Collector drones and husks moved from holes and corridors, advancing on Shepard and her crew as they made their way towards the main chamber. But the group of three, with one more holding up a mass effect barrier, kept them at bay. The floor was littered with the dead Collectors and Husks. Bullet holes, axe slashes and biotic energies covered the dead as Harbinger walked across them. He cared not for the dead, but he did care for the amount.
He walked over them towards a ramp where Shepard and her accused team moved towards the main chamber. His arms moved behind his back as he spied them fight against his Collector hoard. As he watched, he took not of their abilities. The 'Chimera' moved with a mix of fluidity and strength. It was hard to get around her, or even pin her down. She was too big and powerful to be taken down.
The tiger, however used her speed and claws to rip and tear his collectors and husks apart like they were nothing but meat. She did take a few shots, which slowed her down. But she was skilled enough to adjust for the wounds and continue her carnage. But the other, the wolf, she was more hesitant. When she striked she always aimed for the jugular. Ripping the neck out, for an instant kill. But without backup, she hesitated before pouncing again.
Finally, was the construct. He knew little about her kind, but from what he had seen, she was probably one of the most powerful biotics out there. If they captured her, maybe they could create their own. Maybe.
Shepard fired four shots from his pistol at the charging drone but the Collectors still continued to advance on their location. Weapons firing in all directions. Jack and Ashley fell back from their pouncing attacks, bringing up their guns.
"They're pushing, keep it up!" Shepard called.
"Hurry, Shepard," Miranda roared.
The entrance opened for them. Miranda turned around and charged up the biotic shield waiting for the collectors to get in close. When they did pushed her arms forward, turning the shield into a makeshift weapon as it exploded in all directions, sending the drones and seeker swarms all over. They retreated through the door. Shepard fired a couple more rounds at any approaching Collectors before going through. The doors closed shut.
As the doors closed shut, the radio static finally cleared up. "Repeat, Shepard do you copy?" Garrus called in.
"I copy," Shepard answered. "What's your position?"
"We're at the door. They got us pinned down," the Turrian said as echoes of gunfire echoed in the earpiece.
Shepard and Ash got to the door and took positions ready to fire. Miranda went over to the console and went through the controls to open the doors.
"We're coming, just hold on," Shepard said she looked to Miranda. "Get this door open!"
The doors opened and the rest of the squad's poured in. There was a small army just outside, shooting from every direction. As soon as they entered the room Shepard ordered Miranda, "Seal the door!"
The door closed shut. Garrus clutched at his side, applying some medi-gel. Zenna went to him to check up on him, but he shrugged. Shepard patted his shoulder before hitting her comm and called the Normandy, "Joker, are you at the rendezvous point?"
"I'm here, Commander," Joker answered. "Tali and the colonist just showed up,"
"No injuries were sustained on their way," EDI added.
"Excellent," Miranda commented. "Time to make it count. EDI, what's our next step?"
"There should be some nearby platforms that should take you to the main control console. From there you can overload the systems and destroy the base," the AI responded.
"Commander, you got a problem," Joker warned. "Hostiles are amassing just outside the door,"
Shepard turned to the platform EDI mentioned and climbed on top of it. She then turned to face her squadmates. "A rear guard can defend this position and keep the Collectors from overwhelming us,"
"Pick a team to go with you, Shepard," Miranda said. "Everyone else can bunker down here and cover your back,"
Zenna nodded to her and the wolf. "Ash and Miranda, with me,"
The two called upon, climbed onto the platform and stood by Shepard.
"I'm ready, Commander," Miranda said.
"So am I," Ash added.
"Anything to say before we do this?" Jack asked.
Zenna nodded and took in a deep breath. "The Collectors, the Reapers, they aren't a threat to us, they are a threat to everyone, everything, in not just this galaxy, but of two galaxies. Those are the lives we are fighting for. That's the scale. It's been a long journey, and no one's coming out without scars." Grunt pounded his fists together, Garrus cocked his rifle, Jack along with Samara and Jacob flared their biotics to life, Thane and Zaeed cracked their necks, Mordin prepared drones and Kasumi readied her blades. "But it all comes down to this moment. We win or lose it all in the next few minutes. Make me proud. Make yourselves proud,"
"Well said," Miranda commented. "Let's go finish this,"
As the platform flew off towards the main control console, they could hear Garrus yell at the others organising them into a combat formation. The platform went a good distance before stopping. A platform came into the area with three Collectors on it. Miranda used a singularity causing the drones to be yanked off and left floating in the air. The team just sniped them from where they were.
