Mao stood on the bridge of his flagship in the Cerberus fleet. Being the last Cerberus fleet in existence they had to revert to what they did to their soldiers during the war: Reaper improvements. Any parts of a Reaper that were found were added to the ship and the technology boosted to only respond to their commands. With these upgrades they were able to find the right parts of Menae to reduce the moon to rubble. He smirked as he saw the Turian Fleet coming towards them.
“Lieutenant, target their supports, they won’t last long under this much firepower.” He ordered and the space was filled with lasers.
“Sir, Admiral Xen requests you on the Interrogation chamber.” Said an officer in the bridge.
Mao walked down the catwalk to the elevator and rode it down to the brig. When the door opened he saw several field covered prison cells, each empty for now. He turned to the left and entered the Interrogation chamber. Xen stood at a panel, looking at the floating form of Tali’zorah’s beaten form in stasis. “Leng, glad you could join me.”
Mao used his biotics to pull a chair up for him to sit. “Did we learn anything new?”
Xen’s voice soon had a hint of disappointment. “No, I was hoping to have you here to put in your input.” She pressed a button and Tali gasped and her head lowered, but her body still remained in suspended animation.
“Admiral Zorah? Are you still alive?” Mao asked.
Tali slowly raised her head, blood slowly dripping from her lip and nose and her right eye was blackened. “Whatever you want, you’ll get nothing from me.”
Mao stood up and paced the room. “I admit I admire your stubbornness. Most people would crack under what you went through. You don’t have to go through this torture anymore, if you just tell me what I want.”
“Go to hell.” Tali growled.
Mao sighed and walked over to the panel. “I thought sweet-talking would pull you to the reality of this situation, but It seems you need more stimulation to get the point.” He pressed a few buttons and the stasis field turned bright red and Tali screamed as her skin burned. Her bare arm from her torn suit started to blister and her hair singed as the heat slowly and painstakingly burned her to death. Before the torture could continue, the ship rocked and the interrogation chamber went to emergency power, ending the heat.
“What the hell happened?” Asked Mao through his Omni-Tool.
“The Turians have gotten smart, they used part of Menae as projectiles; one of them hit our starboard bow we had to reduce power to keep life supports going.”
“Damn Turians, I’m on my way up.” Mao scowled and rushed back to the elevator.
Xen walked over to Tali, the smell of burnt skin not passing through her air filters. “I take no pleasure in this, Tali’Zorah, but this is for the good of our species.”
“Our species, or just you?” Tali’s voice was more ragged, but still had hatred burning in it.
“Mao Leng promised to destroy the threat to the Quarian people. I cannot risk the Geth or other AI technology to live on even though it should’ve been destroyed in the Crucible’s blast.” Xen sighed. “But Commander Shepard’s beliefs obviously rubbed off on you, so I guess there is no point in trying to convince you otherwise.” She walked over to the pannel and turned on the Medi-gel and anti-biotics, which cost less power than the torturing. Tali couldn’t help but sigh as the Medi-gel healed her wounds not completely, but enough and the anti-biotics would cure any infection she obtained.
“You think that patching me up will make me like you Xen?” Tali spat, her voice filled with vigor once again. “You’ve got another thing coming you bosh’tet.”
Xen turned and walked away, leaving Tali alone in the room. She looked down and a single tear fell from her face, hitting the stasis field and staying there like a small orb. ‘Shepard, where are you?’ she thought to herself.
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Primarch Adrian Victus stood in the hologram as Shepard, Robert, and Wrex walked in. “Shepard! Thank the spirts you are alive, Garrus told me what had happened.”
“Its good to see you too Primarch, though I wish it was under better circumstances” Shepard replied.
“I contacted Admiral Hacket, he’s sending some of his ships to help us, but we were wondering If you could send in the Normandy for some help.”
“I’m sure Joker wouldn’t mind flying into another warzone.” Robert said.
Victus looked over at Robert. “You have a brother, Shepard?”
Before Robert could reply, Shepard spoke. “Yes, yes he is my brother.” He looked over at Robert, who gave him a stunned look. “Whatever help you need in taking these bastards out we’ll do it.”
“That’s what I wanted to hear. Urdnot Wrex, do you think you could-“ Victus said.
“I already have some of my ships heading to your sector now.” Wrex cut in. “Always glad to help Turians win a war.”
“Good to know.” Victus nodded. “Contact me once you’re in the Apien Crest. I’ll give you the full layout then.” Victus’s image died off.
“Brother? I obviously earned enough trust didn’t I?” Robert said to Shepard.
Shepard shrugged. “You know what I went through and we technically had the same parents, so yeah you did.” He pulled up his Omni-Tool and spoke over the loud speakers. “All squadmembers meet in the War Room, we need to discuss a battle strategy once we reach Palaven.
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Mass Effect: After the Smoke Falls
FanfictionThe year is 2186, the fall of the Reaper threat. True the most feared and hated machines in the galaxy are destroyed, but at a cost. The Mass Relays are damaged, the galaxy is in chaos, Cerberus still has power even when The Illusive Man is declared...