Mass Effect - A Hero Rises Ch. 15

"Unlikely, Commander. A blast from the Normandy's guns could just end up killing the LT and setting off the bomb regardless."

"Fuck! Fuck, fuckity, fuck!" I muttered.

"Commander, I have an idea," Alenko said.

"I'm all ears, LT."

Before he could reply, Kirrahe reported charges set, and an almighty explosion happened in the distance. "Well, fuck me, the salarians actually managed it!" Wrex bellowed.

"Commander. I'm going to set the bomb. Short count down in case I'm over-run. Go grab Ashley and the rest and get the hell off of Virmire."

"Negative, LT," Ashley retorted, "Commander, Kirrahe and the rest of us can fall back to a safe distance."

"No such thing as a safe distance when a nuke is going to blow in only a few minutes, Chief. Look, Commander, I know this is a bum deal, but this base must be destroyed and... I'm only one man. Save the many, sacrifice the few."

It was a bum deal, but the man was right. "Everyone, head for the AA tower. We'll link up with Kirrahe and depart. Go. Now. Ashley and Shiala, prepare for our departure. We need to make sure nothing can shoot down the Normandy."

"Aye, sir," Ashley replied.

I opened up a private channel to Alenko. "Kaidan, we still could..."

"Saren is still around here somewhere, sir. You go find him, put a bullet in the bastard, and my sacrifice will be worth it in the end." I could hear gunfire behind him, the thump of his biotics as well. He wasn't going down without a fight. "I'll keep these geth back as long as I can. Once I see the blue of the Normandy disappear, I'll make sure this baby blows."

"It was an honour, marine."

"The honour was all mine, sir. Had a hell of a time. I won't go to my death with any complaints. Think they could name something after me?"

I couldn't help chuckle. "I'll make sure it's some sort of school. Definitely biotics."

"Thank you, sir. Now, get Saren for me. I'll do what's required."

I figured the Normandy could have got down there, but with all the geth around, there was a chance even my ship could end up toast. So I joined the rest, laying down fire at the incoming geth and krogan. We were all now pissed off, sliding in beside Ashley. She looked at me and her face conveyed a million emotions in one. "We'll talk back on the ship, Chief."

"Aye, sir. We'll make the bastards pay."

Then Saren arrived, and I saw red, standing out of cover and blasting away with my assault rifle. The bastard had strong shields, and returned fire, enough that my own shields failed and I slid into cover. "That all you got, you indoctrinated cunt!"

"An impressive diversion, Shepard. The geth were utterly convinced these salarians were the real threat. I just hope you know that this was all for nothing. The deaths of these salarians. The soon to be death of your colleague. Such a waste. You obviously don't know what's at stake here. And I cannot let you continue to interfere with my plans."

"What the hell are you doing here, Saren? What possible reason could you have for supporting a Reaper?"

"You've seen the visions, Shepard. You know what the Reapers are capable of. They cannot be stopped."

"Bullshit, you pathetic piece of shit!"

Saren took a step forward towards me, pointing a talon as he yelled. "Don't waste my time, and theirs, on pointless revolt and petty freedoms. Have you not seen what happens when you try to fight? Look at the Protheans. They were annihilated. We were lucky to even have the beacons to warn us."

"So we should just give up without a fight? Is that your grand plan?" I retorted rather sarcastically.

"Is submission not preferable to extinction, Shepard? Trillions dead for no reason other than they wanted to fight, to protect something simply not worth saving, compared to the power of the Reapers."

"You really believe that the Reapers would let us live? You're fucking delusional! I mean off the fucking deep end. I've seen the visions, too. It was nothing but an annihilation. An extinction. I've spoken to Sovereign. There will be no peace. We will not be allowed to live. They only want our destruction."

Saren just shook his head. "We cannot win this fight, Shepard. The Council won't understand that. None of the galactic races will understand that. We are ruled by emotion instead of logic. But we can work with the Reapers and we may be spared."

I laughed. "Work with them? You're insane! Indoctrinated! No-one without a screw or two loose could possibly think this is a good idea. Submitting without a fight and our inevitable death? What's the point? I choose to live. And I choose to fight!"

