Moving through everything was easy after they punched through. Azul teleported onto the Citadel helping his forces that were there. The fliers had their hands' full whittling the enemy down. The Artifact of the Mass Effect Relays were in overtime bringing in forces to the Citadel.
AzuI pushed through the doors of the Council chambers and received a message from the ship. Natarle was in position to deal with Sovereign. Making sure he didn't cause a large loss of life to the Alliance fleet. Telos had maneuvered the Ascension in a different area by knocking out her replacement. The others said nothing as they watched it of C-sec. Escort ships getting wiped out where they just were.
Indigo was adorned in Primarch Armor. It was the Emperor of Mankind's old Armor. No gun's on the bulking armor of his, beside a custom storm bolter for some reason. His body did not fit the armor. The same as the last time when he tried wearing the Armor of Horus. He was wearing it to make himself look bigger. Look important. Reckoning was really good at dissecting this guy psyche. Despite her being a fake plant.
"We are on our way," Aurora said over comms. Her voice sounded bad, but she was talking. So that was good. Taking on more forces than the last time. To prove herself was going to cause a problem. "We can either take out Sovereign or blow up the Citadel more really."
"Heh, take out Sovereign. With him taken down, it will give the forces a hell of a lot more help." AzuI watched Indigo just floating there like a false god. "Hotshot, do not take any chances you understand?" The line was slightly silent. "I want you and the others fine when I get back, you better be ok!"
"I.. understand. I will have the Asari move with me." A few confirms on the line and everything was good for the most part. "Come back to us in one piece as well. If he so happens to die, so be it. At least you tried."
Azul ignored the looks from Indigo as he talked with the others. For good reason, besides he was worried.
To mess with the attention whore Indigo slightly. He was also manipulating the will of the World. Having the Alliance forces coordinate better against the Reaper and Geth. The Destiny Ascension was moving out of the way with support from the Dominion. Azul could feel it. So the arms were closing to the Citadel with out causing to much trouble.
"Oh ho, you are one of those. We are so much alike in some ways." Indigo walked out slowly after landing. He was pretentious and a bit of a bitch AzuI thought. The biggest problem, was Galtea. He had by her neck dangling like a rag doll.
"What the hell man?!" AzuI wanted to move but felt a weight keeping him down slightly.
"How I treat my Operator, is my choice. You have already found out my name havent you? No matter. Stay out of my way and everything will be ok." He clutched away at her neck and she turned to a gem. It floated to land around his neck. "You can say my name. It is not like I am the boogieman or anything."
"I am going to kill you Indigo! Then revive you. A good way around my agreement with her." AzuI broke free and charged at him. Indigo stopped time while he was in midair. "Why toy with us punk? We did not even mess with you!?" AzuI fired a blast of energy and missed on purpose. He sent him through a Rift. "Coward!"
'We will meet again soon.' He sent through the link AzuI had with Galtea, the sick fuck. 'You have been busy. Dont worry it won't matter soon. I will finish my work that the Administration stopped me from achieving the last time. I will force the System to recognize I am the only User needed.'
"Bwoom!" Indigo Rifted away. But he didn't see the device that put him in a loop temporarily. Compliments of Sands of Time Artifact. Azul pumped a lot of magic in it along with an Illusion spell. And his broken Lieutenant boosting the effects of his paranoia. It would jump Indigo through his own delusions. Using Galtea as a mental catalyst to fabricate from her memories.
'Heh, gonna see you real soon fuck boi.' Azul stepped back into the area as the other him was the one sent through the Rit. 'Time to end this.' Azul started laying a few Rune traps in place. And added some additions to the ones he had Telos set. The Keepers were already taken over by him and Bass. 'Glad Hilda had that plan sealed away till now.'
.
Time Is A Pain-
.
"Bwoom!" Indigo reappeared in the room. He moved about as Azul reentered the room looking disgruntled and upset. An act to fool Indigo.
"Ah, Azul. You made it here. I am surprised you did not die." Indigo flexed his power. It did not work. "You have counter my power somehow. How interesting." His smile actually made a person's stomach hurt. "My "Operator" has trained you well." His biotic strands washed into Azul. He was such a .. wimp. He wanted Galtea to hide behind still.
The fight with Azul earlier, even scared him a little. But their was something more. A touch from the link from Galtea to Azul. Indigo was using it. With Galtea's permission but not Azul's.
