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Mass Effect: The Helldiver Saga, Alpha Origins	By : Veyron722skyhook Category: +M through R > Mass Effect Views: 6171 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: I do not own Mass Effect or it's characters. They belong to Bioware and EA. No money/profit is made by me from this.

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
Didn't' get that many reviews for the last one.

When i asked a few people however they said they hadn't received a notification email. Bit odd. Well anyway, hopefully this time it's reached you and I'm telling you now that I did a chapter 13.

Now, regarding this chapter. I'd like to say a huge thank you to SpectreFanchin10 for his work on this with me. He thought up the basic plot-line and wrote several segments, so he definitely deserves some credit for this too.

It's here we finally introduce a familiar face we first saw in ME3. The plot also thickens...

HAPPY READING!

YEAR 4, The Rise of Hellspawn

2176: 4 Years after the battle of Elysium

12 Years before the Battle of Arkadia

"With a possible new enemy out there, what happened next was something we did not expect… an invitation to dinner with a Senator of all things. As it turned out though, it ended up being not quite so relaxing. Still, it was a night none of us would forget. For it seemed we weren't the only fish out of water that night…

Chapter 14

Murder in The Dark

The Arkanes had been rather concerned by the news that a new unknown party was behind the raids. Though they seemed to have stopped now, that didn't mean the problem was behind them.

For now though, Alpha had a different assignment.

Because of their fame, they'd recently received an invitation from a Senator Hector Stevens. Alpha weren't exactly enthusiastic about it, but it'd be rather rude to decline so they'd ultimately accepted.

So that was why they were dressed in evening wear. They were trying to relax and enjoy the trip, but unfortunately that was hard when they were inside the Hellraiser, and Dash was at the wheel.

Normally they would've just flown there, but because Steven's Mansion was up in the hills (which were a no fly zone because of unpredictable and often dangerous weather) they'd had to drive instead.

At the moment Dash was driving sensibly and not going too fast, but there was always that little bit of paranoia Alpha had after their last drive in this tank.

"So how much further?" Dash asked.

"Well assuming I'm reading this map correctly, the mansion should be beyond those trees on the other side of those woods." Said Sandra, reading the holo map on one of the displays in front of her in the passenger seat. So we'll have to circle ar…."

But she was interrupted as Dash suddenly pulled a sharp turn, went completely off the road, and into the forest at high speed, laughing as if he'd just accepted a challenge.

"Hahaha!"

"OH NO!" Sandra screamed.

The rest of Alpha swiftly lowered their harnesses and secured them. They could already tell that this ride was not going to be comfortable.

"Steering's a little loose!" Dash joked, obviously finding his passenger's discomfort and fright to be rather funny.

A rather large dip in the terrain caused the Hellraiser to temporarily leave the ground, leaving all 6 wheels spinning and the engine revving to full RPM before finally landing back on ground again with a rather loud bash due its weight.

"Alignment's off too!" Dash grinned.

"DASH!" Sandra yelled as she noticed the Scout was driving right at the low hanging and very thick branch of a tree. Having rather forgotten that she was in an almost indestructible tank, she flung both her hands over her face and braced for what she thought was going to be her inevitable death.

Instead however, the Hellraiser simply smashed through the thick branch without even a single dent.

As the Hellraiser drove through a nearby river, splashing stagnant water everywhere, Dahs then started to do something even madder. He started to sing.

"Oh, you pretty Chitty Bang Bang, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang we love you! And our pretty Chitty Bang Bang, Chitty Bang Bang loves us too. High, up, anywhere we go, on Chitty Chitty we depend. Bang Bang Chitty Chitty Bang Bang our fine four-fendered friend. Bang Bang Chitty Chitty Bang Bang our fine four-fendered…Chitty Bang Bang. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Chitty Bang Bang YEAH!"

Everyone simply looked at him. Had Dash really lost it this time, or was his adrenaline just so high that he was acting this way? In their opinion more likely the former.

