Location: Cerberus underground research facility-Ontarom.
6 months ago...
Unlike the rest of the Alliance, Cerberus took pride in versatility, precision and most importantly effectiveness. The rank & file structure of the Alliance impeded all three so it was first out the window when the new system of tiers was born.
Tiers, comprised of top operatives from different divisions that functioned as one squad and answered to a single officer in charge. Each Tier received orders from Echelon, the section of Alliance command that oversaw all Cerberus activity. With six tiers fully holding Cerberus' chain, things ran smoothly.
At the highest end of the clearance spectrum, the officers of Tier six had the most privilege in the tightly structured world of Cerberus. And since vital secrets were shared exclusively among Tier six operatives, any breach of policy or flat out betrayal was punishable by death.
That last sub-section of the recruitment documentsburned heavily in Major Elena Flores' mind. Any leak of today's unauthorized meeting would result in a quick death for everyone. No questions asked. But when all four of her trusted operatives found the hideaway, Elena learned to breathe normally again. It was risky, meeting in the presentation room right under Cerberus' nose, but it was the best way of seeing all of them at once. An earlier omni-tool sweep revealed this room was bug free, so unless someone rigged the synthetic oak table to blow, they had nothing to worry about. Months of planning went into this meeting, including everything from new identities to extraction procedures and most importantly research data master keys. Nothing could go wrong, not now. Especially if everything Kahoku had said was true.
While everyone else chatted privately among themselves, it was Operative Mark Kassel who gave her a concerned look. She smiled but that wasn't enough. The man could read her like a book and for the first time she hated him for it.
"You okay, Major?" Mark's question cut the chatter and put all eyes on her.
Even though Alliance ranks were stripped when you entered Cerberus, her people never stopped calling her Major. She made the mistake of presenting her rank on the first day and the name stuck ever since.
"Not really." Exhaling, Elena watched the careful poker faces of her top operatives. "There's something we need to discuss." The small arid roomwent dead quiet as everyone waited for her to get on with it. Here goes, she thought and took her seat at the head of the table. "Cerberus is compromised."
It took a moment to set in, but once it did the poker faces crumbled. Dark clouds of confusion and rage reflected in their eyes, mainly from Selina York at the opposite end.
"I don't get it. How...do we just get compromised?" Selina asked, running a hand through her pixie styled black hair. She was still a girl compared to the rest of them and was therefore allowed a stupid question every now and then.
"The same way we do the compromising," Elena said simply. "According to my handler, the Alliance lost contact with Echelon at Cerberus HQ."
"Bullshit!" Jin Xiang cut in sharply. "Check your comms. I receive my orders loud and clear." With that she leaned back and crossed her arms in defiance. The squad murmured in agreement.
"Oh? And when was the last time you received a mission?" Elena asked, playing dumb for the sake of getting a point across.
Xiang remained silent but sat tall despite the attention.
Of all the field agents Xiang had top scores, a clean record and exemplary field history with a bitchy personality to boot. If it weren't for her skills, Elena would've saved herself the headache long ago.
"When have any of you worked a full year without a single field assignment?" The Major asked, doing a sweep of the room as they all ducked her gaze save for Mark. She could practically hear the gears turning in his head, while his blue eyes fought to convey calm.
"She's right." Mark looked up, clearly troubled now. "I've been field testing and designing something called a Hammerhead. The only real work they toss down the pipe is about this group called the Collectors, but nothing concrete beyond that."
Each Cerberus agent in their tier functioned as an operative and scientist based on their previous educational background. Mark was a gifted engineer before Cerberus added 'deadly spy' to his resume just four months after she joined. Every operative was taught to bite his tongue or bear the consequences of talking openly about their work. His complete disregard for that right now, let her know he was on her side and for that she was grateful.
Seemingly running on the same page, Operative Roberts spoke up from her left as he shook the last contents of his beer can. Leave it to Jeremy to be the only one drinking at a time like this.
"It's the same here. This guy Banes took over my division. Changed focus from biotic implants to human augmentation and my handler didn't say boo." Jeremy paused, seemingly mulling it over. "I don't know though, Major. Sure things are changing, but is your guy trustworthy?"
"My handler's an Alliance colonel completely removed from this mess with nothing to gain by misleading us. I trust him." Elena assured, thankful that Jeremy also came forward with some troubling news.
"Okay, back up." Selina held her palms up and motioned as if to wipe this all away. "If your source is Alliance, has he said anything about what they're planning to do if we really are compromised?" Selina asked with wide curious eyes.
And here we go from bad to worse, Elena thought morbidly. "Kahoku tried bringing it to Alliance high command. Their strategy so far is to continue denying Cerberus' existence."
The murmur of outrage rose but was quickly stamped by Mark's fist hitting the table. "Settle down. It's not the Major's fault and there's nothing we can do about that."
