Firebird

Lies

They were all huddled together behind that sharp rock, and they would have inevitably died there if it wasn't for a glowing blue bubble encompassing them. Ivy slowly opened her eyes when she realised she wasn't dead, to find herself in a familiar Drell's arms, pressed up against the rock. She met his gaze for a brief moment before looking to see Kyre, holding up a perfect biotic barrier, the bullets suspended in midair within its shield. "Kyre..."

"Don't waste any time ma'am, get your gun and find the bastard. I can't hold this barrier forever." He closed his eyes to focus all of his energy outward, maintaining the barrier that was keeping his friends and comrades alive. He could hear the group loading their weapons and turning their safeties off, which brought him great comfort. "Is anyone hurt?"

"No, Kyre, we're all alive and well, thanks to you." Shepard loaded her assault rifle, heading to the edge of the barrier, "Does anyone see any-"

Just then a roar of a shuttle engine was heard, and the group saw the Firebird's shuttle take off, speeding away at speeds faster than they knew a shuttle could, "No, not my baby!" Lyre called, looking at the shuttle, "He turned off the safety caps, he's gonna fry the engine! Nooooo!"

Ivy knelt to the ground, peering down her scope, "I can get him, I can." She took a deep breath, exhaling as she pulled the trigger, and the bullet went cascading towards the shuttle. She closed her eyes and prayed for a mark that she knew she wouldn't get. There were too many variables. The speed of the shuttle, which was gradually accelerating. the unsteady changes of wind speed, and the centripetal force of her own bullet. "Please tell me it hit, Thane, Kyre, anyone."

"I'm sorry, there was no way any of us could have made that shot. He's already out of the atmosphere." Garrus knelt down to look at her, still clutching onto her gun, "It was still quite the impressive shot, we can talk about who taught you to shoot later."

"Did someone at least get a good look at him?" She set her gun down, too ashamed to look at anyone, "I'm so sorry, I should have seen it sooner. It was so obvious it was a trap, I'm so sorry." She closed her eyes, forcing back the tears that begged to be released, and the soreness of her throat.

Shepard stood beside Garrus, looking down at Ivy, "Look, none of us would have caught it in time. If you hadn't when you did, it's very likely that Garrus, Thane, and Kaidan would be dead. Let's be thankful for that. We can track the bastard who did this down and make him regret the day he started taking down spectres for sport. Let's just get back to the ship... err... which ship"

"I could try hacking into the shuttle's interior cameras from the Firebird. I suggest we go there, that way at least we can have an idea of who we're up against." Kyre said, dropping the barrier, falling to a knee, panting. It had been quite some time since he had used his biotics, and it was obviously taking a toll on him more than he thought it would. "But... We will not be able to fit all of us on that boat. We'll have to make two trips."

Kaidan nodded, "Kyre, Ivy, and Shepard should go first, that way you can get to the firebird and have everything set up by the time the rest of us get there. I'll pilot the ship both ways."

Ivy nodded in agreement, finally looking up at the others, "Yes, a sound plan. You make sure to pick up Ra as well, he'll hopefully be done treating the girl by the time you arrive on the shore." She looked at Kyre, eyes filled with worry. He didn't look nearly as lively as he usually did, if that word could ever be used to describe him. "Kyre, please rest on the boat."

"Ma'am, I will be fine. Please, let's get going. The sooner we get there, the more likely I'll be able to access those cameras." He stood up, hiding the shaking in his legs well, walking over to pull Ivy up. "Don't make me carry you."

"I would shoot you." She got up, thanks to his assistance, "See the rest of you on the ship. Oh, and do try not to bring any bugs. I'll be doing a security sweep after you leave." She bent down to pick up her gun, switching the safety back on, ashamed to be holding it, knowing that had she hit her mark it would have saved the lot of them a whole lot of trouble.