salarians, turians and a few humans. Black Armor. Shadow Broker mercs. I heard he had a private army, but this is ridiculous. Their stance, weaponry, tactical awareness...these aren't standard mercenaries and they're not Blue Suns...these are properly-trained operatives...
...and they want me dead...
He tried to consider his options, but never got a chance as Zaeed rolled out from his cover, a steady beat of gunfire erupting from his rifle as he opened up on the Broker's mercs, catching them completely offguard. His fire steadily wittled down the shields of the lead salarian, tearing through him and a final shot hitting him in the head, only for the other salarian to raise his tech armor, blocking Zaeed's further rains of bullets.
The mercs quickly regained themselves, lowered their rifles and opened fire. A sporadic swarm of bullets rained on Zaeed, and his shields were decimated immediately. Marcus tried to yell, but his voice caught in his throat, only able to watch as the bounty hunter's shields sparked and died, and rounds began tearing into him.
The first shot hit him in the side, barely fazing the mercenary as he yelled his war cry, the same one he yelled when chasing Vido on Zorya, all the while holding the trigger of Jessie and giving the mercs as much as they gave. A second shot tore through his left, another his right. Zaeed yelled out as one shot blew through his left leg, right below the knee, causing him to fall to one knee. Another shot hit in him in the same leg's foot, causing him to wince as he desperately kept firing, blood pooling...
Shot after shot smashed into the man, yet he still kept firing, non-stop. Bullets hit every part of his body below the shoulders; belly, legs, feet, arms, hands, everything. The mercenary was practically swimming in blood by the time the 'final' bullet hit, slamming into his skull, and Marcus almost froze.
...and just like before, the shot barely fazed him, the mercenary just kept firing. By the time he was finally done, all the mercenaries had fallen, one final lucky bastard catching him in the jaw, the shot going through Zaeed's open mouth and out through the back, a blast of blood exploding through the back of his head.
Covered in blood and wounds, and his adrenaline running out, Zaeed dropped Jessie, now overheated, collapsed onto his knees, and finally fell onto face first into the cold, steel ground, unconscious. Marcus rushed towards Zaeed, ignoring the sniper bullets that tried to hit him, moving with speed only his cybernetics could gift him. Even as he did, he saw more mercenaries coming, at least another two dozen, and by the time he grabbed Zaeed's limp body and pulled him to safety and hiding, the mercs were all over their original position.
Marcus sent a distress call to Miranda, hoping his second-in-command could send backup in time. Meanwhile, he applied medi-gel to Zaeed's wounds, the nearby, hiding civilians helping him out as the tried to clog Zaeed's serious injuries. They were astounded by Zaeed's skull and jaw bullet holes and were surprised he was still breathing. Marcus grinned, looking down at the mercenary and looked back at them, replying, "Rage is one hell of an anasthetic."
With people tending to Zaeed and keeping him unconscious but stable, Marcus peeled Jessie from his hands and looked outside, watching as mercs went from store to store, searching for them. Well, they would. Just not alive. He took all of Zaeed's incendiary grenades as well.
And then presence of the box in his pocket became painfully present. He remembered who would not be just broken, but destroyed, if he died again. I won't fail her again; I'm going to come back. I will not die. I won't allow it. With his newly formed conviction, he marched forth and out of the store, and onto the streets.
The two dozen mercenary squads were still searching the stores, leaving only half of squad outside, along with the concealed sniper nearby. Moving quickly and quietly, and hopefully unnoticed, he primed an incendiary grenade, moved behind cover and then tossed it behind him, hoping it hit his target.
He was rewarded with a ear-splitting boom as the explosive detonated at the mercs' feet, the flames consuming all around it. A salarian screamed as he was enveloped, the merc desperately trying to tame the flames but failing as he fell to the ground, still burning; skin cracking and splitting and blackening. The others didn't fair any better, with only two mercs having survived the explosion. It was enough.
They weren't ready for him when he popped out of cover, and Zaeed's assault rifle came to life in Marcus' hands, Jessie emptying hot, acellerated death on its enemies, the shots ripping through the merc's shields, and quickly downing him in a pool of his own blood, and the other fared no better, but was finished with a headshot.