Xiang only shook her head mockingly as if they were all morons. "We're deniable assets. Did you seriously expect any different?"
"What I expect is for The Alliance to get their shit together and figure out what's going on," Jeremy grumbled as he wiped the beer residue from his trimmed dark beard. "I say they find the guy in charge, bring him in and figure this out?"
"The only problem is that nobody knows the guy in charge," Elena replied. "They have him codenamed as the Illusive Man but that's it. Given whatever coup likely took place, it's hard to say if the current Illusive Man is the one we've all been answering to, or a usurper." That line of thinking unsettled her but at the moment it was god's honest truth, that and a sign to get out of dodge fast. Their orders came through a series of handler transactions and direct divisional orders passed form Alliance high command. Nobody questioned them so there was no way to tell when they were tainted, if at all. Still, she trusted Kahoku, not to mention her own gut. They needed to secure their research data until someone in high command woke up and cleaned house.
She didn't know how Cerberus worked overall, but here on Ontarom, Operatives worked in tiers. The higher tiered officers controlled separate divisions and were responsible for their group of Operatives. Judging from what Jeremy said, he was no longer tier six like the rest of them. That would make securing data from his biological department a lot more difficult.
Elena waved her omni-tool, instructing the others to activate theirs. When the transfer was complete four blank faces awaited an explanation.
Selina skimmed hers fast as her large hazel eyes grew in fascination. "Looks like..."
"...Source code," Jeremy guessed and took another swig as he scrutinized the data on holo display at his arm. Selina's nod confirmed they were on the same page.
"No. It's has an override" Mark's concentrated gaze grew harder as he studied the numbers. "Major, I don't understand?"
Only Jin Xiang was content in her findings with a small smirk playing at her lips. "What's not to get? She just gave us the master keys. Our data goes portable now." That devil grin grew. "I have to report you."
The annoying little bitch strikes again.
The others weren't so quick to judge as their hopeful looks settled back to Elena, almost pleading for a 'gotcha, just kidding!' moment. Cerberus officers had limited time in contact with their research. Every day, access to each division lab was restricted to eight hours and fifteen seconds per officer to ensure good work ethic. For security purposes, nothing could be taken out of the lab, data, notes, . Everyone was scanned on their way in and out of the lab. If you were caught with the slightest shred of data, it was a week in the sensory deprivation chamber unless your handler needed you for a vital mission. In that case punishment would commence after it. With tight parameters, Cerberus officers were encouraged to work fast and make progress while their time for innovation trickled by. Any operatives who broke regs had a date in the sensory deprivation chamber before an interrogation and a panel determined your future with Cerberus. The same went for anyone who witnessed and failed to report said breach.
Partial guilt of putting them in this position made her want to withdraw right then and there. But they were in it this far, and it was the right thing to do.
"Ma'am, you're putting us in a tight spot here," Jeremy said, his gruff voice bringing her out of her reverie.
"I know," Elena said, feeling better now that it was finally over. Or just beginning, depending on how you looked at it. "This bypass will allow you to upload the data to your grey boxes. I want all of you to gather as much research as you can and get it to The Alliance."
"You want us to steal classified experiments and give them back to the people who hired us?" Selina reasoned, looking at her like she was crazy. Poor kid, everyone knew how much Cerberus meant to the young officer.
"No. I want you to keep your research safe from whatever splinter group infiltrated us." Elena reached into her bag and grabbed four data chips loaded with new identities. "You can't radio for a simple pick up. The Alliance is purging everything that has so much as a Cerberus logo. It's a shadow war, no tanks or heavy artillery, just people trying to kill you on both sides."
"When did you try?" Mark asked, putting two and two together and realizing she tried to contact the Alliance on her own. Judging by his hard expression he was not happy with her risky gamble.
"I didn't believe Kahoku at first so I tried to contact a pick up myself.," Elena explained to the benefit of the others around the table. "I sent a distress signal from my apartment. They stormed the place within one hour and ransacked the entire apartment in search of my research. They weren't Alliance so that means our communications were intercepted."
Elena willed herself to be strong as the weight of what just happened finally hit the small group. Mark looked away, probably digging for some logical explanation. But alas he remained silent much to her dismay. Jeremy couldn't sit still and started tapping his can as if he wanted a top-up. Selina looked like someone gave her a part in the school play that she loathed. Only Xiang looked composed and unreadable. Her beady black eyes with barely contained malice and glee started to unnerve Elena.
"Get your work to high command and only high command," Elena said.
"Why high command?" Jeremy challenged, eyeing his omni-tool with a jaded expression as he took another drink. Probably the last one judging from the clang that sounded as he set the can down.
"It's the only level of Alliance that I can see accepting our evidence," Elena stated simply. "Trust me, if I had another choice I wouldn't put you in this position." Everyone avoided her gaze so she settled on Xiang in challenge. "Report me if you like, but I've already hidden my data. You should too, especially if you understand what it means to be a soldier in this position."
