CHAPTER ELEVEN
Doctor, Doctor, Gimme the News
It was a true delight to see Mr. Bhatia, Ms. Williams insisted happily as she shook the bearded Indian man's hand, a smile on her features that was welcoming to the grieving husband. She was a good friend of the family, and she was going to make sure that they'd help him. You see, he had a bit of a problem…the Alliance military had taken his wife's body and wouldn't give it back.
"This is such garbage." Shepherd muttered darkly. "You've got the right to your wife's body. What explanation did they give? Because unless it's "Her body is now irradiated", I can't think of any good reason."
"Irradiated? No, I asked about that." Samesh said with a growl as his deep brown eyes became lined with pain, thinking of his beloved. "All I know is they declared it imposible to return her to me."
"Well…" Shepherd cracked his knuckles, channeling Wrex for a moment. "Lemme go talk to the brain trust who said that. Where is he?"
"Mr. Bosker is upstairs, second floor, in the bar, sir. He has brown hair, wearing a dark yet slightly faded blue jacket with white trimmings." Samesh said, Shepherd giving him a nod as Ashley, Garrus and Grey followed swiftly after, Shepherd ascending the stairs and immediately barreling past various patrons. Mr. Bosker, as it were, was speaking to an asari that was sitting at a laptop in the bar's dining area.
"Hmm. An appeal to biotics to visit the Hawking Eta Cluster. You ever hear of this "Major Kyle"?"
"No, but I know of "Major Tom"." Grey announced as the group approached Mr. Bosker, Shepherd's arms folded across his chest as Mr. Bokser practically wet himself, letting out a gasp, hand flying to his mouth.
"Commander Shepherd, first human spectre!"
"I'm not unreasonable, Bosker, but I just had a talk with Mr. Samesth Bhatia. Why in the holy HELL are you keeping him from giving his wife a proper cremation? Wanna tell me why you're stealing corpses?" Shepherd wanted to know, eyes slightly narrowed as Bosker began to turn pale, realizing this was NOT a case of Commander Shepherd wanting an autograph.
"Ohh. Mr. Bhatia. Er…the thing is, Serviceman Nirali Bhatia died on Eden Prime…"
"I KNOW, I saw her get blown across the ground providing me with cover fire." Ashley growled back, Bosker turning even PALER. "Get to the point."
"The point is that the Alliance wants to study the injuries she sustained. They're inconsistent with any type of weapon damage we've seen before. We think the Geth are using new technology and we want to study her body to learn about it." Bosker explained. "With all due respect-"
Shepherd grabbed his collar, breath hot and heavy in Bosker's face, his voice now a slightly throaty growl. "I'm fighting in the alliance to PREVENT soldiers from being exploited or hurt. In life AND in death. You have good reasons…his is better. Give him back his wife's body. We come across any Geth technology, we'll SEND it to the alliance. You don't need to hold corpses hostage."
"Y-Yes sir!" Bosker said, immediately saluting as he barreled off to go speak to Mr. Bhatia, the asari sitting nearby in her lush, finely-woven red dress looking amused, steepling her hands.
"Mr. Shepherd, I think you might be the man I'm looking for. Nassana Dantius." She said, extending a hand as Shepherd frowned a bit, raising an eyebrow before taking the hand.
"And? What would you like?" He asked of her, faint makeup around her eyes, her lips painted a rather…disturbing shade of blue that reminded him of ocean creatures.
"It's my sister Dahlia. She was taken by privateers and there were no reported survivors…but last week I got a message with HER voice on it…"
"Let me guess. They know you're rich, they have her for ransom, and they want you to pay?" Garrus spoke up with a sigh. "You do that, they'll continue to milk you for all you're worth, and when they can't get any more…she'll die."
"I know that. I still paid anyway, but…they demanded MORE. And it gets worse, I'm a diplomatic emissary, by LAW I'm to report this kind of thing-" She continued to speak in her hushed, conspiratiorial tone. "I'm in big trouble…but I also know where they're STATIONED because I hacked their signal when they contacted me. I can't just ask the Alliance or Asari military for help, they'd just go in, guns blazing. That's unfortunately how they deal with nearly ALL terrorists." Nassana muttered. "I was looking for a Spectre. A small party going in alone to get my sister out, THAT would do the trick…"
"I'd be happy to help." Shepherd said, putting a hand on his chest, Nassana smiling in gratitude.
"Wonderful, commander! I knew I could count on you! I tracked them to the Artemis Tau cluster before the connection cut out. Hopefully you can find her?" She asked of them as Shepherd nodded. "I promise I'll reward you HANDSOMELY." She added with a smile.
And they left her smiling…but even though she seemed sincere, Shepherd couldn't stop thinking about her lips…there was just something…WRONG about her. And it showed on her lips, like…she came off like some kind of squid, tentacles hidden in the deep, waiting to snatch you up…
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…
"I'm glad to see you reminded Mr. Bosker of what we're fighting for." Bhatia said, Shepherd shaking his hand, giving him a gentle nod, Ashley smiling alongside him. "This doesn't give me "happiness", but…it does give me peace."
"Samesh, I don't know of this helps, but…Nirali really missed you on Eden Prime. She missed your cooking and your voice, and kept playing your voicemails on repeat at night." Ashley admitted, Bhatia momentarily stiffening up, looking like he was about to cry, Ashley putting a hand on his shoulder. He fought back the tears, Ashley staring deep into his eyes. "She loved you deeply."
"I know…but it's still nice to hear it." He admitted softly, wiping his eyes on his long-sleeved jacket, heading off for the citadel rapid transport dock as Garrus chuckled a bit.
"You've got a way with words, Ms. Williams." He admitted. "Good to see we brought a soldier back home. My father would have had that man's HEAD for trying to hold onto that serviceman's body."
