CHAPTER FOUR

Inside the hospital, Len spotted some Alliance soldiers who were standing guard. 

"If there is time Captain, I highly suggest we take this moment to catch our breaths and regroup." Sarina suggested.

"I agree with what she said," Liana plopped down on a couch and took a sip of her water. "Any one care for some Skillian 5 poker?"

Len frowned. “I’ll be right back,” he told them as he made his way over to the soldiers. “I’m Captain Len Tonrik from the Turian military.” He looked around. “Are there any orders in place?”

One of the soldiers shrugged. “We pretty much just have to hold this location until it’s safe. We keep getting raids every so often, as you probably already saw for yourself.”

“It’s never going to be safe...” Another soldier said. “This is it. There’s no way we can take those things out and we can’t even get in contact with Admiral Hackett...if he’s still alive.”

“Don’t say that.” The other soldier nudged his arm. “Of course he’s still alive. We can’t get good communication because of the interferences from those damn things.”

Len took in a deep breath and nodded. “Where’s Admiral Anderson?”

“He’s back there.” He pointed over his shoulder with his thumb. “He set up a temporary HQ in the main Operating room...I know, perfect place huh.” He chuckled.

Len looked over to where he pointed. “Is Commander Shepard with him?”

The soldiers went silent for a moment. He could swear he even saw the look of disappointment for a split second.

“No...he’s gone.”

“What?” 

“Yeah. He left. Admiral Anderson forced him to leave...to keep him safe. He keeps saying that Shepard will find a way but...I don’t know.” He shook his head. “It’s not like the Reapers are going to wait for him to come back.”

Len looked away and thought for a moment. He was gone. He too felt disappointed for a second. He wasn’t sure why they all placed so much faith in one man but...if there was anybody that knew how to take down the Reapers, it was Shepard. He looked back at the soldier. “Ok...thanks.”

When Len returned, he could tell Sarina and Liana had been talking. “Orders are to stay put for now. I guess until it’s safe to move.” He looked around and took in a deep breath. “And in case you guys were wondering...Shepard’s gone. He went to find a way to take them down.” It was obvious he was a bit upset and didn’t want them to ask any questions since he just turned and walked away.

****

Liana wasn’t the kind of person to sit in one place for a long time, so after a while, she decided to walk around the hospital. She walked up the stairs to the second floor and saw Alliance marines moving food and supplies to different areas of the hospital. She was surprised how fast they had all organized themselves. The doors and windows had been barricaded. Guards stood at each barricade, scoping the situation outside through cracks that were large enough to slip their weapons through if need be. 

Shortly after continuing down the hall, her curiosity got the best of her and she stopped at one of the windows. She looked out through a slit in the barricade only to see the city of Vancouver in ruins. The Reapers casually moving in the distance like farmers plowing their fields. Their sparkling lights were almost hypnotic.

She could also see several types of husks walking the streets. Moans and screams echoed through the city, blending with the distant crack of gunfire, explosions, and the cries of those poor souls that were still lost out there. It all formed a disturbing and sorrowful symphony. With the Reapers as the composers. Liana wrapped her arms around her chest as she felt a shiver run through her body. She looked to the sky. "You better move your ass Shepard or their won't be an earth to save." The task wouldn’t be easy. It was all too obvious to her how Galactic politics worked. She and her mother had met the Council a few months before the attack on the Citadel. The Asari and the Salarian were a little more comprehending. They would listen to reason if given enough proof and or leverage...sometimes. But the Turian was always the hardest to convince. Liana and her mother always joked about how he had, "Air quoted", his way up to the top. Liana shook her head as she stared out at “the Reapers”. How she wished the Turian Council member was here to share this moment with her.

****

As Sarina sat in the waiting area, alone, she could slowly feel herself relaxing and regaining strength. Meditation rejuvenated the soul and the mind. 

She carefully thought through the events of the day. So far, she had only reacted physically. She hadn’t had any time to really think about what was happening. What she had done. The Reaper she had destroyed. She should be dead. Where did all of that energy come from? Was there more to her? Had it been a fluke? A coincidence?

Deciding to test herself a tiny bit, she started to tap into the energy she could feel inside herself. Focus. Slowly she began to drift up in the the air. She expanded her concentration and reached out to the energy she felt in her surroundings. She could feel  the chairs, tables, and rubble float up and slowly orbit around her.

Something had changed inside her. She had always known that she was a very strong biotic. A natural. A prodigy. Add to that, multiple advanced biotic implants and first class training. Very few could match her strength. But, facing down a Reaper? Something had changed inside her. She could feel it.