"It means following orders and not going rogue," Jin Xiang said matter-of-factly, studying her perfectly manicured red nails as if this entire meeting was a waste of her precious time.
"No," Elena countered. Despite her talents this 'top operative' didn't know the first thing about what it meant to wear the uniform. "Being a soldier means protecting people. We need to make sure our hard work doesn't fall into terrorist hands."
Selina deactivated her omni-tool and looked up, her eagerness wavered but at least it was there. "So what's our plan?"
Elena shook her head slowly, wishing she had a more concrete one for them. "There's only one plan. Run fast, run far. Stay away from public transit and make your way to Alliance High Command with your research. Forget Arcturus Station, go straight to Earth where you'll have witnesses."
"Quite the task," Mark admitted, but something in his eyes showed resolve. "I don't like it. But if what you're saying is true, I'll do it."
Jeremy nodded in agreement as gripped the can with both hands. "Fuck it. They gave my lab to a lunatic. I'm in."
Closing her eyes in concentration, Elena called forth her dark energy and felt it travelling up her spine, enveloping her in blue power. With one swift move, the can sailed from Jeremy's hands to hers.
Elena felt better for his support, but there was still the problem of him having even less access now. "Do you need help getting into your division, Jeremy?" Elena asked, holding the can for inspection. There was about a drop left.
"I'll be fine. They're still clocking me for eight hour access, I'll be in and out in no time," Jeremy assured.
Selina gave one last moment of hesitation before eventually agreeing. "This is serious. I'll do it, but if you're wrong, Major..."
"I'll take full responsibility," Elena reassured. That got her in and left only the vindictive Jin Xiang to decide. From the look on her face, they could all save their breath.
Jin shook her head slowly before rising smoothly like the viper that she is. "I'll give you all a head start," she said, heading for the doors. "Make the most of it."
o~O~o
Location: New Thebes, Capitol Colony of planet Anhur.
2182
Present day
Waves sloshed against the sandy shore, the sound mixing with that of happy children, barking dogs and yelps of summer joy. It was the perfect morning for carefree people, but just another day on the run for Elena Flores.
Standing on the artificial wood of her suite's fourth story balcony, she allowed herself to feel the sun's rays for the first time in six months. Darkness made it harder for the drones to make an ID back on Ontarom so it was easier to move at night. She was careful to hide her trail, travelling as a stowaway on industrial ships and making good use of her fake passports. Being found wasn't exactly high up on her to-do list.
Thankfully the majority batarian residents of New Thebes liked their privacy and kept their skies free of drones during the day. That meant living like a human being was back in the picture.
Sipping her drink Elena took in the view from her penthouse suite. People and batarians below, endless horizon ahead and blue skies above. But she knew way too much about what went on above that sky to buy into its deception.
The post-rebellion economic depression made everything dirt cheap, so sleeping in top of the line accommodations for a fraction of the credits made it hard to leave this little rock...especially since it was a Cerberus free haven.
Pushing away from the railing she stepped back inside.
There was no use dwelling on what Cerberus was doing up in deep space. Who took over her station? Who was trying to recreate her sick experiments? It didn't matter now. Memories of her own involvement made her sick, but now wasn't the time to feel sorry for herself. Now was the time to get moving and warn the Alliance.
Space travel was extremely difficult without covert clearance from Cerberus but a steady stream of greedy batarian smugglers were slowly transporting her closer to the sol system with each jump. It wasn't the most efficient mode of transport but it was getting her closer to Earth. She only hoped the others found similar luck.
The others...Jeremy, Selina, Jin...Mark. Their faces flashed before her eyes, reminding her of the unforgiving truth. She led them into this hell and left them to their own devices. So much for leadership.
If Kahoku heard he'd probably try to make her feel better, saying foolish things like they had no choice but to split up. On the other hand she could see her old mentor Oleg Petrovsky being very disappointed. The man lived and died on the 'you don't leave a man behind' mantra. As idealistic as it sounded at the time, she understood why he held it to such high regard. What was the point of living and doing this job if you couldn't save a single person?
Needing a reprieve from second guessing her decision, Elena secured her Harpy heavy pistol in its hidden holster under her shoulder. Collecting what little she had, Elena clamped the sleek suitcase shut.
With one last look at the luxurious dwelling she sighed and headed for the door. Maybe when all this was over there would be time to live like a normal person. A house, lawn, porch...husband. She smiled, all those things she and Dana made fun of as kids suddenly seemed comforting...at least a hell of a lot better than this.
Putting all dreams aside, she opened the door and gasped.
Mark Kassel was leaning against the doorway, dripping with blood from head to toe and cradling his left arm which stuck out at an odd angle. Their eyes met and he smiled before collapsing into a growing pool of his own blood at her feet.