Chapter Twenty-Five: Kept Promises
Shepard leaned over the table thinking about what to say. The team slowly entered the room with looks of excitement, urgency, fear, and a small pang of despair. Who was he to blame them? They were all told this was a suicide mission and that the possibility of them coming back was nil to none. Fear was a natural instinct to feel and even Shepard felt it. Hell, even Zane had that same look and he knew what was to come!
"We didn't expect it to begin like this." Shepard started as the faces turned to him. "But this is where we are. Already we have come further than anyone has ever before. But it means nothing if we don't finish the job. The galaxy is depending on us to end this threat for once and for all. Our mothers, our fathers, our sisters, brothers, they are all counting on us to kick the Collector's teeth in and say not today! Not today will we go quietly! Not today will we become their experiment. Not today will we fall with a whimper but instead with a scream."
The team gave nods and began to load their weapons. Tali checked her programs, Garrus scoped his sniper rifle, and Zane cracked his neck and cracked his fingers again.
"It is our turn to get some payback." Zane growled.
"I hear that. Let's light these fuckers up!" Jack said as she flared her biotics for a moment.
"EDI get me a layout of the base." Shepard ordered. And soon a hologram of the entirety of the Collector base was shown in front of them and they went through each access point, each hallway, each obstacle, and they soon had a good idea where the remaining colonists were.
However, there was a slight problem. The first door in their way had its controls on the inside of the room it blocked. The only way in was a pipe that was incredibly hot and ran along the base. It would jump between two hallways meaning that two squads would have to be on either side of the pipe to vent any heat buildup for whoever would take the task.
They would need to have tech experience and he knew immediately who to send. "Tali you get the pipe." Shepard said and she stood a little straighter.
"You got it." She said in her scratchy voice. Shepard could only assume as to why she had a scratchy voice and right now he just hoped that it wouldn't be an issue later on.
"Good idea Shepard. Now, who leads the second team? I can..." Miranda began.
"Nope, not going to happen. No one wants to take orders from you." Jack said. Zane facepalmed and Garrus shook his head in disappointment…or was that agreement?
"This isn't a popularity contest! Shepard, you need someone who knows how to command who has the ability to lead who do you choose?" Miranda snapped but quickly regain composure. He had many options. Garrus was a good option but he had been out of the leading game for a long time. Miranda had never truly led a fireteam as far as Shepard knew and she showed to be unpopular with everyone and that would hurt morale in a firefight. But Zane, he had been leading an entire galaxy-wide faction. He had shadowed not one but two N7 operatives and knew the Collector base already. And Shepard knew Zane would do anything to keep Tali safe.
"Zane, you get the second team." Shepard said and Zane looked shocked.
"Wha…I mean yes Sir. Collectors won't know what will hit them."
"Well, at least he is competent." Miranda murmured.
"Miranda, Legion, and Thane with me. Tali through the vent. Everyone else with Zane. Let's kick some Collector ass."
"Fuck yea!" Zane exclaimed and the team packed up their gear and began to make their way towards the airlock.
…
Zane grabbed Tali's arm and pulled her into a hug that she soon returned.
"For good luck." He said.
"I won't need luck I have you." She said and he chuckled.
"Be careful." He said and held her hand and caressed it.
"I'll be fine. But you be careful you hear me?"
"I am the embodiment of caution my dear." Zane said with a smile as he pulled up his mask and hood. She rolled her eyes at him as she passed him and she was seemingly sure to put some more sway to her hips. "That is not fair." He said and she could hear her giggle.
…
The teams jumped out of the airlock and began to separate. Shepard took the right and Zane's squad took the left and Tali went down the middle. She gave Zane a nod that he soon returned and then they both nodded to Shepard. An unspoken promise to see each other had just been made and now it was time to make good on that promise.
She pressed a holographic panel and the vent opened to a lime green pipe. Heat came blowing out of the pipe and she immediately began to sweat for the second time within twenty-four hours. This time, however, she wasn't enjoying it.
"Alright, I'm going in." She said and stepped in just as the vent closed behind her.
"Don't worry Tali we got you." Shepard reassured her.
"You can count on us." Zane said and she smiled and began to make her way through the pipe. She soon heard gunfire rattle off the pipe and she looked to her right and saw Shepard in combat with several Collectors.
"Keep moving Tali! We will be with you shortly." He said and she sped up her pace and soon her sight to her right was blocked but her left opened up.
"Hahaha!" Grunt laughed as he stomped the head of a Collector. Garrus sniped a flying Collector with ease and Zane moved up.
"Jack, throw them bastards across this fucking base! Samara reave that Guardian! Jacob and Zaeed covering fire." He commanded just as naturally as Shepard did and continued to move forward. Her own path was blocked by a sealed wall and the heat seemed to increase with each second, she remained in the pipe.
"Zane behind you!" She called as a Collector landed behind him. Zane turned with his omni-blade out. He cut the Drone's throat and then stabbed it several times in the gut and chest.
He moved beside a control panel and pressed a release button and Tali felt the building heat dissipate almost immediately.
"She is all yours Shepard. Take good care of her." Zane said and gave her a wink before continuing to fight.
Tali continued down the pipeline and her vision switched again. She saw Shepard's team cutting a swath through the Collectors with relative ease.
"Thane and Miranda warp Harbinger!" He ordered as he struck a Collector Drone with the butt of his rifle. The Collector fell down and was soon filled with bullets.
Tali was stopped by another sealed wall. "Shepard, I am blocked." She informed him. Her throat began to hurt and she coughed again. The coughing was getting worse and she felt hot and it wasn't because of the pipe. Her fever was only increasing.
