"I… still cannot believe all of this. Why would the Geth come after me? Do you really think Mo—Benezia is involved?" Liara asks, clearly torn, her expression looking painful.
Garrus replies, "Saren is looking for the Conduit. We don't know exactly what it is, but you're the Prothean expert. Clearly, he thinks you can help him find it."
"But I don't kno—" she starts, but her sentence is interrupted by a tremor, strong enough to feel like an earthquake.
Shepard raises her hand, swiftly taking charge. "Okay, let's get out of here. The entire underground is becoming unstable, probably due to our creative use of the mining laser. Joker! Get the Normandy ready and pick us up!"
"I'm starting this elevator now!" she shouts.
"One second, Commander," Alex says, sprinting towards the direction he guesses the exit will appear.
He concentrates, recalling his earlier research about this planet, and carefully studies the elevator. It looks vastly different from anything he remembers—far more detailed than the game—but its basic structure remains recognizable, albeit grander in scale.
It should be here! I am sure!
He strategically places a few of his [Mark 14 Grenades] at points where he expects the assailants to appear, using the elevator console as a rough guide.
Can't place too many… or too few. I'll keep 10 grenades and place the rest!
"Ready, sorry for the delay," Alex says.
"Placed a few grenades there? Ever the pessimist, huh? Let's hope we can avoid any more fights," Shepard says, activating the elevator, which slowly ascends towards the surface.
"That Krogan Dr. T'soni mentioned—I doubt he's given up. How many Geth were with him?" Alex asks Liara.
"Please, call me Liara. I couldn't see them all, but… a lot," she replies.
"How many did we take out earlier? Like… three, right?" Alex asks.
"Right," Tali confirms with a slightly worried tone.
"So that leaves us with how many?" Ashley asks Liara.
"Still a lot…" she replies, visibly worried.
"A lot is still too easy. You humans worry too much—and you're not any better, Asari!" Wrex interjects, clearly amused.
"You don't have an issue fighting against your own kind, Wrex?" Kaidan questions.
"Hahaha! On my home planet, that's daily business. Working as a mercenary, I even miss the good old fights against other Krogan," Wrex responds enthusiastically.
The elevator reaches the top and jolts to a halt, to the group's dismay. A Krogan emerges, accompanied not by just a handful, but by a horde of Geth.
Thankfully, Alex quickly notices they're mostly Geth Troopers—the weakest, standard infantry—but there are a few Shock Troopers and Rocket Troopers as well. A swift count reveals 16 Troopers, 2 Rocket Troopers, and 2 Shock Troopers.
Alex calls out loudly, "Sixteen Troopers, two Rocket Troopers, and two Shock Troopers, Commander. Also, there's this ugly green frog thing, so the Krogan Liara mentioned is nowhere to be seen."
"Oh, this human likes to joke. I was going to let you surrender, but guess what? That insult cost you," the Krogan retorts, angry, but a tiny hint of amusement is also visible on his face.
"How about a trade? I've got this bag of Prothean treasures. Leave Saren's side, and it's yours," Alex offers, pulling out a medium-sized pouch, smirking as he pushes his hand inside, then casually tosses it towards the Krogan.
"Fool! I'll take your treasures, but I'll never betray Saren. He is offering our race the chanc—"
Two Geth suddenly step forward, interrupting him.
"Caution, heat source detected inside the bag," a Geth declares in a monotone robotic voice. The Krogan tries to toss the bag away, but it explodes in his hand—Alex's entire stack of Annihilation Grenades detonating directly in front of him, shredding his shield and tearing his armor apart.
You have dealt 21 damage to Krogan Battlemaster.
…
…
You have dealt 19 damage to Krogan Battlemaster.
"That will cost you, human! I'll torture you slowly!" The Krogan growls, his armor now looking like it's been through ten additional years of harsh mercenary battles. He immediately activates a Barrier stronger than any Alex has seen before.
Shit…
"We don't have time for this idiot! Kill him and his Geth friends and get the hell out of here!" Shepard shouts urgently.
Alex instantly detonates his grenades with his [Cipher Tool], obliterating five Geth outright and damaging several others.
You have destroyed Geth Trooper
You have destroyed Geth Shock Trooper
You have destroyed Geth Rocket Trooper
You have destroyed Geth Trooper
You have destroyed Geth Trooper
I only placed a few grenades because I was worried about hastening the mine's collapse! It's not enough!
Alex feels the ground rumbling, but decides to ignore it for now.
After Alex's detonation of his explosives, a fierce fight breaks out, both sides desperately diving behind available cover.
Determined not to be buried alive, Alex decides to take a risk. He sprints to the side of the elevator and unleashes Thunder Sword, swiftly cutting down a generic Geth Trooper.
You have dealt 111 + 74 = 185 damage to Geth Trooper
His wide, reckless swing leaves him vulnerable, drawing immediate fire from the remaining Geth. Alex desperately retreats, seeking cover on the opposite side of the chamber, while enemy fire relentlessly follows.
You have received 30 damage (blocked by shields)
…
…
Shields down
You have received 41 damage
You have received 42 damage
He finally dives behind a sturdy metal part of the elevator, waiting anxiously for his shields to regenerate.
This is too risky… but we're on a clock! If the mine collapses, we're finished!
He sees his teammates taking down more Geth while Wrex engages in a deadly one-on-one battle with the enemy Krogan Battlemaster.
Alex Kerber: Lvl 6
HP: 293/373, MP: 56/373, AURA: 78/263,SHIELDS: 0/350
Enough for one Icewing Embrace and a couple of Thunder spells. Everything else is ineffective here!
