Nos Astra, Illium, Tasale System, 2185
Max stepped out the ship, alongside his Commander, and the strange suited alien he had saved on Haestrom.
Shepard and the quarian seemed to be good friends, Max noticed, talking about the past, telling jokes, and seeming happy in one another's company.
"Looks like we've been expected." Shepard said as they walked down the ramp.
Two white mechs walked alongside a blue humanoid, dressed in an odd flowing dress, striding towards them.
It was amazingly similar to a human, looking feminine in appearance. Though perhaps smaller than a normal woman. The only distinguishing differences being the skin color and lack of hair, the latter trait being replaced by a crest on the head.
Max couldn't help but marvel at the fact that in whatever... dimension, or universe, or whatever term that could describe where he was now, had such astoundingly similar evolutionary paths for so many different species.
It was another of the many reminders that what little foundation he had ever attained in his life was shattered, completely rearranged in a mirror-like reflection of what he thought he once knew. And when Max tried to make sense of it, it laughed in his face each time.
"Welcome to Nos Astra commander, We've been instructed to waive all docking and administrative fees for your visit. My name is Careena, if you have any questions about the area It would be my privilege to assist you." The alien said calmly to Shepard, a small smile on her face.
Even the teeth look the same, the Spartan III remarked in his thoughts
"Who instructed you to waive the fees?" Shepard asked immediately. It seemed she was weary of the alien's generosity.
"Liara T'soni did, who paid for all fees on your behalf. She said she'd like to see you at your earliest convenience. She's near the trading floor." The woman-like alien said with another small smile.
That seemed to give Shepard a bit of pause, the name obviously meaning something to her.
Shepard and the alien exchanged a few words, before they said farewell. Continuing along the docking area Shepard gave Max a small glance, looking for any signs of surprise she figured he'd have upon seeing an Asari. After all, most humans tended to be amazed upon seeing them for the first time, with how similar in physiology they were. But he strode alongside her calmly, not making a sound. It made her wonder, had he ever even seen aliens before? For all she knew, this could have been brand new to him.
"So Six, anything like that where you hail from?" Shepard asked casually as they walked.
He was quiet for a moment, before answering.
"There is not."
Shepard gave an exasperated sigh at the simple answer. She didn't back down easy, though.
"So, just humans?" She asked tentatively, as both her and Tali gave him a look.
"No." Max said quickly. But if it were the case, he wouldn't be in this predicament in the first place, the Spartan mused to himself.
Shepard wanted more, but relented. She'd take whatever answers she could get at all with this man, for that within itself was a small victory. They reached the end of the docking bay, and were greeted with a beautiful sight.
A stunning vista of elegant sky scrapers reigned above the clouds, as far as the eye could see. Sky cars whistled through the air at a celeritous pace, like hornets in their hive. It was beautiful, the ruby red horizon gleaming proudly as the sun rose in all its glory. These aliens had accomplished much, it looked like.
Used to be the crown jewel...Not anymore
Jun's old words rang through Max's head as he remembered the fall of New Alexandria. This place was far, far too similar to the once great city that had long since been turned to ashes.
They walked towards the trade center, and Max noticed something peculiar. The blue skinned aliens were virtually everywhere, all huddled around the holographic kiosks, talking to one another in fast paces and hushed tones. It was peaceful, if in a rushed, frantic way.
And every single one of them, appeared to be female.
"Kimbra, why-"
"Mono-Gendered species, they are all female, in the sense of appearance and function, at least. It's quite fascinating, really. Life spans for up to a thousand years, all born with biotic abilities, and they reproduce via what's called 'melding'. They can link their minds together, directly exchanging thoughts, information, feelings, even pulling genetics and hereditary traits, and with those, induce a pregnancy in the one who initiates the meld. It's a marvel of biology, really." Kimbra explained as quickly as she could.
Max took in her words as objectively as he could, but could not help but be bewildered by it. It was much to consider.
"Very few quarians ever set foot here. Illiums government doesn't allow the fleet to approach beyond the planets moon. This is the greatest planet in the galaxy for those who can afford it, and they work hard to keep us away." Tali said as she gazed towards the horizon.
Max listened to her words with confusion, perplexed by the way she said them as if it were some disastrous travesty that her fleet was not permitted here.
The trio kept walking through the market place, catching more than a few looks amongst the crowd. A human, a quarian, and a titan of a man walking side by side was clearly not a common sight on this planet. Shepard seemed to walk with a bounce in her step as they approached the office of this "Liara", clearly excited by the prospect of seeing her. They ascended the steps, and walked through the numerous, circular automated doors that led to the den of this alien that the commander seemed so desperate to see, if her hurried steps were any indication.