"On it." He replied and vaulted over some cover and kicked a Collector down before shooting it in the head. Shepard ran for the console and pressed a button and the heated vented again and the wall retracted. "Keep going." Shepard ordered as he killed another Collector.
Tali moved forward and began to feel weaker than she did a few moments ago. "Damn fever." She cursed and saw Zane pin a Collector against a wall and stab it three times with his omni-blade.
"Don't stop moving guys! Samara and Jack take the left flank. Garrus and Zaeed sniper cover. Kasumi go to the console and get Tali moving!"
"Yea on it." Tali heard Kasumi say. She leaned against the pipe's walls as her vision blurred for a moment. "You okay Tali?" Kasumi asked as she appeared beside the console, her hand touching the button as the pipe vented the heat buildup.
"It…its really hot in here. I need to get out of here." She said simply and Kasumi nodded in understanding. She was grateful for the reprieve from the heat but her vision remained a little bit blurry and her head began to ache.
"One more to go Tali. You can do it." Zane said in a caring voice and she nodded to herself. She could do it and she would do it. As she continued, both squads came into her vision and they fought valiantly. Collectors began to swarm them and the two squad leaders did everything they could to keep moving forward but still guard their back.
"Legion, get that Guardian!" Shepard ordered and a sniper shot soon sounded and killed a Collector in the distance.
"Grunt break that fucker's neck." Zane said pointing to a Drone beside Grunt. Grunt grabbed the Drone in question and slammed him down on the ground before stomping on its neck. The Drone's head snapped and it twitched as Grunt put his shotgun to its head and pulled the trigger.
"Zane, Shepard I think this is a simultaneous console." Tali said seeing both panels side by side the pipe.
"Affirmative, I see it. Zane, you got yours?" Shepard asked.
"Roger, moving now." Zane replied and began to make his way to the console. However, the Collectors had different plans. They began to attack harder and stronger than before.
"Pain comes for you. Puppet!" Harbinger roared as it took control of a Collector on Zane's side. And with it came several squads of Collectors. And on Shepard's side, it was no better. Instead of a possessed Collector, Shepard had many more squads to deal with.
All the while the heat in the pipe was multiplying. She felt like she was swimming in her own sweat and it took all of her willpower to not rip her suit off.
"Keep that thing busy I'm going to the console!" Zane ordered.
"We got you, Zane, go get Tali moving." Garrus said and fired his rifle and wounded the possessed Collector.
"Raargh!" Harbinger roared.
"Shepard, you there?" Zane asked when he got beside the console.
"Almost there." The reply came and Tali saw Shepard moving slowly as he went from cover to cover dodging the gunfire.
Zane remained beside the console and took potshots at the Collectors and Harbinger specifically. "Team, get moving towards the doors. Soon as Tali is through, get ready to move."
"Roger that." Miranda said and slid to more cover.
"You will burn Puppet. You and your master will burn for your insolence! And for its betrayal!" Harbinger swore and used three strong winged thrusts and collided with Zane.
"Ah, shit!" He swore and was pinned against the pipe. "Ah, shit!" He grunted again in frustration.
"Zane!" Tali shouted and saw Harbinger's arm turn to a chitin blade. Harbinger went to stab Zane but its arm was caught by Zane's, however, it was a losing battle.
"You will die slowly Puppet for your resistance." The blade got closer and closer and Zane used his free hand to slow its descent. Zane looked up and saw her eyes. She was weak but she tried to be strong for him. He struggled for dominance but nothing changed until something flashed in his eyes. His eyes turned icy and a small glow could be seen in their depths.
"I will show you who is the puppet!" Zane said in an angry -but low- tone. And then he began to push the blade away. When his arm was close enough Zane's omni-blade came out and slashed at Harbinger's face.
"Ah!" Harbinger yelled and then Zane stabbed it in the gut. The Collector kneeled down and Zane wasted no time to stab it through the face.
"You ready Shepard?" Zane asked when he got back towards the console. His eyes returning to their natural blue.
"Yep."
"Now!" Zane shouted and they pressed their consoles. The last wall in Tali's way soon came down and she jogged towards the end.
"Tali, get Zane's team." Shepard ordered when she made it through the pipe. She took a second to enjoy the natural coolness of the air around her before making her way to the door to her left.
She knelt down and began to type on the holographic projection. Her vision cleared up when she made it out of the pipe but her head still pounded. It didn't take her long to successfully hack into the mainframe and open the door.
"Alright people, party is over get inside!" Zane ordered, covering his team that piled into the room.
"Give Zane some cover!" Garrus commanded and the team kept the enemy back.
"Tali close our door then get to Shepard's team." Zane said when he made it into the room.
"On it." She said and closed the door before jogging to the adjacent door. "Beginning now."
"Line up and get weapons ready." He commanded and the team waited with shallow breaths for the door to open.
The door opened as a hail of bullets zoomed passed the doorway. "Light those fuckers up!" Zane yelled and everyone opened let loose as many bullets as possible. Shepard's team came in as Shepard gave covering fire.
"Hold them back!" Garrus yelled.
"Nothing gets through." Zane said as he held his finger on the trigger. The doorway halted its closing procedure for a moment before it finally slammed shut just as a rocket slammed into the door.
"I knew you wouldn't let me down Tali." Shepard huffed, out of breath.
Zane got beside her as she remained kneeling on the ground. She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Good job." He said.
"Thanks." She said then a coughing fit overcame her. "Damn."