Indigo had been taking in the memories of Azul to be more like him. Which was downright creepy.
"You piece of shit!" Azul severed the connection feeling the feedback only slightly. The Bond with Galtea weakening even furthur. "So you just couldnt let her go!? Your just a super beta male bitch still. I cant believe this!" Azul was actually disappointed in the creep. "You could have just cloned her and got over it. Start over new some way. But to take my memories.. to try and be me.. that is just pathetic."
Indigo frowned a little. The idea of being like Azul was not his idea, but Galtea's. Seeing the power that Azul gained from it was the only reason he did so. However, he couldn't mimic the way Azul did things. The biggest reason, he was not A Pather. Not had a shitty childhood to, but his sense of self. He was.. empty and hollow for no real reason.
Scowling at the thought, Indigo focused. He did not want to head down that mental alley again. Once he beat Azul and steal his personal power, the War of the Users would be just that easier. And that woman would be even happier with him.
"Beta.. male. Your an idiot." Indigo shook his head at Azul. Voice slightly trembling. "Galtea has so much power. You could have ruled everything with her. I even took 95% of her power back then." He tapped his chest on top of the jewel. A prison for Galtea and a trophy. "I am draining the rest of her as we speak. Soon, she and I will be one. I will create a new Administration, a new platform for the new regime. My regime, under "my" control."
"What about the Operators you killed. They had nothing to do with this. Neither the new Users. Heck, even some of the old Users weren't in your way. So why them?" AzuI looked around the battlefield for anything as he moved around. "And all the Worlds you ruined, so stupid. Grinding away taking corpses from a graveyard to feed into macabre Reaper's." Some others on the ground that he sent away. Not to his Nether World. That would be stupid. He sent them through Rifts to safe zones that the Administration could deal with them. 'Haa, clean up is gonna suck. Glad I am not an Admin.'
"Because they could rise up and stop me. Each new User had the potential to unlock a special ability to deal with me. Or a useless one like yourself." Indigo tried to taunt Azul. But he wanted the Pather Power more than anything right now. If even just for the benefits it provided into understanding people. "I think we could have been friends.. I have taken in your personal memories with Galtea's help. So many to go through, however..." He paused feeling something wrong. "You have been cold to her."
His face turned into a frown. He just noticed the link was not working anymore. The only memories he could look into were the ones Galtea had personally. Which was a lot less since she and Azul were not as close as last time.
"Right.. so your just a loser.. not even really a villain. Just a kid wanting to redo the sandbox he played in." What's wrong, daddy didnt love you as a little.." AzuI had to dodge, as a blast of psychic energy shot out. It went straight through a down shuttle. "Oh, damn did you get done like that kid from Magicians? Sorry dude didnt know." Azul taunted and ridiculed. It was a low move but, it did not matter. "Or did a female do it? Those really.. really suck."
System: Charisma Check 36 Pass
"Dont you dare pity me!" Indigo became angry and caused space to warp a little. "What do you know?!" He was trying to use his time powers. 'Did Galtea tell him? No, she would never do that.'
System: Strength Check 31 Pass
"What? Totally not pity." AzuI jumped away from the next blast and fell against a turned over shuttle. Wrapping it in his biotics, he threw it at Indingo. "Jeez, bad beta. Here is a shuttle to make it all better!"
"Boom!" The shuttle exploded. A dust cloud blocked the view for a moment.
"Bwoom!" A barrier was in the way. He was shielding himself from even small amounts of damage. But not enough as Azul had wrapped a spell around when he threw it.
"Woosh!" Air made it through the barrier and brushed against Indigo's face. A few microscopic spores to infect him.
"Well damn. Guess I couldnt luck out in you sucking. I mean you still suck, but you have the gear to make up for your... mental shortcomings." Azul wanted him off his game, if even a little. Or enough to screw up somewhere. "Man so many issues with you. Why are you like this? Did your mama touch you to? It is ok.. this is a safe place. I am here for you."
System: Misdirect Check 37 Pass
"You will die!" He gritted his teeth as he created a golden warp fire in the air. He turned it into a spear and chucked it at Azul. "Warp Bolt!"
When it came over, AzuI wrapped it in biotic energy and dispersed it. He guessed right. Indigo was not a fighter still. The information from earlier was not false at all. He had power, but no experience really. Despite the change in him slightly.