"Shepherd? Pick up!" Kaiden's voice came over their communicator, Shepherd holding his up. "We've been scanning Keepers across the Citadel like you asked us to when we split up. We also found a few people by the market we think you should talk to. One's offering a monetatry reward for information on Fist? Wrex is talking to her now and I THINK he's scaring her s—tless."
"Oh geez. I'd better get over there." Shepherd admitted, the four of them immediately booking for the Citadel Rapid Transport dock, a small flying hovercar descending a few minutes later after Shepherd touched the control pad by the dock. It lit up with an orange light, a small display screen showing their destination as they climbed in, all scrunched together in the car as muzak began to play.
"…UGGGGHHHHHHHH." Grey moaned,banging his head against the window of the car. "I HAAAATE muzak."
"It's all instrumental, what's the problem? It isn't like Dew-N9ne is playing." Ashley remarked with a wave of her hand.
"I HATE that band too, but muzak's without soul, without SPIRIT. It's a pale imitation of something beautiful." Grey muttered. "There's nothing worse than…being a pathetic copy of something else." He murmured, his tone becoming sad…mournful. Shepherd's brow furrowed, seeing the regret coming over Grey's features as he thoughtfully rubbed his chin. What was the medic hiding?
It would have to wait. They'd reached the market and sure enough, Wrex was spooking the nice Asian woman with the opened black jacket as she nervously rubbed one arm, wanting to inch away from the big, red-armored krogan. Kaiden stood nearby, Tali sympathetically giving Emily Wong a comforting nod of "I feel your pain" as she stood behind the krogan.
"So then I SHOT her. It was weird." Wrex finished, Shepherd approaching Emily as Grey walked alongside him.
"Hey, Emily." Grey said, holding out a hand, shaking hers as she cheerily beamed.
"GREY! Good to see you!" She proclaimed, the group glancing from him to her, her neat black hair falling to the side of her face as she hugged the medic. "How have you been?"
"I'm on the Normandy, now. I work for the Commander. Shepherd…this is Emily Wong. She and I go waaaay back. I sent her stories about us to her over the Extranet, we'd instant message, video-chat, one thing led to another and now we're finally meeting in person!"
"And it's so good to really see you!" Emily's youthful voice added with a giggle. "You're working with THE first human spectre, huh? I know it's a lot to ask, but…"
"I THINK I can guess what you want. You'd like sensitive information on Mr. Fist?" Shepherd wanted to know.
"I found this disc in his office." Grey offered, handing it to Emily as she looked it over, putting it into her omni-tool on her hand, eyes widening.
"Oh…my…GOD." She gasped out, eyes bugging wide, mouth so stretched she could have caught flies. "This is…EVERYTHING I could have wanted! He's got detailed transactions showing he forced people into blackmail, he's got incriminating videos he took, a few open ASSAULTS, a…oh. OH." Her face turned pale, all of them crowding around the omni-tool and seeing an…unfortunate example of him "disciplining" someone who wouldn't pay up. Using a crowbar.
"…I take it that'll do?" Wrex remarked. "Don't think FIST'LL mind considering he's just dead weight now. Literally."
"You've been BUSY, Commander Shepherd." Emily remarked, turning the feed off. "But this is everything I could want. You deserve a reward for this, Grey." She admitted.
"I'm already loaded, Emily. But I'm sure Commander Shepherd could use a little extra something. They make us pay out the nose for everything."
"Oh, of course! And I'd be willing to pay you for any "exclusive interviews" you could give." Emily added as Shepherd grinned a bit and bowed.
"Of course. Anytime." He offered, Emily giving Grey another hug before she walked off, Grey waving goodbye as a bearded, blond man IMMEDIATELY bolted over to the Commander, practically bouncing up and down.
"Oh my god oh my god oh my god, it IS you! Commander Shepherd! Savior of the Skylian Blitz! Hero of Eden Prime! They say you killed a hundred geth on Eden Prime!"
"And…you are?" Shepherd asked with a nervous look at the crew, Grey shrugging. Nope. He didn't know THIS guy. Nor did anyone else, apparently.
"I'm Conrad Verner. I'm your biggest fan!" Conrad admitted, putting a hand on his chest, Shepherd noticing he…kinda smelled funny. His dark blue t-shirt was worn out and looked as old as the jeans he had on.
"Well, y'know, I was merely trying to help." Shepherd remarked with a shrug, shaking Conrad's hand as Conrad enthusiastically returned the handshake, almost wrenching Shepherd's arm out of his socket.
"AND you're humble! My cup runneth over, man! I know you're probably busy, but, uh, do you think you've time for an autograph?" Conrad wanted to know, holding up a small notepad, giving Shepherd a big, cheery, slightly stupid grin as Kaiden shook his arms back and forth, Wrex shaking his head, Ashley mouthing "No, no no" over and over, Garrus smacking his face with his hand, Tali turning away and Grey shrugging.
"…why not?" Shepherd sighed with a shrug, signing the notepad. "Anything for a fan."
"Thanks, sir! I reeeaaally appreciate it. My wife is SO gonna flip her lid when she sees this!" Conrad said, giddily holding the notepad to his chest as if it was a diamond he'd gotten from the pits of a volcanic lair, his preeecioooous, happily walking off with a spring in his step.
"He's gonna keep coming back and back like that puppy that follows you home." Kaiden warned as Shepherd waved a dismissive hand in the air.
"He's just a fan. I'm not worried. Besides, if he tries to kidnap me, stick me in his dungeon basement and cut my hair, I THINK I could take him in a one-on-one fight. He's got little chicken legs, did you see?"
"Yeah, he seemed…kinda shorter than you. And kinda stupid." Tali admitted.
"Like a kid at Christmas." Grey chuckled, the group making their way back to C-Sec academy and the elevator, heading for the Normandy as Shepherd rested his head on his hands, a broad smile on his features. "And you're looking pretty good yourself, Shepherd."