"CHITTY!" Dash yelled again. He then accelerated even hard and the crashed right even more of the woods into a clearing.

A welcome sight was finally in sight. Ahead lay the senator's mansion. A rather grand building that looked like the sort of a building a very rich person would live in. Secluded in a forest or field, large enough to have more than one bedroom and a rather expensive looking car parked outside in order to show off to guests.

"Ah there's the mansion!" said Dash.

"Oh, thank god!" said Sandra with relief. It was almost over.

"If I can just find a parking spot…" said Dash.

"Perhaps we should slow down just a teensy weensy bit?!" Sandra suggested in a vaguest hope that it might somehow make Dash slow down. It didn't work.

"Nonsense, poopy pants!" said Dash confidently as he continued at the speed. The mansion was getting closer and closer.

In the passenger seat, Sandra was literally praying for her life now.

"We're gonna be fine. We're gonna be fine. We're gonna be fine. We're gonna be fine. We're gonna be fine. LOOK OUT!"

Dash then spun. Not once, not twice, but several times. Everything outside the window became a blur as Dash literally did several spins, laughing through a wide grin all the while.

Mercifully it finally stopped. Dash hit the brakes and the Hellraiser stopped, parked perfectly right next to Senator Stevens' car, barely an inch for touching it.

"Like a glove!" the Scout laughed.

Sandra of course was the first to remove her restraint and run out of the Hellraiser. She quickly found the nearest hedge so that if she did end up throwing up again, she wouldn't' make an obvious mess. Several deep breaths… and it never came. The awful feeling her stomach slowly started to subside and her panting slowed to a clam and controlled rate of breathing.

"One of these days, his driving is gonna be the death of me." She said to Alaara who had checked her "secret" bondmate was okay.

"Are you alright, Xun?" Austin asked as he helped Xun, who was still rather dizzy and almost in shock, out of the Hellraiser.

"I'll live." Xun replied groggily. She too sounded a little sick, but she didn't look it.

"I'm so sorry about that, but once he's behind the wheel of this monster there's no stopping him." Austin apologised, casting Dash a rather cross look.

"Well imagine the mayhem he'll give the enemy in this." Said Xun, trying to brighten the mood a little.

It was everyone got out that everyone not only noticed how close Dash had been to hitting the Senator's car, but also the mess he'd made of the grass field doing his spins.

"Look what you've down to the lawn!"

"That'll clear up." Said Dash uncaringly.

"Give me strength." Austin sighed as he buried his face in his hands. "We're not even inside the mansion and already one of us has made a mess."

Hoping and praying that the senator and his staff wouldn't' notice the lawn since it was night, everyone walked up to the door. Austin knocked and it soon opened. A finely dressed butler stood in the doorway to greet them.

"Who shall I tell Mr Stevens is calling?" he asked, clearly with a calm and somewhat modest and posh British accent. Very different from Austin's.

"Helldiver Squad Alpha. He invited us." Austin replied.

The butler opened the door fully and allowed everyone to come in before closing the door behind them.

"Wait here, and please do not touch anything." He said.

As the butler left, Austin could already see Dash moving over to a nearby vase out the corner of his eye.

"Dash!" he said sternly.

"Okay, fine." Dash sighed.

A few seconds later, the Butler returned with two men accompanying him.

Senator Stevens had black hair with a touch of grey hair on his sideburns and blue eyes. He appeared to be in his late fifties with a mostly normal physique.

"Ah! Alpha Squad, what a pleasure to finally meet you at last." He said happily.

It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Senator." Said Austin as he and Stevens shook hands.

"Must say, I am surprised that you accepted my invitation. A squad like yours I would've thought would consider something like this to not be worth your time." Said Stevens.

"A squad like ours doesn't turn down invites from a senator." Said Austin modestly.

Stevens then indicated the man next to him.

"Allow me to introduce my brother, Robert Stevens."

"How do you do?" Robert greeted.

