Chapter Text
“There’s been rumours about enemies in this area. Get it controlled and take them out.” were Hackett’s last words before he disconnected. The team glanced at each other, the adept slipping on his helmet, clicking it shut and letting the eye sockets glow a gentle blue. He cocked his pistol and then got to his feet, leaping out of the shuttle after the others, glancing around the area.
“It’s always cold on Noveria.” he commented, receiving nothing from the others. The Quarian Infiltrator glanced at him before moving on, fixing the green cloth over her helmet. He snorted, running down the ramp to duck behind the metal shields, while she and the Vanguard stood above them, taking their places on either side of the ladders.
“The Cerberus group here have completely disappeared, and its for a reason.” the Vanguard spoke, her voice low and serious. The three looked at her, “We do what Hackett said. Take them out.”
“Of course!” the Batarian nodded. Though he was a sentinel, and he had promised the team multiple times that he was ready for this, the adept sent him a look.
“Oliver.” the team leader snapped, getting his attention. He looked at her, and could feel the stare she was giving him, “He’s one of us. Don’t doubt him.”
“Sure, Edith.” he mumbled. The Quarian narrowed her eyes and raised her sniper rifle, shooting over their heads and getting a husk in the face.
“Enemy!” she snapped, gaining their attention. Oliver turned and shot his pistol, thrusting out his free hand to create a warp. That would buy them time. Edith narrowed her eyes, shooting multiple times, getting most of the cannibals and husks that got trapped by the warp.
“This is easy!” Oliver yelled out, grinning, “Oh, headshot!”
“Just concentrate, Oliver!” Edith snapped, shooting more. She turned, hearing a familiar growl of a husk at her ear and launched her fist into its face, “Illa! I need your help!”
The Quarian nodded, reloading her rifle before turning and following Edith to the stairs. Oliver chuckled and shot once more, grunting when he had to reload. He ducked down, avoiding a shot, and the Batarian glanced at him, shooting anything down that approached while his teammate reloaded.
“You do not trust me?” he grunted, and Oliver sent him a look. Releasing it wasn’t well recognised from underneath a helmet, he shrugged and turned, shooting down a husk.
“Can I?” he asked back as he raised his hand into the air with a swift flick. The Batarian did the same, shockwaves raging from their palms and knocking their enemies across the railings. Oliver hesitated, brow furrowed, and looked at the Batarian. He nodded a little, “What was your name again?”
“Egnagg.”
He laughed. “So, like the food? Eggnog?”
“What is eggnog?” it was Egnagg’s turn to furrow his brow - at least that’s what Oliver assumed he was doing with his face. Oliver shook his head, his laugh returning and he shot a husk down.
“I’ll show you when we get back to the ship.” he nodded, and Egnagg smiled before shooting down an approaching marauder.
“RRARGH!” Edith snarled, grabbing a husk and hauling it across the counter, slamming her fist into its face. Illa winced, watching and then lifted her rifle, shooting a cannibal approaching from behind.
“You are very good at this!” Illa complimented, advancing with Edith down the second ramp, and Edith ran to the second corner, wincing when she felt her shields break. Resting against the wall momentarily, she nodded that she was ready and they both peeked round into the room, Illa hitting a crouching cannibal and Edith disappearing from her place, charging at a marauder. Illa waited, watching as Edith fired her shotgun into its stomach, breaking its shields and she took her shot: right into its head. Edith let the body drop and turned, nodding to Illa when she joined her side.
“How d’you think the boys are doing?” Edith asked, approaching the open door. Illa shrugged, glancing out, wincing when she felt a shot miss her head.
“Whoa, sorry!” Oliver waved, “Trigger happy, I guess!”
“Watch your damn shots!” Edith warned, storming up to them. Egnagg retreated up the ladder to get ammo, Illa walking after him. Edith smacked Oliver on the shoulder, rolling her eyes, “How’d you do with Egnagg?”
“Pretty good! Eggnog’s good at what he does.” Oliver straightened up, but they both stopped when Hackett spoke up.
“Good job team. Get ready, more are coming in.”
“Sir.” Edith nodded, then looked at Oliver. She reloaded her shotgun, and looked up when Egnagg and Illa stood over them.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes!” they both nodded eagerly, and Edith turned, kneeling with Oliver. He cracked his neck, hearing the shatteringly familiar roar of the oncoming wave.