Author's Note: Hey guys, sorry this has taken so long, but ta-da! Here we are! Feel free to leave comments and questions! Thank you!
The Best and Brightest of the Galaxy Part 1
"Shepard, we're nearing the academy," Cortez announced, "and it looks like they're sending a welcoming committee."
"Perfect," Garrus grumbled.
"Pop the hatch," Shepard ordered. "Liara, hack into their communications. Find out what's going on."
"Right!"
The shuttle door opened and Shepard immediately began firing into the crowd of Cerberus troopers. He noticed engineers setting up turrets.
"Garrus!" Shepard shouted over the gunshots. "Take out those turrets!"
"On it!"
A few moments later the shuttle landed and Shepard jumped out, Liara and Garrus following suit.
"Cortez, get out of here," Shepard ordered, dodging the flying bullets. "It's too dangerous. I'll radio when we're ready to go."
"Yes, sir," Cortez said.
The fight didn't last too long; with a combination of Liara's biotics, Garrus's incredible accuracy, and Shepard's combat mastery, the Cerberus soldiers didn't stand a chance.
"Liara, have you found anything?" Shepard asked. They all headed towards an opening in a wall that was undoubtedly Cerberus's work.
"Yes," Liara said, "it appears that there are a large number of students in the academy's combat simulation room. The human Board Member is with them."
"Spirits, this is just…brutal," Garrus said under his breath as they passed body after lifeless body. Even Liara cringed at the sight of turian and asari corpses.
"Did you find anything as to why Cerberus is here?" Shepard asked, a hint of anger in his voice.
"Yes," Liara replied somberly, "it seems that they are trying to find a human student named Shay Dunadhaigh."
"Why?"
"According to the academy's records, she's a powerful biotic with skills rivaling that of their strongest asari student and is a nearly unmatched intellectual." Liara paused, brows furrowing. "Hmm, this is rather strange."
"What is?" Garrus asked.
"Shay's personal history records; they don't list any biological family members."
"Are they dead?" Shepard asked.
"If that was the case, they would be listed as "deceased." Here, it's like her parents never existed." Liara's voice changed slightly in pitch, which usually meant she was in deep thought.
"So someone's going great lengths to keep Shay's family history a secret," Garrus said as the group rounded a corner into what appeared to be the students' dorms.
"It appears this was also the Board Members' doing," Liara said, marveling quietly at this new revelation. "I found an encrypted transmission between the Members. Let me see if I can play it…"
"That may have to wait," Shepard said suddenly as Centurions, Engineers, and an Atlas entered the desolate space, "we've got trouble!"