"Man, so mean. Here, I was trying to have a conversation with you. I mean, its the least thing you could do after killing so many of my people." AzuI did not try to rouse Galtea Inside him. She could enjoy her time inside. "You tried to kill women I was to marry. My homies suffered a lot man." Azul raised his hands up to the sky. "Tried to kill my friends, my family I built, and destroyed my buildings. Not very nice I might add. The damage to fix everything will put me in debt. To make it worse... you even messed up with my World."
His eyes flickered for a moment before returning to normal.
System: Charisma Check 35 Neutral
"I mean the things are not important. I tell you what, revive the people and give me back Galtea and we call this even. She deserves a spanking. Not a good one, a very bad one. Put her in the corner in time out." AzuI watched as he struggled for a bit. "A little time in Rift Prison or I am going to sue you. You little pendja."
"I know what you are trying to do," Indigo said as he floated up. "..I can feel your Pather power trying to change me. Put me on a different Path."
"Oh, that is what I am doing?" AzuI felt something inside tear. His connection with everyone was gone. Not totally gone, but numbed drastically. 'I do not know if that was from the System still acting up or not.' The Trickster said he would stop any outside interference but he did become busy. Or he was lying. AzuI felt hollow. His powers all kicked up in response to the sense of loss. "I'll kill you!" The reason was gone like when he went to X-men.
"Fwish!" Azul fired several hundred Flame Arrows. His left hand creates a compressed Arcane Missile. The barrier around Indigo ate away slightly from the bombardment.
"No.. You are not stalling for the others to come and help you." Indigo felt fear. Azul's Devil power washed over causing dark warp energy to circulate around the two. The power from the Emperor's armor shined against it. "Have you gone mad.."
"Booom!" Azul fired the Arcane Missile. It blasts against the shield causing it to warble more. Indigo flinched.
Azul Teleported away to a different spot immediately.
"Pft, not even." AzuI sat atop a bunch of dead people nearby. Mind slightly addled from the jarring motion. "My people are all dead as far as I know because of you." He flipped his screen over and showed it to him. "Take a look, my status says so, my soul bonds feel that way as well. I am actually just hoping a few ships ram into this place and we all get blown to kingdom come. I think you will die from that."
Indigo's eyes shot open for a bit. "I can Rift out if that happens." He was smug but it didn't seem like he thought of that. "Your fear tactic won't work."
"Fear tactic. I am being truthful here beta boy. My people are gone. The System is not gonna help me in this situation because of your influence. I mean, you corrupted some Admins and even infected an Avatar's wife. Do you know how much the System is impressed with you boy? A crap ton."
Azul's mind spoke against him saying it wasn't true. But another part said it was. The power of the Everchosen burning with power. The high-rank bonds whispered to him that they were ok. They were trying to reach him through the Administration lockdown. Hilda said nothing so that was weird.
But she got busy right before the battle started.
"And that sucks royally. When this is over, the number of points you will have. They will be scary. It makes things pointless. Even if I win. I still lose in a way."
AzuI waited for a while as the spells connected. He kept casting them on the environment. Preventing Indigo from receiving any information from the outside as well.
"You could join me?" Indigo asked Azul expectantly. He was scared for some reason. 'I can not connect to the outside! Even my ability to alter time is weakening!' Remembering what she said, he lost a bit of focus. The Pather Chronoa said a lot of things. 'I am not the owner of this World. It makes it hard to influence. Dammit, I should have claimed it myself from him!'
"Cant. You killed my people," Azul felt a prod from the outside. Someone tried to Rift in. A blast of mana from his Nether World marked them. They retreated immediately after. "It would be rude of me to. I mean, you can bring them all back and that will help convince me a little. Rewind time, boy." AzuI raised his hands up, moving them counterclockwise.
"No."
"Well damn. All Buff." Azul magic pushed his body up as he stopped. "Well, I tried the best I can. Froustmourne." AzuI Teleported to his front and swung as the sword appeared. 'Power Break!'
The sword was wrapped in magic already. Hopefully, Indigo couldnt discern the spell infusion. It caught against his shield and went through a second later. AzuI caught his neck, and cut the fibers a little off the armor.
"How cute." Indigo raised his hand and punched Azul in the gut. Felt as if a bowling bowl went through. "You got heart User."