Once they reached the top they saw a purple asari, sitting at a desk whilst idly tapping away at a holographic keyboard.
"Ah, Commander Shepard! Liara will be pleased to see you, she's through the door, please, enter." She said with a rehearsed voice.
They stepped in, with who Max presumed to be this Liara having her back turned to them.
"Have you ever faced a squad of my people's commandos? Few humans have. I'll make it simple for you, either you pay me, or I flay you alive myself." She spoke in a cold tone to a holographic form, which disappeared thereafter.
Turning around, her face lit up into a radiant smile, looking upon Shepard as if she descended from the heavens.
"Shepard! Nyxeris, hold my calls." She exclaimed in a gleeful tone, nearly tackling Shepard as she rushed to embrace her.
After a short moment Shepard slowly left the hug, a soothed expression on her face.
"My sources said you were alive, but... oh Shepard, it's so very good to see you." The asari said with relief coating her words.
The two talked for awhile, Max not particularly listening to their mundane discussion as him and Tali stood a bit behind. The quarian on his right spoke up, trying to break the ice.
"Sooo, ever been to a place like this before? The whole planet is like one big city."
Max remembered New Alexandria once more. Blazes of crimson. Entire skyscrapers burning, cauterized like limbs, tumbling down one by one. A once heavenly sky permeated by ash and scarlet. An entire metropolis turned into nothing more than an inferno.
First glassing? Me too
Max remembered Kat. Taken in an instant, her limp form in his arms. The silent rage of Noble as they fired upon her killers. Absolute soul crushing sorrow that fell upon them all as they waited for the glassing to end. He remembered the whispers of a young woman in the bunker, quivering in fear as the world around them shook.
I...I thought Spartans never died?
Oh, how strongly Max remembered it all.
"Yes, I suppose." Max answered, almost falteringly.
"What was it called?" Tali asked.
"Reach."
"Hmm, I've never heard of it." Tali said, perplexed.
"No, I wouldn't think so."
Silence ruled over them again, and Max retreated into his memories.
A few more minutes passed, and Shepard stood up, giving Liara one more hug before walking out the office, her two squadmates following behind diligently.
"Where are we heading, Shepard?" Tali asked after a moment of walking through the vast market place.
"The transport hub, its not too far from here. We're gonna find this Justicar, hopefully. Liara told me where she was last seen." Shepard answered thoroughly.
A few more blocks and they arrived at the hub, an asari at her desk tapping away on a keyboard.
"Can I help you with something?" She asked as the trio approached.
"I'm looking for an asari justicar named Samara." Shepard answered quickly, getting down to brass tracks.
A look of worry immediately manifested on the aliens face, standing up as she spoke "Why? Do you have a problem, or- oh no, did she kill someone already?" She sputtered out with anxiety.
"Relax, I just need to speak with her." Shepard said in a calming tone, easing the aliens worries, if her face was any indication.
"Phew, good. Samara's the first justicar we've seen on Illium in a very long time. If I'm lucky, things will stay peaceful. She went to the commercial spaceport a few hours ago, if you want to get there, the pedestal on that balcony will summon a cab. Just, please be respectful and polite when you meet her. Justicars embody our highest laws and traditions, and almost always stay in asari space. She isn't used to dealing with aliens." She told Shepard with a modicum of concern. This Samara had evidently caused quite a stir, it seemed.
Before departing Shepard asked the officer a few questions, most somewhat trivial. But Max found one thing interesting, hearing the asari officer call justicar's a "Monastic Order" who give up their entire lives to follow a strict code. The Spartan found it strange, thinking of the archaic concept in such a modern era. They hailed a cab and stepped in, Max struggling to fit into the lean vehicle, having to severely hunch himself as he sat. It was rather uncomfortable.
Not really because of the tight space, but the shit eating grin his commander held as she sat across from him. It turned into a few chuckles, and soon full blown laughter from both women as they looked upon the ill-fitting soldier.
"Oh my god, you-you- you look so damn hilarious." Shepard managed to say through her wheezing laughter. One would think she had heard the funniest joke ever told, the way the commander
Max slowly looked at his commander, unamused. They both eventually stopped their chortling, his glare not as hysterical as his posture.
Max crooked his neck to look out the miniature window of the sky car, intrigued by the sprawling, alien megalopolis that stretched on forever as the car soared and dove through the sky. It was quite an odd feeling, to be in such a place, and see it at peace. Thriving, instead of dying.