"You okay?" He asked and she shook her head.
"Head hurts, throat is sore, and I am tired." She said and placed her own hand on his own. "Still worth it though." She said with a smile and he chuckled. "Also, I think it was just the heat that did me in. I'm feeling better already." She supposed with a smile and Zane gave a nod.
"Shepard, Zane, you might want to get over here." Miranda said and they made their way to another room. Pipes above them pumped an orange liquid over their head that led deeper into the base.
…
Zane approached the stasis pods and scanned them for a moment. They were filled with humans. Some were just simple colonists but others were Militia members.
"Get these pods open." He said.
"Wha…?" Miranda began.
"Open them now!" He snapped before trying to pry the pod open. "Not much time left." He said through gritted teeth. He tried to find a release and in the corner, he heard a hissing sound followed by screaming.
"What the fuck?" Jack said as the person she tried to rescue was turned to paste.
"Hurry up!" Zane shouted and the team moved faster.
"Get these people out of here." Shepard ordered and tried to break a pod open.
Zane felt a button at the bottom of the pod and pressed it and the pod opened. "Button at the bottom of the pod!" He revealed and slowly let the girl he saved fall into his arms. He guided her down slowly. She was incredibly young. Only ten years old maybe.
He then moved to another pod beside the girl's and inside was a woman who was about twenty in age. He repeated the process and the woman fell into his arms and he guided her down. Her long brown hair draped over his arms.
"Mordin, check the girl." He ordered and pointed towards the young girl. He then scanned the woman and made sure she was stable. Her eyes slowly opened and she had gleaming green eyes that looked shocked. He was quick to gently put his hands on her shoulders.
"Who…"
"You are alright we are here to get you out of here." He said slowly. "Find me an Organization member." He said to the others.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Zane. You are on the Collector base. What is your name?"
"Michele…where, where is my sister?" She asked and became worried.
"Is that her?" He asked pointing at the girl being tended to by Mordin.
"Yes! Is she alright?"
"Perfectly fine beside the suspected trauma but otherwise she will be fine." Mordin rattled off before finding someone else to tend to.
Zane guided the woman to her sister and made sure to not have her drop and hurt herself.
"Zane, we have a Rook here." Tali said.
"You will be okay." Zane said to the woman who held her sister in her arms as the little girl finally began to awaken. The Rook had green eyes and looked young and inexperienced.
"Rook, tell him what you told me." Shepard said.
"I am Rook Tyler of Celtic squad. We come from a small colony named…"
"New Kingston. Yes, I know, now what happened Rook?" Zane asked.
"Collectors obviously. They took us by surprise. Our safehouse was blown apart in the first few moments and the Seeker Swarms came in droves. There were too many for us to hold off and I was captured. The rest of Celtic squad fought valiantly but they are either dead or have already been turned to paste. Our original Rook was turned a few days ago. I am the last of Celtic squad." Tyler said and Zane put a gentle hand on the man's shoulder.
"It's over bud. No more will be taken by these pricks once we are done with them." Zane said and Tyler nodded.
"You guys are in no shape to fight." Shepard soon realized. They all were having a hard time just standing and they didn't have the weapons, or the training to escape a Collector ambush.
"We can have someone escort them back. With Joker's and EDI's help they could make it out with minimal resistance if any at all." Zane said.
"Good idea, Mordin make sure they get back."
"Need coordinates to Normandy Joker." Mordin asked.
"Sending them now." Joker replied.
"Thank you, Commander." Tyler said with an appreciative smile.
"We have to leave. Staying here would be problematic." Mordin said and began to escort the group out of the base.
"What about us?" Garrus asked.
"The tubes lead to the control room above you. However, you are blocked by a security door. Luckily, there is another passage that runs parallel with you." Joker stated.
"I do not recommend that. Thermal emissions indicate there are a lot of Seeker Swarms. Too many for Mordin's countermeasures to have any effect."
"Well, there has to be something. Suggestions?"
"Biotics. A powerful biotic can deploy a large field to keep them off of a small team while they go around the door and open it for the rest of the squad." Zane suggested.
"Samara, can it be done?"
"I do believe so. I cannot get everyone but a small team should be possible."
"I could do it too. In theory, any biotic could do it." Miranda suggested.
"True, but the strain it causes on the body will be too much for 'any biotic' it will have to be someone who is very well attuned to their biotics. I suggest Jack or Samara Sir." Zane recommended and Shepard gave a nod and thought about who to bring.
"Me and Samara will take a small team while another team causes a diversion in the main passageway." Shepard said.
"Who are you taking with us?" Samara asked.
"You, me, Thane, and Miranda. The rest of you will cause a diversion and get to the door. We will open it when we surpass the Seeker Swarms."
"Who is leading the diversion team?" Zane asked.
"You."
"Well, why ruin a good thing? You got it, Shepard." He said with a nod and took a deep breath to calm his nerves. He did well the first time and this shouldn't be different. But the added responsibility didn't sit well with him.
"Be careful you guys." Shepard told him.
"Just make sure you are there to pull us out of the fire. Let's get moving ladies and gents!" Zane said and began to walk down the hallway.
…
Zane looked towards the doorway that seemed so far away yet so close.
"Zane to Shepard you there?" He asked.
"Yea, you guys ready?" Zane looked behind him and saw his team give stern nods.
"Affirmative."
"Commence assault…now." Shepard ordered and Zane took a deep breath.
