"Fuck!" Alex yells as he throws himself behind one of the nearby empty crates, found everywhere at and close to the starport.
You know there's a fucking reason I used tricks to avoid serving in the military! I need to pay attention—I can't panic! This armor, especially paired with my other gear and stats, will let me survive more than a couple of shots. I can't cower away in fear.
Quickly, Alex rolls behind the crate and charges a Flying Thunder Sword, a condensed thunderous blade of light, flying toward a nearby Geth.
The slash cuts through its head, finishing it in a single attack.
You have dealt 55 + (37 x 2) x 3 = 387 damage to Geth Trooper
You have destroyed Geth Trooper
The remaining Geth are quickly dispatched by Shepard, Kaidan, and Ashley. Shepard uses some of the grenades Kaidan picked up earlier, skillfully blowing up several Geth in a single explosion. These disc-shaped grenades can be skillfully thrown to attach to flat surfaces—or even detonated midair.
Damn, these grenades are slick… I'm kinda getting jealous here. Shrapnel won't affect these damn Geth much. I know there are other grenade types around, but the ones Shepard uses are the coolest.
Finally, Alex looks ahead. The outer edge of the spaceport comes into view, with the larger section barely visible in the distance—connected by a specialized cargo train.
As they move on, Shepard lifts her hand and approaches another container. She skillfully decrypts the door control, and it opens after just a few seconds.
A man screams from inside as the lock disengages. "Please stay calm! We're coming out—we're not armed!"
Two men and one woman step out. The woman tries to thank Shepard, "You saved us, thank y—"
Shepard immediately cuts her off. "You're safe, but we don't have time. Tell me everything about the attack—now."
"We were tending crops when that huge spaceship appeared! We just ran and barricaded ourselves inside that container. I don't know what happened to the rest of our crew," a man, seemingly their leader, says.
The second man adds, "They were over at the spaceport… no way they survived."
The woman scolds him, "You don't know that! Maybe they made it to the garage—or managed to hide!"
Shepard, already uninterested, begins to turn away—when one of the men mutters, "Cole… we're just farmers. But they killed those things—they're soldiers. Maybe we should give them the stuff."
"Shut up, Blake! You gotta learn when to shut up!" Cole snaps.
Shepard's eyes narrow. "You got something to share… Cole, is it?"
"…Some guys ran a smuggling ring at the spaceport. We… got some of the profits by letting them store packages in our sheds and turning a blind eye. I found a pistol in one of the packages. Here—it's yours," he says, handing Shepard a heavy pistol.
Shepard immediately raises the gun and aims it at Cole's head. "I'm giving you one chance. Are you sure the only thing you got is this lousy pistol?"
"Please, calm down! Take what I have—just a mod for the very pistol, that's it!" he says, handing over the small mod that fits the pistol, Alex not able to see the details.
Shepard slowly lowers the weapon and smirks.
"Who's your contact at the spaceport, Cole? We need a name," Ashley says, stepping forward.
"He's… not a bad guy. I can't tell you. I don't want to get him in trouble—I'm not a snitch," Cole insists.
"Is he worth dying for?" Shepard asks, raising the pistol again, this time pressing it to Cole's forehead, his legs visibly shaking.
"POWELL! HIS NAME IS POWELL! PLEASE STOP!" Cole cries, panic flooding his voice.
Without another word, Shepard turns around and moves quickly toward the spaceport.
As soon as they reach the metallic platform, Shepard suddenly breaks into a sprint. Alex follows—his eyes falling on Nihlus lying dead behind a crate, a single bullet wound to the head.
"Something's moving behind the crates!" Ashley warns.
"I'm human—I swear! I'm just a worker. My name's Powell… I saw what happened to that Turian. The other one shot him! I saw everything!"
I wonder if Shepard will be smart enough to extract all the information first… then bring up the smuggling part.
"The other one? Two Turians? Tell me more," Shepard asks, clearly curious.
Powell speaks quickly. "They seemed to know each other. Your friend—the one lying there—he let his guard down. The other one shot him without warning. Before he died, he called him Saren."