"I FEEL pretty good. There's something really satisfying rising in me that came from helping those people." He admitted as they reached the top floor where the Normandy was docked, Udina standing by Anderson at the front of the Normandy, a Quarian standing at the far end of the docks, looking out over the citadel as Udina waved the group over.
"I've got big news! Captain Andeerso is stepping down as commanding officer, and the ship is yours." Udina informed Shepherd, who gaped in surprise.
"WHAT?!" He exclaimed. "But-but SIR!" He gasped out, turning to Anderson.
"REALLY?" Kaiden asked.
"David, you…you want this?" Grey asked, Anderson giving him a look before. "Sorry, I mean…Captain, you WANT this?"
"Its whats best. Normandy is quick, quiet, and you know the crew. I'm, frankly…I'm not suited for this kind of thing. I'd just get in the way. I'll stay here on the Citadel, I'll help you track leads, work from behind the scenes." Anderson admitted.
"There's another lead we have besides Feros and Noveria, where we've seen Geth activity. Matriarch Benezia has a daughter named Liara T'soni. The Conduit's Prothean technology, correct?" Udina added.
"Most likely."
"Well, Ms. Tsoni is a prothean expert who's been studying them for decades. It would be very helpful to have a Prothean expert with you. She's doing an archeological dig in the Artemis Tau cluster."
"Artemis Tau, you say?" Sheperd said with a smirk. "Well, well, isn't that fortuitous?"
"I'd call it a sign." Grey added with a laugh. So now they had to find TWO asari. One being Ms. Dahlia Dantius…the other a Doctor Liara T'soni. Liara was probably in greater danger at the moment, the privateers could still try to get Nassana to give up more credits. But Liara…who KNEW what Saren might do to her?
"But even so, the REAPERS are the true threat." Shepherd added.
"I can't believe these words are coming from my mouth, but…I'm with the Council." Udina admitted with a shrug, shaking his head back and forth, slightly pointed nose bobbing about. "I'm not sure they even exist."
"If they DO, the Conduit's the key to getting them back, as Saren said. You find it first, them ever returning will be moot. Problem solved." Anderson reasoned.
"Just remember, your actions reflect on humanity as a whole. I'll be the one stuck cleaning up your mess."
"That's not your job? Cleaning up the military's messes?" Shepherd wisecracked. "I'll try not to throw towards the house, mommy." He laughed. "Or your car!"
"Ha…HAAA." Udina said, stretching out the fake laugh before walking off for the elevator, Shepherd's smile becoming a grim frown as he folded his arms before his chest, tilting his head slightly to the side.
"You KNEW Saren. More personally. He cost you from becoming the REAL first human spectre, I heard."
Anderson sighed. "Yes. It's true. Saren and I were on a field mission. He was evaluating me much the same way Nihlus was evaluating you. We were supposed to extract a scientist from a facility handling highly toxic materials…then the laboratory exploded. The gasses spread from the facility to the nearby colony and…hundreds died." Anderson murmured. "I was sure Saren did it to cover his work in the lab. He blamed ME, and…well, it was my word against the Council's best agent. Who do YOU think they blamed?"
"That's SLIMY." Grey muttered, shuddering in disgust. "Did you ever find the scientist?"
"He'd been killed inside the lab. But not by the explosion, if that's what you're suggesting." Anderson murmured. "I don't know WHY Saren did it, but…" The African-American's facial features turned cold. "He's a dangerous man. Keep on your toes." He murmured.
Shepherd held out a hand, Anderson taking it as Shepherd gave him a firm nod. "Sir…I promise you. I will do you proud."
"I know you will, Commander." Anderson said with a small, Mona Lisa smile. "That's why I chose you." He added, heading for the elevator as Grey took notice of the Quarian, who had slightly tilted his head to the side to glance in their direction, then glanced back to look out over the large expanse of the citadel, Grey walking towards him, standing a few feet behind.
"What're you looking at?"
"…everything below. It almost reminds me of Earth." The Quarian admitted, his voice oddly…different from most Quarians. His tone lacked the slightly mechanical/muffled sound that came from speaking through a filter. "I miss it dearly."
"You know Earth personally?"
"I was BORN there." The green-and-blue clothed Quarian admitted, formidable body sighing slightly, Grey noticing the rather lovely color scheme he'd elected to have. "My mother was Quarian, my father a human. But though this place is a pale imitation compared to the home I knew, it's skyline…the soft lights below…they're close enough to the real thing to make me almost forget."
Grey shifted uncomfortably. Something about this Quarian was…unsettling him.
"You've got to get to the Normandy, I take it? Don't let me keep you, Mr. Grey." The Quarian remarked with a wave of his hand, Grey deciding he DIDN'T want to know how this Quarian knew him, heading for the ship as the alien slowly turned back, seeing the crew enter the ship and smirking…
His face scarred and foul, mask shattered half-open by acid, a singular eye accusedly staring, red and foul like the wounds he wore like a sick badge on his features. "…there's nobody that wants you to see this through to the end…more than me."
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… "This is it…" Shepherd murmured, standing by Joker's side at the bridge of the Normandy, everyone at their stations, waiting to hear what he had to say through the PDA system. "…me. In charge. Wow." He whispered, holding a hand to his head, laughing a bit. "I, just…WOW."
"Everyone on this ship is behind you. 100%." Joker insisted.
"And I'm going to be there for them." Shepherd said, taking in a deep breath before pressing the shiny red button that read "Speak" on the PDA controls. "We have our orders. Find Saren before HE finds the Conduit. I won't lie to you, crew. This mission isn't gonna be easy. For too long our species stood apart from the others. Now it's time we stood up and did our part for the rest of the galaxy! Time we show them what humans can do!"
