"I'll come back in an hour." Rittle said. Directing his gaze to Mordin. "Captain wants her in for questioning at 20 00, so no weird experiments, Doc."
"Of course. Will refrain from touching." Solus remained hunched over his papers in the far corner, tapping a vial of blood Shepard suspected was her own. She frowned, unable to remember him taking any. "Wouldn't want to tamper with the Captain's hard work."
If the turian noticed his sarcasm – and from what she'd learnt from turians, she guessed not – he didn't react to it, instead bobbing his head. "Very good." Rittle turned and left them in her cell. The group waited until his footsteps turned around the corner before speaking again.
"So how am I meant to distract the guards?" Liara started, wringing her hands as Solus flipped his papers over and laid them out on her cot. Their escape plan pencilled down in various points and diagrams, unable to make sense unless Mordin laid the papers down just so.
"Specifics unimportant. As long as guards do not notice Shepard in vent."
"I'd prefer some specifics in any case." She trilled, nose scrunching. "It almost sounds like you don't know how, Dr Mordin."
"Preposterous accusation. Many ways to distracts guards. Turian mating call, one example."
"I am not - !"
"Enough," Shepard said. The headache prowling behind her eyes was affecting any patience she might have held, and their bickering was only a time waster. It had been three days since they'd decided to smuggle her out. Three days of meticulous planning, and worrying, and beatings. She was practically climbing the walls. It had been so long since she'd breathed in fresh air, seen a window, and talked to another human being. "Just tell them something, anything. What we really need to discuss is Ga-" The doors swooshed open, and the object of her scrutiny appeared before them.
Garrus looked worn and angry. Shoulders tense, mandibles lowered. She could feel her own temper rising. His unwillingness to plan spoke volumes, and the fragile trust they'd worked so hard on was crumbling away piece by piece. Though she could see Garrus was at war with himself, and so she tried – oh so hard – to be patient.
"I got what you asked," he said. Avoiding her glare and passing the items to Mordin. "A screwdriver, an omni-tool, and one left shoe. I'm not even going to ask what they're for."
"Excellent! Plan has 99.9% of failure without left shoe." Solus chimed, taking the items from him.
"Did you get my pistol?" She asked.
Garrus stiffened, staring at the papers on her lap. "No."
"Why not?" She punctured each word out through her teeth, which were clenched so tight she could squeeze a diamond through them.
"You'd only need a pistol if you wanted to shoot someone. I'm still part of the crew. I'm not going to be the reason half of them are dead."
"You're the reason more than half of my crew are dead."
They locked eye contact and something hot flared between them, rage and frustration and maybe just a little bit of disappointment that they weren't fully on the same team. She tried to quell that down, focusing more on the rage.
"Garrus is right. Shouldn't need a weapon. Not if everything goes to plan, which is likely. Though too many variables to be certain." Solus didn't seem to notice the silent war raging between the pair, and instead was unlacing the shoe by her right, humming under his breath. At least he was confident in their plan.
She sighed, looking down at the papers, not daring to rearrange them. "Fine. Fine. Let's not prepare for the worst case scenario, because when has that ever been useful? Worst comes to worst I'll just challenge everyone to a turian wrestle session, it's never failed me before."
Liara giggled and quickly pressed her hand to her mouth, even Mordin smiled. Garrus remained as stony as ever, prickling her temper even further.
She huffed, moving on. "Let's go through everything again. Mordin, you will be?"
"Locating second human. Kaiden. And wheeling him down to the docking bay. Will plan route to avoid unnecessary crew members. Will say I need to work on him in my own lab, on my own ship, if I do."
"Good. Liara you're?"
"Walking calmly to the Captain's quarters while you follow in the air ducts. Then distracting the guards, somehow, while you drop inside."
"Right, and then I'll grant Modin's ship docking permission and sound the fire alarm once I'm done."
"By which they will have most likely discovered your missing presence," Mordin continued, nodding. "Risky. But gives all three of you enough time to meet me in the docking bay. If you're quick. If not, death is most likely outcome. Not sure how fast humans run. Maybe perform tests, once this is done."
"Hmm sure. And Garrus? You'll be?" Stabbing us all in the back and ruining the plan. She finished in her head.
He heaved a heavy sigh, rubbing his neck. "I'll be in the engine room, sabotaging the ship and using the fire alarm as my signal to get to Mordin's ship."