Another platform appeared. This one with just two Collectors: one drone and a guardian. Shepard jumped over to cover and fired a few rounds at the drone. Miranda used a warp to destroy the guardian's barrier allowing Ash to finish it off. The squad moved onto the new platform.
A spinning platform came into view. Three Collectors rode this platform. One of them exploded with energy. "WE ARE ASSUMING CONTROL."
Fire covered the team as they moved into cover changing fire with the collector drones. But the avatar was causing the most problems as its biotic power was greater than any other biotic. The team focused fire on the creature, but the rounds bounced off its shield. This allowed the drones to move and fire at the team freely. But they couldn't move much, as the team counter-supressed them. That didn't last long, as the avatar threw a singularity at the team which exploded in the middle of them.
Ash, Miranda and Zenna were thrown off their platform and onto another one. Ash managed to stop herself from falling off the edge before poncing at the nearest collector. Miranda almost fell, but she stopped just before the edge and fired at the avatar. Zenna, however did fall off, but grabbed onto the platform before she dropped. Turing, she grabbed on with her other hand only for the avatar to step above her.
"Oh shit," she muttered.
The avatar reached out with its foot and hovered over one her hands. "GIVE UP, HUMAN,"
"Never," Zenna spat.
The avatar said nothing as it then slammed its foot onto her hand. Zenna yelled out in pain as she let go and the other foot was ready to try and stomp her other hand. A howl of anger echoed and something slammed into the back of the avatar. It topped off the platform and fell. Ashley then held out a hand and Zenna took it as platform with two Scions and three abominations flew into the area.
"Just how many of these do we have to deal with?" Ash complained out loud.
The platform connected to theirs. The Abominations charged at Shepard but they didn't last long as they exploded as soon as Zenna killed one. The explosion also caused the scions to stumble, but they removed and fired at the team which dived out of the way and focused fire on the creatures. It took a while, due to the husk's heavy armour. But soon both fell.
Shepard activated the terminal. "This is it. All the tubes lead to this spot. EDI what can you tell us? What are they doing?"
The platform slowly spun as it made its approach to the main control console.
"The tubes are feeding into a super structure," EDI replied. "According to my readings, it must be massive,"
Shepard looked up at the super structure in question. She felt a chill go down her back and stomach twist and turn. Miranda and Ash turned around to see what Zenna saw, their eyes widened.
"Shepard... If my calculations are correct, the super structure... is a Reaper," EDI said, her voce betraying her fear.
"Not just any Reaper," Shepard corrected. "A Human Reaper,"
The creation before them was an incomplete Reaper. It was a sickening imitation of a Human skeleton. It had two eye sockets, but its right eye socket had two eyes. Its jaw hung open with mandibles along both sides. The lower half of its body was not complete so it was just its spine. Not only that, but it also had multiple demi-humans features such as minotaur horns, lizard scales and even gills. The monstrosity hung from four supports.
"Precisely," was all EDI could say.
The platform they stood on connected to the other platforms in the area. The tubes that connected to the Reaper had their protective covers retract, revealing the genetic material being injected into the Reaper larva.
"Holy shit," Ash gasped. "I knew the Reapers were monsters, but this..."
"It appears the Collectors processed tens of thousands of Humans," EDI concluded. "Significantly more will be required to complete the Reaper,"
"They're building it to look like a Human," Zenna observed. "Why?"
"It appears that a Reaper is based upon the species used to create it," EDI suggested
"Reapers are machines," Miranda countered. "Why do they need Humans at all?"
"Incorrect," EDI corrected. "Reapers are sapient constructs. A hybrid of organic and inorganic material. The exact construction methods are unclear, but it seems probable that the Reapers absorb the essence of a species utilizing it in their reproduction process,"
"Oh god," Miranda muttered.
"This thing is a monster," Shepard stated. "EDI, how do we destroy it?"
"The large tubes injecting the fluid are a weak structural link," EDI answered. "Destroying them should cause the supports to collapse and the Reaper to fall," as she spoke the shutters on the tubes closed shut.
All three demi-humans looked around as a new noise echoed in their ears, "Give us a minute EDI. We have to take care of some old friends first,"
A platform came into the area. Two drones, a guardian and a possessed drone stood on it. The squad moved to higher ground and fired upon the platform's occupants. Miranda used slam on one of the drones. The biotic move lifted the drone off of the platform and slammed it downwards to the area below. Ash used a heavy concussion blast to knock the other drone off of the platform, leaving just the guardian and Harbinger left.