Health -23
"Pft, kid? I am a few millennia older than you. Unlike you cowering brat." Behind Indigo, the 1st Azul, Sunstrider, appeared wrapped in clear water and struck Indigo in the back with the Slannesh sword. "Man, beat city time!" Indigo bent forward a little. 2nd Azul caught him under the armpit with Froustmourne. "You are only a few centuries. What happened? Became to much of a punjabi.."
He cut Azul off as he flexed his left hand and sent him flying. Storm bolter firing wildly. Smacking into the bridge around the way. Turning into water made it easy to dissipate the damage. Indigo turned to strike his attacker.
"Ching!" Sword met power claw. A battle of strength that was easy to determine a winner. Indigo was pressed down into the floor. Power armor straining under the weight. Galtea's prison glowed giving him power.
"Haaa!" A warcry laced with fear, as Indigo used all his strength along with his psychic power to throw Azul away. "Get away from me!"
"Thump!" Forced through a wall was not pleasant.
Health -93
"Kuff, this is crap." AzuI took a breath when he stood up. He was not feeling optimistic about this. 'Killing him would make this so easy.' He watched in annoyance, as Indigo rewound time to heal himself. "You cheating beta." The Rune's were weaking already. But Azul had to stall till his other half had returned.
"I do what it takes to win." Indigo smirked. He eyes arched as he looked behind. The other Azul walked behind stalkingly. "To think they sent you back to alter things. All to say the Users, Operators, and so many Worlds. But then, after you die and I pick you clean, so much will be done to take care of. Why the User Jane believes on you so much.. and your descendant Thrasher.."
"You think I will let you take them?" Both Azuls teleported over to him and swung with their weapons. "I am going to enjoy feasting on you!"
System: Perception Check 38 Pass
"Insolent old-timer." Indigo had the cheek to call him an old-timer. AzuI was to angry to laugh.
'Teleport Strike!' When Sunstrider arrived, he activated all his spells for more umpf. A tower of water hit first. 'Mind Break!' Slannesh cut through the new barrier with ease and the cut dug into Indigo's flesh. Remembering what happens next, he braced himself. 'Here it comes.' Indigo backhanded him.
"Here the call of the Lich King!" Azul stabbed Froustmourne forward. The sword pierced right through Indigo, staying inside. Slowly wisps of the Users power was drained from him. The runes glowing as the sword reverted from old to a shining new brilliance. "Such magic, belongs in my hands." The Dark Dictator armor boosting in power.
"Begone!" Indigo yelled scared. The instant he said it, AzuI felt the surroundings change. He was teleported halfway around the Citadel with a section of it falling in the air. He allowed himself to fall as he turned Froustmourne downward. He tried to build some momentum. Before he hit the ground, he Teleported.
"Sup?" Azul called. Indigo looked up, seeing the sword glowing he placed his Power claw up. Eyes searching for the second Azul. He spotted him just before the strike connected up top. Indigo swung down knocking him to the ground.
Azul rolled on the floor, he looked up to seeFroustmourne cut into the armor. Indigo fired the storm bolter snarling. Azul pulled away as he placed the sword in front it took the damage and took a really bad beating from it.
"Tch!" He teleported back to fuse. Unsummoning Froustmourne. The rounds were deady to the weapon. "Bad rounds from that thing."
"Fwoosh!" The Aeons appear one by one. They went into Anima who appeared in her true form. A giant chain went out wrapping around Indigo. Power of Death and Darkness engulfing him. Something his fragile mind couldnt deal with. Inferna and Ariel stood out and started weaving spells.
"You pests!" Indigo panicked in the darkness. He moved around trying to escape. But the chains held him in place. "Let me go!" He raged and started firing the Storm Bolter out. The shots cutting through the darkness. A few hitting Anima. Her skin burned a little. A few exploding on the chains.
'Hurry and finish those spells! I cant hold him much longer.' Anima thought to everyone. Her Dark power circled around him. "Tch!" She tightened in around him causing the barrier to disappear. Indigo released his power speeding the time of the chains. the age causing Anima to cut from them. "Bastard!" A blast of death magic and she was gone back into Azul.
'Pierce Strike!' Azul shot forward in a lunge. His hand shaped like a knife as he went through the armors defense. 'Blast!' His fist exploded in magical might. D.G. cells fighting aginst the upgrades in Indigo's body. He resited but it helped burn up energy. 'Overlord's Fury!'
