Ch.9 - Sweeping the Aqueduct

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Leaving Ashley behind with some of the Normandy crew to watch over the colony, the remaining members of the squad made their way through the same building the Commander had cleared during the Geth assault earlier.

Zhu's Hope's leader, Fai Dan, the same middle aged man who had questioned the group I was with when securing the colony, had informed us that the path to our destination lay pass the elevator to the old Prothean Skyway which led to the heavily defended ExoGeni Headquarters.

That last part was something rather predictable, but not highly appreciated by the Commander if her annoyance at the situation was to be believed.

Understandable really. The Mako would have limited mobility on the Skyway, facing against well prepared Geth anti-vehicle and heavy units strategically placed to stop any possible intrusion while they operate from the ExoGeni HQ. Not ideal, but I do believe the Commander's… unorthodox driving… skills should help get through things while the rest of us keep the Colony and Normandy secure.

Fai Dan had also asked us about possibly finding other colonists, or at least their bodies, down in the tunnels below. They had went down to hopefully help fix the problems plaguing Zhu's Hope but very few ever returned. The last party to go down went not long before our own arrival and he was hopeful about their survival.

"Eyes up people. Don't want those new Geth types to get the drop on us. Neo, use that fancy armor and Tali, those upgrades should be of use." The commander ordered as we neared the stairs leading down to the tunnels.

Just in time for me to pick up some sounds beyond our own.

Heavy breathing.

Rushing footsteps.

Metal on stone.

"Contact!" I loudly warned as I whipped my M-96 Mattock over and fired on the same new infiltration model I had witnessed the remains of earlier as it attempted to settle itself on a wall, causing it to instead slam into it and leave a white trail of fluid as it slumped to the floor.

At that moment, a woman was seen rushing towards us as Geth weapons fired upon her, luckily missing as she went around a pillar to the flight of stairs we were on.

"Oh god, help me!" She desperately yelled as she ran up the stairs.

A second new model the appeared on a central column of the stairwell and seemed to aim its head at the woman and tried to fire something from its camera and flashlight-like head before another of my bullets pierced it, send it tumbling down the stairwell before it could kill the woman.

"Protect the colonist!" Shepard hurriedly ordered as she and Wrex immediately stepped up to take on the incoming infantry with brutal efficiency, Garrus took aim over the railing to shoot incoming reinforcement, Liara used her biotics to shield the woman and Tali sent out her combat drone before using her programs to wreak havoc on Geth systems.

Following the Commander's order, I placed the female colonist behind myself and made sure nothing could get the drop on us with Garrus.

"Thankyouthankyouthankyou!" The woman rapidly said in near panic.

"Stay behind me and do not run of. I can take many hits, you cannot." I calmly ordered the woman who clung to my back. "Do so and you shall be safe."

Her continued presence behind me was felt, thus I focused on assisting the team clean up the pursuing Geths until they were no more.

"Clear!" The Commander declared as she began making her way back.

"You are safe now ma'am. You can let go of my armor." I then calmly said to the woman who still clung to me as she breathed heavily.

"She doesn't look good Neo." Tali commented as she inputted some things on her Omni-tool.

"She's still likely in shock. Clinging to a safety pillar. You see that a lot when civilians get involved in these types of things." Garrus informed as he took a look at the woman.

Hearing his words, I decided to… reach out to the colonist with my own mind as I did for those who I tried to sooth in the past.

Safety.

Warmth.

Calm.

Slowly I felt her frayed mind relax.

But then I felt something… odd.

'A connection?' I wondered as this was something I've never come across.

She felt connected to other beings. Not us, but towards the colony.

'Humans aren't like this. Krogan, Quarian, Turian and Asari are not either, unless Wrex, Tali, Garrus and Liara are outliers somehow. So what is this?' I questioned internally as I now faced the woman.

She seemed absolutely average for the species. Short black hair, messy from her hostile encounter with the Geth, brown eyes, still a bit frantic, dirty face indicating she is in her late 20's or early 30's from Caucasian descent, wet and damaged colonist clothing of substandard quality.

"Thank you for saving me." She seemed to earnestly say as she mainly looked at me.

"It is what we should do ma'am." I slowly tell her as I tried to understand her connection.

"And you did real good there Neo. Great shots and even greater reaction." The commander praised as she made her way to us and looked at the female colonist. "Nothing hurting right?"

