Mass Effect: Humanity First

(Choice AAA) No. Free Them All

Cerberus was wrong. No matter what their reasons, there was no justifying what they did. Hallard wouldn’t stand for it. He wouldn’t let himself be a part of something so absolutely heinous.

Unfortunately, his partner didn’t see things the same way. Because he raised his pistol at the asari as they made their way towards the exit.

“Let them go, Cavanaugh.”

Cavanaugh didn’t listen.

“You stupid wimp,” he cursed underneath his breath.

One of the asari, the one who’d let them go, turned around and saw Cavanaugh’s gun pointed at her face. She flinched. Her eyes widened in shock. Before she or the others could react, a round went off. One clean shot straight into Cavanaugh’s temple. The man fell like a stack of bricks, crashing hard against the ground.

When the asari had time to register what had happened, they were all taken aback.

“Go,” said Hallard. “Get out of here.”

Mina nodded at Hallard. And if he hadn’t known better, he’d have sworn that in the short minute or two since they’d met, she’d actually managed to harbor a modicum of respect for him.

Hallard nodded in return, and without uttering a single word the prisoners took their leave.

It was finally over.

Hallard sat and waited in the empty facility. He’d give it half an hour until he called it in to command. Hopefully by then the prisoners would be far, far away from Feros.

They wouldn’t find them. Not as long as Hallard could help them, and maybe anyone else that Cerberus might have had their hands on. There were eight kidnapped asari in Station 12. There was no telling how many more innocent people were being kept in Cerberus facilities throughout the galaxy.

When Hallard joined with Cerberus, he did so out of a wish to protect humanity from the threats of the galaxy. But some ends weren’t worth the price of admission. Enhancing human biotics might have proved crucial in humanity’s continued survival. But if the price of that was torturing innocent people, taking their lives away from them, abandoning all semblance of humanity, then it wasn’t worth it.

For the human race to be saved, it had to first prove that it was worth saving. It had to prove that even in the face of extinction, it was willing to put its humanity first. 

Mission Completed.