Ashley adds, "That crazy guy from earlier also mentioned a second Turian. I think this information is reliable, Commander."
Shepard just nods.
"Where's the Beacon? We were told it's at the spaceport," she asks, direct.
"It's on the second platform—the main one. That Turian jumped onto the cargo train after killing your friend. If you want to follow him, it's right over there!" Powell says, pointing toward the tracks in the distance.
"Anyway… they killed everyone. If I hadn't hidden behind those crates, I'd be dead too. I just want to get out of here."
"Why didn't anyone else hide behind the crates? How come you're the only survivor?" Shepard asks, her face full of doubt.
"I… hid there before the attack. I just continued to hide, not making a sound. That's why nobody saw me."
Shepard smiles coldly. "Because of your little smuggling operation? Your good friend Cole told me everything."
"Does it matter?! Look around—everyone's dead, including my crew! Arrest me if you want!" he snaps.
"Look, we need anything we can get our hands on. This can be simple or hard, your choice smuggler. I just used up most of my grenades and that shipment could be of help."
"Look—a crate of grenades came through last week. If a few small pieces went missing, no one noticed. You can take them. They are all yours! Probably more than you can carry. It's behind me, in one of those 'damaged' crates. I always pull them to the side, after causing some small damage myself… that's where I hide most of my stuff."
"Commander, we can't let this go!" Ashley argues. "We in the Alliance risk our lives protecting these people, and they rip us off by stealing our weapons?!"
"Look! Nothing ever happens here. How was I supposed to know you'd actually need those damn grenades?!"
Damn… this is like watching a movie from the front row. However, it's kind of boring when I already know how it ends. Shepard'll squeeze more info out of him, then leave with her bags full of grenades and a special mod.
"Show us the crate—and everything inside it. This is your last chance. I'm done dealing with people like you," Shepard says in a cold voice.
"Here! Everything's in that crate! Take it! My smuggling days are over!" Powell says.
Shepard watches him closely, eyes narrowed—then notices his nervousness.
She coldly draws her gun and raises it, aiming it at his head.
"SORRY!! ALL RIGHT, TAKE THIS AS WELL! Experimental technology—it was supposed to be tested by Alliance soldiers here on Eden Prime, since they had the time. It can be fitted onto standard grenades to increase their potency. Take it—it's all I've got," he says, retrieving a small package from behind a crack in the spaceport exterior.
"Take it!" Shepard commands. Kaidan steps forward to unpack it.
As the group turns to leave, Alex hears a loud shot. Powell collapses to the floor, blood pouring from his head.
Kaidan closes his eyes, and Ashley gasps in shock. Neither of them comments on it, however.
"Give me those," Shepard says, using the package to improve a bunch of grenades until the supply runs out.
Alex, noticing there are still plenty of grenades left, greedily scoops up the rest and adds them to his inventory while the others move ahead. He manages to loot exactly 17 of them.
[Mark 14 Grenade]
World: Mass Effect
Quality: Deep Green
Type: Grenade
Damage: 250–300 (Damage drastically diminishes if the target is away from the center of explosion)
Effect: Creates a huge blast radius capable of generating deadly shockwaves
Note: Standard issue of the Systems Alliance
Well… not like I care about a dead smuggler who tried to hide things from Shepard twice, but her actions are dangerous for me. She's more ruthless than I expected. The plot is already slightly changing. Anyway, these grenades will be useful—I can tell I'll be able to use them just fine. Still, I prefer my own. I'll get to test both out soon enough, hehe.
The group continues moving.
As they reach the cargo train, they arrive on a narrow platform that runs alongside the track. More Geth appear, leaping onto the platform and rushing toward them.
Among the Geth Troopers, Alex spots a massive unit, clearly different.
"That huge one! That looks dangerous! It has tons of shields. Overload it!" Alex yells.
It's a Destroyer…
Both Shepard and Kaidan use Overload, quickly depleting its shield.
The Geth open fire with plasma rifles, while the Destroyer launches explosive rockets. Alex dives behind a metal container, but one of the blasts still hits near him, tearing through his shield and dealing heavy damage.