"Let's get to that door!" Zane commanded and his team began to move forward. In the distance, several Collectors began to fly down to them. "Contact up high!" He yelled and started to open fire. Most of the Collectors didn't get close to landing before they died. But with so many attacking it was only a matter of time before the enemy landed.
"Jack, shockwave and Jacob pull." He ordered and the two biotics got to work. Jack managed to throw several into the air and Jacob capitalized with a pull that made them float in the air. As one, his team got out of cover and soon the floating Collectors were little more than bullet holes.
"Zane, you got Collector reinforcements on the way." Shepard yelled and Zane lifted his head from his rifle and saw several more squads of Collectors flying towards them. and one of them was beginning to crack and clock yellow.
"Fantastic." He muttered and concentrated on the approaching squads and the possessed Collector. "Keep moving forward!" He ordered as he covered the rear.
"We got your back, Zane, you're clear!" Garrus said as he and Tali provided covering fire for Zane to catch up.
"You cannot escape your fate Puppet." The booming voice of Harbinger echoed through the base as Harbinger's pawn walked forward with no fear. A ball of energy was building in its hand. A rumbling sound came from the Collector base and it reminded Zane of laughter.
"Oh fuck." He said just as Harbinger released a large sphere of blackness. The mass of energy was about as fast as a normal warp but this was different. The mass scorched the metal as it passed it and even melted metal to the point it could safely go through cover.
Zane sidestepped the attack and the mass barely hit Garrus' arm. "Ah!" He yelled and a scorching mark was left upon his arm. The attack burned the metal and it had burned his carapace with ease revealing the skin underneath it.
"Get to that door!" Zane yelled and covered the team. Harbinger didn't flinch as bullets penetrated its pawn and Collectors fell around it.
"You may harm this form but it will not stop me Puppet." Harbinger swore and Zane responded by holding down the trigger until his M4 hissed. He quickly reloaded and began to open fire again as he slowly backed up. His incendiary ammo having minimal effect against Harbinger.
"Scion!" He heard and turned his head and saw a Scion and several Husks and Collectors attacking his team. Harbinger threw another black mass at Zane with a low, primal growl. This one burned through the air and Zane felt its heat through his jacket as he dodged it again. He followed the mass and it connected with the Scion and burned a hole through its chest. The Scion halted and soon collapsed dead.
"Thanks." Zane said and shot Harbinger again.
"Hundreds may fall but I will remain. Destroy this form and another will replace it. You cannot escape your fate." It said as Zane filled Harbinger with bullets. It staggered but soon turned to ash.
"To that fucking door!" Zane cursed and his team nearly sprinted down a large ramp. Zane looked to his right and saw a similar ramp. He could see Shepard's team running down their ramp with Collector's hot on their tail. Samara turned slowly and biotic energy reverberated off her and soon she cast the entire shield at their Collector pursuers.
"Zane, we are in the room give us a moment." Shepard said. Zane turned and saw more Collectors coming after his own team.
"Hold the line!" He told his team before replying to Shepard. "Great Shepard. Now please open our door!" He sternly said before joining the defense. His team was a phalanx of bullets against the Collector horde and they held against the horde. If a Collector flew, it was dropped shortly thereafter. If any Collectors sprinted at the phalanx then they only reached their death faster.
The door began to open and Zane saw another Collector begin the possession process. "Well, time to go people!"
"Move it!" Garrus yelled before him, Zane, and Tali entered the safety of the room.
"Well, this is it." Zane panted. "The final stretch." He murmured before meeting with the rest of the team.
"Joker, you make it to the rendezvous?" Shepard asked.
"Yes, Sir. Mordin just showed up with the colonists. No casualties."
"Good. Now, what do we do EDI?" Miranda asked.
"You are in a hanger of sorts. Around you, there should be several platforms. These platforms will lead you to the main control console. Once there you can implant a device to overload the base's system causing an explosion. Warning, when primed you will only have a single hour to escape the blast."
"Understood." Shepard said.
"Problem Commander, Collectors are massing outside the door. And it won't be long before they break in." Joker interjected and Shepard cursed to himself and jumped onto a platform.
"We can have a rearguard defend this position as to not get overwhelmed." Shepard said.
"Pick a team to go with you and the rest will hold out here." Zane suggested.
Shepard looked out towards his friends and comrades. He saw the fear, the anxiety, the hesitation upon their faces, and the stiffness of their movements. But below that he saw confidence rise, he saw pride in their eyes, and their grips upon their weapons tighten.
There were three people he wanted to take with him. Three people who had been with him since the beginning. Three people who should have the honor to see this through. But one of them was a good leader and Shepard couldn't afford to bring too many people with him and doom his flank.
"Tali and Garrus with me." He said and dread sparked through Zane's eyes.
"What?!" He exclaimed as Tali stepped upon the platform. She knelt down slowly she looked weary and her voice was becoming hoarser with each minute in this base.
"I'll be fine." She said gently. Zane grabbed her hand and caressed it. He looked afraid and resistant. But soon the look of acceptance began to show. No more words were spoken and it was like they had a silent conversation in those moments.
"You be careful. And Shepard, you make sure…"
"You have my word." Shepard said and Zane gave a curt nod and stern eyes looked at him.
"You better not fail me." They told him and Zane backed away from the platform.
"We have come far today. Farther than anyone believed possible. We have come here to say one thing to the Collectors, and one thing to their Reaper masters. Not one more. Not one more man, woman, or child will live in terror of them. We are here today to tell them that we will not go out without a fight and that we will not go quietly into the night. We are one. And we are strong!"
"Fuck yea!" Jack shouted.
"Let's get'em!" Kasumi yelled.