Silence. There was nothing more to say, they'd been through their various roles a dozen times. It was only Shepard's military training that made her want to go through the plan a dozen times. Everyone knew what they were doing, everyone knew when, now they just had to gather their courage and do it.
Mordin reassured them again that the plan was almost perfect, so why did she feel so nervous? A thick knot in her stomach that sent her nerves tingling. Shepard had learnt the hard way to trust her gut, and her eyes darted to Garrus once more, who leaned against the wall while Liara complained she didn't even know what a turian mating call sounded like. They caught eye contact once more, and her heart began to race.
You're not going to help us are you?
No.
You won't come with us?
No.
Even in her head he did not provide the answers she wanted to hear.
Later that day, an hour before her scheduled interrogation, they got started. Mordin made short work of the air vent, prying it apart without even a clatter as Liara and Shepard watched on. Garrus had left, and would - presumably - be working on the engines that very second. Though she was doubtful.
"There you go. Will rendezvous in ten minutes." He patted her on the back, two fingered hand doing little to reassure her. "Good luck, Shepard." He left them, and Liara urged her to hurry.
Though it was the means to her escape, Shepard was not happy to find herself in the air vents again, and huffed as she climbed up. Her knees immediately ached in protest, and her body was still sore from the beatings. It smelt like damp, and was boiling hot to boot.
She followed the sounds of Liara below her, who had the good sense to hum. This not only made it easier for Shepard, but muffled the sounds of her own clanging above as they slowly made their way through the ship.
"Evening. Excuse me." The asari would mumble every now and then, the crew passing her without ceremony, completely oblivious to the prisoner following mere inches above.
Right turn. Left. The air vent slopped upwards, and she presumed the hallway did the same. Liara passed four sets of guards without trouble. But she was still in permitted quarters of the ship. The captain's room would be off limits, and Shepard could hear her clippy pace slow as they ventured further; and the pair turned hesitant as one, nerves eating away their confidence.
Shepard leaned down and wiped the sweat from her forehead. Breathe. One, two, three. She could do this. She was going to be okay.
"Halt." A voice barked, and she froze in the vent, trying not to breath.
"I need to pass." Liara told the guards, not a hint of fear marring her voice, despite the hesitation she'd shown during planning.
"What could you possibly need in the Captain's quarters?" A second guard teased. Shepard wished she could see them. Her leg started to cramp, and she winced, ignoring the desperate need to shift into a more comfortable position.
"I have important information… for Captain Fidus." Liara murmured, no longer sounding so sure of herself. In hindsight, they probably should have come up with something specific she could use to distract the guards. Only that wasn't her forte, and she supposed it was too late to learn a turian mating call.
"He's not here. Try the bridge."
"T-Then I need your help. It's about the prisoner." She blurted. The silence that followed spoke volumes, and a drop of sweat fell from her brow.
"Which one?"
"Which - ? The human. The one thats awake." She said.
"What about it?"
"Shes..." Liara paused to think, and that famous turian patience began to show, the guards practically snarling their words now.
"Look, Asari, come talk to us when we're off duty. Not in the mood for your games."
"Escaped!" She said, voice shrill. Shepard clenched her nails into her palm until it was wet with blood, unable to help as Liara struggled below.
"What?" At least she had now captured their full attention, and as the turians began to ask questions one on top of the other, Shepard began the maddingly slow crawl past them, and into the next room.
Slowly, slowly, slowly. The vents creaked as she shifted her cramped leg, and she froze in place. Eyes wide.
"ESCAPED HOW?!" One guard bellowed above her creaking.
Movement going oblivious to those below, she continued on until she made it to the crate. Peering through the gaps, Shepard could make out a lush bed, covered head to foot with pillows, must be a turian thing. There was a desk scattered with papers, a rather impressive fish tank - filed with swimming creatures she'd never even seen before, looking more reptilian than their Earthen cousins - and a long control panel that swept around one whole corner of the room. She craned her neck to get a better look. It was definitely where she would gain docking permission.
"I don't know, I went to give her some supper and she wasn't in her room." Liara voice was muffled, but she could hear the strangled strain as the plan unravelled.
"Shit. Come on, I bet Garrus was on duty."