"Ah, you misunderstand. Yes, I have joined with Sovereign. I had hoped this facility would protect me. That is why I've been studying the effects of indoctrination. And I've learned that is my saving grace. I won't be fully indoctrinated as Sovereign knows how capable I am. He needs me to complete his task of finding the Conduit. And then I will be spared. Whatever the case, we must work with the Reapers to be spared on their inevitable arrival."

"Tell me about the Conduit. What is it? Maybe we can work together to stop the Reapers?"

Saren almost laughed at my suggestion. The only reason I was still talking was to give my team time to get into position. "Shepard, the Conduit is the key to your destruction and my salvation. Finding the location is the only reason why I have not been fully indoctrinated."

Now it was my turn to laugh. "You're a fool, Saren! You're already indoctrinated! Sovereign already has you under his power. You're nothing but a puppet with Sovereign pulling the strings. It's pathetic that you could even think you're still in control."

Saren took another step forward, the pair of us barely half a dozen steps apart. I had to give respect to Saren. He appeared fearless about the fact my, and no doubt at least a dozen other weapons, were currently aimed at him. I quickly peered around behind Saren and could see the geth still holding their own positions, weapons still aimed, but still not firing. As far as Id was concerned, Saren and I may as well have been alone. I only had eyes for the turian waiting for the perfect time to strike.

"You misunderstand again, Shepard," Saren replied calmly, as if talking to a child... or an idiot, "Sovereign does need me. Once I find the Conduit, I've been guaranteed a reprieve from what is to follow. That is my only hope."

I lowered my gun as I stood out of cover, trying a different tact, though sensing plenty of weapons aimed in my direction. Sometimes this worked. Others, well... "Join me, Saren. It's not too late. We can work together. We can find the Conduit. We can stop the Reapers together. We'll explain what's happened to the Council. It... may be difficult to explain. But surely that would be better than witnessing the end of civilisation as we know it? How can you possibly justify the annihilation of every organic in the galaxy? Join me and my team, Saren, and we can beat the Reapers together."

Saren just shook his head, almost sadly, as if sorry for me. "No, Shepard. I no longer believe any such victory would be possible. The Reapers are too smart, and too powerful. They have millions of years of experience to deal with the likes of us. You've seen the visions. My only hope of survival is to work with them."

I aimed my gun again, finger trembling on the trigger. I'd tried negotiating. Now I let the anger flow. "You cowardly piece of shit! You were a Spectre. The best of the best. And you swore a vow to protect the galaxy from any and all foes. And now you turn your back on the very people you vowed to protect. You know what, Saren. Fuck you. Fuck you and the Reapers."

I pulled the trigger again and again.

And again nothing happened.

Saren raised an arm and I found himself unable to move, trapped in stasis, groaning in frustration as Saren stepped forward quickly, grabbing me around the throat and lifting me off the ground. His strength was rather surprising as I tried to undo the grip of his talons.

"I'm not doing this for myself, Shepard! How can you not see that? This is our only hope that any of us would survive! But you continue to interfere with my plans. Noveria. Feros. Therum. I had everything organised. No-one would have been any the wiser if you hadn't received your own vision. You are dangerous. You are a problem. You must die."

And Saren continued to squeeze, raising both hands to my throat and the talons surrounding it, to stop my inevitable suffocation as my throat continued to be constricted. I was already starting to feel light-headed as he struggled wildly. I couldn't believe the strength in Saren's arm.

"Let him go, you bosh'tet!" Tali cried, charging out of cover, shotgun raised as she ran towards Saren, taking at least two shots. They impacted into his shields, but again caused no damage, Saren raising his other arm and flinging a warp at her, Tali diving out of the way into cover just in time.

That was just the distraction I needed, as Saren turned his attention back to the me just in time see a fist flying towards him. My fist connected square in the turians' jaw and I dropped to the ground, immediately shaking my hand as a turian's jaw is rather hard. Saren turned and ran back to his board, chasing after him, pistol raised firing wildly, nothing hitting it's target, as numerous other weapons finally opened as well, the geth returning fire once again. Saren was quick, getting on his board and floating away as I continued to fire, none of my shots managing to pierce his shields.

"Fuck!" I shouted as Saren disappeared from view.

"Commander, there's no time. You need to go now!" shouted Alenko over the radio as the Normandy descended above them.

"Let's go, people! Move! Move! Move!" I shouted, gesturing towards all the survivors dotted around the AA tower. It took only seconds for everyone to run up the ramp of the Normandy. I was the last to board slowly, turning around to look around one last time.