"Ahhhh!" Indigo let out a scream as he struck back with the Power Claw. "Get away from Me!" He cut Azul across the face shredding his armor with ease. The back of Indigo,s armor lit up. Two Gauss Rifles popped up and fired. "I said get away!"
"Ah shit!" Azul felt the pain on that one. Then the blast tore into him. 'That's it for that armor. Shit, that claw is no joke.'
Health -321
Health -87
Health -86
"Kindness Drops!" ArieI said as the spell washed over Azul, healing his flesh. She turned into water droplets and hid across the area as Indigo opened fire at her. "To slow beta!"
"Inferno!" Inferna drew his attention as Azul switched to his Dark Cosmos armor. "Burned for me!" Indigo tried to freeze the attack, but the rune's on the ground stopped him. Engulfed in flame, Inferna kept weaving it in circles. The flame tower burned through the Citadel and compressed around Indigo.
"Aaaaahhhh! Help me!" As Indigo burned, Azul could feel the Biotic strands from Galtea and him. Her power was pouring into him and helping to heal him. "I.. I will not lose to you!" Despite his protests, he was still trapped.
Ariel kept moving readying her spell. She knew this was not over by a long shot. Azul started gathering his power to fight. Placing a spell in front of Inferna to protect her as well.
The cannons opened fire nonstop to drain Galtea's power. The fists spun around in the same direction adding pressure to the vortex. Spreading the claws open as Flame Fist coated them. The started blending the body of Indigo.
"Get away!" He sent a wave of temporal energy out. It hit the fists causing them to dissipate. The mana had drained out of them. "Ha.. ha.. You will pay for that!" He stared at Inferna with hatred. "Fire!" Hid power claw had a port in it. A miniature gauss cannon. Several guns fired from several ports across his body.
"Sching!" He fired everything at Inferna in one burst. The Reflect spell in front of her sent it all back. It blasted his armor apart and punctured holes in his body. A look of utter agony on his face as he had to force his mental faculties to restore himself. Galtea's prison shined brightly to lend him more power.
"Pow!" Azul's fist hit him dead cented in the face and sent his head reeling. He felt his anger finally come out fully. He was upset about some telling him he would win with no problem. Another User. Inferna entered Azul as she was tapped out. A cast a fire spell that boosted Azul's attack power.
"Pow!" AzuI gave him another punch when his jaw moved up. His armor melted away. His time power sped up trying to restore his wounds more.
"Sching!" Anima took control of the Dark chains of Andromeda. She wrapped them around him tightly squeezing and constricting. Azul just focused on beating his face in. It's not gonna be enough to cave his skull in. He had to do something big. Pulling all the moisture in the air and surroundings as well as the water in various creatures' blood and molded everything together for a powerful strike. Areal had a good bit of magic for what ever felt springy.
"I am stronger than this!" Indigo pulled on a reserve of power that Azul, didn't think he had. He froze everything in an instant as he moved away. The chains phasing through him. "Argh!" He groaned as that was taxing apparently. Time returned to normal. "What.."
"Poseidon Destroyer!" Launching the ball of energy into Indigo, AzuI watched as he stopped it with his hands. 'Time to beat him down more.' Indigo pushed against the attack.
"Not.. going to.." Galtea pumped more power into him.
"RAGGHH!" AzuI fired a Concussive shot next at maxium power. It merged with the move. 'If she keeps this up, I might kill her then him. She is now helping him instead of him stealing it from her.'
Hilda: I think she is trying to get through to him in her own way.
'Oh, how are things?' Azul moved around firing a rifl he picked up from the floor. 'Stable out there?'
Hilda: Yes.
"Pathetic. Is this all you have left? They all died for nothing then." Indigo gripped the move and tried to dissipate it. He struggled as he used power he didnt fully understand. 'I can do this.'
'All Buff!' AzuI teleported to his other side. 'Ha..do..ken!' Firing at his back, AzuI watched as he flinched a little. He was stopping it with his mind. AzuI felt the mental energy wash off him. He didnt let up. With a thought, AzuI sent Slannesh around. 'Go! Take all the psychic residue. Even what's in the Citadel and use it. The Trickster should have gotten what he wanted earlier.'
"That sword cant..do.." Indigo's eyes flashed at Azul. "What is that sword?!" The panic in his eyes hit a higher level. "Where did you get it from!?" Khorne appeared as well. "How do you have the same weapon as here?!"