****

Len just wanted to be alone. He hated the disturbing hum of chatter and crying that echoed through the halls. He wasn’t use to being around the victims...the innocents of war. It was very unsettling for him. When he finally found a room that was empty, he slipped inside and breathed. He had never let himself get overwhelmed by a situation...he never lost his poise, his determination...his confidence. But this was different. He pressed his back against the door and looked up at the ceiling. He wondered if there was a plan in place. A drill. Anything. Or could it be that they all were truly as lost as he was at that moment.

He closed his good eye but quickly opened it when he saw something flash in the window. He straightened up and slowly approached it from the side as to remain concealed from whatever was out there. He wasn’t on the ground level, so it wouldn’t be very easy to be spotted from where he was...what was it, the 3rd floor? He had already forgotten but it was in his instincts to remain concealed no matter how far or high up he was.

When he glanced outside the window, what he saw sent a shiver down his spine. Mindless husks roaming the streets. Some crouched over bodies. Other’s just senselessly stumbled over rubble. They really were something else when they weren’t chasing you around. They were programmed to kill...and nothing more. He wanted so bad to just slip out his sniper riffle and take them out 1 by 1...But that was probably not the wisest thing to do at the moment. They needed this time to regroup, to plan, and more importantly, to come to terms with what was going on.

He looked away and pressed his back against the wall. He needed to do something. THEY, needed to do something. He had a team now. A strong team...kind of crazy at times but still they had gotten here in one piece. No more feeling sorry for yourself Captain Tonrik! He straightened back up like the soldier he was and left the room.

When he made it back to the room where he had left Liana and Sarina he froze for a second when he saw the couch floating in mid air. He looked over at Sarina and saw her floating in the middle of all the furniture. Ok...crazy, most of the time...He ducked under the couch and made his way over to her. “Ugh...Sarina?” He placed his hand on her shoulder.

SLAM!

Len jumped back when he saw one of the couches fall to the ground. Mental note, never break her concentration abruptly...especially when it involves pieces of furniture floating over your head.

"Captain," she had just enough concentration left to steady her fall and land on her feet. She looked around at the fallen furniture.

"Did...did i interrupt something?"

"No...I...no...you didn’t interrupt anything. How may I help you Captain?"

"No, in nothing. I was just coming back to talk to you and Liana." 

"I'm that popular huh?" Liana came striding in right as Len was finishing his sentence, then saw that all the furniture was turned over. "Um...what...how? Ah the hell with it. I can now say I’ve seen worse," Liana waved her hand.

Shaking his head, Len continued. "Now that we’ve made it to our destiny I feel we should remain a team. At least, for the time being. Things may be crazy most of the time, but the most import part of a team is to be acquainted with the members and well...we’ve spent a good amount of time together. I think it would be better than just being thrown in with the crowd.”

"Hmmm. well, I was going to go shopping, and possibly read a good book at Starbucks but those big bastards destroyed it so I have nothing better to do. Im in!" Liana said as she joined Len's side. They both looked at Sarina for her reply.

"I feel like that is a good idea Captain. But, in our travels, if we encounter a specific situation, I may be compelled by the code to leave you two. I must first swear an oath to you that will over-ride the code. If you make me do something very unjust, after our mission, I will have to kill you.”

Len opened his mouth to say something but he had no idea how to respond to that. He just swallowed. “Uh...ok. No hard feelings then.”

With that, Sarina's eyes started to glow with energy. She closed them and knelt down to the ground. "By the code, I will serve you Len Tonrik. Your choices are my choices, your morals are my morals, your wishes are my code."

Len had never experienced anything like that before. It was strange really. For a second he had no idea what to do. There was an Asari knelt down before him, uttering these words of dedication to him as if he was a very important figure. He glanced over to his right and saw a soldier watching. He looked at Len and grinned giving him a thumbs up.

Len frowned. Idiot. 

As Sarina finished her oath, a small amount of biotic energy erupted from Sarina, as she slowly stood up, and her eyes went back to normal. 

Len flinched a little when he felt the slight release of biotic energy pulsate through him. “Thank you...or...uh, yeah,” he cleared his throat.

Before any of them could say anything else though, they heard a lot of commotion coming from the main entrance and saw more soldiers running to assist.

“What the hell...” Len slipped out his assault riffle and followed.

When they arrived, Len stood tall looking over the heads of some of the soldiers in front of him to see what was going on. He felt his stomach sink, when he heard a growl from one of the husks. He readied his weapon. 

“Can’t you see I have him secure!” 

