Hell or High Water (1.3)

Hell or High Water (1.3)

…

Commissioned by Sivantic

Wordcount: 2500

…

The Krogan, Wrex, gazed at me from across the vehicle bay. He had a soldier’s countenance. Ready to fight, ready to kill, and ready to save his own life. All who passed him by were weighed and measured as threats.

He feared no one aboard the Normandy.

But he did acknowledge the greatest threats to him.

The three of which were myself, Shephard, and Vakarian.

Vakarian utilized a high-caliber sniper rifle with an assault rifle. His tech mines were very effective, and his armor and barriers were good. Wrex’s shotgun and assault rifle would have difficulty punching through his defenses before the Turian could destroy his shields and land killing blows.

Shephard had an extensive skill set, but was primarily a hybrid between soldier and engineer. Her abilities focused on disrupting enemy shields and weapons rapidly, during combat, and dispatching them with concentrated fire. Her armor was robust, as were her barriers, and she moved and fired with practiced ease, while utilizing all her gadgets. Wrex could only hope to charge at her and hope for the best, while enduring heavy attacks, if he wished to defeat her.

Finally, there was me.

He viewed me as a threat, because he knew he wouldn’t be able to find me or the arsenal I carried, if he lost sight of me.

And, if we fought, he would lose sight of me.

So, I let him look as much as he wished at my weapons, as I tinkered and used the resources available upon the Normandy.

Better to lull to him into a false sense of security, than confront him fully alert.

And, I was free to upgrade my body as I wished.

Mouse had done as I’d told him, before I sent him and the children off the Citadel. He left room for upgrades, and with what I salvaged from Barla Von’s office, I had enough Omni-Gel and spare parts to cannibalize for minor upgrades.

For now, I focused on the most important parts first.

Exhaust vents for the built-in oxygen tanks, for easier traversal in space, and redundant seals.

Then, increased torque for limbs, for greater strength and the ability to overcome the enemy in close range.

Mouse spoke to me about new modules for the Omni-tool, beyond the Omni-blade. The ability to create heat-seeking, incendiary or cryogenic missiles, or a flash-fabrication of a short-range flamethrower.

Both would be good assets to have in the future, so I planned to get both.

In order to do so, I would need to be able to use two Omni-tools, and get a small tank for Omni-gel, but the advantages were obvious.

Defeating Krogan criminals would be far, far easier.

The elevator chimed open and from its confines came forth humanity’s first Spectre.

“Rorschach. Wrex. Explain yourselves.” She addressed us both in military fatigues instead of armor. White pants and black shirt. In the dim light of the vehicle bay, the scars on her face were faded, yet still present. Even without arms and armor, she carried the same dignity that she did with them. Very good. “The crew are complaining about the two of you about to kill each other. I want an explanation.”

“Hah! Is that what they thought this was? Heh.” Wrex answered and turned his gaze towards Shepard. My face allowed me to look at him even as I turned to Shepard. The cameras in my face trained themselves upon figures in the crowd until I released them. “No, Shepard, we’re just showing off, seeing who’s better, and thinking about fighting… if we actually planned on fighting, one of us would be dead already.”

“Correct.” I agreed with the Krogan with a single nod. “One of us would be dead, if either of us planned to kill the other. There isn’t, so neither of us are dead.”

I turned my head to return back to my work, as did Wrex, but Shepard was not pleased with our answer.

“How about the two of you explain yourselves better, so I can tell the crew that they can come in here and prepare the Mako without worrying about a fight?”  Shepard glanced at the armored vehicle within the bay. I found it strange. All this technology, yet they used an armored tank? An armed shuttle would be quieter, faster, and capable of providing air support. The Archimedes had been a pleasant asset to have for missions. “Why don’t you go first, Rorschach? They seem more scared of you than the Krogan. You haven’t offered anyone a single word since you made your little… workshop.”