Just as Marcus whirled around, a sniper shot whizzed past inches from his face and impacted the ground beside him, pinging off the steel ground. He rolled into cover, not seeing the merc that was rushing out of the store to see the commotion, and barelled into her, the merc's missile launcher slipping from her hands as she fell, face first. The spectre quickly regained his bearings and spun, emptying a pocket of shots into the merc's back and waiting for his weapon to cooldown as he assumed cover.
By now, most of the Shadow Broker's mercenary forces had mostly become back out of the stores and knew he was there, and the sniper was definitely aware. As he was about to peek over his cover, a roar of gunfire began to assault his position, with boxes and glasses and many other things exploding as the bullets tore into his cover, pinning him. Or they would pin him, if he hadn't been a biotic.
Raising a biotic barrier around himself, he charged out, weapon raised, and watched the enemy fire ping harmlessly off his azure shield. He got an estimation for their numbers; at least eighteen of them, which meant a quarter of their number was gone. But that could change at any moment, depending on how many mercs the Broker had under his command in Nos Astra. Could be any amount for all I know...
He rushed forth, wanting to get up close and personal; the mercs might be well-trained with weapons and tactics, but when it came to hand-to-hand, an N7 would always win. He brought Jessie down in a swinging motion, the butt of the rifle ramming into the helmet of another female human merc, cracking the helmet and causing her to reel back, her shotgun pointing downwards. He didn't halt, instead grabbing her shotgun, twisting it upwards...and blowing the woman's head clean off her neck, leaving a gaping gap where her face used to be, now just bits of skin and an eye hanging out. He pushed her to the side, using his biotics to pick up her body and fling it at a group of charging asari, who fell from the blow.
He spun around and ducked, dodging the right hook that one salarian had tried to deliver and activated his omni-blade, ramming it into the salarian's belly. Green blood poured out and the salarian gave a choked gasp, green blood pooling around his amphibian lips and beginning to drip. Marcus pulled the blade out, spun around and brought the blade back down in a swing, opening a huge slit from ear to ear across the salarian's neck, more of the alien's blood spilling out as he fell to the ground, tech armor rendered useless.
He disabled his biotic barrier, feeling the wear begin to kick in. He brought up his omni-shield just in time to deflect another sniper round, but faltered as one asari managed to send a shockwave into him, sending him falling onto his back, unable to keep his distance. One of the merc's was quick to his side, raising her pistol, but he was quicker; his cybernetics made sure of that. His hand shot up, wrenching the weapon from her grip and causing her to cry out in pain. Raising Zaeed's rifle with one hand, he emptied a burst into the woman's face at point-blank, painting his face with purple blood.
He spat it out, expecting a coppery taste, but instead getting something akin to rotten, bitter fruit. He pushed himself up, wincing as a shot grazed him, leaving a scratch along his side where the bullet passed by. He raised his orange shield of light again, deflecting yet another sniper shot and turned to look at the enemy group, who was still converging around him.
Time to stop messing around...what was that technique Jack showed me? Thinking about her was painful, but he pushed those away as he remembered, letting dark energy channel through him as he summoned his biotic abilities. And with his omni-shield still equipped, he shot his hand forward, firing a giant, pulsing blue missile of biotic light towards the center of the mercenary squad...
The sound of it colliding and impacting the enemy was almost like the sound of lightning, a giant crack of noise as the biotic missile impacted and exploded in brilliant white light, the force of the blast almost sending Marcus falling backwards, the explosion not warming him up with its heat, but freezing him to the bone with its cold ferocity.
He looked back up to see that anyone in the vicinity of the blast, or the one impacted by it, had either lost limbs, was screaming due to the eezo exposure, or was completely vaporized. Everyone else had been sent flying, leaving a grand total of only eleven mercs left, all of them still stunned, but quickly getting up. He smiled, raising his omni-shield in an almost phalanx like way, his rifle atop like the spear of a greek pikeman.
Flare. That has to be the most lethal biotic ability I've ever used...not even Reave could compare to that...Images of Kaira Stirling back on Noveria popped up in his mind, and he forced them back to the corners of his mind, not needing those thoughts right now. Fight them off; there's only eleven...shouldn't be that-
He remembered too late.
The sniper's weapon cracked, and the shot penetrated Marcus in the side, causing him to collapse to the side from the force of the round, the man judging the weapon as a Mantis or Incisor Sniper rifle; a Widow or Black Widow would have ripped his torso clean from his body. He tried to stand up, but the pain was immense, and there was only so much that his new 'regeneration' abilities could do, and they were slow working, nowhere near the standard of a krogan or vorcha.