Shepherd paused for effect, wiping his brow, a few beads of sweat popping on his forehead. Be careful…let the words flow freely, he thought to himself. "Saren knows we're coming. When we go into the Traverse, his followers will be waiting for us…my answer's bring them on! Humanity WILL do this. Not just for our sake, but for the sake of everyone and everything in Citadel Space! We're GOING to stop him! That! Is a PROMISE."
The crew let out a loud, roaring cheer, hoots and hollers filling the air as Shepherd stepped back and looked down at Joker, who adjusted the cap on his head in a salute. "How'd I do?"
"Eat your heart out, Saint Crispin. Captain would be proud. " Joker chuckled as the ship began to take off from the Citdael, Shepherd beaming happily as he headed to check in on his crew. "Say hi to Ashley for me! Maybe put in a good word?" Joker laughed. "Tell her her ass is thicker than a Snicker!"
"Hey, she's CLASSY."
"She requested I play NICKLEBACK on the PDA. She's not THAT classy." Joker laughed, Kaiden in the kitchen with Grey, the medic holding his head in his hands, grumbling a bit as Shepherd approached.
"What's up?"
"Kaiden's getting me some heavy-duty headache medicine. I'm getting pain in my skull that's making HIS headaches from the L2 implants look like a mild hangover." He grunted. "Speaking of…Asari Rum ought to be illegal."
"It IS."
"Then explain why Kaiden's making me take it with the medicine?!"
"A spoon full of BUBBLY makes the medicine go down, my friend." Kaiden insisted gently. "Try to think of it in a Christian sense! The blood of Christ." He remarked, holding the small cup up for Grey to take, the medic sighing as he sipped it.
"Well "God" tastes bitter and harsh and it hurts to take him inside me."
"Spoken like a TRUE Catholic." Shepherd wisecracked as he made his way for the elevator, Grey giving a fake "ha-ha" laugh before coughing madly.
Down in the hold, Wrex was nonchalantly leaning against the wall, Garrus inspecting an enormous tank right across from him as Ashley looked over her equipment locker to his far right. Seeing Shepherd approach him, Wrex raised a nonexistent eyebrow up. "Nice ship ya got, Shepherd. What can I do for you?"
"I wanna know more about you. About all my crew. What's your story?" Shepherd asked.
"There's no "story"." Wrex snorted. "Go ask the Quarian if you want stories."
Shepherd rubbed the back of his neck. "You Krogan live for centuries. Don't tell me you haven't had some interesting adventures." He asked.
"There was this ONE time the Turians almost wiped out my entire race. Boy, was that fun." Wrex remarked, giving Garrus, who overheard the conversation, a glare.
"I heard about that. If it makes you feel better, they tried to do the same to my people." Shepherd offered.
"It's not the same." Wrex stonily intoned.
"Felt the same to us. Then again, being shot repeatedly usually feels the same from person to person."
Wrex snorted at this, shaking his head back and forth. "Oh, really? Were your people infected with a genetic mutation that makes only a few in a thousand children survive birth? Which is destroying your entire species?"
"When you put it like THAT…guess it really isn't." Shepherd admitted, instantly feeling ashamed he'd even tried to broach the subject, nervously glancing down and to the side as Wrex waved a dismissive gauntleted hand in the air.
"I don't expect you to understand. But don't compare humanity's fate to the Krogan."
"I won't." Shepherd said. "Didn't mean to upset you."
"Your ignorance isn't upsetting, human. What digusts me is my own species. It's not the Genophage that's really killing us. We're not getting any stronger. Too spread out, none of us want to stay in our own system to make things better."
"Lots of species have left their home worlds and prospered. Why can't the Krogan?" Shepherd wanted to know.
Wrex laughed wryly. "We're not settlers. We're warriors. We want to fight. So we hire ourselves out…most of us never come home."
"What can you tell me about the Genophage, anyway?"
"Ask the salarians if you want details. THEY made it." Wrex said in his throaty, deep voice. "It makes breeding inpossible. Thousands die in stillbirth…most never get that far. Every Krogan's infected. Every one. And nobody's interested in finding a cure."
"Why not?" Shepherd asked. "I would think that would be the first thing any Krogan would want."
"Name a single Krogan doctor or scientist you've EVER heard of." Wrex asked quietly, Shepherd turning quiet at this as the Krogan nodded slowly. "…that's what I thought. My people aren't what you would call "bookworms", Shepherd. They'd rather fight for credits than find a cure. It's just who we are. I can't change that…nobody can."
"Maybe one day someone will. And maybe one day that someone will be you." Shepherd remarked, walking towards Ashley, Wrex's stony face smiling slightly.
"Aren't you the idealist."
"Commander!" Ashley said, quickly giving Shepherd a salute. "Heeeyup! How are you?"
"I wanted to…well, I'm sorry I didn't get to Eden Prime sooner, I wanted to say that." Shepherd murmured. "I…I don't want YOU feeling guilty over what happened." He said, Ashley nodding, biting her lip.
"I still wish I had seen the ambush coming. I know the Geth don't move, don't make noise, don't even breathe, but…they've got FLASHLIGHT heads, so…" She groaned, holding her forehead, shaking her head back and forth. "But…I appreciate you coming down to talk to me." She added, Shepherd smiling and heading over to Garrus.
"You're not gonna have a problem with Wrex, are you?" He asked.
"No, commander. I'll be fine, I'm sure. And thank you for bringing me on board. I feel like I'm really making a difference." Garrus admitted, his blue-painted face beaming with pride as he stood by the tank. "I knew working with a Spectre would be better. At C-Sec, you're buried under rules. A Spectre makes his own."
"Fair enough." Shepherd remarked. "But remember, for the most part, those rules are there for a reason. We gotta be careful we don't cross the line the way Saren and his people do"
"I understand. But sometimes it feels like they're just chains holding me down." Garrus said, grasping at the air as if trying to tug a chain away from his body. "If I need to take down a suspect, it shouldn't matter HOW I do it."
