Chapter 12

The geth were a nasty enemy. Shepard had either underestimated them or overestimated herself. She wasn't sure which. The geth had them pinned down in what seemed to be the bowels of Exo-Geni. "We should have brought more backup." Shepard said loudly over the gunfire hailing down on them. Her tone was full of sarcasm and Anderson gave her a bit of a look.

The journey this far had been interesting. They even had a few run ins with krogans. Now why the krogan were here was an utter mystery. They had also discovered there was a geth ship attached to the outside of the building, which could explain the seemingly endless supply of geth. They even found some woman's daughter along the way.

They had originally pulled over on their way to Exo-Geni and spoken with a few employees. Some woman, Juliana Baynham had asked them to keep an eye out for her daughter, Lizbeth. When they stumbled upon her she explained to the ground team about some living plant called the Thorian. Anderson, Williams, and even Shepard all seemed unimpressed by the secrecy concerning such a plant. Especially since it had some sort of mind control capability.

But right now they were focused on getting rid of the geth shield around the building. Almost as soon as they stepped into Exo-Geni the shield went up, effectively trapping them inside. To get back out they had to get rid of the shield somehow.

Ashley sprayed off some shots from her rifle before ducking back behind their cover with a grin. "Oh I dunno, this is kinda fun." She tried to joke. Shepard couldn't help but snort some at her enthusiasm over the situation. Still, it was getting hairy. Pinned down, and their backs exposed if any geth decided to flank their position.

Shepard hooked her rifle onto her back before she grabbed her pistol, activating her omni-tool. "What are you doing?" Anderson questioned as he too tried to pick off a couple of geth. Shepard grinned as she quickly worked on her omni-tool before waving it over her pistol.

She quickly glanced over their cover before fine tuning what ever it was she was up to. "Just gonna give the geth a little present." she replied calmly as she swiped her omni-tool over her pistol once more. She then reached for one of her grenades, attaching it to the pistol before she then looked up at Anderson and Ashley with this devil-like grin before she carelessly tossed her pistol over their cover. "You two may want to keep your head down." she then said, the grin never fading as she tucked her head down, hands covering it.

Ashley shrugged, following the advice as did Anderson. Suddenly there was a loud whirl and a pretty impressive explosion, geth flying everywhere. The gunfire stopped for the moment as Shepard perked a brow, daring to peak over their cover. "Ta-da." She said, seemingly proud of herself as she hopped over their cover, pulling out her assault rifle again.

Anderson and Ashley looked to each other before they circled around the small cover they had been ducked behind. "What the hell was that?" Anderson asked as Shepard looked around, noting that her little explosion worked better than she had hoped. She kicked a deactivated geth, getting no response.

She shrugged as she figured they were in the clear for the time being, looking around, noting about a dozen and half dead geth sprawled all over. "A little trick I picked up from being a merc." She responded, but the grin on her face said she was still proud of herself. "As you know overheating a gun can be dangerous. That's why they have the safety feature to disarm your weapon before it goes critical. Well if you bypass that safety feature you can get a weapon to pretty much explode. Attach another explosive and it can be a pretty gnarly bang. Better than just a regular grenade anyway." She explained with pride.

Anderson nodded some, impressed. "You have got to teach me how to do that." Ashley said with a grin of her own. Shepard grinned back as Anderson chuckled some and shook his head. He had to admit, that was pretty smart thinking... And perhaps note worthy to some degree.

"Come on we've got to be getting close to disabling this shield." He said as he took point, Shepard and Ashley following quickly behind.

They wandered up a set of stairs, when they all noticed the geth ship's... claw like appendage poking through the building. "Look." Shepard pointed out as the other two stopped as well, all three of them looking at the extremity. Anderson eyed it just as closely as Shepard it seemed. "It looks like that has a shutter door." Shepard said pointing at the opening in the wall the geth claw was occupying.

Anderson nodded as Shepard was already looking around for a console or some way to shut it. "Good eyes." He said. He was admittedly impressed with Shepard's capabilities. Cool in a firefight, creative when she needed to be, and apparently acutely aware of her surroundings. She would have made a damn fine soldier if she hadn't gone down the mercenary path he figured.

"So we shut the doors and... the geth ship should just come right off?" Ashley asked as Anderson took point again, towards the other side of the small walk way to a descending stair case.

He nodded his head as he kept a close eye for any more geth. "That's the idea." He replied.

Shepard grinned almost looking feral behind that grin. "Sounds like a blast to me." She said as they pressed forward.


Tali moaned, feeling so bored as she sat with Garrus and Wrex in the cargo hold. "Keelah what I would give for something to do." She whined as Garrus patted her on the shoulder sympathetically. He too was feeling pretty bored at this point.