The trillions of echoes of psychic energy from over the centuries poured into Slannesh and Khorne. They gorged on it attacking nonstop.
"You will die! You are not strong enough to beat me." Indigo yelled. His eyes went wild in fury as Azul removed the Title he had at the forefront. "Everchosen II.. you are higher than her!"
'Embrace Life.. Pather Rewrite... Mind Crush.. Mind Break!' Azul wrapped his power deep into him. Slannesh and Khorne draing him as well. Indigo lost psychic energy and his blood. His time power was force to work to keep him alive by Azul. 'Indoctrination!' Azul dug deep marking him every nook and cranny. He left the info about the User for latter. 'I do not want to trigger some hidden effect.'
Time passed by slow. Which was quite a trip. Indigo turned into a husk of his former self. He was still alive. Just.. broken a little. He did promise Galtea after all. Azul grabbed her prison and crushed it. Leaving her with Indigo.
"Rip," a Rift gate opened some Administrators Azul never before appeared. But Galtana was there, and he recognized her.
"Are they her to help or cause problems?" It was a valid question considering things. Slannesh and Khorne floated around to strike with a vengeance. "I have not dealt with.. a lot.. of you trouble types yet."
"They are not even going to lift a finger against you." Galtana said neutrally. "They are here to take him into custody." Two of the admins grabbed Indigo from Galtea and left. "A lot of work to get things taken care of. Thank you for everything. I.. will take my daughter for now."
"Boom," the World went bright as she released power AzuI could never fathom before. All across the Citadel, and beyond rift gates opened. Sucking in those who did not belong. Whatever that couldnt blend in disappeared.
Hilda: Sealing memories. hear from you soon.
.
Sometime Later-
.
AzuI woke up later in the infirmary. He was out only for a week. Shepard was just looking at him. A sad smile on his face. Azul couldnt tell what he was sad about.
"Hey, we have work to do." He threw a pair of clothes at me. "Get dressed for we can get you some points to fix things."
"Yeah, gets some pints." Jane chimed in. Swift was to the side just keeping quiet. "Let's go." Azul dressed and followed along. Head slightly addled.
.
Later-
.
"This is crap." AzuI grumbled while on the command deck of the Alliance Vessel. A copy of the Normandy that Shepard set up for the Collectors to attack. 'I feel so groggy. I swear I had something else I was supposed to be doing.' Pulling on his memories, AzuI digested the information again to help.
The plan Galtea and Shepard cooked up was stupid. AzuI just received some extra points for himself and to allow Shepard to do some clandestine operations. Jane was to take control of the false Normandy and act in his stead for the attack if Azul couldn't do so. Swift was there.. well because Jane was there.
The only people onboard were Azul, Ashley, Jane, Swift, John and Dr.Chakwas. A few Alliance officers fresh out the Academy. They oversaw the operations of the ship as, AzuI acted as Commander.
Ashley checked to make sure the bots could do what was needed in the place of a living crew. Dr.Chakwas made sure the robots moved effectively in case they had an emergency situation. For the last 5 hours, they kept running medical drills throughout the ship.
Standing at the deck, Azul observed the proceedings. This still didnt sit well with him in the slightest. He cant believe they convince the brass to do this. Seeing him still grumpy, Williams came up.
"Hey Commander, you ok." Her tone was neutral but AzuI could feel her frustration. "How are you doing with the operations? Bored yet?"
"No, not at all Lt. The operations are fine. Its purpose is nice and all. But I dont like being bait. Definitely not bored."
Ashley thought for a moment. Then snapped to. "I freaking knew there was something wrong here! What do you mean bait?"
"What do you mean, what do I mean?" AzuI stared at her like she had a screw loose. "We are bait for the strange thing out there. There is no way you didn't know?"
"I did not!" Williams yelled angrily. Her composure was broken. "So are we just going to stay here to get slaughtered?!"
"No. Evacuation procedures are ready. This is a real test using an extremely dangerous real threat. This will be the first attack of the new enemy. Casualties will be low. That is the reason for the extra bots." AzuI did his best to placate her. Then he explained the intel received on the "Collectors" as well as his personal information on them. "Also Alliance ships as well Citadel ships are in wait ok?"