"Very well, thank you." Austin replied as he and Robert shook hands.

Robert was tall and thin. Like his brother he had black hair and blue eyes.

"Quite good looking isn't he?" Alexa quietly said suggestively to Alaara.

"Not my type." The Asari shrugged uncaringly. Unseen by Alexa, she made a little wink at Sandra who simply smiled understandingly.

"Your loss."

While the Senator finished attending to some business, Alpha were all sat the table. The long wait was beginning to bore some of them.

Leena was even trying to alleviate the boredom of waiting by playing the knife game on her own hand using her combat knife, continuously getting faster as she kept stabbing between her fingers. Austin finally noticed just as she started reaching a blurring speed.

"Leena! Not at the table." He said sternly.

The Quarian sighed and put the knife away. Fortunately, at that moment, the food finally arrived, as did Stevens and his brother.

"I apologise if I kept you all waiting." Said the Senator.

"Oh not at all, Senator." Said Austin modestly.

"I trust your dextrous friends find the food to their liking? I made sure to get the best specially for them."

Ventra did a little test of some of the dextrose DNA food. As soon he swallowed, he suddenly started chocking.

"Oh dear god!" said the butler.

At that moment however, Ventra's expression changed to a grin and he then started laughing. He'd only been pretending to be poisoned. Everyone relaxed, but they weren't impressed with the Turian for doing that.

"Hahahaha! Oh, the look on your faces." He said.

"Please don't do that again, Ventra. You nearly gave me a heart attack." Said Austin as he breathed sigh of relief.

"Quiet the lively bunch aren't they." Said Stevens, surprisingly amused by Ventra's little joke.

"You've no idea." Said Telrass.

"Anyway, please do tuck in." said Robert.

With that, everyone else started eating.

"So Alpha, my brother and I are most curious to know how exactly you dealt with all those crime lords. There've been many stories, but nothing beats the truth." Said Stevens.

"Well, it certainly wasn't easy…" said Austin.

Dash turned his head and looked in some random direction.

"The author will fast forward this bit for you, readers." he winked.

"Well, I'm glad to see you all enjoyed your meals." Said Stevens as everyone finished.

"Yes. Kraan's certainly enjoyed his the most. I've never seen anyone eat 5 whole turkeys and not be sick." Said Austin. "I hope you've got plenty more."

"Oh I assure you we have." Said Stevens.

"Can I have another?" Kraan asked. He noticed however that everyone was giving him an unimpressed look. "Relax, guys. It was a joke. For once, I'm actually full."

"I honestly do hope you're not overdosing on all that protein paste, Leena." Said Telrass.

"Just be thankful I didn't try to drink some more Ryncol." Said the Quarian.

"That's true." Telrass admitted.

"Anyway, if everyone is finished, I would like you all to accompany me to the study. There's something I wish to discuss with you all." Said Stevens.

The senator, Robert and the rest of Alpha got up from the table and all went out of the dining room, went straight down the hall, turned to the left and all went to the study. There were several couches and a chair at the corner as they entered. Outside was the unmistakable sound of rain and drops could be seen

"Well there's no one here," Dash mumbled.

"Everyone, would you please take a seat?" the Senator asked politely.

As everyone sat down, except Kraan who was forced to stand after he ended up crushing a chair when he sat on it (most likely the result of all that food)

"Ladies and gentlemen, it's time I was honest with you. I didn't invite you here just for dinner." Said Stevens. "Well...there are some things about those raiders you've recently come across that I know about and what who they are working for."

Everyone looked at him curiously.

"Tell us what you know." Said Austin.

"To put it very clear, I've-"

Thunder suddenly struck. The senator fell forward on the table and blood started dripping from the top of his head. Everyone jumped back in surprise. Dash quickly went up to him and attempted to check his pulse.

"Oh my god! He's probably dead!" he said.

"No shit, Sherlock," Robert said sarcastically.

