In her private office within the Citadel tower, Councilor Tevos stood motionless, eyes pitch black facing Sha'ira who was in a similar state. The two Asari in the middle of a meld where the Consort was sharing the important information she had learned with her species' representative.
The meld ended with Tevos gasping, stepping away from Sha'ira wide eyed after seeing what the other Asari had hours prior.
"By the Goddess. Could it be true?" asked the Counselor, part of her not wanting to believe.
"It is." the Consort replied strongly, "I know what I saw even though I didn't enact the meld. Everything I've shared with you, is nothing but truth."
Tevos put her hands on her desk and bowed her head. The words of her mother centuries ago coming to the forefront of her mind as she herself remembered the tale of the one who saved the Asari. Coupled with the images Sha'ira shared with her from the meld she had with the man himself, she was at a loss for words.
Those images...a world of fire, blood and untold agony. Of beasts, bloodthirsty and full of unending brutality that slaughtered all in their path. But also of the man who stood against them, his rage and god-like strength, tearing apart his enemies through an unholy crusade with only one drive, to end the beasts completely and without mercy.
"Then the scriptures...the warnings given from Athame's first followers…" Tevos said out loud, eyes on her desktop.
"It is not a coincidence, Counselor." said Sha'ira. "Saren's betrayal. The Geth attacking. Word of the ones who brought extinction to the Protheans returning, and now HIS arrival. This isn't just a random list of events...it's all leading to the same conclusion."
The Counselor stood and shook her head, "Sparatus has already disavowed what little information has been presented about the Reapers. And neither he nor Valern will accept anything from our holy texts as fact."
"Then we must contact those that we know would understand." Sha'ira pressed. "And you know who I mean. Their order has been preparing for this moment for millenia."
Tevos nodded seriously, "I'll make some calls. This is going to cause a large stir on Thessia." she looked to her longtime friend, "Do you know where the slayer is now?"
"Currently, he is with Commander Shepard on her mission to stop Saren and the Geth." said Sha'ira.
The Asari Councilor winced, "I almost pity Saren."
X
The bright neon lights and techno music beating filled the interior of the bar called Flux. A place that had just started up but received an explosion of good business after Chora's Den had been shut down with the death of Fist.
Currently, the ground team from the Normandy had situated themselves around a table big enough to fit all of them. Jane was working on her third glass of brandy as she observed the rest of her crew.
Most of them were on their second or third rounds as well, save for Wrex who was on his eighth, and Ashley was on her fifth. The Commander was pretty sure the Gunnery Chief was trying to drink away everything they had learned during Flynn's little 'presentation'.
Tali and Garrus were sharing a bottle of triple-filtered Turian brandy, the Quarian engineer using some kind of straw to feed the drink through a port in her helmet. Liara helped herself to some kind of fruity, blue colored cocktail. And Kaidan was having a tumbler of well aged whisky.
Shepard couldn't blame any of them. She herself was trying to come to grips with the images that had joined the Prothean beacon burned into her brain, the revelations alone leaving her completely at a loss of what to think.
Hell was real. More than that, it was far worse than anything the bible could have ever described. And the demons...Jane had a feeling that she'd be having nightmares sometime in the future. Those things made the Husks they encountered on Eden Prime look almost normal, and those weren't including the ones grafted with cybernetic enhancements.
On top of everything, the rumors of the multiverse-theory had real meaning afterall. They had met living proof of it in someone who crossed an untold number of barriers between worlds, including their own.
Taking another sip of her drink, she turned her gaze to the bar several feet away where the main subject of all their thoughts sat alone. His helmet on the counter beside him with three empty whisky bottles on the other side while he worked on a fourth.
Out of all the unbelievable things they had seen and heard, the fact that they were in the presence of someone who was the perfect definition of a demi-god was the hardest to grasp. A soldier from another Earth, who fought the darkest, deadliest most bloodthirsty monsters in any universe. Sacrificed almost everything that made him human, willingly stayed in Hell to continue the fight, proved himself to a society of super-humans enough to be blessed with divine power to continue his crusade and fighting longer than anyone ever could consider.