Wrex grunted his agreement as he sat onto a crate, eye-balling what little crew there was in the cargo hold, coming and going. "I almost miss Liara's digs." Wrex muttered. "They were more entertaining." He added as Garrus let out a chuckle.

He looked to Wrex, "I thought it was all just sitting around watching plants grow?" Garrus teased the old krogan. Wrex looked to the turian, looking less than amused.

He shrugged his massive shoulders. "At this point plants are more entertaining." He replied as Garrus chuckled again. He looked around the cargo hold himself as he had to admit he also felt pretty useless. He checked his omni-tool idly wondering if there would be any word from Shepard yet.

Nothing.

Tali fiddled with one of the gadgets she had brought along, though un-enthusiastic about it. Garrus noticed her drooped shoulders as she turned the item over her hands. "I'm sure Shepard is down there right now, trying to convince the Captain to give us something to do. Just give her time, Tali." The turian tried to encourage. The young quarian nodded her head, but did not seem hopeful over the matter.

But before they got any more lost in their boredom there were sudden loud thumps coming from outside the cargo bay door. Everyone in the cargo bay, Alliance and mercenaries alike looked up and at the door. The thumps grew in number, and gradually growing louder. "Now there's something more entertaining." Wrex said with a grin as he scooped up his shotgun, cocking it as he moved towards the bay doors, hopeful that some pyjack would dare to break in.


The geth ship fell from the building before a spectacular explosion sounded from far below. But Shepard, nor Ashley or Anderson had the chance to fully appreciate what they had accomplished. Anderson was bleeding profusely on the floor, Ashley and Shepard kneeling over him. "Anderson, hold still!" Shepard practically barked as the man writhed in pain on the ground as Shepard tried to remove his armor as carefully as she could.

"Shit, I should have been paying closer attention!" Ashley said, panic in her eyes as she tried to hold her Captain down, trying to keep him from moving too much. Shepard quickly got his chest plate off, tossing it aside, seeing the damage beneath it. Anderson was lucky his shields and armor took a majority of the blast, but his injuries were still bad.

Shepard reached towards Ashley with her hand, making a "give me" motion. "Medigel. All of it." She ordered sternly as Ashley quickly went for her packs of medigel on her utility belt, handing them over to Shepard. "We need to stop the bleeding." Shepard said as she quickly tore into the medigel packets, not being careful as she dumped the contents on Anderson's wounds.

As they messed with the shutter door controls on the console a geth with a rocket launcher got the upper hand with surprise. It tore a good chunk out of the captain, but he would live... If they could get him medical attention within the next few hours. "You two need to get back to Zhu's Hope." Anderson muttered between pained sounds as Shepard tore into her own packets of medigel, trying to at least pack enough of the stuff into Anderson's injury to stop the bleeding.

Shepard gave him a wry smile, but she honestly found nothing amusing about this situation. "Oh c'mon, Captain. You got a ship to run, remember?" She suggested, perhaps telling him he was still going with them. With the medigel taking hold and creating a mostly protective seal around his abdomen and side the man reached up with his hand, grabbing hold of Shepard's arm.

She looked down at his grip on her arm, then back down at Anderson. "I will only slow you both down. I need you to figure out what Saren wanted with this Thorian." He said, the pain still clear on his face. She shook her head, clasping her hand around his, trying to look assuring.

"We can't just leave him." Ashley said looking confused. Shepard shook her head at the other woman. She had no intentions of abandoning the Captain. She just needed time to think.

She then heard her comm signal finally clear up in her ear, a man's voice coming through, "Normandy to ground team, Normandy to ground team. Captain where are you?" the voice questioned. Shepard sighed, feeling a bit of relief but when she looked down Anderson was out cold, but breathing.

She stood, putting her hand to her ear. "We won't leave him, Ash." She tried to assure the chief. "Watch him, I need to find a better spot for a clearer signal." She then said as she stepped around the two, making her way out of the little alcove like room they were in.

She looked around, making sure no geth were still coming, and seeing none she finally went to respond. "Normandy, this is Shepard, we need immediate med-evac." She said. There was a brief pause, making her wonder if she lost the signal again.

"This is Flight Lieutenant Joker, are you that merc with the Captain?" questioned the man on the other end of the comms. Shepard looked over her shoulder making sure Anderson was still alright. Judging by Ashley's watch on him she assumed he was still breathing.

She rubbed at her forehead. "Yeah, listen the Captain took a hit from a rocket. He's still breathing but he needs medical treatment soon or he's not going to make it." she responded, still trying to keep an eye out for geth while she spoke with the Normandy's pilot.

Three was a short crackle over the comms before Joke responded, "So that's going to be a problem... We have the colonists pounding on the ship's doors. It's kind of creepy and reminds me of an old school zombie movie." Joker said sarcastically, but not at all sounding amused. Any other time, Shepard may have snorted at the man's sarcasm, but she had far bigger problems.

