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SFS: Lineage (Chapter Three)

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Shepard Family Stores: Lineage

-Chapter Three-

Kaycee's movements barely register to Aria before she's slammed up against the glass, Shepard's forearm pressed against her throat. Kaycee's voice comes out in a low growl, "You knew! You knew my mother was in danger and you didn't tell me!"

Aria's guards go for their weapons, but Ayrene steps in between her father and the guards, a Phalanx pistol in each hand. "Stay out of this boys, family business."

Kaycee motions with her head at the datapad on the floor, "How long ago was this?"

Aria stares back at her in silent defiance. Kaycee presses harder, bringing a small gasp from Aria's lips. "How….long?" 

"……Twelve hours……"

Kaycee releases Aria and heads for the door, only to find her way blocked by Aria's goons. 

She turns back to the queen of Omega, something akin to murder in her eyes. Aria sighs and waves her hand and the guards part. Ayrene follows her father's path, but stops in the door, "Aria? After everything my father has done for you….I can't believe you didn't tell us about this the moment you found out. Make no mistake, you and I are not done discussing this." 

Without another word, she runs after her father who's already reached the exit of Afterlife. Aria turns back to the window, watching the pair. The turian clears his throat, "Ma'am? You want us to go after them?"

"…..No…..Let them go. Now get the hell out."

The sound of the door closing reaches her ears. How does she do it? How does she have such a loving relationship with her daughter? A pained expression covers her elegant features. "….Liselle…."

(Outside Afterlife)

Ayrene puts her hand to her earpiece, "Alright guys, drop what you are doing and get to the ship. We've got a serious situation."

Gabriel's voice sounds back, "What's wrong Aya?"

"It's my grandma…"

"Spirits….."

"I know, grab your gear and get moving."

"Got it boss."

Ayrene turns to her father who is deep in conversation on her phone. "I don't care what the proper protocol is Williams. You get your bony ass in gear and start putting people in protective custody. Don't argue with me Ash, I'm angry with you enough as it is……Thank you."

She hits another button on the phone and brings it back up to her ear. "Zaeed? It's Shepard. I know you've got a date with Aethyta today, but I need you to do something. I know, I'm sorry, but this can't wait. Okay, get to the house and pick up Syren. She may be in danger Zaeed and I would feel much better knowing that you were there looking after her. Thank you so much Zaeed, put the word out to the others, tell them to watch their backs." 

"Dad, you think they may come after Syren?"

"Aya, honey….I don't know right now…..We just have to get home….."

A voice calls out from behind, "Hey! Aya?"

Ayrene turns around to face Dawn T'Loak. "What's wrong Dawn?"

"I….I wanna come with you."

"Why?"

"I heard the recording…I'm worried they'll go after my dad too."

"And your mom is just…okay with this?"

A sly smile spreads over her lovely purple face, the white tattoos seeming to glow. "Of course."

Aya gives a small laugh that dies away when she sees the distracted look on her father's face. "You ready to go now?"

"Absolutely!"

"Come on, then." 

Ayrene walks over to her father and places a hand on her shoulder, "Dad? We need to go. Come on."

(Earth)

Hannah Shepard sits alone in her living room, her eyes closed, listening to the pouring rain. The distant rumbles of thunder peal in the background. Ah….I love the rain….It's so peaceful.

The phone rings, snapping her out of her serenity. "Oh, you have got to be kidding me."

She grumpily gets up from her recliner and picks up the phone from its cradle. "Hello? Go for Hannah?"

Silence and static is all that she hears on the other end of the line. "…..Hello?….."

A flash of lightning illuminates shadowy figures standing in the yard. She drops the receiver in alarm. She quickly makes her way to the fireplace where a custom-made shotgun rests on a rack above the mantle. A note is attached to it that reads, Any mother who gave birth to my battlemaster deserves a proper weapon. Fight well, Shepard."

She smiles at the memory, "Thank you so much, Grunt. You definitely knew the perfect gift." 

She lifts the M-11 Wraith from its rack, feeling the heft to it. "It's just like riding a bike, Hannah. You never really forget."

The power suddenly goes out. Looking down, she notices a laser sight dancing across her chest. She dives to one side as a shot rings out! The round misses her by inches, shattering the glass of a picture frame on the mantle. Clutching the shotgun to her chest, she rolls behind the sofa as someone kicks in the front door. A laser sight roves around the room as the intruder searches for her. She hears a modulated voice come from the figure, "Ma'am? No sign of Shepard. Orders?"

Hannah rolls out from the sofa, shotgun raised and aimed at the head of the figure. She opens fire, the Wraith erupting with a deafening roar. The pellets tear through the figure, throwing it back against the wall with a sickening thump. She grabs a flashlight from the drawer of the sofa table and shines it on the body. Black and yellow armor adorns the would-be assailant, bare skin showing in places. The odd part is that the skin is covered in heavy burns. She grabs a pair of grenades from the attacker's belt, turning to face the open door and the figures in the yard. "Well then? Which of you wants to go next?

A figure steps in front of the others, reaching behind its back, it unsheathes a sword. Holding it up, the sword begins to glow with a eerie purple light. Hannah's eyes narrow in confusion, "Well then? You all just going to stand around gawking or are we gonna dance?" 

The leader motions with her sword at Hannah. "…..Take her….."

The soldiers charge forward with inhuman speed and agility, their hands glowing with the same eerie light as the sword. Hannah gives the grenades each a small twist and chucks them down at the feet of the soldiers. A dome of fire explodes from each engulfing the attackers. Screams of terror come from the inferno as Hannah raises her shotgun to continue the fight. A sharp pain pierces her back, bringing a wave of sheer agony through her body. A female's voice sounds in her ear, "Tartarus says hello, Hannah Shepard."

"….Who….are you?"

"Call me Hades."

"You're not after me…..are you?"

"You're a clever woman Hannah. You're right. I'm leaving your daughter…..a message. We're coming for them…..all of them."

Hannah closes her eyes and pictures her daughter and her grandchildren. "Be good Kaycee……I love you baby." 

…….and everything goes black.

Well, here's the next installment of Lineage.......It was heartbreaking to write.

____________________________
A special thanks to my Beta-Testers: BlackLion, Vierna, LG, CKG, June, and Britta.
A big thank you to BlackLion for helping me set the stage for Hannah's scene as well as letting me use his EVA core design for the Tartarus soldiers.
Villafj gets another thank-you for the inspiration for Dawn's father.

Hannah Shepard and Aria belong to Bioware.
Ayrene and Kaycee belong to LALA and Me.
© 2012 - 2024 SaintWalker1806
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julianhellsing's avatar
Nooo!!! Not Hannah Shepard!!