Hell or High Water (1.4)

Hell or High Water (1.4)

…

Commissioned by Sivantic

Wordcount: 2500

…

The Quarian spoke to Shepard and the Normandy’s crew about the weaknesses of the Geth. With the Quarian’s help, the System’s Alliance crew modified the weapons and equipment of the ground team.

C-Sec taser rounds were overcharged in order to work better against shields, as well as cause more damage to Geth units. Technical attacks such as Overload became a common technique all within the ship practiced. Specialized ammunition blocks were requisitioned to better increase conductivity, while the Mako gained a tungsten, anti-armor ammunition block to supplement its high-explosive payload.

The Normandy was crewed and supported as well as the Systems Alliance could.

Because the whole galaxy was watching, the human race could not afford to look weak, infirm, and incapable. The Normandy needed to be on the cutting edge, as it held humanity’s first Spectre, who now chased a rogue Spectre. Upon Shepard’s success, with humanity’s backing, the System Alliance can tout their power and prestige across the galaxy

No matter how much things changed, human nature stayed the same, and time moved ever-onward.

Shepard turned to me and awaited my report, after the Quarian gave her own.

Without hesitation, I told her of my findings.

“The Geth aren’t a full strength yet. We haven’t seen their true abilities yet.” A few engineers in the hold stop. The Quarian stiffens. Shephard’s cool gaze narrows and her jaw tightens. A part of her suspected this. Good. “Take a look.”

The Quarian takes a step back, while Shepard takes a step forward and peers at the historical record I accessed.

The original Geth platform mimicked the Quarian form extensively. They were not only AI laborers, but also domestic servants. They stood not with hunched backs, but much like their creators. However, what was more important was the rudimentary nature of their chassis, the amount of material in each one, and the difference between what was encountered now.

Over time the Geth changed, innovated, and worked upon their designs. The Citadel forbid entry into the Perseus Veil, but a few pictures of Geth units were available over the decades on the Extranet by individuals “lost” to history. The last model built by Quarian hands, the interim models, and the current model built by Geth were all different.

“What is it exactly do you want me to see, Rorschach?”  Shepard crossed her arms, while I explained.

“Their designs of their chassis since the Quarian Morning War has been focused on refinement. Less material, less cost, and more efficiency.” The Geth streamlined themselves, changed their forms, and saw their chassis as only vehicles to make more efficient to travel in. “What you’re fighting now, what you’re preparing against, are basic models jury-rigged for war.”

Shepard’s gaze narrowed and looked upon the pictures I presented again. Her frown deepened, but that was her sole reaction my declaration. The other members of the crew within the hold were more obvious with their emotions.

Fear.

Terror.

Anguish.

All those emotions were present in the eyes of the engineers of the Normandy.

A force that destroyed one of their planets, the destroyed a local garrison, and who now fights against the Alliance has been revealed to not be using their full potential. The enemy that they were preparing against, working hard to defeat and overcome, was set to immensely increase in strength.

The Quarian shivered at the thought.

However, Shepard’s gaze only hardened and she stood taller upon noticing the results of my words.

“The, what do you recommend, Rorschach? We have the best damn ship in the galaxy, all the supplies the Alliance has to offer, and a mission to complete. If there’s anyone who can handle this problem, it’s us.” The speech is simple. It only brings to mind the Normandy’s own advantages, as well as reminding the crew of their personal missions. Nothing grand… yet with Shepard’s reputation the words invigorate the crew and make them all stand straighter. “So, what do you have for us, Rorschach?”

Shepard was not Ozymandias. She did not see herself as a peerless leader who could not reply upon others. She valued the crew, the people who worked under her, and sought to keep them safe and effective. Despite her past, despite being known as the Butcher of Torfan, she was reminding me more and more of Daniel and his idealism and honor.

Though only time will tell whether she’ll compromise both of those for the whims of the people as he did.

But for now, she once again earned my help.

“Push forward harder. Find more help. Gather more supplies and stronger munitions. Tell the Alliance to do the same.” I accessed my Omni-tool. Mouse has many contacts with the Citadel. Many were now most likely preparing stock for a possible war against the Geth to sell to the market. I transfer that information over to Shepard.  “The fight will only grow harder as the Geth improve. Expect Geth Units with stronger shields, more armor, and better chassis for every encountered type. I recommend increased firepower in the short term, and more protection in the long term.”