Two pairs of footsteps pounded away, and Shepard took that as her cue. Wiggling so her feet were pressed against the crate, she braced herself on her arms before kicking out. The opening fell with a rattle on her third kick, and she wasted no time jumping into the captain's quarters.
From this side, the door wasn't locked. And using the omni-tool like Garrus had shown her, Shepard waved her arm and let Liara in.
"I'm the distraction?" She hissed as soon as the guilty blue face was stood in front of her, wringing her hands and wandering to the control panel.
"I panicked! They weren't buying anything until I mentioned you."
She wanted to shout, to argue. To berate Liara. But she knew deep down that the asari wasn't a solider, and if Shepard was good at anything, it was adapting under pressure.
"No matter," she said. Running a ragged hand through her hair, she followed her and watched as she began pressing buttons. "Someone would have noticed eventually. This just means we have less time. I'll finish getting docking permission, you go deal with the engines."
"I thought Garrus was doing that?"
"He isn't."
Liara gave her a soft look, almost as if she felt sorry for her, before speaking again. "Okay. You just have to find the right file and press this button, see?" She pointed, Shepard nodded grimly. "If theres a password… well… there'll be a clue somewhere… surely. Or you can try hacking in with your omni-tool."
"I've got it. Just hurry. The crew could sound the alarm at any moment. Just ignore the signal now and try to be as fast as you can."
"But I was meant to show you how to get to the docking bay."
"I'll make my own way. Just go!"
Liara looked pained, and she wondered if they'd ever see each other again. "Be careful, Shepard." She wrapped her arms around her shoulders and held her tight. Shepard froze for a few moments before hugging Liara back. How long since she'd been embraced by someone? She smelt of soap and was soft to the touch. She almost smelt human. Shepard ignored the catch in her throat, nodding her head and staring at the control panel as Liara raced down the corridor and around the corner.
She got to work, wishing she' had paid closer attention when the others were explaining their omni-tools. Shepard waved her hands over the Captain's control panel precariously, screens appearing in mid-air before her. Hacking onto the main frame proved surprisingly easy, but locating the file used for docking permission became a real problem. Time ticked on, and Shepard got no closer to her goal; all the while knowing the others could have completed this task in seconds. She didn't enjoy feeling like a liability, and grew increasingly angry until she was practically jabbing buttons with her omni-tool. Instead of what she wanted, she found security cameras, the captain's log, and various reports from different ships.
'Log 3246: Subject 847 to be sent to the citadel with Spectre Saren. Subject 848 to be terminated.'
Images of her and Kaiden flicked onto the screen, both of them unconscious. They both looked ill, dead already, and it twisted her gut. When had they taken those?
Shepard closed them with a swish and continued hunting.
'Log 3253: Human colony Shanxi has been discovered. Deployment order 197. All forces to regroup at Charon Relay three days before invasion commences.'
Her fingers froze, reading the sentence again and again. Docking permission temporarily forgotten, Shepard began to dig for more information. Invasion routes. The date. Army scales. The amount of ships in the turian fleet. The date. After five minutes searching the back wall was covered in various screens, and Shepard began the meticulous job of downloading the information onto her omni-tool, sweat trickling down her neck.
20%, 50%. She waited patiently, unable to even read some of what she was stealing. No doubt it was in code. Solus would be able to read it. Or Liara. She just needed to get it to them.
"You've got a week."
She spun hearing the voice, turning to glare at Captain Fidus, who'd appeared behind the screen that hid the bed. Had he been there the entire time? Her eyes narrowed, and she flashed her gaze from the gun in his hand, to the information downloading on her arm. 80%.
"You're meant to be on the bridge." She said, voice calm. Though she didn't feel it.
"And you're meant to be in your cell." His mandibles fluttered then pulled into that unfamiliar smile. But even she could see the malice behind his features, and her gut churned, wishing Garrus had given her a pistol.
"A week until what?" She said instead, resorting to cheap distraction tactics.
It worked, and Fidus cackled at her ignorance, indicating to the screens. "A week until we invade Shanxi. Then your little colony will be gone."
"Is that so?" Docking permission. Docking permission. She spared a glance behind her and pressed a few buttons, desperate to get lucky. When Shepard turned back Fidus was almost upon her, and his eyes were hungry.
"You've got such a lovely mantle…" he purred, the alarm sounded then, alerting the entire crew that she was missing, and telling the others to make their way to Mordin's ship. Both of them ignored it.