"Quite a sight aye?" Kimbra commented as he gazed out the window, sounding irritatingly carefree. Her constant jovial nature was so difficult to wrap his head around.
"It is intriguing" was the Spartan's indolent response. They touched down soon after, Max quickly stepping out the small vehicle along side the others. The port was mostly vacant and spacious, thankfully. The only thing of note was a bizarre, short and suited creature in some sort of conversation with an asari, presumably another officer judging by the attire she wore.
Shepard spoke up as the cab took off behind them, taking to the skies once more. "Come on, let's get going. That officer looks like she might know some more."
"Shepard, any ideas on how to convince this Samara to join us? Money won't matter to her, and she knows none of us personally." Tali asked as they strode across the broad, flat surface of the port bay. It was an apt question, one that Max himself pondered. Both the Spartan and engineer looked at their commander for an answer, curious.
"From what little we've been told, those of her order are sworn to fight the unjust, and protect the innocent. I'd say that's exactly what our mission is. We tell her what we're doing, and that we want her help. If that isn't enough, we improvise." Shepard declared as they closed upon the minimalist office of the asari they saw earlier.
"Nice guns, just try not to use them in my district. Detective Anaya, what can I do for ya?" The asari said in a grizzled tone. She sounded much, much older than the others of her kind they spoke to previously. But unlike a human, there was no true discernible difference in her appearance that indicated such a gap in age. It was so strange, to see such similarities, directly contrasted by such alien features.
"I'm Commander Shepard, I'm here looking for an asari warrior named Samara. I was told she's around here." Shepard explained as she sat down in front of the deep blue skinned alien.
The asaris face quickly turned sour at that, and she took a sharp tone with Shepard.
"If you've got a score to settle with her, take it somewhere else. I've got more than enough trouble on my hands as it is and don't need any more." She shot a fast look at Max and Tali before looking at Shepard once more, awaiting an answer.
"I'm here to recruit Samara for a mission, then we'll be on our way. We don't want trouble, you have my word." Shepard stated, trying to lay on the charm to defuse the detectives worries. It seemed to work, her expression losing its tension.
"Justicars tend to work alone, but they can be drawn to... particularly impossible causes." The detective said as she contemplated the idea.
"Believe me, we've got that covered." Tali said from the back.
"So long as you get her out of here, I'd be more than happy to help you. She's at the crime scene. Out the door, and to the left, through the police line. I'll send word to let you in. But be careful, eclipse mercs have taken over the back alleys lately. It's part of why Samara is here in the first place." The detective said eagerly, clearly wanting the asari gone.
"A crime scene? What kind?" Shepard asked after a moment
"A volus merchant was murdered, a professional hit. I think it was the mercs, but I don't have proof yet. If the volus himself was dirty, it might've just been a deal gone sideways. Those eclipse mercs deal red sand, smuggle criminals off world, sell illegal tech, weapons, you name it. They also carry out hits if the price is right. So be careful, these people are trained killers. As I said they control some back alleys in the area, but I haven't found their nest yet." The detective said earnestly.
Shepard stood up from her seat, offering her hand.
"Perhaps we can kill two birds with one stone here then. If I can, I'll deal with those mercs for you. Thank you detective." The commander said as they shook hands.
With that, the squad took to the crime scene, crossing through the few holo lines that beeped as they passed through.
"All right, weapons ready, both of you. You see a merc, take em down." Shepard ordered as they stepped into the alley.
Max unlatched the DMR off his back and into his hands, the comforting presence of steel lining his gauntlets. He switched off the safety after, the feeling of relief washing over Max as he did so. There was nothing like having weapons free.
As Tali and Shepard got their weapons ready Shepard looked at the foreign rifle Six held, her curiosity piqued.
"Umm, what's that?" She asked Six.
"M395-Designated marksman rifle, fires seven six two by fifty one millimeter rounds, full metal jacket and armor piercing, commander." He answered quickly, most of what he said being lost on her.
"Alright then. Tali, me and you will take point. Six, back us up with suppression fire as best you can." Shepard ordered calmly.
"Affirmative."
The trio quickly sweeped the next few alleys, finding nothing of note nor any mercenaries. It was desolate, until they heard voices from around the corner.
"I want bravo squad prepped immediately! Both echo and alpha squad have gone dark since they went after that justicar!"
Shepard glanced at her two teammates, silently signaling to move forward. They slowly made towards the voices, Tali making a fast peek around the corner. She looked at Shepard afterwards, speaking quietly.
"Three in the hallway, about fifteen feet out. There could be more further up ahead, but I can't say for certain." She said in a whisper, informing the others.
