Mass Effect: Humanity First

Samuel Hallard once thought he could believe in the Alliance. But when Eden Prime fell, when so many he knew were lost, he was certain he’d learned his lesson. When the flagship of humanity’s military bowed its head to a council of asari, salarian, and turian bureaucrats, he finally saw the Alliance for what it really was; a mouthpiece, a puppet, a servant to every race to ever have the fortune of discovering the mass relays before humanity.

Even the top brass, men he once respected, all fell in line at the council’s whim. Anderson, Kahoku, Hackett, they were all the same.

So when Hallard signed on with Cerberus, he thought he’d finally found his calling. A mission, a purpose, a fight he could believe in; the protection of humanity.

But to the detriment of his greatest hope, things were never quite so simple.

“You know what to do, Hallard.”

Hallard didn’t. Although he didn’t have very many options.

“No, don’t,” groaned the asari, squeezing the open wound on her side as she struggled to stay alive. She had her back against the front entrance to Station 12, one of Cerberus’ few research facilities on the planet Feros. The function of Station 12, as Hallard had always been told, was to enhance the potential for human biotics. It was one of the first things he’d learned working for Cerberus. It was something the science division would always brag about as an important stepping stone for human advancement.

But what Cerberus never told him until three hours before this mission was that Station 12s research revolved entirely around data acquired from asari test subjects. Test subjects, or asari who had been kidnapped and detained for years until, by force, they took over the lab and barricaded themselves inside it. That was when Hallard and Cavanaugh were ordered to go inside and eliminate every single one of them.

The order was clear. No survivors. No circumstances. Simple, and yet Hallard was utterly lost.

“What are you waiting for, Hallard?” egged his partner. “Kill her already.”

The asari was young. She looked 19 in human’s terms, but she could just as easily have been over a hundred. Still, she didn’t look good. Her naturally blue skin had turned pale, and with all the blood loss it wouldn’t be long until she fainted. But with what little strength she had left in her, she stared into Hallard’s eyes, and in a tired whisper asked him, “Why?”

The longer that Hallard delayed, the more annoyed Cavanaugh became as he continued to push his partner to shoot the woman.

After finally gathering himself, Hallard made his decision.

Help her (Choice A)

Shoot her (Choice B)