Allers: That was it?
Ashley: You were expecting some kind of dramatic ending where the Commander was presumed dead due to a piece of Sovereign smashing through the council windows and nearly killing us all?
Allers: Honestly, yes. It would seem so much more fitting and would make for a better story.
Ashley: Sorry to disappoint but life isn't always a game where the drama is laid on thick in order to hook the player.
Allers: Point taken. All the reports we've had say that Saren was destroyed on the Citadel that day. Was that true?
Ashley: The Saren we knew was. But his biomechanical body wasn't that would come back to bite us.
Allers: Sounds like the next part of our story.
Ashley: Not quite
With the destruction of Sovereign came a temporary inter-galactic peace. The galactic races become more docile about the Geth and it was left to the human Alliance to deal with the pest of the galaxy. The ship designated to lead the attack was the Normandy. After the battle for the citadel they were given a short respite before being sent back out into the void of space. For the crew of the Normandy any break was welcome. After having been permanently on edge during their search for Saren the time given for shore leave was well earned. As was clearly evident from the scattered clothes around the floor of Room 24A in the Binary Redoubt Hotel.
"So what's next?"
"Whatever do you mean?"
"Don't play coy with me. Where do we go from here?"
"That's entirely up to you Ash. Now that Saren has been defeated there is no point in us remaining on the Normandy. I'm needed elsewhere and I'd like for you to come with me."
"But what about the Illusive Man, isn't he going to want to send me somewhere else?"
"Cerberus isn't like the military Ash. We don't follow orders as blindly as you would in the Alliance. Ultimately the Illusive Man will tell us what to do but we can request a duty. For instance the Illusive Man is sending me to the Minuteman Station, from there I'll receive further orders. I personally would like you to come with. But if you feel that you can't leave the Normandy at this moment in time then I'll leave tomorrow and you can join me later. I'd rather you came with me instead. And from there we can decide what to do next."
"The Alliance isn't just going to let me go without a reason Miri."
"Shepard might if you give her a good enough reason."
"We've already pulled one over on Shepard, I'm not sure it's going to work twice. We could just follow your plan."
"Which is?"
"Let's wing it. What's the worst that could happen?"
"That is a terrible plan."
"I learnt from the best. Now weren't we previously occupied?"
With a smirk Miranda moved closer and we carried on from where we left off. We spent the night either sleeping or being preoccupied with each other. When the time came for us to get up we made a leisurely attempt to get ready and were soon making our way back to the Normandy for the final debrief before the end of shore leave. The week docked on the Citadel had been the best that I could remember, the hours spent together with Miranda on our own with no suicidal missions to take on and no Alliance members ruining any moment we could have. But alas that time was over and it was time to move on, the only thing stopping us at the moment was the Alliance. The Alliance had been my life up until I met Miri. Once I met her, my entire world was turned upside down and I was considering leaving everything that I knew just to be with this one woman and I wanted it more than anything.
Once aboard the Normandy we headed straight to the cargo bay where the Commander was due to speak to the crew. No doubt some sort of motivational speech before we disembarked to go after the Geth.
"Look what we've accomplished. We've been at sea for all of one year and in that sort time together we've managed to defeat Saren and stop the reapers from invading. How many other ships crew can amount to that? We are the best humanity has to offer, but we couldn't do this on our own. Thanks to the help of those around you we are the best we have become. But I understand that this is not what some of you wanted. So before we leave tomorrow, if any of you here have any concerns about the mission or even just want to leave then come find me and we'll sort something out. Each one of you has earned the right to leave. For those that stay you know what our mission is. The Geth are still out there, the council and the alliance are denying the existence of the reapers, so we've been tasked with hunting down the remaining Geth and destroying them. You have one solar day left before we depart. Crew dismissed."
The option was given. Stay or go.
"That seemed rather convenient."
"Don't knock it. The sooner you talk to her the sooner we can go, once you've said your goodbyes that is."
To say the Commander wasn't impressed when I told her would be an understatement. She really wasn't happy at all.
"Out of all the people on this ship that I expected to leave, you weren't on that list. Is this all because of that woman?"
"I'm not going to lie skipper. Not all of it but it is a big chunk of it."
"Tell me why Ash."
"I need to find my own place Jane. At the moment my place is with Sarah and I have to go with her. It would mean so much to me if you would let me go, but if you don't I'll understand. I'll just have to catch up with her when I can. So Shepard, what's it going to be?"
"I'd rather you didn't, but you have my permission to leave Ash. Stay in touch though, you'll be missed especially by Tali."
"I will skipper."