"N-no. Just some scraps and bruises. Can't say the same for the others." She answered with some nervousness, likely from being surrounded by unknowns with many weapons and obvious skills, but there was also sadness.

"What happened?" Shepard softly asked the colonist.

"We went down, five of us, to try and fix the water, maybe scavenge some things from the garage to help us deal with the Geth. It didn't go well. By the time we turned on the first connection, the Geth were all over us. We bunkered down and tried to make an opening but nothing was working and their numbers just kept increasing. So finally Sam, he suggested we make a run for it so at least one of us could get out and inform Fai Dan." She said as she told her tale with difficulty. "The others kept getting hit and screaming for us to keep going until it was only me. I ran and ran, made it to the stairs, barely avoiding getting hit until I saw you guys and I had hope. The rest is now."

"You're safe now. The way back is clear. Go back, get some rest." Shepard empathically said as a pat of the woman's shoulder. "But before you go, anything we should know?"

"Um, t-the Geth acted differently." The woman answered with difficulty. "N-near a really large white one."

"A command unit?" Tali questioned as she looked up from her Omni-tool.

"Most likely." Shepard answered with a serious look.

"Or maybe a unit which enhances Geth processing." I suggested as the possibility existed before turning to the colonist. "Thank you for the warning ma'am. Please return to the colony while we handle its troubles."

"R-right. If you find the bodies of the others, please let us know." She responded with a look I believe should convey graciousness before running off.

"Alright people, look alive. The Geth are likely to be more coordinated, but I doubt that'll slow us down much. Let's get a move on." The Commander ordered as the colonist woman left.

'I will need to have a closer look at the colonists once we return. This connection of hers intrigues me.' I thought with a final glance back before taking my position near the head of the group, flanking the Commander with Wrex as Garrus takes the back with Lt. Alenko and our other female teammates remain in the center as support.

We found no resistance on our way to the correct level.

It was likely that all immediate guard forces were sent after the colonists whom preceded us.

Reaching the aqueduct system, which consisted of a grand chasm of stone-like walls and infrastructure, with maintenance tunnels visible across the bridge in front of us.

Looking out, one could see other similar bridges which led to various other parts of the ancient Prothean city. To the left of the closest bridge, as was the door marked by the colonists, was where my own group would go down to find the now defunct garage.

"Eyes open." Shepard evenly advised as we made our way across the bridge before us.

No attack came, but the maintenance tunnels have seen much better days as we found ourselves with only one way forward.

"Geth signals nearby commander." Tali warned as we entered one of the areas indicated for the water system.

*Boom*

Wrex's instincts and experience allowed him to expertly take the opening rocket from a Geth Shock Trooper with his biotic barrier as the rest of us moved as a well oiled machine.

Shepard put three rounds in the nearest Geth Soldier's headlight while Garrus and I eliminated the rocket equipped unit, Dr. T'Soni shielded everyone from two sniper rounds and Lt. Alenko and Tali interfered with charging Soldier units.

Before the Sniper Units could become a true problem instead of an annoyance, Garrus and I quickly gave them new ventilation holes to free up Dr. T'Soni, allowing her to [Lift] the Soldier Units for Wrex and Shepard to shoot with ease.

It took less than a minute for our squad to dismantle the small force.

"Clear!" Shepard said as she reached an active panel.

"This should be the first of the three panels for the water system." Tali said as she ran scans on the various Geth units.

"It's active. Let's keep going for the other two then." The commander said a few moments later.

"Good. Let's get moving then. I smell Krogans." Wrex informed us with an excited smirk.

"Krogans down here with Geth?" Garrus questionsd skeptically.

"Probably hired." Wrex answered with a careless shrug.

"According to prior reports for this mission, it would not be the first time Saren Arterius has employed Krogan mercenaries." I inputted factually.

"True. Thanks for the heads up Wrex." Shepard said with a nod of acknowledgement. "Now, Kaiden, take your group to the garage and get things done while we take the transmitter and activate the rest of the water valves."

"On it Commander." Lt. Alenko replied as he gestured for Tali, Dr. T'Soni and I to follow him into the door to our left after exiting the first maintenance tunnel.

Meanwhile, Shepard, Wrex and Garrus crossed the bridge to the right.