"Like you did with that thug holding Chloe Michel hostage?" Shepherd asked quietly, Garrus flinching.
"…I'm sorry, I…didn't mean it like that, I…" Garrus cringed, nervously rubbing the back of his neck as Shepherd folded his arms over his chest.
"It's a hard line to walk. I'm not a big fan of the rules myself. I prefer cutting the Gordian Knot, keeping it simple. But we can't endanger or take innocent lives in the name of some greater good. We do that…we start becoming like Saren. We got to do this right, not fast. Got it?"
"I understand, Commander." Garrus said, giving him a nod. "You might want to go talk to that nice Quarian girl, Tali. She was giddy at the prospect of seeing the engine core."
And indeed! She was. "OOOOOH! Look at this drive core! I can't believe it fits into something so small!" Tali said, practically bouncing up and down, clapping her gloved hands together, voice filled with glee as Shepherd smiled at this display of schoolgirl delight. "No wonder humans have gotten so successful."
"The Normandy's a prototype. Cutting edge technology. And we're happy to let you come onboard. I didn't know you found ship technology so fascinating." Shepherd admitted as Tali turned to look back at the circular, sparkling core, lightning fazing around its continously shifting sides.
"Being born a Quarian you learn to appreciate ships, your most valuable resource. But we don't have anything like this, we've got to make do with castoffs, second hand equipment. SCRAPS we keep running long as we can." Tali admitted to the Commander as she rested her hands on the railings, Shepherd standing by her. "Some of the Fleet's largest vessels date back to our original flight from the Geth. 300 years old."
"That's fascinating…it must be difficult, though."
"Yes. Hence why the Pilgrimage is so important. We try to be independent, grow our own food and resources on the ships, but we always need new edges. Our lives aren't easy…" Tali sighed as she shook her head back and forth. "With our scarce resources and being constantly on the move, everything has to contribute to the Migrant Fleet. There's 17 Million Quarians in the Flotilla and we all depend on each other…but it's not just the resources."
"What else?"
"We've had to give up many freedoms as well. No parent can have more than one child…unless our population is in decline. Then the law's repealed. Sometimes during times of extreme decline they offered INCENTIVES for multiple births!" Tali went on.
"Who runs your people? Do you have a king? President? Council?" Shepherd wanted to know as Tali turned to him, away from the core.
"The Conclave is our civilian branch of government and each ship chooses a representative to serve on the Conclave. On matters regarding individual ships, the captain has the final say. But in terms of who has the highest power, well…the Admiralty Board, made up of our five top-ranking military officials…they can override Conclave decisions. The good news it requires all of them to give up their positions immediately after a full vote, and this has only happened four times."
"She's a genius, sir. It's good we have her on board." Engineer Adams admitted as he saluted the captain, standing by Tali. "I wish my guys were half as smart as she was. She's especially fascinated by the stealth systems."
"How exactly DOES that work?" Shepherd wanted to know.
"It's all about capturing the heat emissions our ship gives off. The energy goes into storage sinks built into the ship itself." Adams admitted. "Going into Faster than Light speeds gives us away since it blue-shifts the emissions, but outside of peeking out the window, we're invisible to pretty much all ships."
"It's BRILLIANT!" Tali squealed out.
"Like a child at Christmas…" Shepherd chuckled. "How far away do you think we are from the Artemis Tau cluster?"
"We just passed into it, actually, and we're examining the planets to track down Ms. T'Soni's last location…"
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…and what WAS Dr. T'Soni's last location?
THERUM.
…UGH.
Therum was a ugly, UGLY, UGLY planet. Dull and brown and foul-smelling like mud that had somehow been set on fire, everything a nasty, unpleasant shade of red and brown and grey and brown and did I mention brown?
Oh sure! It was great for industry. Plenty of resources to mine. But LORD, did it have to stink to high heaven like it did?!
Navigator Pressly had been loathe to let them take hold of "his baby", the MAKO. The enormous white/silver all-terrtain tank vehicle that was made to climb the highest mountains and peaks, endure any hard challenges a planet offered. With its turret cannon and heavy-duty assault rifles built in, the thing was a force to be reckoned with…and he didn't want them wrecking it up. He'd been even less tolerant of the idea of a bunch of aliens getting inside. He mumbled and grumbled as he helped them inside the tank, resting a hand on the side of its armored hull, eyes glaring intensely at Shepherd.
"You better not bust up my baby, y'hear me?"
"We'll take gooood care of her, we promise." Shepherd had insisted, the MAKO swiftly landing down on Therum, heading for the location of the dig site, everyone sitting around in the tank as Garrus drove it for them, nonchalantly whistling.
"Pickin' up some strange readings, Shep. Like, off-the-damn-charts strange." Joker admitted over the comm system, burning lava rivers to their right as the MAKO made its way past enormous, ugly brown/grey pipes pumping god-knows-what from out of the planet. "It's coming from an underground facility. I'm guessing the archaeological dig went deeeep."
"It's not too far off, according to the map." Shepherd said as the MAKO kept moving forward on the slightly rocky terrain…until suddenly a beeping noise filled the dark grey interior of the Mako, Garrus gripping the cannon controls, eyes narrowing as a targeting system turned on. Sure enough…a Geth dropship deposited a few PRESENTS for our heroes, depositing the enormous, four-legged, almost insectoid "Armature" units in front of their path.
"They're here already? That's bad…for THEM." Wrex chuckled, Garrus flicking open a button on the cannon controls, pressing it down with a gauntleted digit, the MAKO's cannon tearing through the Armature's armor like tissue paper.
"SCRATCH ONE!" He cackled, Wrex firing off the assault rifle turrets of the MAKO as it cracked and banged against the second one's armor, the thing's body stiffening up as it slightly sat up, a burst of blue energy sailing at them from its head. Garrus quickly moved the MAKO out of the line of fire, then blasted the cannon again, the shot soaring through the air, slamming into the Geth. The enormous mech sore through the air and began sinking into a large lava stream, Garrus smirking as Shepherd glanced back down at the map.