I met the gaze of the first human Spectre as my words resonated with the entire crew. If she did not convey my advice, or follow it, then causalities and harm upon both the Normandy and the Alliance may become her fault.

I expected anger and hate in her eyes, but I only received a decisive nod, before she turned on her heel towards the elevator.

“I’ll do that right now. Thank you for your help, Rorschach.”

Hrmm.

Definitely more like Daniel.

…

Liara T’Soni was the daughter of Matriarch Benezia, a collaborator of Saren, who attacked Eden Prime and killed thousands of individuals.

Yet she was on the ship, in a private room, and not under guard.

It was rare for entire families to follow lives of crime. I did not believe in making suspects of individuals related to criminals. Criminals are individuals who commit crimes. An individual’s actions are their own, their choices their own, and their punishment their own.

Still, my legs took me towards the room where Liara T’Son stayed, where the Asari who was trapped in an ancient device for days recovered, and my hands bypassed to lock to her door.

The Asari turned towards me in surprise, and the blue color of her visage lightened to a lighter hue as I locked the door.

I only had suspicions regarding her.

No solid evidence whatsoever.

So, I kept my distance from her, and did nothing to intimidate her.

“My name is Rorschach. You are Liara T’Soni. I have questions that I want you to answer.” I placed my hands in my coat, and paced the width of the room. It was spartan. She had a data-slate on the table. New and likely yet to be personalized. I considered accessing it, but refrained. Not a criminal. “Are you ready to answer them?”

I waited for the Asari to answer.

“Am I… am I allowed to say no?” Fear filled her. She had difficulty breathing. Somehow, she knew of me. The rest of the Normady crew? Shepard? I discarded the thoughts. It didn’t matter. It was more important to keep the Asari calm. I took no pleasure in scaring the innocent.

I stopped pacing and met the Asari’s gaze.

Though she looked like a grown, blue woman, the way she stood, wringing her hands and only barely managing to meet my gaze… I saw a child.

A teenager at best.

One being confronted by a terrifying killer.

So, I answered her as clearly as I could, with both my voice and a nod.

“Yes. You can. I have questions for you. That is all.” I preferred interrogating criminals. I broke bone, threatened them into compliance, and made sure they didn’t stray from the right path. I didn’t know how to gather information from civilians. I disliked it. I preferred eavesdropping and gathering information passively. T’Soni had nothing I could simply take and copy, and she was reclusive and stayed within her room. “Do you understand?”

“I… yes. I do understand. You won’t ask, if I don’t want to. I-I understand.” A breath. Then, another. Three more. The Asari shivered twice before shaking her head. A silence filled the room, until she let loose a long exhale and pulled out the desk’s seat. She sat properly at first, before succumbing to her nerves, and leaning upon her knees. “I’ll answer what I can. Thank you for your consideration.”

Good.

I needed to ask her the questions Shepard hadn’t been willing to ask.

“What are your mother’s weaknesses?”

“I… I don’t know exactly. Asari Matriarchs are very powerful, and they’ve all cultivated their biotic powers extensively…” The Asari’s brow furrowed, as she recalled all that she could. I waited and listened for information. “I would say that my mother is very capable at using Stasis and Throw to control the battlefield, but I do not believe she is incapable in any other technique.”

“How capable is she in melee combat? Is she a capable Vanguard?” I read extensively about Biotics. They were a powerful group of individuals with extensive abilities. Typically, they specialized in certain abilities in order to call upon them in battle with greater ease and speed. However, Asari break the paradigm, due to being natural biotics as well as being incredibly long-lived. It is possible for them to learn and utilize an incredible number of biotic techniques. Many of which were deadly without proper preparation.

I needed to know what Liara T’Soni’s mother could do.

The Asari was quiet for a moment. The fear on her face was replaced by anger. It was a gratifying change to see, even though it was muted.

“Why… why are you asking me this? What are your intentions with my mother?” The young Asari trembled in her seat. A spark of anger reminded her of what was right and what was wrong. The truth was simple: I was asking her for information that she didn’t need to divulge. Her mother was a criminal. One that heled thousands die, but T’Soni was that woman’s innocent child. Nothing more and nothing less. “Why do you want to know!?”