"They won't know what's going to hit them." Jacob said as he checked his weapon.
Zane stood in front of the group beside Miranda. "You take out whatever lies at the end of this corridor and we will make sure the Collectors never get through this door." Miranda said.
"May the force be with you and all that jazz." Zane said with a grin before turning to the group. "Alright everyone let's show those bugs they fucked with the wrong galaxy!"
…
The team had set up a line of defense in the hanger and prepared for the Collectors to come charging in. The air was tense and still. Zane felt tired from the long battle but he knew he couldn't give up. Not now, not when he had gotten so far, not when he had gained so much.
"You ready for this?" Miranda asked him as they waited patiently for the doors to open.
"As ready as I can be. The sooner we are done with this the sooner we can leave this dreaded place." He said and she nodded silently.
"Shepard will keep her safe. You know that right?"
"Doesn't make it easier." He said and a still silence stained the room. Zane's breathing was slow and planned out as he waited steadily for the Collectors to come charging.
The door began to quake and shake and soon a small opening gave way.
"Here they come!" Miranda yelled.
"Wait for them to come through first. Then let 'em have it." Zane said as he looked down the red dot on his rifle.
The opening got larger and larger and soon the first Collector peeked its head through. Thane's rifle shot was quick and clean and soon the Collector fell with a missing head.
"Good shot now let's give it to them!" Zane ordered and the hanger was set ablaze with gunfire.
The team kept their fingers on their triggers however, the enemy kept pushing further and further.
"Reloading!" Miranda yelled as she ducked back into cover. "Zane, if we don't change this soon we will be overrun in no time."
"I know." He replied and looked around. He was looking for something, anything that would give them some sort of advantage. He couldn't try and close the doors again as the controls were beside the enemy. There was no ledge to get a height advantage. But that did give him an idea. He looked towards the sides of the room and saw what he was looking for.
"Zane, you got anything?" Miranda asked as she killed another Collector with her pistol and then ripped another apart with a warp.
"Yep. EDI. I need you to get me two platforms over here now. Thane and Legion fallback and get on a platform when they get here."
"Understood Zane." EDI replied
"Affirmative." Thane said.
"As you wish." Legion stated as he fell back while shooting down several Collector Drones. Zane helped and shot down many Collectors as bullets zoomed passed his head. He looked and saw two platforms begin to make their way to his position.
"Legion and Thane, your rides are here." He said and they soon hopped on their platforms. "Zaeed, grenade the entrance to give our snipers some help!" He yelled and in no time a fiery explosion coated the area. Collector flesh burned away from their bones as they screeched in agony and pain.
"Go now!" Zane ordered and the platforms began to take flight and it didn't take long before two high-powered sniper rifles began to echo throughout the hanger.
…
Shepard kicked the carcass off of the platform's ledge and watched it go spiraling out of view into the cold black abyss of the base's depths. "Clear." He said as he panted.
"We're good here." Garrus said as he reloaded his rifle.
"No more hostiles Shepard." Tali said and her voice was still hoarse and sounded exhausted.
"EDI, what's next?" Shepard asked.
"I am detecting a large object coming into your view."
"Any idea what it is?"
"Running scans. Based on initial scans it is a life form of some sort. Synthetic in a majority, with a small percentage of organic compounds. Note, the organic material seems to be getting larger. I have only seen this makeup once before." A still silence went through the comm as Shepard and his team turned to look at the now massive cavern they were entering. They saw a literal giant of metal. And its shape was all too familiar. "It is a Reaper. And is being pumped with the genetic material of the human captives." EDI finished.
"Yea...we see that." Its shape was the same as Vitkin and Sovereign but was incomplete. "Why do they need our genetic material?"
"I can only...[shhsss] Shepard…? [tsk]" The comm then turned to static.
"The hell?" Shepard questioned and rumbling could be heard.
"Shepard watch out!" He heard Zane exclaim on the comm. Shepard turned around and saw nothing to indicate danger.
"Zane, what is going on?"
"Vitkin...he...ah! He says that the Reaper is alive. An Avatar has been chosen. It is jamming all outside comms."
A great heat could be felt at the center of the platform and a ball of fire began to take shape. The shape began to contort and distort until a being of light could be seen.
"We live once more!" It shouted and the base began to shake again. The being was human in shape and remained a being of light and fire. Its eyes were as dark and black as the void of space itself. Its voice was a mixture of thousands of other voices that echoed off the walls. And its figure was female in shape with strands of fire behaving like hair.
"Zane...what do I do?"
"I don't know...kill it?" Zane said unsurely.
"Oh, fantastic." Shepard said as he got to cover and he looked back at the being. It walked methodically and towards him before it stopped. Its black eyes sent a shot of fear up and down his spine. It then pointed at him.
"You are the problem, the disease, the curse. You must die so the cycle may be completed." It said and then in a flash, it was behind Shepard. The being grabbed Shepard by the throat the heat was intense but not deadly. Shepard made a fist and struck at the face of the Avatar. The being recoiled but didn't let go. Instead, it only squeezed tighter. "You shall pay for that." It then threw him away.
Shepard rolled over the platform and grabbed the ledge just as he went over.
"Damn it." He said and heard gunfire atop the platform as he rose himself to back on his feet. "Zane, I need help here." He said and saw the Avatar take shot after shot but still moved forward. It teleported in flashes of light and would cast a team member aside like they were trash. Garrus was thrown several feet away and collided with a metal barrier. Tali was tossed even further and was even slower to get up.