Ash then fired a volley of rifle fire distracting it allowing Miranda took the opportunity and launched a warp at the Collector to destroy its barrier. She pulled out her pistol and fired two rounds into its head. Ash then moved to Harbinger which gave Shepard the few seconds she needed to move in and finish him. She fired three rounds from his pistol at Harbinger's head at point blank finishing the Reaper Avatar.
The shutters in front of the tubes retracted. All three fired at different tubes. As they shattered, they then focused their fire on another tube. They shattered before the shutters closed. The Reaper came loose and jerked forward. The Reaper then dropped down out of sight. Shepard and her squad watched as the abomination fell to the ground, hundreds of feet below.
"Shepard to ground team, status report!" Shepard called over the radio,
"This is Garrus. We are holding but they keep coming. A quick exit is preferable," the second responded.
"Head to the Normandy," Shepard ordered. "Joker, prep the engines. I'm about to overload this place and blow it sky high,"
"Roger that, Commander," Joker replied.
Zenna crouched down by the main control console and pulled it out.
"Uh, Commander... I got an incoming signal from the Illusive Man. EDI is patching it through,"
Shepard worked through the controls on the console and localizing points at which would cause the most damage with an overload. Miranda activated her omni-tool and the hologram of TIM appeared.
"Shepard, you've done the impossible," he stated.
"I was part of a team," Shepard said not looking in his direction. "They gave their all for this mission,"
"I know. I'm looking at the schematics that EDI uploaded. A timed radiation pulse would kill the remaining Collectors, but leave their machinery and technology intact. This is our chance Shepard. They were building a Reaper. That knowledge, that framework, could save us," that didn't sound good.
Shepard felt rage course through her as she jumped to her feet and faced TIM. "They liquefy people and turn them into monsters. We have to destroy the base,"
"Don't be short-sighted!" TIM scorned. "Our best chance against the Reapers is to turn their own resources against them. They were working directly with the Reapers. Who knows what information is buried there. This base is a gift. We can't just destroy it, surely, as a minotaur, you'd understand that,"
"No matter what technology we find, it's not worth it," she said folding her arms across her chest. "Even we minotaurs know what tech is not worth using. This is it,"
"Shepard, you died fighting for what you believed in," he tried out counter. "We brought you back to keep fighting. Some would say that what we did to you went too far, but look what you've accomplished. I didn't discard you because I knew your value. Don't be so quick to discard this facility. Think of the potential!"
"We'll fight and win without it," Shepard roared turning back to her mission. "I won't let fear compromise who I am,"
TIM turned around to face to the XO. "Miranda. Do not let Shepard destroy this base!"
"Or what?" Miranda replied. "You'll replace me next?"
"I gave you an order, Miranda," he shot.
She paused for a moment. "I noticed. Consider this my resignation,"
TIM panicked and tried one last attempt to convince Shepard. "Shepard think about what's at stake. Everything Cerberus has done for yo..." TIM tried to say before Miranda cut the signal.
"That guy was starting to get on my nerves," Ash commented.
"Here," Miranda handed Shepard a charge for the console.
Shepard set the timer and placed it on the console. "Let's move. We have ten minutes before the reactor overloads and blows this station apart," As soon as she injected the timer into the platform, the platform shook violently causing them all to lose their footing.
A large metal hand grabbed onto the left side of the area. A mechanical roar echoed throughout the area. The Reaper larva rose up and looked down at the four.
"Dear god," Miranda gasped.
"Shoot it!" Shepard ordered. "Give it everything you have!"
They opened fire on the glowing orbs that were its eyes and chest orb. Red energy began to charge around the Reaper's mouth.
"Everyone take cover!" the minotaur yelled.
They all ducked down in time to dodge the energy attack. It was a spread shot of red energy. It impacted the area and caused miniature explosions.
"Keep firing it has to die at some point," Sheppard yelled as she switched to the Nuke launcher.
As soon as the Reaper came back all of them shot at it. Drips of the orange liquid seemed to fall from it eyes as they fired. Just then Shepard fired into its mouth. A few seconds later its eyes burst into flames and explosion's burst all over it.
"Fuck you!" Shepard yelled.
Flames erupted from where the Reaper's mouth was. It bent backwards and then fell forwards. It caused the front platform to lean towards it. The platform it impacted broke away from the rest of the platforms. Miranda was standing on that platform and when it titled, she lost her footing and slid downwards to the edge.
"Zenna!" she cried out.
Shepard ran forwards and jumped and slid down after her. "Miranda!"