"We're all clear." He announced, Garrus continuing to move the MAKO forward, Ashley, Kaiden, Tali and Grey readying their weapons as the MAKO kept moving forward, reaching a large guard facility…with blast doors propped up.
"We'll have to get out, go around and sneak in the back door. Take the blast doors down so our MAKO can pilot further." Shepherd reasoned.
"Saddle up…lock and load." Grey said, holding up his sniper rifle, turning to Garrus. "You up for a contest, Garrus?"
"I'm the best damn shot in this tank, kid. Think you got what it takes?"
"I think I might surprise you."
Meanwhile, Saren and Benezia were sitting together, the two in a quiet, dark room, having landed just a few short hours ago as icy winds tore at the ship from the outside, vainly trying to rip armor chunk by chunk from Sovreign…and failing miserably. They were on the outskirts of a private hideaway, on a planet not far from Noveria, quite some distance away from where Benezia had to be.
But she was understandably nervous. She'd been feeling sick after leaving the last cluster and…now…
"…you're positively sure?" Saren asked softly, putting a clawed hand atop Benezia's as she nodded firmly in agreement.
"…yes."
"…how many weeks along?"
"…six. I'll be…I'll be giving birth in about five months."
"…oh my." Saren held his head in his hands, taking in deep, pained breaths. "…I…I don't know how to feel. I ought to be overjoyed by this and yet…"
"What sort of world are we leaving behind?" Benezia finished, her soft hands reaching up, touching his face, feeling the almost serpentine-esque texture of his mandibled mouth as she stroked his cheek. "Can we really do this?"
"…it's your decision." He insisted to her as his soft blue eyes stared back into hers, his tone quiet, contemplative and almost…pleading. "Absolutely yours. But I promise you, if you do choose to keep it…I will love it, Benezia. And do all I can to protect it."
"I'm afraid." Benezia admitted. "…afraid for both my children."
"I've insisted they not harm Liara." Saren intoned. "I don't want her dead. She deserves better than that. For your sake."
"I don't know if your men have quite the sense of…restraint you try to have." Benezia admitted quietly, getting up from the chair, pacing back and forth, the pale blue light of the lighting fixtures above casting strange shadows on the walls. "…can I truly handle this? Now?"
Saren said nothing. He simply waited. And then…she nodded, putting a hand over her stomach, taking a deep breath.
"Let's do it."
…
…
…
…the Geth had nasty surprises waiting for Shepherd's crew. No, a "Goliath Armature" wasn't bad enough. Red-armored rocket troopers weren't bad enough. Now a new threat had been brought in…a unique kind of sniper with long, slender arms, almost animalistic legs and digits designed to grip at the walls…a neck and body slightly veiny in appearance, an odd chirp rising from its body different from the normal sounds a Geth made that seemed higher pitched and even more alien. It gripped the walls tightly, hugging to it like a spider, hopping about like a frog as the Goliath shot at them, sending pulsating energy blasts their way.
Wrex and Tali fired with their shotguns from the nearby crates, whittling down the Goliath's shield plating, the rocket troopers firing at Shepherd and Ashley as Kaiden erected a psychic shield around the three of them so they could fire in return, pulsating blue energy coursing around him as Shepherd held up his assault rifle, enjoying the comforting feel of its weight, firing again and again alongside Ashley.
And Garrus and Grey had climbed behind some nearby rocks, sniper rifles held high, timing their shots as the Geth Stalkers bounced about like satanic Mexican jumping beans. Garrus's steely eyes narrowed intensely as Grey stood across from him, gripping the sniper rifle tensely. "You got a bead on him?"
"Hard to with how he keeps bouncing about-" Grey muttered, Garrus grinning as he whipped around the rock, his rifle held firm as he fired. SCHA-THRAK! A single shot tore through the Stalker's chest, making it reel back as Garrus smirked. "…fuddy-duddy." Grey groaned. "Fine."
The other two Stalkers fired off at Garrus, who ducked behind cover. "You can still give up. No shame in being second be-"
KRA-KRAK! Grey fired his own sniper rifle and the shot sailed through the air, hitting the Stalker squarely in the head. The light that was its face glowed briefly before it collapsed on the ground, milky-esque oil, its lifeblood, pooling out from beneath, Grey then ducking back behind cover as a shot from the final stalker whizzed just past where his head had been. "They've got a pattern. They're trying to hide it by being disorienting in how they jump around, but once you realize who goes where…there's a pattern."
"You figured out the final one's pattern?" Garrus inquired before suddenly a loud roar filled the air and they turned their head to see Kaiden had lifted the final Geth Stalker into the air with his biotics and had now LAUNCHED it squarely at the armature's head. David slew the Goliath on the spot, the propelled Stalker shattering the thing's processing core as it tumbled about, flopping to the ground in a decapitated heap, Garrus and Grey shouldering their sniper rifles as Kaiden Alenko dusted himself off.
"I did." He informed the two, everyone making for the ramp that led to the dig site, Shepherd approaching the door panel as it slowly slid open.
"Hmm. Automatic, even now?" He mused as they waltzed inside, faint bluish/white rings of light surrounding the tubular tunnelways within. They continued to go deeper and deeper into the dig site, Grey groaning as he covered his face, specifically his nose.
"Ten thousand blistering barnacles in a thundering typhoon!"
"UGH, it stinks to High Heaven in here." Ashley agreed, pinching her nose, Kaiden scrunching up his face as Garrus, clearly uncomfortable with the smell as well, turned to Tali and Wrex.
"You two don't seem bothered."
"I wisely stuck an air freshner into my helmet before we landed on the planet. I'd read up about it's…unique traits." Tali admitted, clear glee in her voice as Wrex just chuckled.