Len frowned. “What the hell is going on?” he asked one of the soldiers.

“Some crazy ass Salarian wants to bring in a live husk!”

“What?! Why?” Len tried to get a glimpse of this Salarian.

“Cause he’s crazy!” the soldier pushed his way forward.

“I’m a professional! I know what I’m doing! It’s the only way we--”

BANG!

There was no more moaning.

“IMBECILE!”

Len had his mouth open the whole time. What...in the world...

Seconds later, two Alliance soldiers dragged the Salarian inside and shoved him to the ground then barricaded the door again.

“At least let me have the body!” the Salarian sat up.

“No! Now sit down and shut up or we’ll throw you back out there,” the soldier pointed his finger at him menacingly. 

The Salarian stood up and cursed. “You all are the reason we know NOTHING about the enem--” he turned and bumped into Liana. “Oh, I beg your pardon miss,” he then continued with his yelling. “...about the enemy!” he waved his fist at the soldiers who weren’t even present anymore. He sighed loudly. “Sit down...what a great plan.” He  mumbled to himself sarcastically and plopped down on top of one of the tables and crossed his arms. “Why didn’t I think of that.”

Len had his mouth open, just watching the Salarian fuming the whole time until he finally plopped down, almost pouting. He looked at Liana and Sarina. Sarina looked just as confused as he was and Liana almost looked amused but annoyed at the same time. Len stepped forward. “Uh...Can I ask what that was all about?” He pointed towards the entrance.

The Salarian looked up at him and let out a breath. “Of course you can.”

Len waited for an answer and when he didn’t get one he rolled his eyes. “What was that all about?”

The Salarian stood up. “I wanted a live specimen to conduct tests in order to understand these things better. Once we understand what’s really going on,” he was waving his hands around as he talked, “THEN we can know how to stop these things but THEY!!” he pointed at the soldiers with a loud scream, causing them to turn and look at him. They just gave him an annoyed look. The Salarian shook his head. “They don’t seem to have any confidence in their own abilities I on the other hand, do...It wasn’t like I was going to bring it in and let it loose.” He groaned loudly and plopped back down.

“Why does every Salarian I meet give me a headache?” Liana asked looking as if she truly wanted someone to give her an answer.

Len frowned and looked back at him, “You study those things?”

He looked up at Len and nodded. “Someone has to. I’m close too...really close to something ground breaking. It’s just that I need one of those things now because they’re fresh...and they’re different. They’re not the same as they were before. The Reapers have modified them...improved them and that’s why I NEED to conduct these studies or else we don’t stand a chance.”

Len stared at the Salarian intently. At first he thought he was crazy but the more he explained the situation the more Len started to worry about what he was saying. What if he was right? Len looked back at the soldiers that were standing near by and then looked at Liana and Sarina.

Liana finally stepped forward. “First of all, why don’t you tell us who the hell you are?”

The Salarian stood up. “I’m Dr. Zeek Valian,” he gave a little head nod.

“Well Doc Z,” Liana replied, “Why don't you go a bit slower and explain what it is you want us to do....and then we'll say no.” A grin appeared on her face.

“Wait...” Zeek looked at the three of them. “You would help me?”

Before Liana could come up with some sassy remark, Sarina finally spoke up. “Tell us what it is you have in mind first.”

Zeek nearly jumped with excitement but he kept his cool and stepped off to the side so no one else could hear what he was going to say. “Well,” Zeek took a quick breath “I believe that we can catch one of the husks- the big one if possible- by using a biotic stasis to hold it,” he looked at Liana and Sarina.

Sarina stood there looking at everyone, and then said, "I see the truth in your words Doctor. I think it best if we wait for cover of night, then, when its time, Liana and I will create this Stasis Field to get what you need. Len,” she looked at him, “You provide us with cover fire.” 

Zeek practically jumped for joy and ran over to Sarina, shaking her hand enthusiastically. "Thank you miss...oh! Justicar, not a miss, can take care of yourself, mean no disrespect, but thank you all the same!"

Sarina cocked her brow. “How did you know I was a Justicar?” She asked as her arm was still being shaken.

Zeek smirked. “I’ve studied your kind. You stand out.” He winked.

Len shook his head and yanked Zeek’s hand away from Sarina’s before he pulled it out of her socket from so much shaking it.  “Wait a minute...how would you even get those things in here? Where would you do the experiments without the guards finding out?”

Zeek grinned. “The roof.”

Len blinked a few times. “You’re serious?”

Zeek nodded.

“Sounds like fun,” Liana replied with a smirk.