"Don't engage them, they're under some... look it's a long story, just don't hurt them. Williams and I will deal with it." She said shrugging to herself. What else was she supposed to do? The colony was about five minutes out by mako if they were lucky and didn't run into any more obstacles, and if their luck held they could deal with the Thorian quickly.

There was another pause. "Uhh, so I don't really think I can take orders from you? No offense or anything. Pressley wants to send out security officers to deal with the situation." Joker said. Shepard cursed under her breath.

Shepard paced, looking impatient, and perhaps a bit worried. "Tell Pressley if he does that he'll be hurting innocent people." Shepard said firmly.

Anderson stirred as he slowly reached up to his comm unit with a shaky arm. "Mm... Pressley, stand down..." He muttered with a pained tone. "The colonists aren't a threat, my team... Mm... My team will handle it." he pressed to say. Ashley waved the mercenary over who marched up to them quickly.

Shepard kneeled back over Anderson, checking his injuries, noting that the medigel was holding. "Aye, Captain." Pressley finally said over the comms, but sounding a little confused.

Shepard debated on whether or not it was even safe the move the Captain. "Leave me, I will only hold you two back." Anderson tried to order but Shepard smirked at the man.

She motioned for Ashley to help her hoist the man up, albeit carefully. "I don't take orders from you, remember? Mercenary." She tried to tease as he groaned, feeling the two women lift him to his feet.

He wasn't in much of a position to argue, his arms drooped over both women's shoulders as they tried to carefully walk him forward. "We need to get him back to the mako." Shepard said as Ashley nodded her head, both women keeping their eyes peeled for any more hostile activity.

Suddenly Shepard wished she hadn't so carelessly tossed her pistol away. She could have used it now as she and the chief carried Anderson along, trying to move quickly, but not so quickly that they would further injure the older man.


Pressley paced the bridge, the loud thumping against the ship a constant reminder of how helpless he currently felt. But with orders from the Captain he couldn't do anything to secure the ship so they could go pick him up. "Pacing won't help." Joker tried to quip from his seat, watching security footage of the colonists outside the ship, making sure none of them found their way aboard.

Pressley stopped as he gave the pilot a scrutinizing look. "We should be helping the Captain not sitting on our hands." He said. His tone sounded unamused and frustrated. His duty was to help the Captain, not entertain some mercenary he didn't even know.

Joker shrugged his shoulders as his eyes moved from one screen to the next. "We can always tell the doc to get the med bay ready." Joker suggested, his tone sarcastic but also serious. Pressley could have slapped himself as he suddenly turned on his heel.

He began to march away as he called over his shoulder, "Keep me updated." before he vanished further down to the CIC. He quickly went down the stairs and marched with a purpose to the med bay, the doors parting for him as soon as he was close enough.

Liara and Dr. Chakwas looked up at the XO, who held a serious look on his face. He looked from the asari to the ship's physician. "Anderson took a hit, as soon as we are able he needs an evac, his injuries are severe." he said. Chakwas looked calm despite the news, nodding her head in understanding.

The man turned and left as Chakwas looked to Liara. "I'm afraid we'll have to cut this visit short. Try the medication I gave you when you are ready for bed tonight. I hope it helps you better this time." She said warmly, but she stood, getting herself gathered for a possible surgery. Liara nodded some as she left the med bay, figuring Chakwas would need all the space she could get for whatever was to come.

In the back of her mind Liara worried for Shepard. If the Alliance Captain was injured would that mean Shepard might be as well? Her brow furrowed with worry as she could only hope not.

Liara moved to the mess hall, unsure of where else to go. There, at the table, sat Kaidan, who seemed to be trying to make himself eat something. He still seemed miserable, but he was up finally. "Dr. T'Soni?" He questioned as she had decided to sit across from the man.

She smiled at him, having heard about his flare up the day before with his implant. She had always felt sorry for the humans and their first few attempts at biotic implants. Until recently they were unable to make proper ones that wouldn't have any major draw backs. "They need the med bay." she said, her mind wandering back to what she had heard the balding man say just moments ago.

Kaidan looked at her confused. "Any word on what's going on?" He asked, sounding more concerned than not.

"I believe Captain Anderson is injured." Liara said, but sounding sympathetic. Kaidan's brows furrowed.

He looked to the asari with concern, "Is Shepard still ok?" he asked, the concern obvious in her tone.

Liara absentmindedly checked her omni-tool hoping that perhaps Nicole had sent her a message, indicating if she was still alright or not. But when she never saw anything new she tried to assure herself that the mercenary was busy. Especially if Anderson had been injured. "As far as I know." Liara responded.


I know, a brief pause in my updates. I had fallen ill, I'm starting to feel a bit better. If this chapter seems off I apologize. I'm still not 100% but I wanted to keep writing lol.

Until next time.