"I would help if I could Shepard. But I don't know what Vitkin is trying to say. Something about shooting its anchor? Thus, it has gone silent."
"Damn it!" Shepard shouted and the Avatar took notice of him and began to run at him. He fired his rifle but it seemed to do nothing to the Avatar. The being went to grab Shepard again but he dodged it and swung at its leg. The impact caused the Avatar to take a knee for a moment and then it rose up.
"Commander Shepard. Shoot the Reaper. It is its anchor. Without the Reaper, the Avatar cannot project its essence." The cold and deep voice of Vitkin said.
Shepard looked at the Reaper's unfinished husk and saw several canisters where the genetic material was being pumped into the Reaper. "Shoot the pumps Garrus! Tali, you and I have to keep the Avatar busy."
Garrus' shooting could be heard in the background as the Avatar began to make its move. The Avatar started to run towards Garrus quickly. Shepard ran at it and collided with it as hard as he could. The sound of breaking glass could be heard and the Avatar gave a deafening scream. It went into a frenzy and easily kicked Shepard off of it.
The Avatar hopped over Tali and then landed on Garrus. Its hands turned into claws of fire and it began to slash at the Turian.
Shepard put on cryo rounds on his weapon and began to open fire. The ice-charged rounds exploded on the Avatar causing it to jump off of the Turian and teleport somewhere out of sight. Garrus was quick to get up but his face was scarred and deep cuts ran down his armor.
"You okay Garrus?' Shepard asked.
"Yea. I'm going to open fire on the Reaper again. Keep me covered." He said and got on a knee and used his sniper rifle to focus on the Reaper again.
"Zane, how are things where you are at?" Shepard asked and Tali came closer to him. She was weary of fighting but her eyes showed how worried she was for their mutual friend.
The sound of gunfire could be heard in the background of the comm channel. An explosion soon followed and it echoed throughout the base to where Shepard stood.
"Suck on that Harbinger, you bitch! Hey Shepard, we are holding out for now. But I got to be honest with you. They are throwing everything at us. Even the goddamn kitchen sink. We will have to abandon this position eventually. We will hold out for as long as we can but then I am ordering these guys out of here."
"What about you?" Tali asked.
"I'll hold out even longer. I will give you guys every millisecond I can." Zane said in a reserved tone.
"Zane..." Tali began.
"I'll be fine. Now I have to go, Harbinger wants to go another few rounds." Then the link was cut again.
"We have to hurry this up Garrus, how are we doing?" Shepard said just as Garrus fired again and another canister broke apart.
"Pretty good. Just one..." Then the Avatar returned and appeared behind Garrus. Claws out and ready to mangle his flesh. Shepard jumped in front of the claws as they came down. His helmet began to split and fracture from the heat and impact of its claws.
"You will pay for your insolence!" It spat and went for another strike which Shepard stopped by pushing the Avatar away from him. Shepard quickly took aim and pressed the trigger. Beside him, Tali did the same with her shotgun. The Avatar raised its hands in vain to stop the onslaught of bullets. Its scream of pain and agony echoed throughout the cavern and another shot rang out from Garrus' rifle.
The base trembled and quaked and the Avatar's eyes widened in fear. Shepard turned his head and saw the black plate and ominous structure come tumbling down into the deep dark abyss. A screech was heard again and the Avatar began to fizzle out and eventually disappeared.
"Good job Garrus. Now let's blow this place apart." Shepard said and went to the main platform then had connected to and pressed a button. A slot opened and a large cylinder slid out to greet them. Shepard held out his hand and Tali placed the explosive in his palm.
"We have a caller. Patching him through now." Garrus said and pressed his omni-tool. Shepard heard the Illusive Man's voice behind him and mentally cursed himself. He should've known it was too easy. There was always a catch.
"You have done a great job, Shepard. No, you have done the impossible." He began.
"I had help."
"You are too modest Shepard take the well-deserved credit." The voice of the Illusive Man felt particularly wrong, slimy even. Shepard was being buttered up for something. He knew it.
"What do you want?" Shepard asked as he began to set the charge.
"Fine, straight to the point. I ask that you do not destroy this base." Shepard nearly choked on his own saliva due to that request.
"What?! Thousands of people died here and you want it to remain intact?!" Shepard shouted. Turning to the hologram.
"Yes, if we destroy this base then their lives will have been in vain. But if we keep it, control it, imagine the possibilities. Humanity will reach limits thought inconceivable. And it is at your feet."
"You don't want to keep this place to help destroy the Reapers. You want Humanity to rule over the galaxy." Shepard said pointing a finger at the hologram.
"And, why shouldn't we? Where were the other races when the Collectors ran rampant? Where were they when Saren was bringing about the end of civilization? They did nothing! Only we took the initiative! It wasn't an Asari Commando that saved the Council, it wasn't a Turian Commander that defeated Saren, and it wasn't a Salarian spy that found out Saren went rogue. It was our Commander! It was you! To the victors go the spoils. And with this tech, we would surpass the Reapers in no time. This is tech the Reaper never meant to give us and now we can have it!" Shepard saw the lust for power in the Illusive Man's eyes and knew he would be making a deal with the devil if he accepted this request. Shepard had a few tricks up his sleeves as it was. Vitkin was with them and Zane knew what was to come. They would win and they would win by not using the deaths of millions to reach their goal. And there was the conversation with the Speaker so long ago.
"You cannot trust Cerberus. You know it. I know it." He said and Shepard believed him then and Shepard believed him now.
"No." Shepard said and began to set the charges again.