"Look everyone just calm down," Shepard assured. "Let's just look at the body and see what killed him."

"Let me look," Robert said. "I know a bit about detective work and I am his brother."

Robert lifted up the body to see there was a gunshot wound in the head. He looked at the direction of the gunshot and followed it to the dresser. Behind one of the mini statues he saw what was undeniably a pistol behind it.

"Well, looks like we found what killed my brother." He said.

"I'll try to contact the authorities," Leena said as she used her omni tool to make contact. No use. "Damn it, I can't make contact from the outside."

"Just as well. Last thing we want is PC Plod sticking his nose in." said Robert.

"How about we get the hell out of here?" Alaara suggested.

Everyone all agreed with her and try to open the front door but it failed to open it.

"Oh shit tits! We're trapped with a killer! We have NO armour. NO suit. We're defenceless," Dash yelled uncontrollably.

Sandra slapped him across his face and Dash calmed down.

"Dash, shut up and stop shouting. We're all a little freaked out about what just happened." She said.

"What happened," Ventra said. "Why can't we get out?"

"The mansion is in lockdown. The gunshot must have turned on the alarms and locked us in here. We can't get out," Robert said.

"I bet it can't stop a charging Krogan," Kraan yelled as he readied to break the door open. Robert though stopped him.

"It won't work. The walls outside the mansion can withstand a Krogan even at your size, Kraan."

"I'll just blast us out with the Hellraiser." Said Dash as he took the remote control out.

"Dash, put that away! You're not blowing a hole in this mansion!" Austin ordered.

"Spoilsport." Dash mumbled. This time though, Austin heard that.

"Watch it!" he warned. "So how are we going to get out?"

"Someone from the outside has to unlock the doors." Robert replied.

"How long will it take for them to unlock this place?" Telrass asked.

"An hour." Robert replied, trying to break the bad news to them casually.

"Well that's just great!" Ventra sighed.

"Ok, we need suspects. Who else is in the house?" Austin asked.

"We all saw, the butler, the gardener, the maid...," Ventra listed down.

"What about the cook?" Kraan asked.

"The cook?" everyone asked.

Everyone ran down the hall to the kitchen to see the cook was there. The kitchen was completely empty.

"Well," Dash said. "She's not here."

A loose door opened by itself next to Dash. The Scout screamed and saw the cook dead with a cleaver stuck to the back of her head. The body fell out but Leena managed to catch it.

"Don't be such a wuss, Dash." Said Kraan. "We kill how many people and one dead body terrifies you?"

"It's dark and we've got a killer on the loose." Said Dash defensively.

"A shame. She always made such nice meals." Said Robert. There was little to no emotion in his voice.

When Robert turned, he suddenly found Austin pointing a gun directly at his face.

"What the hell are you doing?" Robert asked nervously.

"How long have been living in this house?" Austin asked.

"Several years at least." Robert replied, still staring at the barrel of the gun with worry.

"Would you say you were close to the staff?" Austin asked.

"Of course." Robert replied in an obvious tone.

"Who are you, really?" Austin asked seriously.

"My name is Robert Stevens." Robert replied sternly.

Unconvinced, Austin shot a hole in the ceiling to prove that he was completely serious about shooting Robert.

"I'll ask again. Who are you?" he asked as he pointed the gun at Robert again.

"My name is Robert…" said Robert. But he was interrupted by Austin preparing to fire another shot. "Okay, I'm an imposter! How did you know?"

"We've had two murders and I've not seen any emotion from you. It's straight to solving the murder. So I'm guessing that you're either very cold… or an imposter." Austin explained. "So, who are you really?"

Knowing that he was defeated, "Robert activated his omni tool. To the surprising shock of everyone he then faded away as though he'd simply been an image, or a hologram. A new figure then slowly appeared, uncloaking in the same way that a Helldiver did. Sure enough, in front of Alpha now stood a Helldiver. Full armour and everything.