"So the Collectors are reaped Protheans. This is ridiculous." Ashley stood rubbing her head in pain. "This is ridiculous. We beat back the Reapers didnt we? I understand their would be remnants but this is ridiculous."
"You beat back a scout ship. More will come in the future five or eight years estimated. John is doing what he can to build up an army right now. A few others are building up a resistance as well. The problem is the Council. They won't allow mass armaments of organizations so easily."
"That is stupid." Ashley was upset, but it was from fear.
"The evidence is not enough to keep mass hysteria from breaking out. The council is doing what it can to keep the peace as is." Seeing her frowning face, AzuI decided to let her know a little more information. "Deals are going on to get some of the key races to help. We won't get caught with our pants down Lieutenant."
"What about the lives lost in the meantime?"
"That is what this exercise is for. To see if we can operate ships with less lives lost. With the Geth still being a problem, their is no way any of the races will allow any of the bots to be allowed with A.I. command systems."
"God help us. This is dangerous." Ashley said trembling a little. Couldnt tell if it was fear or anger.
"Aye." Azul could only nod his head in agreement.
"Please tell me you are a believer." Ashley looked at him like he was a lifeline.
'Crap, I forgot she is religious. I cannot just tell her their are gods you can literally meet face to face. That will be way to out there.' Shaking his head no, he could only respond vaguely. "A believer no. It is more suffice it to say I lack faith in the almighty. But that is my own personal belief. I failed God a long time ago... Just as I was failed."
"I.. feel like we have had the conversation before." Ashley mumbled. 'I swear I know him really well. My head is all fuzzy. But Jane said it will pass.'
"Nevermind that. We need to make sure we survive this. As well as the data getting to the Alliance to help against the Collector threat."
"Right!" Williams said cheerfully. Her biotic strands poured into Azul. She was happy. Glad that he had a crisis of faith only. Better that then none at all. "When this mission is over.. drinks on me, Commander." She gave him a strong look. "Call me, Commander some times. We did fight on Vermine and on the Citadel."
"You got it, Lieutenant," AzuI responded automatically. But the information felt off somehow. 'I fought on the Citadel and Vermine? Why don't I remember?'
"I should finish my rounds. Nice talk Commander." Ashley then started to walk away.
"Oh, before I forget. Always keep fighting Williams. No matter what."
"Aye aye, Skipper." With that, she left in the lift.
Looking at the map in front of him, AzuI couldn't help but feel his hearts beat sporadically. The feeling was worse than looking at that Hive Tyrant. Danger was here but what could it be. It felt far but was on its way to him.
.
-A few hours later-
.
"Boom!" The Collectors arrived. They opened fired disabling the ship almost.
"I am not doing that!" I yelled over comms to her. "Galtea open a rift and get me out of here." Running through the decks of the ship, I helped everyone I could get to the lifeboats.
"You will not die. Think of all the goodies you will get." Galtea said trying to convince him to do this. Azul felt he should be mad at her for some reason, but it was odd. Very numb feeling. "It will be painful but worth it."
"The answer is no!" He yelled into his helmet. Securing the last members, he checked the map for anybody else. A few still held up in medical still. "Damn it.!" Rushing over, he head that way. The ship took another hit sending him bouncing about.
System: Dexterity Check 20 Pass
Opening the door manually the tools and supplies flew out. Grabbing the side Azul activated Misty Fist and Biotic shield for the debris. It was knocked away as he slid around.
"Anybody in here?!" AzuI yelled to no avail. Moving in, he felt the gravity shift before returning to normal.
"Over here a voice yelled out." AzuI ran up to find Dr. Chakwas kneeling in pain. To the side, Ashley was out cold. A piece of metal stabbed in her shoulder. "She took some damage getting the others out. Couldn't help till almost everyone was gone."
Azul helped, he lifted them both up. Ashley held cradled in his arm. He allowed a little biotic energy incase with runic magic to help stabilize her. Dr.Chakwas gave her quick once over. She then looked at Azul weirdly before getting back to it. Running to grab a medigel, she applied it. They then left to go to the nearest escape pod.
"Boom!" Another explosion happened behind them. Dr.Chakwas hit the seal hatch as they passed it. Reaching the first escape pod, it was pried open with ease. Dr.Chakwas got in first and checked it over. The few pieces of wreckage inside was moved over as Azul set Ashley inside to the side and strapped her in. She groggily woke up.