They both reached for each other. Their hands barely touched each other. Miranda fell over the edge, but Zenna grabbed her hand in time. She hung there as the two watched the Reaper fall to the ground below and explode. The explosion's shockwave gave them to boost to get back onto the platform, but it always tilted the platform in the other direction, causing Miranda and Shepard to roll in the other direction.
They stopped rolling when they landed back onto the platform that Ashley was on. A renegade platform flew into their direction and before they could react, everything went black for all of them.
Shepard woke up on her stomach with a weight on her back. She didn't know how long she was out, but since they're not dead, they might still have time and she couldn't wait any longer. As she got up, she gathered his thoughts, she realized, 'Miranda! Ashely' she looked around desperately and saw she on the edge of the crashed platform. Zenna ran over and turned her to face her. Her eyes opened she smiled. The commander helped her up before running over to where Ash was helping her to her feet before all three of them found the exit and began moving.
"Do you copy?" Joker's voice came in over the radio. "Commander? Come on Shepard, don't leave me hanging. Do you copy?"
"I'm here, Joker," Shepard replied. "Did the ground team make it?"
"All survivors are on board. We're just waiting for you," he responded as a swarm of seekers appeared. The three ran for it down the tunnels.
"HUMAN," Harbinger addressed. "YOU CHANGED NOTHING."
Shepard fired a copy of rounds at the swarm to slow them down while her squadmates went ahead. She followed as they went ahead.
"YOUR SPECIES HAS THE ATTENTION OF THOSE WHO ARE INFINITELY GREATER. THAT WHICH YOU KNOW AS REAPERS ARE YOUR SALVATION THROUGH YOUR DESTRUCTION."
Shepard and her squad encountered several Collector guardians during their escape. They had no time for a fight, so they just ran towards where the Normandy waited. The guardians gave chase after them. Explosions went off all over the place.
The Normandy rose up over the ridge. Its side door opened to reveal Joker with an assault rifle. He gave them some covering fire. A column crashed down near the Normandy. Miranda and Ash jumped onto the Normandy. Ashley went inside while Miranda and Joker stayed in the doorway to wait for Shepard.
A column crashed down and took out some of the platforms near the Normandy. Shepard went into a full sprint to the Normandy. When she got to the edge, he leaped towards to Normandy. Shepard grabbed the edge of the doorway and held on with her remaining hand but she was slipping. Just as then she slipped but Miranda grabbed him before he fell any further. She pulled her up with no trouble. As soon as she was up all of them went inside.
"Detonation in ten, nine, eight..." EDI started counting down.
"Yeah, yeah, I get the gist of it, EDI," Joker said. "Hold on!"
The Normandy left the station, where they could see the explosions happen all over the base. The Normandy raced towards the relay to escape the system.
The countdown reached zero and the station blew apart. A wave of energy and flames exploded outwards eliminating everything in its path. The light of the explosion was blinding.
Wreckage and dead ships were engulfed by the dozens from the explosions. The Normandy got closer and closer to the relay. The energy of the relay reacted and charged the Normandy. As the shockwave reach the Normandy, it launched forward leaving the graveyard system.
OOOOO
Shepard entered into the debriefing room. The table lowered down for her to speak with the Illusive Man. She walked onto it. TIM sat in his chair holding a glass of brandy and smoking a cigarette.
"Shepard, you're making a habit of costing me more than time and money," he said.
"Too many lives were lost at that base," Shepard argued. "I'm not sorry it's gone,"
"The first of many lives. The technology from that base could have secured Human dominance in the galaxy against the Reapers and beyond," he tired to argue but the minotaur wasn't havening it.
"Human dominance? Or just Cerberus?" she accused.
"Strength for Cerberus is strength for every Human," TIM said as he got to his feet. "Cerberus is Humanity! I should have known you would choke on the hard decisions,"
"I'm not looking for your approval," she shot back. "Harbinger is coming and he won't be alone. This galaxy needs a leader who is looking out for them. I'm doing things my way, whether you agree or not,"
"Don't turn your back on me, Shepard! I made you; I brought you back from the dead,"
Zenna smiled. "And I'm going to do what I was brought back to do! I'm going to win this war, and I'll do it without sacrificing the soul of our species,"
"After everything I've done!"
Zenna finally snapped. "You've done everything? Hah don't make me laugh, you're just the head of a terrorist group. Your little band of fanatics who have nothing to show for it. No, I've done everything, I've risked everything, You? You've done nothing. Joker, lose this channel," as she said that she walked out giving TIM the one fingered salute.