There were no words to describe Flynn Taggart, aka the Doom Slayer. He was a destructive force that proved time and time again that he couldn't be stopped. Jane couldn't help but be thankful he had decided to help them on their mission.
But the Commander had taken notice of something when he was telling them about his past, and showing him the battles he had been in before coming to their universe.
Throughout the whole event, Flynn never once showed any emotion. Infact, save for a couple of smirks and glares, he barely showed any kind of emotion in general. And in combat, he was calm as stone, but could become a roaring inferno of fury and hatred at the drop of a hat. The sheer number of traumatizing things he could have been through since he first started fighting the demons was hard to even think about, but it was enough to the point where he showed that he felt nothing with all the death and violence around him.
Shepard wondered if she should have Karin sit down and talk with him. She wasn't sure it would do any good given how closed off he could be, but it was worth a shot at least.
Finishing her drink, the Commander went to stand. Intending to join the slayer at the bar so that he wasn't alone when movement caught her eye. A smile graced her lips as she watched a familiar Asari already halfway there, deciding to sit back down and pouring another drink instead.
X
It was one of the few times Flynn cursed the divine power given to him by the Seraphim...he couldn't get drunk.
No matter what he drank or how much, he couldn't even get a buzz with the powerful energy coursing through his veins flushing it out of his system in seconds. Even halfway through his fourth bottle of, in his opinion, some damn good whisky, he wasn't getting anything other than the flavor.
It actually pissed him off more than a little.
After having to reveal his past in detail, in addition to the fighting he'd done through Earth, a handful of Sentinel worlds, Hell, and Urdak, the slayer had begun to feel restless. Showing the truth to the Normandy crew had in the end broken one of the personal rules he'd made for himself back when he first joined the Night Sentinels.
He'd vowed to never look back on his past more than he had to. No good ever came from it. His old life was just that, he had been given a new one only to have that ripped from him as well. Even though he would occasionally reflect on the good times, that was all he did.
Nothing about it would change the events that had already happened, so he instead focused on the present and would worry about the future when it happened. He had all the time in the universe at his disposal until the day came where he could end Hell once and for all.
Finishing the fourth bottle infront of him, Flynn sat it with the others and contemplated getting another when he felt a presence come up beside him.
"Flynn?" Liara asked softly from his left side. "Mind if I join you?"
The slayer reached out and moved the stool beside him back a little and motioned to the empty seat. The young Asari taking the silent welcome and sitting down beside the armored human.
Ever since seeing and hearing about what he had been through, Liara had been deep in thought. One the one hand, she was in awe about being in the presence of the warrior that had aided her people in their time of need as written in the Athame texts. But on the other, she too had seen his lack of expression as he showed them his fights to stop Hell's invasion.
Here was a man, who was once mortal, that fought the worst evils ever conceived with bare hands, an iron will, and whatever weapons he could find. Blessed with divine power and immortality to continue fighting for eons. Killing the very monsters who had killed his family and tried to consume his world and saving countless others along the way.
Imprisoned in his enemy's realm, and only released to fix the mistakes of those tampering with powers beyond their control. He was a warrior that faced death and betrayal in every quarter. He was, in every sense, the embodiment of vengeance and destruction that was feared and heralded throughout the many universes.
But Liara knew, deep down, there was still a man somewhere buried beneath all of the strength and power. One that had lost everything and only had revenge and rage to guide him. And for some reason, she wanted to know more. To discover more about the man Flynn truly was, and not the legend he became.
She couldn't understand why, but she simply did and decided not to question it.
"For what it's worth, thank you for revealing your past." Liara said after a few moments.
Flynn glanced her way. Not what I was expecting, to be honest. He signed, motioning to the bartender. Everyone looked pretty shook up.
The young Asari nodded, "It certainly was...eye opening, and disturbing to say the least. But the truth is rarely ever pretty. You obviously trust us enough with what you've been through."