His armour design wasn't' heavily modified but he did have several cloth pieces hanging off his armour. Most especially at the back around the legs, one on the front and on his right arm. This appearance gave him a somewhat drifter appearance.

"Bonjour Madame and Mousier. Troy Benning, Helldiver Spy at your service." He said as he gave a bow, now speaking with a French accent "I was assigned by the Arkane council to look into those mysterious raiders you fought on your last mission. Remember Jack Daniels?"

"Yeah we remember him. We heard he was brought for interrogation but we never had anything." Said Sandra.

"I got one piece of information. The Senator was in some contact with an unknown organization in the shadows which I have no name at all. I went in disguise as his brother to know more but the dinner was unexpected. I had hoped maybe you could get something from him, but now of course…" said Troy.

"But wait. If you've been impersonating his brother this whole time, where's the real one?" Austin asked suspiciously.

"He's taken care of. Don't worry about it." Troy simply replied.

"So if you were involved in something like this, why didn't the council tell us?" Alexa asked.

"My work as a spy as you probably know is classified and any information about it is unofficial and off the record. Only the very highest ranking are privy to that sort of information. We spies prefer to work in the shadows." Said Troy, almost sounding a bit boastful as he spoke.

Sandra walked up to Troy.

"I think you better explain yourself, Troy." She said.

"I just did." The spy said.

"Steven I can understand. But why would someone kill the cook?" she asked.

"I don't know," Troy replied. "But whoever did this has a real god complex."

"Well that's one suspect down," Shepard said. "We just need to find the butler, maid and gardener."

"Well then," Troy said. "I suggest we take the cook and Senator's bodies into the study."

"Why?" Kraan said suspiciously.

"We don't want to upset the butler. He likes to keep the kitchen tidy. And where else are we gonna put them?"

Everyone took the bodies to the study and placed them on the sofa.

"Troy. Is there anyone else here in the house?" Austin asked.

"N-no," Troy said hesitantly.

"Then there is someone else is in this house?"

"Sorry monsieur. I mentioned to say no meaning yes."

"No meaning yes? Look I just want a clear answer. Is it yes or no?"

"No."

"Yes there is or no their isn't?"

"Yes?"

Clearer growing annoyed by this, Alaara's biotics flared up and she hit the wall with a warp.

"Stop arguing about this and figure out what's going on here!" she said.

"Yeah, what she said." Dash agreed.

"How do we know that one of them isn't the killer?" Dash asked. "As far as we know if it's not them, it could be us without even knowing it."

"What do you mean one of us did it?! How could you even suggest that?!" Leena said furiously.

"Well I didn't do it." Dash reminded everyone.

"Well someone did. But who?" Troy asked rhetorically. "We must look for a motive. "Use ze little grey cells."

"Oh yes. Little grey cells. Good old Poirot." Said Austin. "Who's Poirot?" Telrass asked. "Long story." Said Xun. "Another time."

"Alright. If there is no one else here, I suggest we split into pairs and search the mansion for clues." Austin suggested.

"Now this is beginning to sound like Scooby Doo." Dash joked.

"SHUT UP, DASH!" everyone said.

"Alright, Kraan, Dash, you two search the cellar. Ventra, Leena, search the second floor. Sandra, Alaara, you search the third. Troy, you Xun and Alexa and I stay on this floor. I want to keep an eye on you." Said Austin.

"Can't you just trust me for a bit, mon ami?" Troy asked charmingly.

"I guess we'll find out."

Both Dash and Kraan were searching for anything useful. Surprisingly for the Krogan, Dash was actually being rather quiet. Most likely he was taking this situation seriously for once.

"You seem quieter than usual, Dash. Something wrong?" Kraan asked.

"I don't like cellars." Dash replied. "They're all dark and full of…"

He was suddenly interrupted when he accidently walked into several cobwebs which became tangled in his face and hair. He immediately screamed and literally fell on the floor as he tried to shake them off.

"OH SHIT! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF! THEY'RE IN MY HAIR! HELP ME!"