Shepard pulled out her M-9 Tempest, Tali already having her shotgun in hand. "Alright, we hit them hard and fast. Tali, you overload one, same time as I do. Just like we used to. Let's roll." Shepard quietly uttered, forgetting Six's ignorance of what she meant.
Max was about to ask, but it was too late as Shepard turned the corner, Tali and Max right behind her. Sure enough there were three asari, adorned in yellow armor with the eclipse insignia. Shepard opened fire, with the mercs quickly returning their own as the surprise wore off.
Shepard's omni tool glowed to life as she overloaded one of the vanguards shields, leaving them vulnerable as Tali mirrored the action upon another. Quickly realizing what happened Max fired one shot, splattering the contents of an asaris skull as it dropped lifeless on the ground. Tali and Shepard dropped the other in tandem, leaving only one left behind cover. The lone asari raised her head for but a moment, casting a warp towards Six. The biotic blast of energy was deflected by Six's shields with a modicum of difficulty, before she was riddled with rounds from her three adversaries and quickly fell.
It had been a rather fast firefight. A few moments passed as they all reloaded, Max waiting before asking an important question,
"Commander, was that what are known as biotics?" Max asked after a moment whilst the others reloaded.
"Yep, all asari have them, so be ready for it. Let's keep pushing on, they'll know we're here now." Shepard said quickly, descending down some steps and further down the alleys.
The trio ran into a few more of the eclipse mercenaries, efficiently taking them down each time in similar fashion. They soon ran into a dead end, a door on each side of the silver colored walls.
Max immediately saw a group of red pings flood his motion sensor, coming from the right side. An ambush if he ever saw one. Whatever sensors the others had were clearly not on par as they stood, unaware. Max's instincts kicked in, a decade of experience spurring into action as we went against the advice he was given by so many.
That lone-wolf stuff stays behind, clear?
The words of Carter echoed throughout the Spartans head as he prepared. Six rapidly slapped his rifle on its back maglock and unholstered his sidearm, cocking the carnifex while sprinting towards the door. He reached the entrance just as it opened, a group of angry and surprised asari stopped in their tracks.
The Spartan III raised his pistol and fired, the point blank round splitting the closest mercs head open like a valley. With vicious speed he repeated the action five more times, killing six of them in a such quick fashion they all had no time to truly react. Only one still stood, paralyzed by fear as her allies died, their bodies smacking against the floor like dominos with wet thumps.
Tali watched Six in staggered disbelief as he grabbed the frozen alien and grabbed her by the throat, pitilessly lifting her into the air. Unceremoniously, Six twisted the neck as if it was plastic. It was a sound, and sight, neither of them would forget any time soon.
Shepard stared at Six, slack jawed at his unperturbed calmness in the face of such violence. He let the corpse fall to the floor, and reloaded his weapon.
"You scared them, Max. Try not to next time, eh?" Kimbra suggested tentatively. Max said nothing, caring little for the fear others held. Their weakness was not his own. Nor would it ever be.
Kimbra spoke one more time. "Max, if you want to do what you promised, you have to try. At least try to talk more, ok?"
Max walked back over to the two women, placing his carnifex on its maglock.
"I thought I told you to stay back and provide suppression fire, Six?" Shepard asked, still trying to wrap her head around his ridiculously tranquil demeanor.
"I apologize. We were about to be ambushed, there wasn't enough time to tell you." Max explained evenly. He figured that she would react this way.
"How exactly did you know they were coming?" Tali inquired beside Shepard.
"My armor is equipped with motion sensors, with an effective range of twenty five meters." He answered smoothly.
After a moment of silence, Shepard sighed. "Alright, let's keep moving, hopefully this Samara is close now."
The door the mercs had poured out moments earlier was now locked, if the red glowing holo symbol was any indication. The one parallel to it however was not, it seemed. The trio stepped through, barely looming around before they heard the sound of a shriek. A mere moment later they saw an asari catapulted into the wall beside them, dead on impact. They turned their attention to the forefront, two asari atop a small landing platform, the horizon at their backs.
One was an eclipse member, the yellow painted armor making her affiliation abundantly clear. The other, however...
"Tell me the name of the ship and I will be gone from here." Stated the other asari in question. She wore a red and gold, almost ceramic like armor, if it could be called that. It fit her form tightly, the only piece of any substantial size being the shoulder pauldrons, and even they were not particularly large. It looked ornate, with elaborate gold patterns weaved into the plating. Max couldn't but help but notice the rather revealing, and impractical, lack of armor that began at her neck, all the way down to the upper portion of the stomach. It revealed a moderate bust, the armor only containing half of each side of her chest. It left not a whole lot to the imagination, but wasn't quite wholly indecorous either.