Alex Kerber: Lvl 6
HP: 297/373, MP: 57/373, AURA: 79/263, SHIELDS: 350/350
A moment later, with restored shields, Alex carefully surveys the battlefield, using his [Brawler-Pistol] to support Tali in taking down another Geth Trooper.
You have dealt 44 damage to Geth Trooper
You have dealt 41 damage to Geth Trooper
You have destroyed Geth Trooper
It's nearly finished! More than half of the Geth are down.
As soon as Alex finishes his thought, the whole elevator shakes violently again. Alex hears multiple tunnels collapsing around them.
SHIT! I need to finish this now, whatever the cost!
Using almost all his remaining AURA to conjure Sealion's Icewing Embrace once again, he targets the real enemy—the Krogan Battlemaster—who is backed up by a couple of Geth followers fighting Wrex and Shepard.
Alex lets his remaining pitiful amount of AURA explode into the strongest Ren he can muster, casts Thunder onto a nearby Geth, and charges toward the Battlemaster, his [Nimbus Cloak] further boosting his speed.
You have dealt 39 x 2 = 78 damage to Geth Trooper
You have stunned Geth Trooper
Alex rushes toward the Battlemaster, using his last MP to activate Thundara Sword, striking at the massive Krogan.
The mighty Krogan's shields instantly break, and Alex's battered, nearly broken [Executioner's Blade R2] slashes deep into the Krogan's armor. Blood splashes wildly, the blade greedily devouring any blood that touches its surface.
You have dealt 86 + 91 = 177 damage to Krogan Battlemaster
Alex can't help but smile, satisfied with his strike. As he pulls out his sword to deliver another attack, the Battlemaster roars and fires his shotgun. To Alex's surprise, it's a [Geth Pulse Shotgun], similar to his own.
The shotgun blast hits Alex's shields up close, while the remaining Geth shift their focus to protect their leader.
You have received 199 damage (blocked by shields)
You have received 43 damage (blocked by shields)
You have received 48 damage (blocked by shields)
…
Shields down
"FUCKING DIE ALREADY!" Alex screams, striking the Battlemaster again.
You have dealt 71 damage to Krogan Battlemaster
The Battlemaster grins viciously, fires his shotgun again point-blank into Alex's armor, quickly slamming it against Alex's helmet before striking him with his fist and finally tackling him to the ground.
You have received 79 damage
Icewing Embrace durability -6
You have received 21 damage
Icewing Embrace durability -2
You have received 17 damage
Icewing Embrace durability -1
You have received 11 damage
Icewing Embrace durability -1
To Alex's shock, the Geth are firing at them both, hitting not only Alex but also striking the Krogan Battlemaster even more, ignoring his inevitable death.
You have received 31 damage
Icewing Embrace durability -3
You have received 44 damage
Icewing Embrace broken
Feeling consciousness slipping, Alex desperately casts one last Thunder at the Krogan, lighting hitting him directly, frying the Krogan up close, causing him to die, while staring at Alex. As the Krogan's eyes slowly lose focus, Alex strikes his limp body with his right fist, causing it to fall to the left. Alex then stands up, free from the Krogan's desperate final attack.
You have dealt 31 damage to Krogan Battlemaster
You have killed Krogan Battlemaster
Still under fire, Alex uses his upgraded healing ability, activating [Medigel] to rapidly restore his HP.
You have recovered 50 HP
You have recovered 50 HP
You have recovered 50 HP
You have recovered 50 HP
Alex loses himself in the chaos, notifications popping up relentlessly. Feeling his HP continuing to plummet, he throws himself aside into a safe spot while his teammates clean up the remaining Geth, allowing Alex's shields to regenerate.
Alex Kerber: Lvl 6
HP: 86/373, MP: 19/373, AURA: 7/263, SHIELDS: 350/350
Glancing at the dead Krogan Battlemaster, he spots a blue chest, but his attention swiftly shifts to Liara, who has been critically wounded by a Geth Trooper.
She isn't wearing a suit! Shit, she can't take hits!
The last Geth quickly falls, and Shepard yells urgently, "We need to get out now! There's no time left!"
The team hastily rushes toward the exit. Liara stumbles, collapsing again—her leg clearly injured.
Alex quickly snatches the blue chest as he rushes over to Liara, swiftly lifting her and running toward the exit.
"Are you okay? Can you run?" Alex asks her.
"No… my leg… I can't!" she replies, worried and in pain.
The elevator rumbles again, and Alex notices parts of it beginning to collapse.
With Liara securely in his arms, Alex, alongside his team, frantically races toward the exit—previously blocked by the Krogan and Geth. He sees several white and green chests scattered among the fallen Geth parts but shakes his head, unable to collect them.
Alex desperately runs as debris falls from above, striking him. Instinctively, he turns his body to shield Liara, who has no protection.
You have received 11 damage
Alex stumbles and nearly collapses, barely managing to keep Liara safe.
Fuck…
"Are you alright?!" she shouts anxiously.
"It's fine…" Alex lies, his body clearly in poor shape.
Struggling to his feet, he pushes himself further, feeling the tunnel collapsing just behind him.
With his AURA completely drained, Alex pushes his stamina to the absolute limit. Finally, the exit comes into view, and he stumbles out into the open air.
His breathing is ragged, gasping desperately as his suit steadily supplies oxygen.
In the distance, he sees the Normandy, Joker barely managing to land the ship a few hundred meters from the mine's exit.
Finally done…
As Alex slowly walks toward the Normandy, he briefly looks down at Liara, noticing her beautiful face staring back at him with grateful eyes, looking slightly embarrassed.
Suddenly, a realization strikes him.
Without me helping, Eden Prime would have ended in critical mission failure—the spaceport destroyed.
Without me, Tali would have died...
Without me, Liara…
Can it be? Are these missions doomed to fail without my intervention?
------------------------------------------------
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