After several long moments, he finally pulled them off. Kraan was making no effort to hide his laughter.

"It's not funny, Kraan. I'm afraid of cobwebs and spiders." Dash panted as he picked himself up and dusted himself down.

"You wouldn't have liked the Rachni then." Said Kraan as they went back to searching the cellar.

"Don't. You're gonna give me nightmares." Dash shuddered unpleasantly.

The scout then spotted an old and abandoned wardrobe. Thinking that lightning couldn't' strike twice, he gently opened it. A dead body suddenly fell out and landed right on Dash, causing him to fall on the ground again with the body on top of him, its lifeless face inches from his. It was the maid. She'd been bludgeoned on the back of the head.

"AGH!"

"Honestly, Dash. You are such a big baby." Said Kraan as he pulled the body off Dash.

"I don't like bodies jumping out at me, especially when we've got a killer on the loose." said Dash in shock.

"If he shows up, I'll protect you… after he's done a bit of cutting and stabbing that is." Said Kraan.

"Remind me not to help you next time you're in trouble." Said Dash crossly.

"Shut up, Dash." Said Kraan as he picked up the maid's body and slung it over his shoulder.

"Oh dear. Now the maid's gone. The staff is dropping like flies." Troy sighed as Kraan set the body down.

"We're doomed! Doomed!" said Dash hopelessly. This was quickly followed however with another slap, this time from Xun.

"Stop slapping me!" said Dash crossly.

"I was calming you down." Said Xun.

"Why would that calm me down?!" Dash yelled. Xun quickly slapped him again. This time though it seemed to work. "Hmmm, that actually did calm me down. Thanks."

Ventra, Leena and Telrass meanwhile were searching the master bedroom on the second floor.

"Pity. This is a rather nice house." Said Ventra.

"I've grown accustomed to living with lesser." Said Telrass.

The female Turian then suddenly spotted something. There was something red on the ground. At first she thought it was a red bit of clothing or something, but it started to get bigger and expand outwards. It wasn't clothing, it was blood.

Telrass cautiously looked under the bed. Sure enough, there was another body. This time it was that of the gardener who'd been stabbed in the chest by one of his own gardening tools.

"Merde! Now the gardeners dead! This killer's moving like lighting." Troy cursed.

"Maybe that should be his name. The lighting killer!" said Dash dramatically.

As he backed away while doing his little dramatic name, he accidently banged into the closet. Another body suddenly fell out and onto him, once again terrifying him.

"Why is it always me?!" said Dash as he managed to push the body off of him. This time it was the butler. "Well at least we know the butler didn't do it."

"A shame. He was a nice chap." Austin sighed.

Sandra and Alaara meanwhile… well to be honest they weren't really searching for clues in the attic. They were in fact both laid down on the ground, both stripped of their clothes and kissing wildly.

"I know we shouldn't, but I've just been so horny recently." Alaara smiled as she caressed Sandra's cheek.

"To be honest me too. It also actually feels kind of fun for some reason because it's wrong." Sandra chuckled.

"Ohhhhhh I want you!" Alaara moaned aggressively as she started sucking on one of Sandra's breasts.

"Come and get it then, you dirty little Asari." Sandra smiled naughtily.

"Oh that just turns me on even more." Said Alaara.

By the time the two had returned, everyone else was gathered. After their little "session" they'd fully searched the attic. They'd found nothing.

"Find anything?" Austin asked.

"Nothing up there." Alaara replied.

"Thought I heard some noises." Troy inquired.

"Probably just your imagination." Sandra shrugged.

Both hers and Alaara's heartbeat did elevate a bit. If their secret had suddenly been blown…

"You two make an unusual couple." Said Troy.

"Oh they're not a couple, Troy. They're just very close comrades. Friends if you will." Austin corrected.

"I see…" Troy said as he cast a suspicious eye at Sandra and Alaara. He wasn't so convinced…

Both Alaara and Sandra saw that look too. It seemed this spy knew, even though everyone else didn't.