My place in the vehicle bay was within a shipping container. I emptied the contents, tore out a side, and created a desk to work from. A socket was available for electricity, and I began my work maintaining my body after I completed it. It reminded me of the Citadel’s vents, yet without hazards such as exhaust fans or drops. It was more pleasant that way.

I didn’t care to answer Shepard’s question, but I was on her ship, and I wished for her help, so I obliged with the truth.

“Tell them to be brave and better.” I expected better of Alliance personnel. However, it seemed that even on the Normandy, men and women are weak and frail. I shouldn’t have expected better. The Earth in this universe broke and fell apart, before entering the stars. Humanity will always be the same. “Or, at least, be ignorant and keep their heads bowed.”

Shepard frowned at my words.

Wrex chuckled deeply.

“Couldn’t have said it better myself.” The Krogan in red armor turned towards Shepard. Her frown deepened at his words. “Tell your people to grow a quad, Shepard. We’re just minding our own business down here. We’re not doing anything wrong. I don’t think the Alliance can get very far if their technicians can’t work under a little pressure.” He laughed again. “How are they supposed to act if some enemies get aboard? Are they supposed to just ran after you and complain?”

Shepard’s frown turned into a scowl, and her teeth grit… until her eyes drifted over to me and she took a measured breath.

I had to pause in my work, as she suddenly, surprisingly reminded me of Daniel.

Odd.

I expected her to be more like the Comedian.

“Alright, I understand that the two of you haven’t done anything wrong, and the crew has overblown what’s going on. However, I need crews working sooner on the Mako, rather than later.” The words were smooth, but lacked any foul sweetness. She was trying to reason with us, not flatter us with sickly words. Wrex nodded at the words without thinking, appreciative of the respect being showed to him. I hold my ground, so Shepard turned her gaze towards me. “So, I would like to ask the two of you to focus on other things, instead of standing off. I’ll talk to the crew about their complaints, and have them change, but I want them working on the Mako first.”

Wrex attempted to appear disinterested, but he was pleased with the statement.

“Fine, Shepard. Have it your way.” The words were grunted out, but the Krogan kept his word immediately, and stopped gazing my way.

Leaving Shepard waiting on me.

I gave her a single nod, and took entirely to the confines of my new home.

She waited for a vocal response, until I began soldering once again.

She sighed and left a moment later, and left me to my work.

…

There was a “knock” on the side of my container, and I when I answered the call, I was unsurprised to find who was there.

Garrus Vakarian, C-Sec Investgator.

The one who knew me best amongst the entire Normandy.

Not personally, but through association.

He contacted me alone, when both Wrex and Willians chose to retire, along with the rest of the crew.

“Barla Von’s dead. Every clue points towards Fist being dead because of you. I’m sure that I can link a lot more murders to you to, if I tried.” The words were succinct and simple. No accusation. Only a statement of fact. “Tell me why I shouldn’t hand you over to the security team.”

If only law enforcement in my first life was as willing to understand and ask the right questions.

“C-Sec is a good organization. Fast, strong, and capable. You keep the peace on the Citadel.” C-Sec was good. A small, well-armed organization with the tools, talent, and ability to police millions of individuals on the Citadel. The Citadel had no gangs, criminals were detained swiftly, and their information network was massive. “But C-Sec can’t be everywhere. Politics, subterfuge, and hidden rules keep you away from others who can cause harm to the innocent. I want those people dead.”

“Murder is still very, very illegal. You’re going to have to do better than that.” The Turian was clad in his armor. Upon his belt was a pistol electric rounds, and a set of cuffs. His arms were crossed, and he awaited my answer. He wanted to hear a better reason. “What about Barla Von’s information network? What were his links to Saren?”

This was an investigation.

He wished to find clues about his current foe by threatening information out of a criminal.

I approved and so held up both the copies I made of Barla Von’s and Fist’s Omni-tools.

“Take them.” Vakarian seemed surprised by my words. He didn’t move, and simply stared, until I raised them up closer to him. Then, his talons took both. “Barla Von’s data is heavily encrypted, I’ve only finished decoding half of it. Fist’s is fully decrypted, and I’ll be finished with his terminal in a moment, and give it to you.”