"From what the colonists said, the Varren are led by an alpha, so they are likely to be more organized and dangerous than your usual pack." The Lieutenant informed as we carefully made our way through the entryway.

*Growl*

I heard the telltale growl of the reptilian-like quadrupedal predator before the others.

"They know we approach Lieutenant. Orders?" I informed, causing our two female comrades to halt.

"Neo, you and me are picking them off. They'll charge as soon as they seen us, so we take as many out before they can get close. Tali'Zorah, you shoot the ones who get too close with your shotgun and Dr. T'Soni funnels them as best as possible using biotics." The man quickly ordered, earning nods from everyone. "Good. Let's get rid of some pests then."

As soon as we stepped out from the entryway, a Varren jumped from above us with a growl.

This caused Tali and Dr. T'Soni to momentarily freeze before I used my M-96 Mattock to swiftly shoot it through the roof of its opened maw and knocking its falling corpse aside with a swift kick.

"Everything will be ok Tali. Cover us." I steadily said to my friend before turning to face the coming Varren with he Lieutenant.

With a quick look at the coming pack, I found the alpha at the back, overlooking the charge of its brethren, impassive at their swift deaths as I efficiently reaped their lives.

*Bam* Death. *Bam* Death. *Bam* Death.

Lt. Alenko was not nearly as efficient, but his own marksmanship and biotics helped keep them Varren from overwhelming us as Tali covered those who slipped through. Dr. T'Soni was mainly [Throwing] the Varren back or [Lifting] them as crowd control methods, allowing me to focus on those still charging.

The pack itself was losing members far quicker than they were making progress.

From the original 27 I had counted, which included the one who jumped us at the entryway, only 9 were left with the alpha.

"Neo, snipe the alpha! We don't want it running and becoming a problem for the colonists later." The Lieutenant ordered as he took down another Varren.

"Understood." I responded as I smoothly placed my assault rifle on my back with one hand and removed my sniper rifle from the opposite spot, unfolded it, took aim and…

*Blam!*

Blew the head off the alpha in one perfect shot.

"Nice shot!" Lt. Alenko cried out, looking impressed. "Now let's clean the leftovers."

With that, I quickly exchanged weapons back to my Mattock and followed the Lieutenant's lead as we ended the remaining pack members in an efficient manner.

*Bam*

"Clear." I announced as the final fleeing Varren tumbled to the ground.

"Good job." Lt. Alenko said as he looked over the two dozen Varren corpses. "Nice shooting Neo."

"Thank you Lieutenant." I replied as I forewent humility and calmly accepted the compliment to my performance.

From my own point of view, the performance was acceptable.

Near perfect accuracy, which was improved after Varren patterns were identified, efficient weapon change, and no damage to the squad.

Points for performance improvement lay in my teammates, but teamwork covered minor errors and deficiencies.

"Now, Tali'Zorah and I will check out these busted M-29 Grizzlies for power cells while you and Dr. T'Soni keep an eye out for any Varren or Geth." Lt. Alenko said in a decisive manner.

"On it." Tali quickly replied as she went towards the nearest vehicle.

I simply nodded and went up above the entryway to use it as a vantage point.

From here I could see the remains of a dozen Grizzlies, but only a few had the power area still accessible or intact. The garage doors were completely caved-in as well, which will be something the colonists will need to fix if long term colonization will still be happening after the Geth situation has been handled.

It did not take more than ten minutes for one of the two scavenging to find what was requisitioned of us.

"Ah Ha! Got it!" Tali cheerfully cried out as she waved power cells in her hands.

And unsurprisingly, Tali was indeed first to find viable power cells. My friend is much more used to such matters, having gone through four more vehicles than the Lieutenant.

"Good. Secure them and let's head out." Lt. Alenko ordered as Tali did just that while we grouped up at the entryway. "All our objectives here are complete, now we just need to keep the way back clear of Geth for the Commander."

Making our way back was not difficult.

We did hear gunfire further ahead from the junction we had split up, indicating that the commander and her team had moved forward.

"We set up shop in first maintenance tunnel. Neo in front, Dr. T'Soni at the back and me and Tali'Zorah in the middle. Nothing gets through but keep an eye out just in case they somehow get behind us." Lt. Alenko ordered smoothly.

Without a word, our team placed itself according to his order. My riffle pointing at the entrance we had used earlier.

A few minutes later.