But anyway, their minds quickly snapped back to the task at hand. All this time, Austin, Xun, Tory and Alexa meanwhile had been searching the study for clues.

Xun then managed to gain access to Stevens' computers. With Troy's help, she soon came across a password lock for what appeared to be some kind of hidden safe completely sealed with advanced systems to prevent them from being hacked and the only way to open them was a password and a fingerprint.

"Well we can use his fingerprint, but we still need the password."

"Is there anything on there that might tell us?" Austin asked.

On a hunch, Xun opened the messages. The last one was actually interesting. The Senator had several messages from an unknown person with a blocked ID saying that Stevens had the information required but that it was locked in his safe, which could only be opened using the computer. The mysterious contact said that if those files were discover or if the senator betrayed him, he warned Stevens that he'd be dead before he even knew it. Stevens had told the contact not to worry as he'd been keeping the data 'close to his home'.

"Close to his home." Austin repeated puzzlingly. "What did he mean by that?"

Alexa then clicked her fingers.

"Perhaps it didn't mean the mansion. Perhaps it means something more personal. Where he lived or worked for example."

"Of course!" said Troy, unexpectedly grabbing Alexa's head and kissing her forehead. "You're a genius, fille!"

Alexa was rather taken aback by this. Tory also suddenly realized what he'd done and quickly released her.

"My apologies, Madame." He said embarrassingly. "Alright. Well, Stevens once worked in Washington for a long time when he lived there."

"Xun tried that."

"Access denied!" said the computer.

"Where was he born?" Telrass asked.

"Virginia." Troy replied.

Xun tried that one.

"Access denied!"

"But that must've been right." Said Troy.

A thought then hit Austin.

"Maybe it wants us to be more specific." He suggested.

Troy then clicked his fingers.

"Virginia!"

Xun typed that.

There was a temporary wait.

"Password accepted. Fingerprint required."

Troy gently picked up Stevens and pressed his finger to the screen.

"Identity confirmed. Welcome, Mr Stevens."

One of the pictures suddenly opened revealing a safe door which then opened as well.

What was inside however was not what everyone had expected. All that lay in there was what was undeniably a fake eye.

"Oh no." said Austin as he picked up the eye.

"What? It's just an eye." Said Troy.

"It's a fake eye cover for a cybernetic one. Who do we know of that has a cybernetic eye?" Austin asked.

"You don't mean to tell me…" said Alexa.

"The Helldiver Slayer's behind this." Said Austin.

"The Helldiver Slayer?" Troy asked in surprise.

"Don't tell me there's more than one!" said Dash.

"Good point actually. Forget I said that." Said Troy. "But are you sure it's her?"

"Undoubtedly. We've crossed paths with her enough times to recognize her handiwork." Said Austin.

"If she's been impersonating someone then that probably means she's still here." Said Leena. "Who else is there in the house?"

"No one. Everyone's dead." Said Troy.

Austin looked closer at the fake eye. Where had he seen that colour before.

"Troy, how long has everyone been dead?" he asked.

Troy scanned each body with his suit.

"Everyone's been dead for the last hour. So they were all killed shortly after the Senator was." He said. But then he noticed something. "Oh, wait a minute. No. The maid's been dead… that can't be right."

"What is it?" Austin asked.

"It says that the maid's been dead for at least 24 hours." Troy replied.

"I think we now know who the Slayer's been posing as." Said Austin as he compared the fake eye to the eyes of the maid. They were an exact match.

"I knew there was something different about her!" said Troy.

It was at that moment, Dash suddenly noticed something out the window. A figure walking away from the mansion, removing a blonde wig in the process to reveal black short hair underneath. The figure turned. The Helldiver Slayer's true face stared back at him, the light her blue cyborg eye clearly visible, even from a distance.

"That's her." He said.

Everyone hurried to the window.

