MASS EFFECT ANDROMEDA SERIES II
Chapter 28
"This is what we have. The Illusive Man has said that Horizon has gone silent. We have to assume that the Collectors have attacked the colony or in the process of doing so. Ash is also stationed here." Shepard addressed Grunt and Garrus as they were riding in the shuttle to Horizon located in the Terminus Systems. Garrus remained quiet. His mind flashed to when he first met up with Andromeda back on the Citadel after the Normandy was attacked. He told her to go Horizon. A pit formed in his stomach. If she went like he said…
Shaking his head to clear the thought, he looked up at Shepard. "Any word from Ash?"
"No, but hopefully she's able to hold her own until we arrive," Shepard's eyes left him.
"If the Collectors are here, then we will take them out," Grunt said matter-of-factly. Garrus nodded his head. So far the tank bred Krogan was no different than most Krogan he encountered. He began to wonder what Wrex would think of him.
The shuttle jarred as it landed and the door opened to reveal the brightness of the colony outside. It was daylight but no one was around. An eerie silence was all around. "Shepard, the Collector vessel is just on the other side of the colony," EDI's voice came through the comm.
"Can't wait for the results of shield enhancers I created to go up against the Seeker Swarms," Mordin chimed in over the radio.
"I'm not dying to bugs," Grunt locked his weapon. "After you, Shepard."
"EDI," Shepard addressed the ship's AI. "Monitor our progress and relay all data to Mordin."
"Understood."
"Where are all the colonists?" Garrus looked around at some of the empty houses as they began to enter the colony. There were no bodies in sight.
"Probably on the Collector ship," Grunt answered.
"Then we need to move and make sure they don't take off," Shepard quickened his step. The sound of buzzing came up ahead as several Collectors landed and open their barrier shields to take cover.
"You think you can hide from me?!" Grunt yelled out as he began to charge at one.
Garrus' eyes became wide seeing the Krogan just charge. He saw one of the Collectors lean over the shield to take a shot at the Krogan. Quickly lifting up his sniper rifle, he aimed and pierced the Collector's right arm catching the insect like being off guard. Within seconds later, the Krogan was up on him, bashing him across the skull with his shotgun. Shepard maneuvered and shot the other one.
"Worthless," Grunt spat as he kicked the now dead Collector's body hard.
"These are just scouts," Shepard commented as he looked down at the dead pair. They were covering their friends' tracks. We need to go.
"Right behind you," Garrus followed him.
After encountering multiple spots with Collectors, they came across an open field without notice of anyone around. Something didn't just seem right. "Mordin, so far our shields are withstanding the swarms. They have moved on," Shepard took the break to radio back to the Normandy.
"Good. I will continue to monitor."
Suddenly the familiar noise of the Collectors came as several landed across the field nearby. One stumbled forward as his body began to glow. "What's wrong with him?" Grunt pointed.
The Collector rose up in the air as the glow consumed his body, there was a bright flash and then he gently stood back down on the ground. A fiery glow still was on his person and his eyes were like fire as they honed in on the trio. "Assuming direct control," The Collector said in a deep low voice.
"I don't know what the hell that is but kill it!" Shepard ducked as the new Collector leashed out a fiery sphere at him.
"We are the Harbinger of your perfection," The Collector stalked them as it raised its own weapon. "Focus on Shepard." The other Collectors adhered to the order and began to open a barrage of fire on Shepard's position, pinning the Commander.
"We need to break them up," Garrus tapped Grunt as he went across from Shepard's location and tried to take down one of the Collectors. "I think this guy has it out for you," He called to his Commander.
"I don't even know him!" Shepard growled in frustration as he leaned up to try to fire but his shields took a pounding.
"These enemies will know we are strong," Grunt laughed as he nailed one of the Collectors in the head.
The Harbinger controlled Collector turned on Garrus and Grunt. "We fight as one. Leave the fallen."
"Finally," Shepard said in relief as he was able to move and fired again at Harbinger. "Come back here, ugly."
Harbinger whirled to confront him as it fired, he was able to take down a good portion of the Commander's shields. Shepard groaned in pain as he ducked back down. "I know you feel this," Harbinger taunted.
Garrus took out the remaining collector and all that was left was Harbinger. "This guy is unbelievable!"
"You cannot stop us," Harbinger gained more ground to Shepard, ignoring Garrus and Grunt.
"I'm coming, Shepard!" Grunt moved out of cover and charged at Harbinger. He shot over and over hitting the Collector's shields hard. The Collector squealed in pain. He then headbutted Harbinger knocking the Collector down.
Shepard jumped over the barrier and fired at the down Collector ripping it up. Seconds later, the Collector faded into black dust. Stepping back, John examined the pile of dust. "What the hell?"
"Okay…" Garrus looked on. "That's new."
"Weakling," Grunt shrugged.
"It seems like when this Harbinger guy controls the Collector, it becomes more powerful," Shepard noted.
"Then we need to take these guys down before he does," Garrus sighed.
"Right. Let's keep moving."
"Shepard, I'm patching through the colony's defense towers. It will take some time to get them online," EDI radioed in once they were able to activate the transmitter tower.
"Sure, why not?" Garrus sarcastically joked. "We need to see more of the colony anyway."
"There were more frozen people back there. The Collectors are hiding," Grunt spoke out.