"Kaiden, you and your team done with the garage?" The commander suddenly asked through our comms.

"Yes commander. Keeping the way back cleared now." The Lieutenant answered.

"Alright. I'm sending Garrus and Wrex back, but I need Neo for something." She said.

"Roger that. Sending him now." He responded with a nod as he gestured to me, which I nodded to and backed away from my position while keeping my riffle aimed at the entry.

As soon as I left the maintenance tunnel, I turned around and swiftly but carefully made my way through the trail of Geth bodies left behind by the commander.

On the way i silently passed Wrex and Garrus, sharing a nod of acknowledgment with both, noticing neither were injured and their armors were clean enough if one ignores the blood on Wrex's. The large white command unit was also there, with a leaking hole through its chest, likely from Wrex's shotgun.

I found the commander at the end of the accessible parts of the aqueduct, standing by an apparently frantic male colonist.

The man had short brown hair, early signs of aging, dirt on his tired face, bloodshot eyes, and wearing the same type of rough but tough colonist attire.

What caught my attention was the fluctuating feeling he was giving off.

As if in pain, but not his doing.

External…Connected.

Something was causing him pain.

"Neo, you're here. Good." The commander welcomed me with some seriousness as she remained on guard against the man.

"What is required of me commander?" I asked as I stood in attention.

"Nothing much. It's just, you know how you said you could 'calm minds' and 'sooth pain'?" She asked in whisper as she was careful to not let the man hear us, to which I nodded. "Do you think you could do that to him? He sounds like he's about to say important things but then goes crazy or like he's in pain. I want to know why if possible."

"Commander, this man is not responsible for his suffering." I informed her quietly, which made her eyes widen. "There is a…connection. The same for that female colonist we encountered earlier, but it is causing this man pain for some reason."

"A connection? Wait, he said something about invoking the master's whip. Is it possible that he wasn't saying something crazy but actually being punished for trying to say something?" She asked me as she was solving a puzzle.

"Likely, but you must be aware that this connection leads towards the colony." I said to give her more information.

"You think you could cut it off? Or at least stop it long enough for me to ask questions?" Shepard asked me in a serious manner.

"Maybe I could interfere enough, but I would advise against it." I answered truthfully.

"Why? This could be important." She questioned with narrowed eyes.

"It could warn the one behind this connection." I answered as a myriad possibilities and approaches passed through my mind. "Let me investigate from within the colony as you lead your team to the ExoGeny Headquarters, Commander. This way I can quietly handle the situation without risking the connected colonists being used against us by the controller."

The commander fell into deep thought for a few moments at my suggestion.

"Alright. You do that. We'll also have everyone load up on nonlethal options once we get back just in case things turn bad. I don't want to have to kill a whole colony because something freaky is happening." Shepard said with a nod.

"Understood. Thank you for your trust." I replied evenly.

"Anything you could do for him?" She then asked as she pointed to the man.

"Not without risking being caught." I answered with a shake of my head.

"That's too bad." She said with a sigh his way before looking away. "Then let's head back. We're done down here."

"Understood Commander." I replied as I followed the red haired woman back.

We regrouped with the rest of the team, finding out that some remnant Geth did try to attack, only to be dismantled by the members present with ease. But aside from this, our return to the colony was easy.

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EXTRA AUTHOR NOTES:

And that's the colony missions done.

I tried to adjust the number of ennemies a bit for the larger squad, but some standard Geth and a pack of Varren really shouldn't be much of a challenge.

Other than that I tried to have a bit more of a showcase for Neo's abilities as his reflexes and physical stats allow for the fastest reaction time by far.

As a result he saved that female colonist that should have been killed in the stairs and slaughtered Varren like it was nothing. I was kind of tempted to have him use his Mattock in one hand and his M-22 Eviscerator shotgun in the other while fighting the Varren, but they just weren't enough of a threat.

Thanks to Neo though, the squad is finding info about the Thorian in advance, even if they don't know it yet. I think how they're handling this is better than just rushing through an investigation and shows caution and at least a good level of intelligence. Some people might disagree but no one from the Normandy knows about the stupid mind control plant, so they're not gonna go crazy when an unknown mind controller is on the loose and has the colonists essentially hostage against them.

Anyway, I know this was a bit too much of following the games, but next chapter will be more original I hope.

Hope you still enjoy.