Putting a finger to my ear, I asked, "How long, Alenko?"

"Thirty seconds, sir."

"I'll keep the channel open, Kaidan. How you doing down there?" I asked as I the Normandy began its ascent.

I heard the chuckle. "I've had better days, sir. But... Thanks. For giving me a chance."

"Want me to speak to anyone when we get back?"

"Yeah, just one person, Shepard. Tell my dad I..."

He didn't get to finish his sentence as I watched the explosion. I could only bow my head in respect, whispering a quiet prayer. I was not a religious man at all, but at times like that, you could only pray that he would now be looked after by some sort of higher power. As I turned back into the garage, the only thing I could promise Kaidan Alenko was that I was going to make Saren pay.

*****

The post-mission briefing was difficult for everyone. I praised Tali for coming to the rescue regarding Saren. She was rather embarrassed but still managed to take it in good grace. Wrex was pissed off that Saren got away so easily. Liara melded with me and at least could make more sense of my vision, so that was something at least. Ashley was beside herself with guilt and grief. I knew the two had built up quite the rapport during the mission, everyone had, but she was taking it harder than most.

Dismissing everyone but Ashley, I sat back and let her get everything off her chest. "You made the wrong damned choice, sir," she stated rather harshly, though I noticed her wipe her cheeks.

"You know I would have saved everyone if I could. But the simple fact is I saved you, Shiala and the salarians. It is the burden of command do a reason, Chief. I had to make that call. It was a shit call to be left with having to make, one I hope I don't have to do again. But if I was left with the same decision, I would choose the many, not the few. Alenko understood and he died knowing that."

"Nuclear fire though... No-one deserves that."

"You're right, but at least it would have been instantaneous. He wouldn't have felt a thing."

I watched her take a couple of deep breaths. "This sucks, sir. I've already seen too many people die since the bloody geth..."

"We're marines, Chief. We've all seen death too many times."

"How do you cope, sir? With all that you've done already?"

"Fight on in their memory. Make the bastards who did it bleed then die in retribution."

"Revenge?"

"In a way. Already got payback on Haliat for what he did to Elysium. Now I'm going to make Saren pay for all his insanity, and for making me have to leave Alenko behind."

"Will we have a memorial service for him?" I nodded. "I'd like to do a reading, if possible."

"Of course, Chief. We'll do it tomorrow. Think it's best we just... take it easy tonight."

No-one was really in the mood for much conversation as we ate dinner, everyone heading off to be alone with their thoughts pretty much straight away. I headed back to my quarters, sat down at my desk, and started to write the letter required. I'd never had to write one before. Even the one for Jenkins had been written by Anderson. I still had to report in to the Alliance and let them know what happened.

"Commander, I've just received word from the Citadel. The Council are requesting the Normandy return immediately."

"Any reason why, Joker? We have the location of where Saren likely headed next."

"No, Commander. Just that your presence is expected straight away."

"Well that's just fucking stupid," I mumbled, "Okay, Joker, take us to the Citadel and I'll see what they want."

It took me a couple of hours but I eventually finished the letter of condolence. I read it back at least half a dozen times. It just sounded so hollow. I really liked Alenko, he was a good man, and certainly didn't deserve how he died. But there are regulations to these letters and they just come across as... well, a little fake, to be honest.

I was just about ready to hit the hay when there was a knock at the door. I opened it to find Ashley standing on the other side. Without a word she simply stepped forward to hug me. Ashley Williams didn't cry. Or, at least, I'd never seen her cry. She may have done it in private, but for her to do it in front of me? That was something new. I shut and locked the door and simply closed the embrace.

I held her for as long as I felt her shudder from the tears until she finally seemed to calm down, feeling her relax in my arms. I raised a hand to gently stroke her hair, my other arm wrapped tightly around her body. I inhaled her scent, and even after everything, there was a trace of deodorant and perfume. I could feel her body moulded into mine.

She leaned back and her kiss wasn't a surprise. I responded straight away, though it didn't last long, resting our foreheads against each other. "I really want this, Shepard," she whispered, "I want to end this shit day with something... good..."

"Ash..."

"I know you like me, Shepard. I know you want me, but I also understand why... you pull back."

