Out of Time

Chapter Six

Hold the line... easier said than done. There were so many Krogan and Geth that Riley was starting to wonder if this was a good plan. Then again if she thought about it she should have come up with a backup. Backing off, she tried to draw more of them out, not wanting them to bunker up and hide.

She started backing up enough to use the Raptor and just get kills down her scope. "That's right you Bosh'tet's. Come right down into my scope." She wondered if Shepard found out what Sovereign was. If so, there would be much to talk about, but she was going to need to ask to be left on the Citadel soon. Or instead of asking, she just wouldn't return to the ship.

After all, the council was about to ground them just before heading off to Illos.

Shepard spoke over the comms systems not long after. "Riley, head towards the randevu point. Finish clearing off the Geth on your side and set the charges."

Riley shifted her attention from Sniping to her Striker and setting up the charges. Once the charges were set, she ran ahead. The others were pinned on the AA tower and she wasn't sure where Shepard was going to finish the job. It was going to be a 50/50 as she moved. "Chief. We just spotted a troop ship inbound to your location." Riley paused, she was at a junction between the AA guns and the Bomb site.

It was going to be down to Kaiden and Ashley. "It's already here and it's bleeding Geth all over the bomb site." She wanted to know where to go, it was going to be a close call either way. "There's too many, I don't think we can hold them. I'm activating the nuke."

Riley silently cursed at herself as she ran for the AA guns. With any luck she could cover Kaden and the Salarian's escape. "Commander, I'm heading for the AA guns. You help Ashley with the bomb site. With any luck, well, some of us might live to see another day."

Shepard spoke into the comms next. "Stay alive. We'll be coming to get you both."

Riley laughed. "I survived one messed up plot twist, Commander. Don't jinx me this time, yeah?" Getting a belt full of charges she ran forward, chucking them into the center of the Geth and Krogan. Ducking behind some crates, she listened for the explosion. "And Garrus... make sure you always do what you think is best. Never doubt yourself."

When the charges went off she ran forward, shields barely holding as she fought the left flank. Kaden ran from the floor of the AA gun meeting her with the few Salarian's they had left. "We'd better move if we want to get away from that Nuke." Riley nodded, getting onto one of the larger Geth toys. "What are you doing?"

With a shrug, she smiled at Kaiden. "Something that will hopefully save our asses. Get on, all of you." Kaiden and the Salarian's continued to fire at oncoming Geth and Krogan as she used some Medigel on the machine. Holding some wires used for control, she steered it. Its running pace was fast enough that everyone was holding on for dear life. Using the weapons wires she fired some at the ground troops trying to stop them in the main pathway.

KAiden was sitting right beside her. "Hopefully this idea of yours gets us a good distance away before that bomb goes off." She shook, the hair on her neck seeming to stand on its end. Behind them, she looked back, seeing the Normandy flying into space. The explosion went off seconds later, the shockwave was enough to send everyone sprawling to the ground. Everything went dark.

Riley heard static through her comm system, asking if anyone was still alive. She could just make it out to be Joker's voice. Everything was in a haze as she lifted her hand touching the earpiece. "Copy Joker. Just barely breathing over here. Evac would be... appreciated."

Opening her eyes, the sky looked that same peaceful blue with a slight haze of red like flames. Her armor had soaked through and her hair was wet. Everything hurt and she could hardly move to see if anyone else was still alive. "Riley? That you? Thank goodness, I was starting to worry and Garrus was getting antsy waiting for someone to answer."