"Please, Shepard just listen to me. Think about what we have done for..." Then the link was cut with Garrus laughing.
"Alright, the charge is set now we have to just..."
"It isn't dead!" Zane yelled through his comm and then a giant mass of black came up from the depths of blackness. And then a flash of light and the Avatar had returned.
"Miss us?" It asked and then began to run at them. The Reaper's husk rose and Shepard had no idea how it could see them. Nothing like eyes could be seen on the husk but a large red cannon could be seen from the belly of the metal beast.
The Avatar screamed as it came down on Shepard and began to slash at him. Claws dug through his armor and helmet to cut deep into his skin. The heat was making his skin blister and Shepard couldn't get it off of him. The other two were busy dodging the spurts of red energy coming from the Reaper's cannon.
"Hold on Shepard!" Garrus shouted.
"You will die here. And then you will join us." It said as it slashed again and again. But then something changed. The air turned ice cold and he felt a cool mist wash over him. Followed by the hot mass of the Avatar go flying away from him. Shepard looked up and saw the Avatar of Vitkin. It was silent and began to attack the Avatar. Both Avatars clashed and battled. Vitkin had a sword of ice against the claws of fire.
"Focus on the Reaper!" Shepard ordered and joined his team as they started to open fire on the Reaper husk. The plates seemed to be hastily made or were not in place properly. Plates fell from the Reaper and went tumbling down. As they fired more of the inner workings of the Reaper more of its innards opened to them. But he was focused on the Reaper's main cannon. It seemed to be guarding it more than the other areas. He shot at the large red cannon and the Reaper immediately retracted from its position.
Shepard then got an idea and pulled out the experimental Cain. He began to charge a shot in anticipation of the Reaper to reappear. He saw a talon to his left and began to aim the large weapon. The charging of the weapon was almost complete and then the Reaper showed up with its own cannon ready to fire. The Cain was charged and Shepard let the weapon fire its payload just as the Reaper fires its cannon. The two payloads went parallel to each other. Shepard ran to cover and ducked his head as his team did the same and then a large explosion could be heard followed by a screech. Shepard looked at Vitkin and saw his sword through the abdomen of the Human Avatar. Shepard rose and saw a giant ball of fire in the bellow of the Reaper where the cannon was and it began to fail.
"Zane, this is Shepard get out of there!"
"Way ahead of you. The team is out of here."
Shepard was about to leave and saw Vitkin disappear in a mist and then in its death throws the Reaper slammed down on the platforms and caused the whole platform to come tumbling down. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Tali lose her footing and start to fall down the platform. Shepard didn't think twice before he jumped after her. He reached for her and missed her once, twice, thrice. and then he grabbed ahold of her just as he stopped his own descent. With all of the remaining strength, he had he pulled her up and the last thing he saw was another platform ram into his own.
…
Zane quickly ducked under the stream of bullets that barely missed his head. "Keep moving!" He shouted as he heard his team run for the Normandy. He said he would hold off the Collectors as long as he could and would do just that. Until he either died or there were no more Collectors to challenge him.
"Death comes for us all Puppet." Harbinger growled. Zane groaned at the sound of its grating voice and just wanted it to shut up. And with another stream of bullets, he managed to kill the pawn.
"Zane, this is Miranda we have are halfway to the Normandy start making your way here."
"Negative. Shepard's team need all the time they can get." He replied as he shot down another Drone followed by Harbinger itself. As it turned to ash it spat another insult that Zane quickly ignored.
"Zane, I am no longer in contact with Shepard or his team. They have gone silent." EDI said.
"What?!"
"As of thirty minutes ago, their comms have been silent with no progress reports." Zane heard nothing else before he began to sprint down halls
"Give me the layout of the base. I need the quickest route to their location!" He said and ran as fast his legs could carry him. Rounds zoomed passed his head and bounced off of metal and chitin walls. He could hear the sprinting of the Collectors behind him and he only moved faster.
"Take a right at the next intersection." EDI commanded and he hopped over an obstacle and immediately ran to the right. As he ran breathing began to hurt and his legs were hurting due to strain from the stress of the day. But one thought kept him going. Tali needed him and that was reason enough for him to suffer a little longer.
His shields flared often but he ignored the impact of the bullets and the fear of being shot. The fear he had for his friends and for her outweighed any fear he had for himself.
"Take a left and then jump down the hole." He didn't think first before following the orders. He turned and then jumped and below him was a solitary Collector. In a moment of thought, he stuck the barrel of his weapon into its head and pulled the trigger. The thick blood exploded over his face. He ignored the blood and began to sprint as fast as his legs could carry him.
As he ran a haze began to overcome him. A haze of fear, anger, rage, depression, all of it began to wash over him. And then something sparked in him. He put his weapon on his back and ran even harder. He activated his omni-tools and cut down any Collectors that dared to get in his way. Impaling, slashing, cutting, decapitating the enemy by the horde.
And in no time, he was there. He was on a ledge and looked down and saw a platform embedded in the chitin wall. Zane was speechless as he began to jump down towards the platform. Thoughts ran through his brain and each one he had to ignore.
"Are they okay?"
"Is she okay?"
"Is she wounded?"
"Will she be okay?"
Zane slowly made his way to the clusters of rubble. He lifted one large bit of metal debris and under it was Garrus was just beginning to wake up.
"Uh...Where..."
"Get up and help Shepard." Zane commanded. Garrus nodded before doing as instructed.