I worked in silence within the confines of my container, until the Turian spoke again.

“And… these are the only copies? You aren’t keeping any to use for your own… operations?” Vakarain gingerly waited for the information, and hesitated as I offered him the last copy of Fist’s information. I began to work on Barla Von’s system after dealing with Fist’s. “Rorschach?”

I considered telling him the entire truth, but refrained.

“They are not copies. They are the original. I have already extracted and memorized the information I needed.” Fist had very little information I needed. Now that his network was revealed to C-Sec, all his worthless works were going to fall apart. Barla Von’s information was too valuable and too extensive to give up. I had multiple copies. Several on the Citadel. Other in parcels heading out of the Citadel to locations I prepared. “I’ll give you this copy once I have decrypted it.”

Vakarain was silent for a moment. As an investigator, he knew that he held in his hands incredible information which could propel his career to the top. His work and effort would soon be realized, and ahead of him lay many achievements and accolades, as well as the satisfaction of a job well done.

He was trying to find the right ways to say as thanks.

Or, so I thought, until he extended Barla Von’s original copy my way.

He said nothing. There was no explanation of why he extended it towards me, but he did with features set in stone.

I took the data slip and gave him the copy without a word, and after that he left me to my work.

If only there were more men like him, those who understood that some things must be done in order for true justice to be born, the galaxy would be a better place.

But it wasn’t.

Therefore, both he and I had much work and compromises to do.

Still, it was gratifying to know that someone understood the path I chose.

…

The Mako returned covered in scorch marks, with immense dents on its front, and covered in soot.

Wrex and Garrus were the first to disembark, along with the an Asari, and Shepard left the vehicle last carrying Geth platform.

“Tali. Rorschach. Start looking through this thing for weaknesses. Hack it. Cut it up. Put holes in it. The works.” The Quarian left her place in the engine room, so she was present for her orders as the rest shuffled in. Their armor had a few scorch marks, and there were some patches on the all that were sealed up with Medi-gel. The creatures were either fearsome fighters, or came at them in immense numbers. “Compile data between yourselves, and I’ll get to you both after speaking with the Council.”

Technicians rushed in to begin repairing the Mako, while the Normandy ascended. I left my makeshift room and joined the Quarian over the Geth platform.

“Ah… erhm…” Zorah hesitated as she looked upon me, and she wrung her hands together. Her nerves were born from not knowing how to address me, as I was the man who saved her life. I met her masked gaze with my own face.

“Let’s get to work. Get the tools and a mat.” I moved quickly, and took it my its legs, and dragged it next to where the Mako rested. Technicians were already using using the Omni-gel gathered by Shepard from weapons and armor to repair the vehicle. I could only wonder if some would be left over for my personal use, as the Quarian did as I asked. “Get a cutter!”

I looked upon the synthetic creature, a living, thinking machine, and felt nothing.

Some of the technicians looked upon it with fear, others with loathing, and many more with distrust. It was like a monster to them, instead of a sapient creature that had its own goals and motivations.

Both of which apparently aligned with Krogan mercenaries, a former Turian Spectre, and an Asari Matriach.

This was a soldier of a nation.

Nothing more and nothing less.

Though I was sure that the Quarian assisting me thought otherwise.

We worked together to lay the body upon the mat, as well as make sense of the tools she procured, before evaluating our foe more thoroughly.

The Quarian in regards to its material composition, hardware, and software.

Me in regards to its purpose, motives, and goals.

The unit was a lightly armored, but according to combat logs, its shields were hardy. Why was that? If it is within their ability to create powerful shields, why not create powerful bodies as well? Why retain the bodies and shapes given to them by their creators?

Its purpose was to destroy, yet its shield generator was an additional component to a platform not built for combat. Was it willing to give everything for its mission? It could no die, according to the Quarian, as each program had a backup. However, if it is immortal, then what could motivate it to fight?

What goal could the Geth have to begin armoring and altering their untouched forms when they cannot die?