"Smells fine to me. Reminds me of my first date."
"You? DATED?" Grey asked before Wrex headbutted him in the chest. "OW! Okay, okay! Enough! How'd it go?"
"We ate pyjack meat by candelight. It was real romantic until she tried to slit my throat to get my credits out of my pocket while I was sleeping off a night of amazing sex." Wrex remarked. "So I broke the knife off in her eye socket and told her if she ever tried anything like that again, I'd take her other eye."
"What happened?"
"Ironically, she actually found someone to marry her and had two children. I have this feeling life despises me." Wrex mused as Grey sympathetically nodded.
"I know the feeling. The universe doesn't want me doesn't want me HAPPY, but it doesn't want me dead." He intoned as they entered the walkway leading down to a lower level of the dig site, a musky haze filling their nostrils combined with the cave's natural coldness. But colder still was their blood when they saw MORE Geth troopers walking around the catwalk…with aerial drones flying around.
"This…is a job for an engineer." Tali whispered, typing swiftly into her omni-tool as they hid behind some pillars, Tali concentrating her tool on the signature of the drones as they flew together, three in one group. "I'll overload their processing core. It'll cause a chain reaction."
"What kind of-"
KRA-THROOOOM! The aerial drone in the center exploded into a burning blaze of bluish fire, its pieces shattering and slicing into its comrades as the Geth beneath dived out of the way, turning around in surprise as the ground popped out from behind cover, firing away at them. The high ground proved the smart choice, their blasts tore the Geth into pieces, only one rocket drone managed to get a shot off before Shepherd's assault rifle took its head off.
Now they approached the elevator, heading down to the lower levels, seeing what appeared to be large, open halls embedded in an ancient building…protected by blue forcefields. "Almost looks like an office building." Shepherd mused as the elevator descended…and a softspoken, pleading voice rang out, carrying the faint ethereal, otherworldly undertone Asari had.
"Hello? Could somebody assist? A little help, if you wouldn't mind?"
As they made their way to where the voice was coming from, hopping down to the slightly-wrecked platforms below, they beheld an asari in a white and green research labcoat, suspended in midair by some kind of glowing energy field. A big, gigantic bubble, in essense, her voice faintly warbling through the bubble as she spoke. "Can you help me? I'm trapped by this thing!"
"Liara T'Soni, I presume?" Shepherd asked of the youthful-looking asari researcher, Wrex chuckling as she blushed in nervousness.
"Heh, she's almost cute."
"WREX!" Grey immediately proclaimed, slapping his forehead. "Please excuse him, Ms. T'Soni. We're here to rescue you."
"By the Goddess, thank goodness!" Liara remarked with clear joy in her voice. "I didn't think ANYONE would come looking for me. I'm trapped in this Prothean security device. I was exploring the ruins when the Geth appeared…I mean, just…I could scarcely believe my eyes! Geth! Beyond the Persesus Veil! So I hid in here after activating this prothean barrier field to protect myself, and just when I thought they'd gone away…I accidentally triggered the very thing that now binds me." The asari shamefully admitted. "It's really quite embarrassing."
"Your mother's working with Saren Arterius, and he's been branded a traitor for working with the Geth. Who's side are you on?" Shepherd wanted to know, raising an eyebrow up.
"I'm not on ANYONE'S side. I haven't spoken to my mother in five years. Ironically, that's when she first started talking ABOUT talking to Mr. Arterius." Liara admitted. "But we've been drifting apart for quite some time…" She sighed quietly, hanging her head ever-so-slightly. "It's just one of those things that happens."
"I can understand." Tali admitted with a sympathetic tone in her voice, giving her a nod.
"We'll find some way past the energy field." Shepherd remarked. "Is there a control around here to disable the barrier curtain?"
"Yes, it's inside here, but you'll have to find a way PAST the barrier first. And be careful. There's not just Geth here, there's a Krogan here too." Liara admitted as she glanced around as best she could, the group looking at each other, then at Wrex.
"Why am I not surprised?" Wrex sighed as they turned around, noticing something on the ground level of the dig site. Specifically…a drill.
Hmm.
HMMMM.
"DUCK!" Shepherd suddenly gasped out as they dived down, avoiding shots from Geth that had come out from behind the drill, Garrus firing off his sniper rifle along with Grey, the Geth swiftly being blown apart with a few well-placed shots as the two nodded at each other. The group made their way down to the drill, Tali kneeling by some storage lockers nearby, beginning to hack into them as Kaiden approached the drill and cracked his knuckles.
"I think I can figure this out." He informed them.
"Good thing, I'm terrible with technology." Grey admitted. "Glad we've got people like you with us."
"What kind of encryption is it?" Garrus asked of Kaiden as his fingers flew over the drill's control console, typing rapidly.
"Quad-Relay Chromatic Scheme with Cyclical Password Encryption. Just a matter of finding the right pattern…" Kaiden murmured. "Up-up-down-down, left-right, left-right, b-a-start." He chuckled, finishing his typing, pressing the "Fire" button as a burning reddish/orange laser shot out from the drill, burning a pathway under the barrier curtains, exposing a large elevator they could use to climb up to where Liara was. They quickly ascended into elevator, heading up to the suspended asari as Garrus approached the control console and swiftly began typing in the release code.
PING! Liara flopped to the ground, Grey helping her up with an offered hand as she nodded in gratitude at them. "However did you get past the barrier curtain?"
"There was a drill. We used it to sneak inside. But now we've got to get you OUTSIDE." Shepherd reasoned as they led her onto the elevator, Liara walking alongside them as Grey looked into her eyes, hazel green into deepest blue.
"Ms. T'Soni, do you have any weaponry with you?"
"Unfortunately, my pistols were lost when I ran to escape the Geth." She admitted, Grey handing her one of his as she took it in her black-gloved hands, Shepherd nodding in approval. "I am, however, a skilled biotic."