The mercs gathered around, ready to finish him off...
...and then the sound of a approaching vehicle, a truck by the sound of it, and the spectre looked up, as did the mercenaries. Marcus looked up in silent wander as the truck turned its rear to the mercs and the spectre, before the door opened...
...followed by a swarm of gunshots as shields cracked and blew apart and four mercs fell from the unexpected barrage, all weapons turning to the new threat. Marcus smiled as he saw Garrus leading the attack, with Jacob, Kaidan, Grunt and Legion leading the assault. The geth's pulse rifle spewed purple death as its hyper acellerated ripped through the mercs' armor like they were made of plastic, melting it and making them scream as the musket-like rounds tore up their insides and ripped their bodies apart; a display of the power of geth weaponry.
The unidentified sniper fired again, the shot impacting Grunt in the hip, but barely fazing the krogan as he only seemed to growl, only annoyed by the shot that would have been lethal for most species...Only Grunt. Only...actually, I guess all krogan are like that. Wrex proved that. Marcus smiled as he slowly limped over to the truck, watching it slowly descend.
Another shot, impacting Garrus' shields and causing him to grunt, the turian spinning to the geth infiltrator next to him, "Legion, get rid of that damn sniper."
"Affirmative," Legion replied, the geth leaping off the truck and landing with a thud, another merc trying to hit the geth, only for it to ping harmlessly off the machine and for Legion's hand to shoot out, grasping the merc's throat and pulling them upwards. The geth twitched its hand and fingers, and the merc stopped struggling, neck snapped as the machine dropped its limp body, the emotionless AI holstering its pulse rifle and equipping its Widow, "We recommend Vakarian-Archangel's unit to land vehicle behind building cover. Enemy sharpshooter likely to push assault; casualities a certainty-"
"We get it Legion. Just find the son of a bitch and get rid of him. Or her," Garrus shouted, motioning behind him before turning to Marcus, "Shepard! Follow us, behind the buildings!" And with that, the truck disappeared behind the buildings, Marcus went to follow, but suddenly remembered. Fuck...Zaeed!
He turned back to the buildings and watched as a fresh wave of six skycars descended upon the markets, all with more Shadow Broker mercs. Wonderful. He smiled however when he heard Legion's rifle crack through the air and smash the windshield of the lead car, causing it to tumble into the streets, exploding. He just hoped noone got hurt.
Moving into the building, he moved over to Zaeed's bedside, nodding at the civilians. He told them he could handle it and he rapidly slipped the man into a standing position, where he then wrapped one arm over the man's shoulders, while another held Zaeed's assault rifle. He quickly rushed outside, turning back down the street to see the mercs quickly closing and he fired at them, hoping to make them break for cover as he rushed across the street, running for the evac truck.
With Zaeed still unconscious, they broke out into the open, the truck landed, with Garrus standing at the end of the loading bay, crouched and rifle clutched in his talons. Jacob and Kaidan covered one side, Grunt and, to his surprise, Liara, guarding the other side. He moved up to the turian, who looked at Zaeed with wide eyes...
"By the spirits..." Garrus exclaimed, shocked by the bounty hunter's state. He met Marcus' eyes, and his eyes widened further, "The bastard is still alive?"
"Yep," Marcus replied curtly, pushing past the turian, ignoring his shocked comments, and handing him to Grunt, who holstered his claymore and picked up Zaeed's unconscious body like weighed a baby. He pointed to inside, and Grunt nodded, rushing inside as he turned to Liara, the asari meeting his look and nodding, a meek smile on her features, lowering her SMG. Her eyes held none of the bitterness from before. Switch on and off, huh?
"Commander," he spun around in surprise at the sound of Miranda's voice, and saw that Kasumi, Samara, Kal and, still ignoring his existence, Jack as well. He noticed that out of all the ground crew, only Mordin and Tali were missing, but he quickly shrugged it off, turning to his white-uniformed XO.
"Yes Miranda?" He winced at the pain at his side, and Miranda noticed, but didn't push the issue just yet.
He frown was creased, "What happened?"
"I-we were attacked," Marcus motioned to Zaeed, who was now placed across Grunt's lap, the krogan looking blankly at a wall and ignoring Jack's jests about him being a 'babysitter', "It was all a trap; Zaeed tried to protect me, and before I could join in and help me, they had already torn him apart with gunfire. He's pretty beaten up, but he's breathing."