"You think I'd betray her? That monster would hurt me in ways you can't possibly imagine." Said the mercenary in response. She held a weapon, yet did not fire it. She looked fearful, panic seeping into her words.
"The name of the ship lieutenant, your life hangs on the answer." Declared the unknown asari, calmly walking circles around the petrified mercenary. The red adorned alien was remarkably calm, for having an armed enemy a few feet away.
"You can kill me, but one of us will take you down justicar!" Yelled the merc, raising her pistol. Before she could fire she was lifted into the air, the justicars entire body wrapped in a luminous blue flare. With her outstretched hand she rag-dolled the merc through the air, landing only a short distance from the Shepard and the others. The justicar stayed wrapped in the shimmering blue haze, somehow floating herself off the platform, and over to the now wounded mercenary, groaning on the ground.
She placed her boot on the mercs neck, speaking once more. "The name of the ship, now." She demanded with malice, her patience long gone.
The mercenary gave one final act of defiance, glaring daggers at the one who stood on her throat.
"Go to hell."
The warrior sighed, and closed her eyes. "Find peace in the embrace of the goddess." With those final words, she twisted her heel, pulverizing flesh and bone with a muted crack. She took a moment of repose, before turning to two slightly startled women and a mammoth of a man, shouldering his rifle. She unhurriedly strode over to them before speaking.
"My name is Samara, a servant of the justicar code. My quarrel is with these eclipse sisters, yet I see three armed strangers before me. Are we friend, or foe?" She questioned the team, appearing relaxed as she awaited an answer. Shepard collected herself, and walked forward.
"My name is Commander Shepard, I'm a Spectre. I need your help with a critical Mission, Samara. It's of galactic importance." Shepard said, politely and professionally as she could. This asari seemed rather undisturbed, looking remarkably calm, in spite of her previous actions. It was almost like Six, mere moments earlier. Almost. She had been not as brutal as Six was.
The asari smiled. "You honor me, Shepard. Coming from the savior of the citadel, that is quite high praise, I must admit. I must ask, however. I had heard you died in a geth attack, two years ago? That is... clearly not the case." Inquired the justicar, perplexion strewn across her expression.
Max eyed the alien with more curiosity than he would ever admit, sensing a familiar aura in the way she carried herself. Lethal, yet tranquil. He could tell that this woman was skilled in the practice they both partook in. Such calmness in the wake of death was not a simple skill to learn.
"Well, as they say, news of my death has been greatly exaggerated."
Max twitched at the sound of Shepards word's, his body acting on its own volition upon the memory they provoked.
I only wish the same could be said of the rest of Noble Team
The Spartan's mind stormed with a cacophony of memories. It was as if every single moment here he had to be reminded of the pain, the sorrow. Like this reality was an elaborate prison, its warden the universe itself. Each cell different than the last, all binding him to eternal remembrance. Anger swelled in his heart. Could he never stop the cycle? Was torment to forever be a constant in his life? These were the questions Max pondered.
Yet could he truly bear to stop? Deep down Max knew, the only time he ever felt comfortable was in war, in conflict. His only purpose was to fight, he had been taught as much. Such lessons had been beaten into him at Onyx. It was all he was good at, the only skill that Max had truly mastered.
A warrior without peer.
And seemingly nothing else. He was terrible at interacting with others, be they soldiers or civilians. He knew not the basic simplicities of regular life, such opportunities being stolen from him long ago. His memories were not that of friends and happiness, nor filled with love and family. They were only loss, agony, grief and ceaseless violence. It crushed him, to know the sum of his life's accomplishments was a terrifyingly high body count. The sum of his failures, being the lives of those he couldn't save. And despite how much he wanted it gone, to be free from all the misery, he could never give up its origin. The catalyst of his suffering was war, but he could not stop fighting, the chance for vengeance being the only opportunity he had ever been given. And now, he had already achieved it. The reason Max became what he was no longer lingered, those who took everything from him being dead and gone. And still he fought.
And as always, it led to woe, to suffering.
A paradox he could not overcome.
Howdy, hope you enjoyed. I think I'm gonna start naming chapters after songs I like and think match the tone. Bonus points if you recognize any of them in the future. Especially this one, one of my favorites.
Have a good day, thanks for reading. If you want me to update faster, reviews are pretty critical. They are like fuel for me, they let me know people are reading and their thoughts on it.