"Easy Lieutenant. Stay still, for now, you took a bad injury." AzuI said softly. He felt her panic. She settled in quickly afterward. All those years of training taking effect swiftly. AzuI looked to Dr.Chakwas who had bad news considering her expression.
"Commander the air supply has been damaged. It won't accommodate more than two people. It barely has enough for two." Dr.Chakwas started to try and move to the exit. AzuI pushed her back inside. "What are you doing?!"
System: Guarantee the survival of Dr.Chakwas and Lt.Williams.
"Making sure you two make it." AzuI stepped out and close the door and hit the jetson on the pod. Running around, he searched for another pod. "Galtea, I know you hear me! Get me out of here!"
Galtea: It is too late. The Collectors are getting ready to fire again.
As soon as she said that, AzuI felt the ship take heavy fire. Before he could rebuke back again. The ship strained and broke apart. AzuI watched as it vented the atmosphere. He slid across the opening.
AzuI heard a voice on the other line, then a few others.
"You will be ok. We are on our way!" Chari yelled.
"Hurry!" With that, another explosion hit. The part of the ship he was located at broke completely apart. AzuI went tumbling through space. Activating his biotic shield, he kicked it to the max. He smashed against multiple pieces of Debris. Then he saw it, the Collector ship. It fired again on the fake Normandy. When a pod drifted to close he thought they would see it when the ship turned.
'No!' Gathering every bit of his energy and everything from his shield, he fired a Concussive Shot at the side of the ship. He watched as the brow turned to them. At that time an Alliance ship dropped in. Followed by an Asari ship. They opened fire on the Collector ship causing it to flee. The momentum from the shot and a firing explosion blasted Azul towards out of everyones range. In a few seconds, he was no longer visible.
A figure was floating to the side. It was Jane and Swift. They did not look to good. Using Teleport, Azul grabbed them Both. The Dominion dropped in as a few fighters shot out. Chari and Aurora were in a fighter each. Azul flung Jane then Swift. As since of Nausea assaulted him from behind.
A woman stood across from him. Her hands raised caused Aurora and Chari to bank off. She was a Pather, she diverted the direction of the ships themselves. Forcing them on a different course. She prepared a few spells to take them out as well.
"Oh no you don't!" Azul teleported to attack her. She redirected the spells to hit him directly. To fast for him to even recognize the direction. The blows hit giving excruciating pain. "Kuff!" Azul filled his helmet with blood clouding his vision.
Health -897
Health -877
System: Endurance Check 56 Neutral
"You survived.." Chronoa's voiced came in through the feed on all channels. "I am impressed. I will stay out of your way, you stay out of mine. We are two of a kind. Not many like us." She moved over grabbing Azul by the head looking into his eyes. "So much better than Indigo. I wish I found you first. Let me break that .. seal!"
She swung Azul in a different direction. Unlocking the seals inside his mind. And the ones deeper that he didn't know was there. Placed by an Avatar. Not any he knew when he first arrived the second time. The Dragoon ability activated but Azul was in to much pain to act. Lungs filled up with blood and hearts all destroyed. His regen was keeping him in agonizing life.
"Huff.. huff.." AzuI couldnt breathe properly. The breathing attachment in his helmet started to malfunction. Biotics were not working. His magic was gone. AzuI could feel nothing. All his power gone from two strikes.
Voices droned out as he couldnt recognize thing. Chronoa rewired his brain. Making it impossible for him to think properly. It was maddening. As he drifted in space, AzuI finally felt something. He wished he didnt. He felt the coldness of space. The suit started to part open. But helped his mind straightened out. 'So cold!' In a split second, the air was taken out of him. AzuI felt both of his lungs collapsed then flood out of his body. Followed by most of his organs.
Reviving back at full health didn't work. Still addled, he couldn't protect himself. Body heated up as he entered a planet's atmosphere. Organs burning with muscle tissue. Regeneration fighting to keep his body semi-functional. Debris from the area pulled in with him.
"Boom!" He hit the ground dropping to zero once again. Biotic Armored Body activated. Azul lost most of his senses but felt it devouring something. The System Message gave him a little peace of mind.
System: User has completed scenario for World. Having taken the place of Commander John & Jane Shepard. Bonus awarded .... calculating. Proceeding to Administration space..
System: Get ability activated. Pather Redirect, Time Manipulation. User level is two low. Locking abilities.