"Don't come any closer." She warned, meaning it.
"Saren wants you dead, you know." As if to prove his point, he pressed the pistol against her head, other hand trailing the tips of her hair, twirling his finger around her knotty locks. Shepard clenched her teeth in response, not willing to play. "A waste if you ask me."
With a roar, her knee lashed out, crashing between his legs whilst her hands began to wrestle him for the gun. The pair struggled to the floor. She landed on her elbow and yelped as it crunched, scared now. They rolled and she managed to scramble on top, punching Fidus, attempting to crunch his mandibles. He growled and they rolled again. Pistol skittered across the floor. She twisted her torso in order to reach it. He pulled her back by her hair then was smothering his nose in it, breathing in deeply as she kicked out.
"Did you really think you could over power me? You're just soft flesh and weak bones." He whispered the words into her ear, and Shepard snarled as she felt a tongue skate across her lobe, furious.
"You'll regret this!" She said. But it was hard to believe your own threats when you were yelling them against the floor. He shifted his weight and pressed his knee against her thigh. Pain jabbed up her leg. Fidus was sharp and heavy against her back, and he slammed her face against the ground without warning. Shepard tasted blood, but at least the metal was cool against her cheek.
He pawed at her hair and laughed again. With one hand pinning her wrists above her head, the other began to squeeze and pinch at her waist. When Shepard only grunted and struggled in response, Fidus began to lose patience, and grumbled for her to stop struggling as he pulled at her belt. She did no such thing, and continued to kick and thrash towards that pistol. Cursing Fidus for his strength, and Garrus for not trusting her with a gun in the first place.
Now the others would get caught waiting for her. The plan had failed and she was to blame. Guilt burned her chest and fizzled in the back of her throat. Shepard was too stubborn to cry, and continued to wiggle on the floor like an eel. Fidus let go of her hands to sink his nails into her hair, tugging her head back painfully far until she could once again see the flashing screens on the wall. Staring at the plans that would doom her planet as one of the culprits in question tried to tug her trousers down.
Refusing to admit defeat, she stretched out to reach the gun yet again. Her finger tips pushed the hilt further away, and Shepard gritted her teeth in frustration as Fidus sunk his own into her neck.
She gasped in pain and he bit her harder, then a moment later Fidus was flying off her back and taking some of her flesh with him. She twisted just in time to see him crash against the opposite wall, and Garrus was upon him in an instant, beating his Captain with a roar.
She scrambled to her feet, one hand clutching her neck, the other finally picking up the pistol. Now over his initial surprise, Fidus had begun to fight back, and the two wrestled across the floor as Shepard took aim.
"Garrus duck!"
He did, and two quick shots to the head ended the fight. Fidus dropped down, leg twitching as blue blood stained the floor. The remaining two watched each other, chests heaving as they tried to still their ragged breath, both glaring.
"What are you doing here?" Shepard spoke at last, but he declined to answer. Instead he pushed past her and began working the control pad, gaining docking permission without much hassle.
"Liara met me in the engine room. You didn't trust me." His voice was cold, and she watched his back tense.
"No." She murmured, unable to lie.
Garrus didn't look at her again, instead glancing to the pistol clenched in her hand. Shepard's grip tightened, thinking he'd take it off her. But with a small nod, he began to make for the door.
"Lets go. Saren's looking for you, and he isn't taking any prisoners."
IMPORTANT
(Hello! Hope you enjoyed the longer chapter. I realise I'm very slow with updating, but now I'm afraid War Heroes is going to have to go on a short hiatus. Please hear me out before you get mad though! I'm having to move across the country in a week for my job, and once there I'll be working 9am - 10pm with only one day off a week. Though I'll try to write in my spare time, I really don't think I'm going to manage to achieve much. No doubt I'll be too exhausted.
Luckily though, this isn't a permanent situation. And after four weeks (might be eight, I won't be told for a while yet) my schedule will be more or less back to normal.
I'm planning on posting another chapter in the next few days before I go. So at the very least Shepard and the gang will have escaped (or not. Who knows?!) Then there will be a short break before I get to resume.
Thank you for reading my story. And a massive thank you for being so patient when it takes me a while to update and for leaving lovely reviews. I am determined to finish this off, and hope to make it up to you all when my intense work schedule is finally over. If I get any more news to tell you I'll post it on my profile.)