"Oh, then you, Wrex and I will have something in common." Kaiden remarked as they walked to the center platform of the elevator, everything suddenly beginning to shake as pieces of ceiling began to crumble down. "What the?!"
"The drill must have made this place unstable. Hurt the foundation of the dig site. We've got to escape!" Liara inisisted swiftly.
"Joker! Get the Normandy airborne, lock in on my signal!" Shepherd alerted Jeff Moreau over the communications system built into his omni-tool, Garrus approaching the greenly-glowing console and turning it on as they ascended to higher level after higher level.
A faint, familiar whine filling the air. The whining, static-y cry of Geth.
"Oh dear." Liara murmured, another shuddering shake filling the elevator and the archeological site as a dark-red-eyed Krogan with foul yellow skin and harsh pupils smirked coldly as he stood by a surprisingly well-armored platoon of Geth, the Krogan loaded to the teeth with a shotgun, an assault rifle, several grenades around his waist and heavy pistols to his side, one held in a gauntleted grip.
"Well, well, well." The Krogan mused aloud, white armor "chunka-chunking" as he moved forward. "Look who's here. We've been looking for you, asari."
"What? Why?" Liara asked.
"Saren wants the Conduit. You're a Prothean expert. So think fast." Ashley mused aloud.
"The CONDUIT? I've read a few Prothean texts about it, I do know of it…" Liara muttered, looking slightly down at the floor.
"Well then…you can surrender…or DON'T. The latter's more fun." The Krogan battlemaster chuckled, twirling his pistol, the rocket trooper to the right of some of the geth by his side readying its launcher.
"In case you didn't notice, the place is falling apart." Shepherd snapped.
"I know. EXHILARATING, isn't it?" The Krogan whispered. "Thanks for getting rid of the energy fields for us. We'd NEVER have gotten in without it. Now hand the doctor over."
"The lady…leaves with me." Shepherd growled back.
"Not an option. Saren wants her. And he gets what he wants." The Krogan said with a sneer on his faintly reptilian features. "Kill them! Spare the asari. Or don't. She needs to be alive. Not necessarily in one PIECE. And take the medic's body to the Machinist."
"Machinist?" Grey murmured, the Geth raising their weapons as he quickly shot his hand forward, omni-tool popping up. "And you light my morning sky with burning love!"
The omni-tool BLAZED with burning fire, a shockwave of flame launching forward, making the Krogan leap through the air over the blast as the Geth reeled, the Krogan BARRELING into Grey, sending him flying through the air and into the wall as Liara was sent to the ground. She whipped up the pistol she'd gotten, firing at the Krogan, making him growl angrily as his shield was assaulted by pistol fire before a rocket whizzed through the air. Garrus dove out of the way, Wrex firing on the rocket drone with his shotgun as the Geth dove to the side.
Several Geth troopers took up point behind pillars, firing at Ashley and Shepherd as the two ducked and covered themselves, firing back at the robotic menaces, another rocket drone launching several rockets at Tali as she raced to safety. Whipping her body behind her, her omni-tool held up, it sparked as electricity surged through the Geth, a blast of bluish overload energy making it reel back…but not die.
"These things are enhanced?" She murmured.
"My private guard! Only the best!" The Krogan battlemaster laughed before Wrex pile-drived him, slamming him into the floor.
"And I guess your best wasn't GOOD ENOUGH." He growled back before the battlemaster headbutted Wrex off of him with a loud THRUNKA-THUD, drawing his shotgun only for Liara's pistol shot to whiz through the air…
Striking through his gauntleted hand.
"GRAAAUUUUGGGHHH!" The Battlemaster howled, slamming into Wrex in a fury, knocking him to the ground and then wheeling on Liara as Tali and Garrus scrunched together behind another pillar to avoid more Geth fire, the two combining their overloads. A satisfying blusih explosion of light let them know the Geth had bit it, their mechanical bodies thumping to the floor as the Battlemaster grabbed hold of Liara, ripping the pistol from her. In response, her biotics flared up, forcing him back a few steps before his good hand lashed out, punching her across the face, making HER reel back a few steps.
"HEY!" A voice rang out.
The Battlemaster turned around to see Grey standing there, sniper rifle held high, the back of the medic's head bleeding and his lip cut as he glared darkly.
"An officer and a gentleman does not strike a lady." He hissed, firing the rifle as a shot sailed through the air, tearing into the Krogan's leg, making the battlemaster howl, flopping to the ground. Grey raced over to Liara, helping her back up as Shepherd's assault rifle shots joined with Ashley, the two diving around to two different sides of the Geth, taking out the rocket drone.
"Now then…" Wrex remarked darkly as he stood up and dusted himself off, holding his shotgun up, leveling it at the battlemaster before Shepherd raised a hand in the air.
"Wait." He insisted, looking the Krogan over and folding his arms over his chest even as the facility continued to shake, more pieces of the ceiling falling down around them. "Who is this "Machinist"? Why does he want my medic?"
"The Machinist is doing a fascinating study of dark energy, Shepherd." The Krogan chuckled darkly. "And if only you knew just how much is truly at stake…"
"We should leave him here to die. See how far he gets with a blown-open leg." Garrus remarked coldly. "I've got a low tolerance policy for people who take hostages, as you well know…"
"Hope you enjoy becoming a literal part of history." Shepherd agreed with a dark frown at the Krogan as they raced for the exit, Grey glancing briefly back, the Krogan sneering at his concerned face.
Dark energy…?
Oh well. No time to waste. They had to get the good doctor out of there. Liara was going to be very valuable to them.
…and she was pretty too…and had such adorable eyes-
Grey inwardly gulped. Oh no.
OH NO.
He wasn't…
Her? With…
When he HAD a girlfriend to come home to?
"Aw, dang." He moaned aloud.