I stopped caring what people thought of me long ago. The slayer answered honestly. But I figured you all deserved to know what you were getting into with me. I did after all doom all of 'heaven' to ruin to save humanity.
"I would hardly call that heaven." Liara said with a sharp tone, "Everything the Khan Maykr did was despicable. Allowing the demons to torture innocent souls just so she could use them to keep her homeworld thriving for her to rule. It became so much worse when she resurrected that...abomination, in what was supposed to be considered a 'holy place'. She doomed her own people before you even stepped foot there."
Flynn nodded in full agreement as the bartender came back with another bottle for him and a blue colored drink for her. They drank in silence for a moment before Liara turned to him.
"Despite it being so long after the fact. Thank you for saving my people."
The slayer turned to her and half-smiled, It's what I do, Liara. Saving worlds and destroying monsters. Liara smiled back at him before they went back to their drinks
X
After another hour, the ground team paid their tabs and headed back to the Normandy. None of them drunk but a few plenty buzzed from the time they had, sans Flynn since he was sadly immune.
Getting a full night's sleep to sober up, Jane brought everyone back into the briefing room to plan their next move.
"Everybody good?" she asked, getting affirmatives from the team as she started the meeting. "While we were having our shoreleave, some information was sent to me that could help in our mission." The Commander hit a few keys on her omni-tool as a hologram of a planet appeared in the middle of the room.
"A small human colony established on the planet Feros reported Geth activity in the area. The ExoGeni corporation, who sponsored the colony and has been operating on the planet, sent an SOS a day ago before everything went dark. From the reports I was given, the colony is set up within the ruins of a Prothean city. If the Geth are there, then there must be something that Saren wants in those ruins."
"What are our mission parameters, ma'am?" asked Kaidan.
"Our first objective is to investigate the colony and search for survivors. Once we've established the situation we'll work on repelling the Geth and figuring out what they could be after." said Jane. "I've already given Joker the coordinates and we're currently enroute. We should be arriving within the next day or two. Any questions?"
No one had any for her, the mission plan straight forward. "Alright. This could be another big lead on Saren and his plans, so be prepared for anything when we arrive. Dismissed." The team stood and began to file out when the Commander called out, "Flynn, could you spare a moment?"
The slayer paused at the door, casting a look at her over his shoulder before coming back in. "First, I wanted to say that as a hell of a bombshell you dropped on us yesterday. No pun intended." Jane said with a light laugh at the end, getting a snort out of Flynn. "Second...I appreciate the amount of trust you have in all of us to reveal so much. I won't lie, it really made me rethink a lot of things."
Shepard sighed and looked serious, "Lastly, I have a favor to ask you." The slayer tilted his head. "I know that you've made a career out of crushing everything in your way. But in certain situations violence isn't always the answer, I'd prefer to talk things out peacefully if I'm able. What I'm asking is, can you keep your rage at a simmer in those moments?"
Flynn thought it over before nodding. I don't do delicate. But I'll keep a lid on it so the mission goes smoothly. He answered, causing Jane to sigh in relief.
"Thank you. I know it's a lot to ask for considering how you operate. But a non-violent solution can be just as effective as a violent one."
That's why they call it damage control, Shepard. The slayer signed as he headed toward the door again, stopping long enough to finish. You're the control. And if that doesn't work, I'll be the damage. With that he left the briefing room.
The Commander watched the door a moment longer and once again realized how much more interesting things were about to get.
While also hoping that when the resident demon killer finally cut loose, the collateral damage wouldn't be too severe.
X
The following day, the Normandy reached Fero's dust filled atmosphere.
With over two-thirds of the planet covered in ruins that once belonged to the Prothean empire, it had once been a hotspot for research looking into the lost civilization. Over the years, scientists from different corners of the galaxy scoured the ancient cities for anything valuable and informative about the Protheans. ExoGeni founding a colony within the ruins to do just that.