I did not hesitate to answer her questions.

“I am asking you this, because if we come across her, I plan to kill her for what she did.” Liara T’Soni stood at my words. Her whole form shook and the barest hint of Element Zero danced upon her form. I prepared myself to be struck by activating my shields. However, even as she approached me and loomed over me with wide eyes and trembling lips, she did not strike. I continued to match her gaze and answer her questions. “Because if I do not ask these questions, people might die by her hand.”

Slowly the light generated by Element Zero faded from Liara T’Soni faded, as her own reasoning and intellect dissected my words and found the truth in them. She stumbled backwards until she sat upon the edge of her work table.

“My… the mother I had was strict, sometimes too strict, but I never knew her to be a woman who would help in the slaughter of an entire colony.” T’Soni wrung her hands and fretted, while holding back the tears gathering on her eyes. Long after I have prished, this child will remember this moment. For an entire millennium, she will recall being asked to help kill her mother. I made my choice upon remembering that. “But I understand, I’ll tell you—

“No. Don’t. I’ll do my own research. Gather what information I can.” This was a compromise. Even though I didn’t threaten her, or harm her physically, I was still hurting an innocent person. This was wrong. I shook my head, even as the Asari suddenly blinked in shock at my words. I moved to leave. “Hrrm.  Thank you for your time.”

“W-wait just a moment—

She stood up. In her eyes was indignation and shock, as well as the yearning to prove herself and be “right.”

But the righteousness she reached for was tainted and unacceptable.

I shouldn’t have asked.

Maybe, T’Soni would’ve shared this information on her own.

But now, after I pressured her good nature and did this, I couldn’t accept it any longer.

I met her gaze after opening the door and answered her burning question.

“Children shouldn’t be involved in their parent’s affairs. That’s all, T’Soni.”

The door closed and separated us, and I made my way back to my place on the Normandy.

…

There was several knocks to my “door” before I opened it.

“Hrrm.”

“Good morning to you too, you rat.” Ashley Williams loomed over me. Xenophobic. Military Family. Disgraced descendant. “Commander asked me to bring you up to speed on our next mission.”

“I already know. Noveria. Research facilities. Cutting edge. Corporate world.” I turned on the small light to my container. I showed her my changes to my skin. Heat transfer units powered by small cells. “I can perform a stealth insertion, gather information, and avoid detection now.”

“Huh. Wow. I’m actually impressed.” There was an edge to her voice. A mocking one that was similar to the Comedian’s. Loss. Trauma. Pain. The two of them shared it, labored under it, and refused to let it go. She crossed her arms and smirked at me. “Care to explain how you already know about confidential intelligence regarding the mission?”

I met her gaze.

“I have a bug in ever room in this ship.” I provided her with my Omni-tool’s application on the subject. “Many have managed to find and disable them. You have not. You need to be more cautious. You are fighting a Spectre.”

My words and admission stun her into silence, but she remains present.

“Okay, I have to admit… that really does impress me a little.” A sigh and a shake of the head. Then, a hardened, narrow glare. “You’re not making a very good case for anyone on this ship to trust you, kid. You’re being helpful, but everything else is fucking you over.”

The implication was simple.

This woman didn’t trust me. She believed that I was strange, different, and someone that shouldn’t be present on the Normandy.

Reasonable.

She needed work, but she was on the right path.

“I am here for information. Information only a Spectre like Shepard can access. I will leave after I get what I need to hunt down the scum in the Citadel.” I moved out of my container, and finalized my checks on my equipment. The Mako’s tires were already changed for traveling on snowy terrain. “After the Saren Arterius is apprehended, we will never see each other again.”

“So… I should just consider you as someone useful and be on my way, even though you’re supposed to watch my back in a firefight? That sounds absolutely fucking stupid.” Williams took a step forward and placed a finger on my chest. “I’m keeping an eye on you creep, and I’m going to crush all your little bugs in the ship. Shepard might want to keep you onboard, but I don’t.”

With those words, the Alliance Marine gave me a final glare and left with a scowl on her face to prepare for the mission ahead.

If she can channel that rage and anger, if she was able to put her past to use, and expand her skills, she would be a great asset to the Alliance in the future.

She could begin my finding the most recent tracker and receiver I placed on her person.