"We'll need a miracle to help him pull through," Miranda stated, skeptical.
"Chakwas is the miracle worker. She'll pull through, especially with Mordin's help," he grinned, slapping Miranda's arm, hand cradling his side, "Besides, you brought me back from the dead; healing a mercenary who was almost ripped apart should be tame for you."
The XO returned the grin, "You're damn right I can. Perfection, remember?"
"You keep thinking that," Marcus replied, chuckling as he turned back. He moved up to Garrus, who turned and handed him his earpiece, the turian giving him command. As the human put in the earpiece, which was far too big for him, Garrus pulled out a pack of medi-gel, opened it, knelt down and was about to apply it when Liara pushed him out of the way, taking the gel and applying it herself.
With the earpiece finally attached, he spoke, "Legion, status?"
The geth voice replied with absolute precision, "Shepard-Commander, we have eliminated the enemy sharpshooter. We are returning to your position. We have reached consensus that bypassing enemy forces instead of direct engagement is preferable. We estimate a time of arrival of about a minute and current running speed."
A gunshot, "More than enough time," Marcus replied, watching as the merc who rounded the corner collapsed from the round to his head, Garrus' rifle smoking as he slapped in a fresh thermal clip. Another one followed suit, but Miranda picked him up and slammed his flailing body into the wall hard, letting it go as it crumbled onto the ground, a broken mess.
Sixty seconds later, right on the dot, Legion landed on the ground, widow holstered for its pulse rifle. He smiled at the geth, taking out the earpiece and handing it back to Garrus, "You're right on time, Legion."
The geth cocked its head, optics flashing, "We operate at maximum effiency; we predicted a 0.75 percent chance of failure at achieving this goal."
"It was a joke Legion."
"We do not comprehend this concept."
A sigh.
"Everybody into the truck!" Marcus ordered, voice booming as Liara finished applying the medi-gel to Marcus' wound, leaving the removal of the bullet to Chakwas. They all rushed inside, Legion being last as it checked the area, careful not to let the enemy through. Once onboard, the door closed behind them, shots pinging off the hull as the truck took off, speeding down the markets and into the traffic of Nos Astra.
Marcus sighed, giving Zaeed's body a bare glance as he turned to Miranda, still confused about Tali and Mordin's absence, "Where's Mordin? And Tali? You brought the whole crew, why not them?"
"Mordin was deemed not needed for this mission. We defeated the Collectors with this team, Garrus didn't think one missing member would really negate things," Miranda stated, trailing off, "As for Tali..."
Kasumi spoke up, her voice hoarse, "We got attacked too Shep; they might have been the same people, I don't know, but they were disguised as police and they got Tali; shot her in the side. She's currently in the med bay back on the ship; Chakwas is giving her a once over."
Marcus almost shot up at that, anger flowing through him, "They...will she be alright?"
"Of course she will Shepard, Jeez!" Kaidan commented, trying to sound cheerful, "I mean...its Chakwas, come on. She's the best doctor to have ever lived. And with Mordin onboard...we could start our own hospital if we wanted to."
This didn't hamper Marcus' temper as he lost control, fists assaulting the wall of the truck as everyone watched on in anger. Subconsciously, his biotic implants flared up, blue energy encompassing him as he turned back to the group, anger flowing through him. Even Samara seemed shocked by him, but hid it behind a cool gaze.
"First they attack my friend," Marcus shot a finger at Liara before snapping a look at Zaeed, "Then they put another one close to death row," he then fell into the wall, biotics disappearing, "Then they attack my...my...Tali-they could have killed her..." he turned to Liara, anger boiling, "This is your fault!"
Liara looked flabbergasted, not knowing what to think, "I-what?"
Garrus, of all people, stood to Liara's defense, "Let's not get hasty Shepard, she didn't-"
He looked at the turian, a fire in his eyes, "Her vendetta got us into this mess! If she hadn't vowed to kill the Shadow Broker we wouldn't have had multiple attempts on our lives! Kasumi and Tali could havedied!Zaeed could still die! I almost died! Hell, our entire team could be in danger, bounties on our heads, because she wanted revenge!"
"Shepard-" Liara tried to plead.