"I have to. I can't get close to anyone under my command. It will cause... problems, for me."

She met my eyes. "Can I stay the night? Maybe you can just... you know, hold me?"

"You know it won't just be that."

She leaned forward and kissed me again, this time deepening it immediately. My body reacted of its own accord, pushing her back until she was pressed against the wall, hearing her whimper as I broke the kiss and gently bit her neck. "Shepard," she breathed. I kissed back up, our mouths meeting. My mind was in turmoil. I'd just lost a good friend. I really shouldn't be doing this with her. I really wanted to see her naked.

It was a real battle of wills. I could have slid my hand down her trousers and they'd have come away wet. I definitely poked her, which caused her to smile even while kissing me.

I broke apart again, taking a step back this time. She looked part pleased, part shattered. No doubt her mind was in complete turmoil. I walked to the bathroom and grabbed a towel, handing it to her. "Have a shower first. Get rid of everything from today. And before you ask, yes, I'd like to join you, but no, I'd better not."

"I'll just walk out naked."

I couldn't help chuckle. "If you want, by all means. But I'll still be sitting here dressed."

She disappeared and I soon heard water running, sitting back at my desk, signing off the letter and sending it off. I'm sure Anderson would be in contact soon enough to offer his thoughts and condolences too. I was sitting back, reading reports, when I looked at the time and realised she'd been in there quite a while.

Knocking at the door, there was no response. "Ash?" I asked softly. Still no response. "Ashley?" I asked again.

Taking a deep breath, I opened the door to find her sat under the water against the wall. It had turned cold by now. Taking off my jacket, I immediately covered her as I sat down next to her, holding her in my arm as I turned off the water. I heard her teeth chatter so stood up to grab a towel, kneeling in front of her and at least drying off her hair.

Sitting down next to her again, she slowly but surely sat up before straddling my lap, and I got a good look at her naked body for the first time. She was gorgeous. Slim and athletic. Breasts were probably a C if I guessed correctly. Little fur above her pussy. And the tell-tale signs of battle we all knew well. She leaned down to kiss me again, my hands going to her naked back. I felt a long scar on her lower left, a bullet wound on her upper right. As for her hands, they were busy unbuckling my belt.

"Fuck it," I muttered, which made her, of all things, giggle.

Cock released, it didn't take long for her to slide down it, gasping as I filled her. Once my length was inside her, she kissed me even harder. "I need this, Shepard," she breathed, "Please."

"Wrap your legs around me."

She did that as I managed to lift myself up, Ashley hanging on as I carried her to my bed. Resting her back, I threw off the rest of my clothes and joined her, immediately sliding inside her once again. "Wow," she whispered, "You're fucking built, Shepard. I mean, totally hot."

I couldn't help chuckle at her tone. "You're not bad yourself, Chief Williams."

"Not bad?"

"Gorgeous," I replied with a smile.

She draped one arm around the back of my neck, caressing my cheek with her other arm, as we slowly coupled. Her lip trembled from time to time as no doubt her emotions were all over the place. All I did was gaze into her eyes the entire time, leaning down to kiss her every so often, letting her know how beautiful she was, or how good she felt the rest of the time. Feeling her legs wrap around me, it changed the angle and made her cry out. "Fuck that's good," she moaned.

"We didn't even have foreplay, Ash," I mentioned.

"I just wanted this tonight, Shepard. I just wanted... you. I wanted us. After everyth..."

I kissed her before she could finish. "I understand. Grief works in weird ways."

"Done this yourself?"

I stopped as I was buried inside her. "After Elysium... I went wild. A long line of... you know, they meant nothing, it was just..." I trailed off. "This is different, at least. I genuinely liked you for starters."

She pushed me off her, showing her surprising strength, before she mounted me, resting hands on my chest. "Just so you know for next time, Shepard, I love to ride cock." She gyrated as I was buried inside her, watching her face light up as she moaned. "And I think I'm going to love riding yours."

Ashley Williams was right about one thing. She definitely loved riding my cock as she had her first orgasm within a few minutes. I thought she would have wanted to stop but she kept going, and enjoyed a second one a few minutes later. That's when I grabbed her firm arse, got my legs into position, and really fucked her. That made her lean down, resting her forearms on the bed, lips pressed against mine, as I felt the oncoming orgasm.