"Once we get the towers online, we can get the Normandy to pick them up. Mordin can get them out of whatever stasis they are in," Shepard looked around. They were out in the open with the Collector vessel towering above them. Not a good location.
Garrus took notice of this, but EDI broke in before he had a chance to comment. "I suggest you find cover. More Collectors are coming."
"Good," Grunt moved to pick out his spot.
"Stay close. That Harbinger guy may show back up," Shepard moved to the back of the area to give him more line of sight.
Sure enough, Harbinger did, along with several Collectors and husks. "Husks?!" Garrus was caught off guard. He hadn't seen Husks since the last attack on the Citadel. Where did they come from? He managed to take one down pretty quickly. Suddenly a blast hit him so hard that it knocked him across the field about ten feet. Despite the armor, he felt like his body was on fire but no signs of physical damage. He looked up to see Harbinger nearby with its glowing eyes looking right at him.
"Turian…you're considered too primitive for ascension." Harbinger said out to him.
"Primitive? For what?" Garrus blinked from the statement as Grunt leaned down his hand to help him up.
Harbinger ignored him and returned his attention to Shepard. "You are mine, Shepard."
"I don't think so," Grunt got a few rounds into the Collector. It squealed in pain catching Shepard's attention. Shepard turned and opened fire ripping the Collector apart till it disintegrated. All was calm again.
"How much more do they have?" Garrus used the time to check his ammo clips. He had one more remaining.
"I want some more," Grunt pounded the palm of his hand with his fist.
"Shepard, seventy-five percent done," EDI came in.
"Step it up, EDI. I don't like being out here like this."
Suddenly something caught Garrus' attention, he turned his head to see a large flying object coming into view. The shape of its head resembled a Collector, the body looked like a crab off Earth and the bottom appeared to have several husks heads?! Grunt chuckled when he saw it nearing. "Now this is a big thing!"
Shepard didn't like what this thing was going to do. He whipped out the Collector laser beam that he found along their way. "Find good cover. Now!"
Just as he did, giant electrical currents shot out of the being's eyes and ran parallel making direct path to their location. It burnt everything it touched. Garrus just managed to dive out of the way to the ground but felt the pure heat of its weapon. One hit from that and his shields would be depleted down to nothing. Shepard raised up his weapon and fired, using the Collector's technology against it. The flying being known as a Praetorian howled and slammed down on the ground releasing a strong electrical discharge. The blast knocked Shepard off his feet. Garrus fired to try to keep its sights on Shepard to give time for the Commander to get back up. The Praetorian turned and moved closer to Garrus. Gulping, Garrus stepped back as far as he could, but knew he was in the kill range. Grunt ran up beside him. "Good, you are bringing it closer."
"I don't think that was my attention," Garrus muttered.
"Come back here, ugly," Shepard got his footing and fired again, nailing the Collector on the backside. The Praetorian wailed and then disintegrated. Off in the distance, the delightful sound of the colony's cannon was online and firing hard at the Collector vessel. Turning tail, the vessel started its booster rockets and launched itself from the colony.
Grunt laughed, "There go the Collectors. Cowards."
"With innocent colonists that we weren't able to save," Garrus reminded him. He looked back at Shepard seeing the Commander staring into the sky almost lost for words. He knew the Commander was worried about their old friend, Ashley Williams. They never came across her. Did that mean she was in one of the disgusting pods on that hellish ride? "I-I'm sure Ash- "
"No! They can't get away!" The maintenance worker ran out that they met up with earlier who had locked himself in his station. "Half the colony is in there!"
"I'm sorry, I did what I could," Shepard said to him.
"It was a good fight, Shepard," Grunt added.
"Shepard?" The man stopped as he turned at Shepard in disdain. "You're some type of Alliance hero."
"Commander Shepard," A familiar female voice spoke out as Ashley approached them. "Captain of the Normandy and the first human Spectre." She turned to the man talking, "You're in the presence of a god, Delan." The man shook his head and stormed off in anger. Ashley turned to face her former Captain and embraced him.
"It's been too long, Ash," Shepard smiled at her.
"That's it?" Ashley looked at him in disbelief. "You show up in two years and act like nothing's happened? I would have followed you anywhere...I-I thought I loved you."
"Ash, I haven't changed, "Shepard's voice softened.
"You are working with the enemy. You are working with Cerberus." Ashley hissed. "You turned your back on everything we stood for."
"You know me, Ash. This is against the Reapers," Shepard reminded her.
"What if you're wrong? What if they are working with the Collectors?"
"Damnit, Williams," Garrus glared at her. "This is beyond Cerberus."
"I don't know, Garrus. The Shepard I know or at least I thought I know wouldn't do this. I'll report this back to the Citadel and let them decide. I know where my loyalties lie. I'm an Alliance soldier," Ashley shook her head as she turned to leave.
"Ash," Shepard called out to her. "Don't do this. Join us. It will be like old times."
Ashley turned to look at him. Whatever feelings they had for each other before were gone. "No, it won't. I am no fan of aliens but Cerberus are extremists. I'll never work for a group like that. So, long."
Garrus sighed as he watched her leave. He couldn't believe how divided their old ties were. He decided to let Shepard decide on what to do next. The Commander was silent for a few minutes till finally he tapped his comm link. "Joker, arrange a pick up. I had enough of this colony."