"How the hell did she get out of the mansion?" Troy asked in astonishment.

"And what's that in her hand?" Alexa asked worriedly.

The Slayer held up something so that Alpha could see it more clearly. Something with a button on it, which she then pressed.

The computer's screen suddenly went red and displayed a countdown which instantly started.

"Oh bloody hellfire!" Austin cursed. "It's a bomb."

"With a timer." Dash added.

The Slayer then got into Stevens' skycar and took off into the air. There'd be little chance of catching her now. But right now that was the least of Alpha's problems.

"Can't we just disarm it?" Alexa asked.

Leena attempted to hack the computer but it didn't' work. The computer actually back and suddenly shocked her with a very painful electrical charge.

"Ow! Shit that hurt." Leena swore. "Right, it's obviously been designed to prevent anyone from disarming it."

"We need to get out of here!" said Sandra urgently.

"How?! The building's still in lockdown and it won't turn off yet for another hour, time we don't' have." Said Troy.

"Well the Slayer somehow found a way…" said Telrass.

"Alright, that's it! I'm getting us out of here." Dash interrupted as he took the Hellraiser's remote out of his jacket.

"Dash, I thought I said…" Austin tried to say, but Dash interrupted again.

"I'm not gonna use the cannon. I've got something else that'll do the trick." He said. "Stand back."

The roar of the Hellraiser's engine could be heard from outside. It then transformed to battle mode and turned to face the building and fired the grappling hook from its winch right at the window. As it attached, the Hellraiser then started to reverse, revving at max RPM and its tyres skidding as it encountered resistance in the pull.

The unmistakable sound of creaking could be heard from the window, but it didn't come off. The lockdown was obviously quite tough.

"Whatever you're doing do it faster." Troy said worriedly, casting another look at the countdown to see the barely had less than a minute.

"I'm trying. These windows are tougher than I thought." Said Dash.

The Hellraiser continued to pull and the window's creaking got worse. Then cracks started to appear, it was slowly but surely coming off.

"Come on! Come on!"

Finally, the Hellraiser succeeded in pulling the window off completely.

Fortunately for Alpha they were only on the second floor, so the jump wouldn't' hurt them.

"Everyone out! GO!" Austin yelled.

Right as everyone jumped, the entire mansion exploded and was engulfed in flames which just barely missed Alpha as they all landed on the gravel outside.

"Everyone okay?" Austin asked as he picked himself up.

"I think so." Xun replied.

"Stop landing on top of me, Torres!" Kraan yelled as he pushed Dash off of him once again.

"This won't be easy to explain to the council." said Alaara.

"I was just thinking that myself." Said Troy.

"What about the Slayer?" Telrass asked.

"She's long gone now. Plus, she's in a skycar and we've only got the Hellraiser. We'll never find her." Said Austin.

"So what now?" Leena asked.

"We go back to the Council and explain everything. That's all we can do for now. We've got no other lead on this mysterious organization and she's got the data." Austin replied.

"We'll have to wait for another chance… if we even get one." Said Troy.

"We?" Sandra asked.

"I've been assigned to find out about these raiders as well. I figure we'll do better if we work together." Said Troy.

"You're not gonna be a member of Alpha. You do know that, right?" Austin asked.

"Of course. Think of it as a temporary team up. Besides, Xun's worked with you temporarily before, hasn't she?" Troy asked.

"Good point." Austin admitted. "Anyone have any objections to Troy working with us?"

No one replied.

"Welcome aboard then, Troy." Austin said as the two shook hands.

Bit short I'll admit, but I'm still happy with how this turned out. I worried it'd take far longer to write.

I hope to have Chapter 15 up in around the same time as well. It's in that one that another familiar face will turn up, and we also run into an old adversary. Some of you kind of already know, but for those who still haven't worked it out yet, hope it'll be a surprise.

See ya! Don't forget reviews. As I've said before, they're what keep me going.
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Mass Effect: The Helldiver Saga, Alpha Origins