You have received 241 damage (partially blocked by shields, 121 damage received)
Alex immediately activates his armor's emergency healing function, quickly using [Medigel]. He feels the pain start to fade as the serum works through his system.
You have recovered 25 HP
You have recovered 25 HP
You have recovered 25 HP
You have recovered 25 HP
He throws three of his trusty Annihilation Grenades over the container, all of them landing near the Geth Destroyer.
The system registers reduced effectiveness—only the core explosion does any damage. The fire damage and shrapnel damage is reduced to a disappointing zero.
You have dealt 26 damage to Geth Destroyer
You have dealt 21 damage to Geth Destroyer
You have dealt 33 damage to Geth Destroyer
Shepard screams in anger, "Good thing I killed that Powell guy. These are fake grenades! Damn him for trying to deceive us a third time. Kerber, don't rely on those defective grenades!" she barks, unleashing Warp on the weakened Destroyer before she and Ashley blast it with their rifles, finally taking it down.
"Yes, Commander," Alex replies, feeling a little embarrassed.
Sorry, my beloved Grenades… I love you, but she is right. Against these Geth, you are indeed not very useful. You'll get to take a break for most of this mission, I think.
He jumps over the container and repeats his approach, evading fire until he arrives in front of a Geth Trooper.
The Geth swings at him with its mechanical arms, but Alex reacts first, striking it in the body with his sword.
You have dealt 61 damage to Geth Trooper
Controlling his momentum, Alex spins around and delivers another heavy blow, smashing its head apart, the blade however just crushing his head, no longer cutting through the Geth like before, despite his use of Shu. The following explosion causes minor injury to himself, making him scream in pain.
You have dealt 91 damage to Geth Trooper
You have destroyed Geth Trooper
You have received 31 damage
Fuck this realistic shit. They couldn't do that in the game. Also—what's wrong with my sword? It's getting dull.
[Executioner's Blade R2]
Durability: 78/120 (Can't be destroyed)
Fuck… maybe I should have killed that Powell guy just to repair the blade. These tough Geth bodies are wrecking it! The special effect is no longer working! That's a huge part of lost damage!
Kaidan finishes off the last Geth Trooper. Alex spots a chest on the Destroyer's body and quickly snatches it. This time, it's a Blue Chest, and Alex smiles as he claims it.
The group quickly moves on. Shepard glances at him.
"You alright, Kerber?" she asks, looking slightly concerned. "You're always the first one to get targeted, thanks to your fighting style."
"I'm good, Commander. I can take more than a few hits. My armor has a solid first aid interface. And if things get rough, I've got a few aces up my sleeve. Use me however you need, Commander—let's get that damn Beacon."
"Good. Keep it up, Lieutenant. I almost feel like changing my opinion about you. Didn't expect that to happen this fast," she says, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Now there's the cargo train. It's just moving platforms—get on it, fast!"
As they step onto the train, Alex removes his visor and drinks one of his four [Superior Dish: (Energizing Shake)].
You have recovered 15 MP
You will recover 25 MP over 10 minutes
He also uses one of his 20 [Superior Dish (Dragon Skewer)] to top off his health and provide additional regeneration for the next fight.
You will recover 50 HP over 1 minute
You will recover 50 HP over 10 minutes
Alex quickly feels his body recover.
Alex Kerber: Lvl 6
HP: 363/373, MP: 253/373 AURA: 156/263
Good enough. This is it. I need to be careful now. There's one thing I have to risk.
Alex pulls out a [Blood Essence] and applies it directly to his [Executioner's Blade R2]. To his surprise, the blade immediately repairs itself—its durability rising back to full.
[Executioner's Blade R2]
Durability: 120/120 (Can't be destroyed)
Costly—but it works! Nice. This is a hidden function. Looks like the System rewards creativity. I should stock up on [Blood Essences].
The train slowly begins to move toward the second platform. In the distance, the massive Geth ship—Sovereign—ascends into space, leaving the planet behind.
Indeed... We are too late. This is just fate. Still the fight has just started.
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