"You'll get your revenge Liara," Marcus growled, eyes alight with fire, "Because I'm going to tear the fucking Broker's head from his spine. Noone, I repeat, noone, fucks with me, noone fucks with my friends, and lives! He'll die..."
"...because he just signed his death warrant."
{Loading...}
October 18, 2185
1436 hours.
Medical Bay, Normandy-Class Stealth Frigate Normandy SR-2, Docked with Illium Drydock.
Commander Marcus Lee Shepard, First Lieutenant Miranda Lawson, Second Lieutenant Jacob Taylor, Staff Commander Kaidan Alenko, Major General Kal'Reegar vas Normandy, Professor Mordin Solus, Master Thief Kasumi Goto, Justicar Samara, Gunnery Master Garrus Vakarian, Legion, Subject Zero Jack, Chief Engineer Tali'Zorah vas Normandy, Soldier Urdnot Grunt, First Lieutenant Madi'Soi vas Ceresa, Assassin Thane Krios, Medical Chief Karin Chakwas.
Marcus was the first to storm in, paving the way for the rest of the group. As he entered, he immediately noticed that two beds were occupied by Madi and Tali, but noticed a bed at the far end where they could place Zaeed. Chakwas turned towards them upon arrival and was about to object but stopped short when she saw Zaeed in Grunt's arm, immediately clamping her mouth shut and directing them to the bed at the end.
The entire team filed in, Marcus watched as Grunt almost roughly dropped Zaeed's body on the bed, but was chastised by Chakwas and did it slowly. With that done, Chakwas grabbed one of the curtains and was beginning to close off Zaeed's area when Marcus put a hand on her shoulder, causing the elderly woman to look around.
"What are you doing?"
"Protecting this man's dignity and privacy," Chakwas told him, voice stern, "To get at the wounds I need to remove all clothing, which means nudity, and I'm sure noone wants to see that man naked any time soon, or him, so I'll keep him covered. Only I will see him, and that's by necessity. I suggest you see to Tali, she's been wrinkling the bed waiting for you."
"Wrinkling?" He smirked.
She sighed, "Tossing and turning, more like."
He smiled at her, patting her shoulder before looking at Zaeed, the man's eyes closed and body covered in dried blood, the man looking like he had taken a dip in an ocean of red blood, "You what you can for him, Chakwas. We've had our disagreements, but I'm not going to lose another soldier. Not after...not after Ashley."
Chakwas' grin disappeared and she swallowed, her throat dry as she nodded, her own hand on his shoulder, "You won't. Ashley died with honor, but I will not allow Zaeed to die to other mercenaries after surviving Collectors; he'd haunt me for the humiliation. I will not allow him to die, you have my word on that. You won't have another Chief Williams."
"Thank you Karin," he thanked her.
"She was about to close the curtain when she turned, giving him a raised brow, "Karin now, is it?"
He sighed, squaring his shoulders, feeling the ache in his side but ignoring it, "Has a nice ring to it; besides, we've known each other long enough."
"So we have Mark," Chakwas replied, a warm smile gracing her lips before she turned back around, pulled an equipment trolley loaded with supplies inside and slipped it closed, leaving Zaeed's life in Chakwas' hands. She won't let me down; if anyone can save him, its her. She's the definition of doctor.
He turned back around, worry for Tali kicking in as he rushed to her side, watching Mordin check her suit seals as the quarian observed, making sure he didn't miss anything. Seeing him approach, she turned around, a hand shooting out. He took it, squeezing it inbetween his larger, five-digit hand, concern in his features, "I heard what happened...are you okay?"
A cough was his answer, followed by a snifle, "A minor fever ontop of a bigger fever. Could be worse," Tali replied, coughing again, "My suit sealed the wound, but Mordin had to remove the bullet. It was painful but, keelah, I'm a Brigadier General in the Quarian Marine Corps; I think I can handle just as well as you now."
He chuckled, "You're not the only one who got shot."
Her eyes widened behind her mask even as Mordin stood up, using his omni-tool to scan her suited form, "You-you got shot! Where! Keelah, show me!"
He turned around, flashing the minor wound to her before turning back around, "Its just a wound, like yours. Mordin will fix it, I'm sure."
"Assumption correct," Mordin replied. Marcus watched as Legion walked past, heading for the AI Core, but stopped as the spectre called out, "Have everyone meet in the conference room Legion, right now. We've got alot to discuss. That includes the non-ground crew and Liara. Me and Tali will join you soon."