Zane pointed towards Shepard and made his way to the other bit of debris. His hands shook and he felt tears on the cusp of falling. He needed to see her okay but he was afraid that wouldn't be the case. Zane saw her masked face but didn't see her eyes and that only added to his terror. He moved the lighter pieces of debris and rubble with ease. As he rustled the metal he could hear her groan. He looked and saw her beautifully shining eyes looking at him. They were tired but happy.
"What are you doing here?" She asked in a voice that told him just how sick she had gotten. It was hoarser than ever before and he could hear the strain in it.
"Saving you once again."
"Keep doing this and I'll start owing you." She said and he could see her eyes smile at him as he shakily lifted more rubble.
"We will talk about repayment after you are safe and sound." He chuckled and lifted the last bit of rubble.
"AH!" She screamed and he immediately stopped. He looked under the rubble and saw jagged edge that had penetrated through her suit and into her abdomen.
"No, no, no, no!" Zane began to panic. His nerves began to calm down and he thought about his options. "How far does it go Tali?" He asked her.
"Ah...er… not all the way I think." She said and he felt relief. Even though it felt bitter.
"Tali...I'm sorry." He said and he lifted with all of his strength. Her screams of pain and agony hurt him more than anything he had ever felt before. He lifted the rubble all the way up and then cast it down the dark abyss. He turned his attention to Tali and inspected the wound.
"Heavy bleeding, deep wound, nothing critical hit, large and jagged wound, will need treatment. Get her to Chakwas." He thought. He first applied as much medi-gel as he could. It would be for her own benefit. She would be higher then a kite with as much as he used and if he was lucky she wouldn't feel any more pain.
"Shepard, we got to get out of here!" Zane shouted as he picked up Tali in his arms. She lazily wrapped her arms around his neck and groaned in pain.
"Understood." Shepard said.
"Shepard, you have ten minutes before the blast." EDI told them.
"Let's get going." Shepard commanded and they began to run for their lives. They entered a corridor and to their left was a horde of Collectors and to the right was the direction EDI told them to go. Zane huffed but demanded his legs carry him and Tali as fast as they could.
"There is no escape Shepard. The Puppet and Vitkin will burn for their involvement and you shall become an Avatar of your kind." Zane clenched his teeth. He wanted to destroy Harbinger limb from limb and then piss on the remains.
"We are almost there!" Shepard yelled. Zane felt Tali begin to nearly wither. Her strength was leaving her and he only moved faster because of it. "Zane, you get on the Normandy first and get Tali to Chakwas immediately." Shepard ordered. Zane didn't say anything but he mentally agreed. As they ran, he saw the Normandy appear and the airlock open to an entire squad of armed-to-the-teeth men and women with rifles.
"Covering fire!" Miranda commanded and everyone in the opening let loose a torrent of bullets. Every biotic on the ship used their large arsenal of abilities to keep the enemy at bay as Zane ran forward.
When he was only a few short feet away from the airlock the team parted for him and he ran through.
"Chakwas!" He yelled and the old woman was already there ready to help with a stretcher.
"Get her on it." She commanded and Zane gently put her on the stretcher and he was conflicted.
"The others they..."
"Go with Tali! We got this shit." Jack said. Then the others gave a quick nod to him and he followed Chakwas to the med-bay.
…
"Get us out of here Joker!" Shepard commanded as soon as the airlock closed. Joker quickly got to work on the pilot controls. Shepard watched over the man's shoulder as he saw the expert pilot navigate the cramped space of the Collector's base.
"Charges detonating now." EDI stated and a rumbling sound was heard around the Normandy and fire and large explosions followed them as the Normandy made their escape.
"Joker..." Shepard began.
"I know, I know. I'm moving faster damn it!" Joker exclaimed and flames licked the edges of the cockpit and the cold vastness of space could be seen in the distance. "Almost there." Joker whispered as he managed to speed the Normandy ever faster.
The flames began to envelop the entirety of the window of the cockpit and as heat began to build around the cockpit the flames, the heat, the fear of death vanished. Followed by a shockwave and the view of the ship graveyard outside of the base.
Shepard gave a long sigh of relief as the crew cheered and laughed at their victory. But something caught his attention in the distance. It was hidden in the debris but it was moving on its own. And then blue lights sparked to life on its hull and it moved away from the debris. Shepard then got a clear look at what it was.
"Vitkin." He murmured to himself. And just as he saw the giant Reaper could be seen clearly it was gone.
"What did you say, Commander?" Joker asked.
"Nothing. Just...we did it and no casualties…oh, shit Tali!" Shepard exclaimed and ran out of the cockpit.
…
Zane gripped her hand as tightly as he could without harming her. She had been unconscious for so long and he was beside himself in dread. Chakwas had decided that to make sure her body only focused on recovering from her wounds and sickness she would be in a medically induced coma.
"She is extremely sick." Chakwas said after what felt like the hundredth scan and Zane felt responsible for her sickness. If he had just held off, if he had just waited then this wouldn't have happened.
"But she will be alright, right?" Zane nearly begged. The crew was gathered in and around the med-bay but he didn't care. He needed answers and he needed them now. He couldn't lose her, he wouldn't.
"I... I don't know. If she wasn't so sick then she would have a better chance. But right now, it is not looking good." Chakwas said and tears fell from Zane's face. She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "But if anyone can recover it is her."
Zane became numb at her words. If Tali died, if his Tali died then it would be his fault. Could he live with that? Could he accept that? Could he accept that it was his desire and his lack of self-control that would cause the woman he loved to die?
"I am so sorry Tali. I am so sorry. This is my fault it is all my fault." He said and laid his head beside her hand and cried in a way he hadn't done in a very long time.