During the journey, the team had been preparing for whatever they might face when they touched down on the surface.
Joker had tried hailing the colony, but hadn't had any luck reaching anyone. Meaning that either transmissions were being jammed...or there wasn't anyone left to receive the hails. The pilot brought them down and docked in the only functioning port closest to the colony and engaged the magnetic clamps.
"Alright people, weapons ready but fingers off triggers. We don't want to risk friendly fire if the colonists are nearby." said the Commander said just before they entered the airlock, enduring the cycling process before stepping out onto the stone walkway outside the ship.
Flynn looked around the immediate area, combat shotgun at the ready with the sticky-bomb mod in place as he searched for targets. His gaze snapped to movement in the front where a disheveled man approached them.
"We saw your ship, Fai Dan wants to meet with you." he said in a low, almost robotic tone.
"Who's Fai Dan?" asked Jane.
The man twitched, "He's...our leader. He needs your help with the Geth, they're making another push." a rocket suddenly impacted the ground where he was standing. The following explosion sending debris and bloody body parts flying in different directions.
"Contact!" Kaidan shouted, raising his rifle and firing at a squad of Geth that were coming through a doorway on the other side of the landing bay. Two of the platforms fired rocket launchers that forced the team into cover.
Leaning left to avoid one of the rockets, the slayer raised his shotgun and lobbed a handful of sticky bombs at the attacking Geth. Several of the synthetic troopers getting blown apart from the ordinance and staggering a few others which gave Flynn the chance to charge into their ranks.
Doom blade extending, the slayer cleaved the head off a Geth trooper as he ran past it. Raising his shotgun and blowing another apart before grabbing a third by the head, thumb stabbing into its flashlight-like optic before smashing it against a wall.
From the doorway, the towering form of a Juggernaut stomped out into the open. A series of deep clicks emitting while its optic flickered over the carnage of its comrades before centering on Flynn and raising its pulse rifle.
The slayer responded with a blood punch that dropped its shields, and put a large dent in the platform's chest while rocking it back on its heels. Stunned, he followed up by slashing his wrist-blade through its left leg, severing it and dropping the Juggernaut to its remaining knee and hands. Grabbing the back of its neck, Flynn pulled it upright and stabbed his Doom blade through what could have been its chin, the tip coming through its optic with the 'bulb' hanging off it.
The team had just joined him as he ripped the blade from the now offlined platform. "Damn, he didn't waste time." said Garrus while looking over the remains of the Geth. Jane nodded to the slayer as they entered the stairwell, sudden movement had them all aiming upward in time to see a couple of Geth hoppers jumping from wall to wall.
Raising her rifle, the Commander shot down the first hopper when it was directly overhead. The second one changed position and prepared to fire on the group when a shotgun blast blew it in half. Wrex wracking the pump to vent the heatsink.
With the hostiles cleared, the team ascended the stairs and came out just outside the Zhu's Hope colony. Several small metal buildings stood with several fallen columns and crumbling low-walls acting as cover for the survivors.
A couple of people with small arms stood up from cover when they saw the group coming wasn't Geth.
"These people have been hit hard." said Ashley as she saw the state of the settlement. Especially the bodies covered in white sheets off to the side. She also took in the bullet holes and pulse burns on the buildings that some of the survivors were trying to repair.
"These are colonists, not warriors." Wrex grunted as they passed the perimeter.
Jane cast a glance at the mercenary, "When people are pushed too far, anyone will take up arms to protect their home, Wrex."
The team reached the center of the colony where the leader was speaking with a few people. "Commander Shepard, I'm glad they sent somebody to help us." said the man who the Commander could assume was Fai Dan.
" A little late, aren't you?" the woman beside him spoke with venom in her voice.
"Arcelia!" Fai Dan admonished her attitude, "I'm sorry, Commander. Everyone's on edge since all of this start-" a barrage of pulse rounds shot past him and hit a nearby wall.
"Incoming!" Arcelia shouted as Geth began to pour out of a nearby doorway.