Saying goodbye was hard especially with Tali. The little alien sister that I'd always wanted and had suddenly found myself with. That was the hardest, tears were had by both of us and we promised to keep in contact, but then I was off. Heading straight towards the Minuteman station with Miranda. Once we arrived we were directed straight to the holographic projector and got in contact with the Illusive Man.
"Ah Miranda, I see you've brought Gunnery Chief Williams with you."
"I have. Now that Saren has been defeated there was no real reason for her to stay onboard the Normandy."
"Very good, her skills will be put to good use. You'll make an excellent team. From here Miss Lawson you'll be heading straight to Loki, Asgard system in the Exodus Cluster. There you'll find your cargo. The data is being transferred to your omni-tool now."
The communicator slowly flickered out of life and we headed straight back to our ship.
"You know Miri, we really need to name our ship."
"Our ship? I thought this was a Cerberus vessel."
"Well yeah but we seem to be the only ones that use it. I get the feeling that when you get a ship it's yours until either you or it is dead."
"That does tend to be the usual method. What do you want to call it then Ash?"
"I don't know, it should have a name is all. I'll think on it. Have you received the data yet?"
"I have. The package we are picking up is being held by a Cerberus cell. Subject Zero. We're to transfer her to Purgatory a prison ship in Citadel space, were we've been assured that she'll be held securely."
"Sounds fun. Is there a dossier on Subject Zero?"
"There is. But not much of one, she's a biotic, a rather psychotic biotic by all accounts. She's apparently committed nearly every crime going and most of them against Cerberus."
"Sounds like she has a vendetta against you."
"Us Ash. You're Cerberus as well now. You even have the uniform to prove it. But you have a point it does seem like she has something against us."
"I take it you haven't heard about her before?"
"No. The sooner we get moving the sooner we'll find out what her problem is."
"Fair point. Let's get gone."
From the Minutemen station it took a couple of days to reach the Asgard system. The flight itself was rather monotonous. It gave us time to spend together alone but other than that nothing really exciting happened. As soon as we reached Loki in the Asgard system things changed. Orbiting the planet was an Alliance dreadnought, the SSV Kilimanjaro. Luckily our ship was small enough as to escape immediate notice from the dreadnoughts advanced scanners, but that still didn't leave us with enough time to evade them completely. The Kilimanjaro had a steady stream of shuttles heading to and fro from the planet, roughly at the co-ordinates we were heading to. A ping from the cockpit signalled that the Kilimanjaro was trying to make contact. Before we accepted the transmission we removed the Cerberus logo from our uniforms. Even my gut was telling me we should hide it.
"This is the Alliance vessel SSV Kilimanjaro make yourself known."
"This is the Artemis."
"Artemis Ash?"
"You ever read The Ship by C.S. Forester, it's a good book based around the exploits of the HMS Penelope during World War 2. They just renamed it the HMS Artemis. Good book."
"You're full of surprises."
"Artemis, this is Captain Hannah Shepard of the SSV Kilimanjaro state your intentions."
"Our intentions?"
"You've arrived in the middle of a battle between the Alliance and a terrorist organisation. State your intentions."
"Miri, does this ship have stealth capabilities."
"As long as they don't look out a window, we'll be fine."
"How about we activate it and leave the Alliance to its duty and pick up our cargo."
"Artemis state your intent..."
The communication was cut and the stealth technology was soon activated. Miranda set a course for the co-ordinates and I was left to my thoughts. If the Alliance were involved in a battle against a terrorist location and that location was also the same place where the co-ordinates were. Then either terrorist's had attacked the Cerberus cell that was holding Subject Zero or Cerberus is the terrorist cell.
"Miranda, are Cerberus terrorists?"
"No. We're not terrorists. We've been labelled as such because of rogue elements within our organisation. As such because we're not military we are now labelled as terrorists. Your alliance also has rogue elements in it that are terrorists but the Alliance isn't deemed as terrorists. Yet we are. The hypocritical bureaucracy at work."
"Ok that makes sense. So is this cell of Cerberus a rogue terrorist cell?"
"It's more than likely. We know of some but there are others that escape our notice. And this one has taken Subject Zero captive and is currently doing who knows what to her."
The Artemis landed in a secure bunker within the Cerberus base. Once landed we made our way straight inside and made our way to the command centre. The fire fight between the two sides could be heard, there was no telling who was winning but it was an easy bet to say that the Alliance were faring worse than they expected with all the shuttles back and forth. The command centre was alive with activity.
"Operative Lawson to what do we owe the pleasure?"
"Subject Zero. Where is she?"