"Affirmative Shepard-Commander," Legion replied, "We will assemble the Normandy collective," the geth spun around and notified the team, with Garrus helping move them out and towards the elevator while Marcus and Mordin stayed by Mordin's side, all three of them listening to the machinery of Chakwas working on Zaeed behind the curtains nearby.
Mordin turned to Tali, lowering his omni-tool, broad salarian grin covering his face, "Fever in place. Suit seals checked. All is safe. Ready to go. Duties not negated. Able to perform fully," he inhaled before exhaling, his smile the same, "Good to go. Would like to talk in private with Commander however. Private matter."
Tali nodded, looking at Marcus with worry before leaping off the bed, smiling at a sleeping Madi and then leaving, the door closing behind her. Marcus turned to Mordin as he leapt onto a bed, lying back as Mordin came to his side to examine the wound, talking as he did.
"Wanted to speak about relationship with Miss Zorah," Mordin started, three-fingered hands wrapped in gloves as he examined Marcus' wound, preparing his tool as he moved to remove the bullet.
"Go ahead," Marcus replied curtly, preparing for the pain to come as he felt tweezers dance around the exposed flesh around his injury.
"Assume all went well. Education vids helped. Major fever subject to sexual activities and improve morale in combat. Noticed effects during battle on Collector Base. Heightened emotions. Increased cognitive. Improved physical combativeness. Overall, prospect of death much more terrifying for both partners. Ideals of something to live for-"
"I get it Mordin. I love Tali, that much is obvious," Marcus told him, "Is there a point to this?"
"Yes yes yes, of course. Always point. Would never dream of redundancy," Mordin smiled tweezers moving in and grabbing hold of the bullet and yanking it out, causing Marcus to grip the sheets as pain lanced through his hip, his voice letting out a choked yelp. The salarian continued, holding up the tweezers as he examined the bullet, wet blood coating and dripping from its flattened surface, "Wanted to know if, on next sexual encounter, could acquire sperm sample from ejaculation and if you could acquire a sample from Miss Zorah's own ejaculatory event."
Marcus shifted uncomfortably on the bed as Mordin dropped the bullet into a silver tray, the salarian grabbing a pair of stitches and approaching Marcus and beginning to work as he applied anasthetic to the wound area before beginning.
The spectre's voice was soft and just above a whisper, "Why...why in the hell would you want that?"
Mordin was humming until interrupted, continuing with his explanation like a robot, "Simple reasoning of course; wish to help improve quarian immune system. Special project. Working on cure. Samples important. Could be vital in giving quarian's ability to leave suits; process gradual, but with synthesized cure, theoretically able to make automatic. Hard research, many tests, much to think about it. Need samples. Samples vital. Lia'Vael unwilling, unable, no clean rooms, no partner. Human-Quarian couple perfect for sample."
He crossed his arms, knowing the salarian was telling the truth but knowing there was more to the story, "You wouldn't need human semen to improve a quarian immune system, Mordin. Just come out with it. What other cure are you making?"
Mordin stopped mid-stitching, contemplating his next words before finishing up and standing up, motioning for Marcus to sit up. The N7 winced, but was able to do so, sitting up to his full height as he met the ex-STG agent's eyes.
"Not cure," Mordin replied, clearing his throat, "This idea never existed, never even contemplated, never brought into detail. Asari mate with anyone, able to produce offspring, natural asari trait. However, not communicable with other species. However, developing ways, could help change path of relationship between humans and quarians, namely you and Miss Zorah," the salarian began to pace, "Only theories, but need samples to run tests, be certain, completely possible to genetically rewrite female DNA to accept alien content and combine, shape, redesign. Relationship with Miss Zorah clearly permanent fixture, permanent fixtures lead to companionship bonds, devotion, marriage...," the salarian stopped, meeting Marcus' eyes, "...eventually leads to children."
The shock of the realization hit Marcus like a jackhammer; he simply sat there, looking at Mordin dumbly, trying to comprehend what he had just heard; the impossibility of it all. In all honesty, he had never even thought about kids; not only had they not reached that stage in their bond yet, but he just didn't think he'd be a good father. Parenthood was a frightening prospect, and with the Reapers coming, raising a child in those circumstances was borderline insanity. But he had seen the disappointment in Tali's eyes whenever the word 'child' was mentioned; they loved each other deeply, and he knew she was the same, but that desire to have children, and not being able to, it teared her up inside...and seeing her like that...tore him up as well.