Flynn pulled out his chaingun and met the synthetics with a wall of uranium-coated slugs. The Geth being reduced to shredded salvage in seconds.
Stepping over the still sparking remains, the slayer entered another stairwell and began to ascend the old steps as he heard Jane giving orders to the others. A pair of colonists came running down toward him when he reached halfway to the upper level;
"The Geth are right behind-GAH!" Flynn shoved the two behind him and grabbed a Geth stalker that deactivated its camouflage and leapt at them by the head. The flexible Geth clicked wildly, flailing its arms and legs in alarm before its captor slammed it into the wall beside him with enough force to crack the stone, its head becoming nothing more than a mangled mess.
Dropping the still twitching body, Flynn pulled the trigger and gunned down a pair of Geth shocktroopers that came around the corner above him before continuing his trek. Reaching the upper level to see a wide open room with a hole in the ceiling where a Geth dropship was depositing troops.
Narrowing his eyes, the slayer flipped a switch on his weapon, causing the barrel to mecha-shift into four smaller ones that all began to spin at once. A literal hailstorm of rounds launched forward in a tidal wave of red-hot death, Geth shields and armor were torn apart in seconds before they even had a chance to raise their own rifles.
After releasing the trigger, the barrels glowing red barrels reforming back into one before switching to his plasma rifle. Slapping the microwave-beam mod into place, he opened fire on the remaining Geth. A small squadron of combat drones flew down and fired on the slayer only to be electrocuted and blown apart from the blue bolts that struck them.
The dropship above deposited a pair of Juggernauts before taking off. The two heavy armored Geth units raised their rifles and fired on the slayer who dashed left to avoid the coming rounds and responded with his own.
Both Juggernauts' shields fell quickly, their armor getting scorched by the plasma barrage as Flynn charged them. His equipment launcher lobbing a grenade between them, the explosion staggering the synthetics before shoulder bashing one off its feet before kicking the legs out from under the other.
Slamming his foot on the second Juggernaut, the slayer grabbed both its arms and tore them off while stomping his heel into its chest. The first heavy unit got back to its feet and threw a punch only to have the human catch its forearm, the metal crunching beneath his monstrous strength.
Extending his Doom blade, he sliced the unit's legs off at the knees before driving the weapon through its optic. Kicking it off the end of his blade when he was sure it was dead.
Shepard and the others had just reached the upper level as he finished the last of the Geth, having just finished securing the colony.
"Uhh...anybody else feeling more than a little unneeded?" asked Kaidan.
Jane was about to speak up when she saw a lone Geth shock trooper come out of cover and fire on the slayer, the pulse rounds bouncing off the Praetor suit's plates and garnering Flynn's attention as he aimed his plasma rifle and fired its secondary function. A blue beam leaving the barrel and latching onto the synthetic which began to convulse violently, a mechanical shriek resonating from the Geth before it exploded in a shower of blue sparks.
A couple of the crew cringed at the sound the synthetic had made, but Tali was wide eyed and in awe. "Where can I get one of those?" she asked, getting several strange looks.
Flynn joined them a moment later, plasma rifle barrel resting on his shoulder. "I don't need to ask if the Geth have been taken care of, do I?" the Commander asked rhetorically. The slayer shrugged before looking at all the shredded Geth around them.
Shepard nodded before turning to the others, "Let's head back to Zhu's Hope. We still need to figure out what's been going on around here."
The team headed back to the stairwell and headed back down to the colony. Flynn being the last out, but paused in the archway, looking over his shoulder at the room, eyes narrowing for a moment before going down the steps.
In a dark corner, something lurked in the shadows. Waiting.
A/N: The team has touched down on Feros, and the slayer is proving that he intends on being the tip of the spear. While behind the scenes, the Consort and Councilor Tevos are making plans of their own. The encounter with the Thorian is next, and I have a feeling the old plant isn't prepared for what is about to tear it out by the roots.
Keep the reviews coming folks, update already in progress.