"Only those here and the Illusive Man now about that. Why are you here?"
"The Illusive Man wants her moved."
"And he sent just you and your lapdog."
"As you are aware Operative Williams is far more distinguished than you. The Illusive Man oversaw her recruitment personally, can you say the same?"
"Hmph. Fine, I'm not one to disagree with the Illusive Man. She's all yours; you'll find her in detention block 5."
"Why are the Alliance here?"
"Apparently we have a leak. We interrupted a transmission sent to an Alliance cruiser yesterday. A researcher here decided to tell the Alliance about some of our more grey areas of morality."
"What was leaked?"
"Project Overlord."
"Dam. We'll get Subject Zero and report back to the Illusive Man and let him know about the leak. That's if he doesn't already know."
Detention block 5 was a state of the art prison block. The security Ysmir Mechs were placed every 5 metres as well as there being several biometric scanners and security cameras everywhere. From the looks of it every angle was covered and it all seemed to focus around one certain cell. The biometric scans took a while and it was unnerving walking down a corridor line with security Mechs. The door opened up as we reached it and we walked into the sight of a young girl sedated and restrained upon an operating table.
"Miri, this isn't right. Why is she strapped to an operating table?"
"I don't know. The data from the Illusive Man said nothing about any tests on her, just that she was being kept sedated for her own safety."
"Still this doesn't look good. How about we get her out of here before the sedation wears off?"
With a nod Miranda agreed and we started to unshackle Subject Zero and moved her into a transportation pod for the journey ahead of us. The sedative was hooked into the pod and continued to pump into her system. The pod was lifted onto a gurney and directed towards the Artemis.
"The Alliance has breached the facility. Security measures are activated. A complete purge has started. All personal evacuate."
"Shit. We need to hurry."
"What's a complete purge?"
"All data is to be whipped from the system and then the station is set to self destruct. We need to reach the ship now."
Through the speakers came an audible countdown. We only had minutes to get back aboard the Artemis and set off. The pod slowed us down but we had a mission to complete as well. Once aboard the Artemis and the pod was secure Miranda set off and we headed straight towards the relay and straight towards Purgatory. Miranda sat in the pilot's seat and oversaw our journey. It was up to me to relay all the information we'd gathered to the Illusive Man.
"Operative Williams to what do I owe the pleasure."
"The base on Loki has been destroyed. The Alliance we're there when we arrived and had already started their assault on the base."
"The Alliance. What were they after?"
"From what we gathered there was a leak. The transmission was cut off but not before something was transmitted. Project Overlord."
"We'll have to move the location as a precaution. Now did you acquire your cargo before the incident?"
"We did. We're currently en-route to the drop of location."
"Good. Once you've completed your assignment head back to the Minuteman Station. There is something else waiting for you."
"Understood."
The drop of location came upon us quicker than anticipated. Purgatory was a big ship. It looked to have the capacity to hold hundreds of prisoners all in their own cells. Heaven help anyone who found themselves in there. The ship docked with Purgatory fairly quickly and we were soon meeting with the Warden.
"Cerberus, I believe you have something you want to place into our care."
"Warden Kuril, I understand you have come to an agreement with my boss."
"I have. Have you completed your side of the bargain."
"We have. Subject Zero is currently sedated and ready for transfer. And your half?"
"We've already sent it ahead to the co-ordinates provided."
"Then our deal is concluded."
We handed over Subject Zero and quickly left the prison ship. Once the ship was in the distance I finally felt at ease. There was something about Purgatory that was just wrong and it was good to be away from it. The prison that was run by Blue Sun mercenaries. It was about time we were away from it heading back to the Minuteman Station heading for our next assignment. We were back at the station and in the holographic communicator.
"Lawson, Williams well done. We've managed to move Project Overlord and all the data from the base on Loki was preserved before the explosion and we've had confirmation that Subject Zero is now in Purgatory. All in all a job well done."
"Thank you Sir. What's next?"
"Our payment from the Blue Suns is your next mission. Ever since we found out about it we've been searching for the body."
"The body?"
"I take it you've not heard any of the recent news then Williams. The Normandy was attacked by an unknown enemy and subsequently destroyed. Most of the crew escaped but Commander Shepard was spaced. We've been trying to track her body down and for some reason the Blue Suns were currently holding it. But the prospect of having Subject Zero was too much for them now Shepard's body is ours. Lazarus is a go."
A/N Yes I realise that its been a quick turn around for the next chapter of this story. But I find it easier and more fun to write when its more original stuff instead of just following the game blindly. Possibly the longest chapter yet. Up next The Awakening.