And Mordin was now offering a way out.
He clasped his hands infront of him, "Let me get this straight Mordin; are you saying, that with our DNA samples, you can give Tali the chance of carrying our child in her body? Not a quarian clone or adopted child, but you can get her pregnant with a child made of both our DNA? How is that even possible? What race would it be?"
"Race obvious; it would be both," Mordin told him, "No matter how modified, both DNA strands remain human and quarian, can't change that. Creation of quarian-human hybrid, but it would be your child. Flesh, blood, and right down to genetic marker. Theoretical, but highly possible. Don't want to raise hopes, only offer possibility."
"Mordin..." he contemplated, remembering the looks of pain Tali's features. No more. I'll give her what she most desires more than me; what she deserves, "...I'll do it. I'll ask Tali, but I'm sure she'll agree. I'll get you those samples."
Mordin nodded, smiling, "Excellent. Will be in tech lab. Researching other things, other projects," both of them got up to leave, and as they left the med bay, Marcus started to chuckle, drawing Mordin's frown.
Marcus spoke first, "Why do you of all people need to be the one to make this happen?"
Mordin looked offended, and almost blinked as both of them moved into elevator, the salarian hitting the button for deck two, "Had to be me. Someone else might have gotten it wrong."
His smile instantly dropped however, Marcus' mind drifting to other, less enlightening things, "Have you...looked at Maelon's data at all?"
Mordin's smile also dropped like a bomb shell on a shelter. He looked at Marcus, eyes glazing over before looking back, shaking his head, "No. Not enough time; not important. Genophage cure irrelevant to current ideals; will not remove genophage. Simulations dictate war and conflict and death. Cannot risk such an outcome."
"Some day, you're going to have to look at the world apart from simulations," Marcus told him, but his words fell on deaf ears. They quickly arrived at the CIC and both moved through the armoury, and into the conference room. The whole crew was huddled around; including Kelly, Gardner, Gabby and Ken, Joker, and Lia. Even Liara was present, still wearing her white, armoured labcoat, which he found odd. He moved to the front, Mordin assuming position at the back, while Tali and Garrus were where they always belonged; at his side. He stopped at the top of the table, leaning down on it, gaze meeting everyone's, including Jack, who still shot him a deathly glare. Still hasn't forgiven me.
"By now, all of you will have found out about the events that occured during our shore leave today," Marcus declared, "Two attacks were executed, one on Liara T'Soni, and another on both me and Zaeed, Kasumi and Tali. Tali was shot and has since recovered, but Zaeed is now in critical condition, having almost been ripped to shreds by gunfire. We don't know if he'll live or not. But he's a tough son of a bitch, so I have faith he'll pull through."
Everyone looked around, disturbed by the news, perturbed. Marcus continued, not wanting to allow gossip to control them all, "What we know now is obvious: The Shadow Broker is gunning for us because he knows Liara knows how to get to him, and that we're her best hope of defeating him. He obviously tried to kill me and Tali to sever the leadership, and I have no doubt that Garrus and Kaidan would have been next, followed by the rest of the crew. This was a personal attack, and none of us are safe anymore."
This got everyone looking at him, awaiting the order they all knew was coming, but dreaded, knowing it was necessary. He spoke, irritation in his voice, "Because of this, and for the crew's safety, I am hereby temporarily putting off shore leave and containing all crew members to the ship until the Shadow Broker is dealt with."
Everyone nodded, seemingly accepting their fate. He continued, beginning to pace, "The Normandy will remain here until repairs are complete, and then we are going to declare war on the Shadow Broker. I will not sit idly while my crew is threatened with death around every corner. We are going to take down and end the Shadow Broker. I hope you're all ready for this; I know you're all still exhausted from the Collector campaign, but we'll never be safe while the Broker lives."
"No fucking shit," Jack spat, leaning against the table, "I'm ready to send a shockwave up his ass."
Marcus smiled, looking down the table at all of them. This was it; there was no turning back now. He looked at Liara, and nodded.
This was the shadow war.
"Now it gets intense."
- Tali'Shepard pav Rannoch.
"Damn right..."
- Marcus Shepard.
A/N:
Did you see the Breaking Bad reference? XD