Friday 23 August 2013

Part 7

Renswick took cover behind a pillar as Thomson lumbered towards the three mechs in the one he had taken down. He could barely see through the glass, and the armour needed repairing - but he had the element of surprise on his side.
"Atlas Alpha, we heard gunshots," said the communication device built into the mech. It was receiving radio signals from the three mechs that he was about to take down. They still didn't expect anything.
"Two soldiers only," replied Thomson, "Didn't put up much of a fight but they did a little damage. Once we're done here I'll need some repairs."
"Roger that. Any sign of the target?"
"Remind me again: who is the target?" Thomson asked.
"Lt. Thomson of course," replied a soldier from inside one of the other mechs, "We were briefed. He needs to be taken alive. Kai Leng is dealing with the Salarian. We're trying to cover up the fact that we're actually here for him with an attempt at assassination. Or something. Do any of you have any status reports from the undercover agent?"
"No. Nothing. We assume that he is deep undercover and doesn't have the time to send us a message."
Thomson moved. He grasped the nearest mech's arm and swung it so it crashed against a second mech's glass dome - shattering it and killing the soldier inside. The third mech opened fire but he moved the first one into the way of the incoming rounds so it was taken out instead. It sparked and collapsed to the floor.
Renswick fired a concussive shot into the dome of the remaining mech - which staggered it slightly and gave Thomson time to close in and fire a rocket into its legs - making it crash dome-first into the floor.
He then deactivated the mech and climbed out of the cockpit. The soldier from the final mech climbed out from underneath the wreckage.
"Why do you want to capture me?" Thomson demanded, aiming his rifle at the mech pilot.
The Cerberus soldier laughed slightly, despite his injuries, "And now that is an interesting question. It's all part of a plan, you see. A very devious plan. But... you are not permitted to know the details. It's a need to know basis."
Thomson sighed and used a shockwave to propel the mech pilot over the balcony and down a - at least- one kilometre drop to the bottom of the Citadel.
Renswick approached the four downed mechs, "Wow, that was awesome."
"Thanks. But we need to continue. We need to stop Kai Leng, who I presume is an assassin. I get that he is pretty much just a decoy but we need to stop him killing the councillor."
"And what if it's a trap?"
"Then we'll spring it and come out on top. My friends are at risk. My girlfriend is at risk. I'm pretty sure if anyone wants to mess with me right now then I'd rip them apart. I am not going to stand for this bullshit. Cerberus are fucking idiots and I won't rest until every single Cerberus officer on the Citadel is destroyed. We have enough shit to deal with - with the Reapers and all - without them fucking it up. We should be working together. They shouldn't be trying to kill us at a time like this!"
"I agree. Let's go."
As they moved near a door leading to another part of the Citadel it hissed open automatically. Thomson swung his gun on to his back and decided to rely on biotics instead. Renswick still kept his gun, since he lacked any biotic abilities.
"Do you have any idea who the undercover agent could be?" Renswick asked as they proceeded into another room.
"I have no idea. One problem at a time."
The next room was occupied. A man wearing black armour and carrying two swords in his hands. He had a black visor which covered his eyes, but he was otherwise wearing no helmet.
Kai Leng.
"Freeze!" Renswick yelled at the Cerberus assassin, "Drop your weapons!"
Kai Leng froze.
Thomson threw his arms to the side and the assassin was thrown off his feet and into a wall. There was a grunt of surprise and pain but he was lifted up again using his biotics and slammed backwards against the hard stone.
"What do you want?!" Thomson barked at Kai Leng, "Why are you trying to capture me?"
Kai Leng grinned, "That's not entirely important right now. But if I were you I'd turn around."
"Nice try. But that's not going to work. I asked you a question, asshole."
"Seriously Lieutenant, you'll want to see this."
Thomson turned his head slightly.
"Oh fuck."
Renswick was on his knees with his hands behind his head. He had three rifles pointing at the back of his neck - carried by three Cerberus soldiers who had obviously crept behind them when they entered the room.
"Is the plan complete?" one of the soldiers asked the assassin.
Kai Leng shook his head, "We need more time."
Something heavy crunched into the back of Thomson's head and he dropped to the floor, the world fading into blackness.

Emi screamed at the Cerberus soldiers who had threatened to torture her and now carried her out of the Falcon and into a remaining shuttle.
"Bosh'tets!" she cried, "... You're all b-"
"Shut the fuck up," growled one of the soldiers, "We don't need you unharmed, only alive."
"... I hope you understand Thomson will come looking for you... and that will be bad news for you, you stupid bosh'tet of a human..."
"We're counting on that. Our plan is rather simple once you understand it," responded the second soldier, "We're dealing with the last pockets of resistance against us from the Falcon crew. The Citadel is ours. And now we will be escaping."
"... Where to?" Emi asked, tears starting to flow down her face freely in thick trickles.
"Ground zero," grinned the first soldier, "Earth. Where else?"
"... But... you can't... the Reapers..."
"The Reapers will provide a perfect distraction for Thomson once he comes looking for you. He can't fight the Reapers and us at the same time. We will defeat him and our plan will continue."
"... How will he know where we've gone?"
"And that," grinned the second Cerberus soldier, "Is what we need you alive for."
"But as he said," added the first soldier, "We don't have to leave you unharmed."
He drew a knife.

"... I'm so sorry Thomson," Emi mumbled into the Omni-tool being held up to her mask, "... I don't love you any more... there was someone else... someone on the Citadel... someone nicer than you... we've gone to Earth... to London... to see what we can do to help the fight against the Reapers... he is a Commander... he outranks you and he thinks that we have a chance at destroying them if we work together... keelah se'lai..."
The orange hologram disappeared.
"... Bosh'tet!" she screamed at her captor, "... I hate you... so much... how could you make me do that to him?!"
The piece of parchment that had contained her 'script' was taken away from underneath her helmet - out of the view of the camera on the Omni-tool.
Her captor grinned, "You know why. To get his attention."
Renswick was sat down at the other side of the room. He smiled ever so slightly, "At least that will get his attention. He will try and find us."
Emi sobbed, "... And that's what I'm worried about..."
Her captor raised his Omni-tool and effortlessly hacked into her suit's artificial nerve stimulation system and delivered searing pain which scorched through her entire body. The room was full of her screams that slowly echoed across the battle-scarred remains of the city of London that was under occupation of several looming black Reapers.

1 comment:

  1. It's horrible in an awesome way, which is awesome, plus it ends on a cliffhanger again, which is also awesome, and they all look doomed, which is also awesome, and Thomson thinking Emi'll've betrayed him is agonising, which is also awesome, so in other words, it's awesome. :)

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