Chapter 17 The Heist of mix feelings
"You look good Shep" Kasumi said in the sky car where Kasumi is driving, Shepard in the passenger seat and Ben in the backseat listen in. Shepard look uncomfortable at the compliment.
"Urm Thanks. So, this greybox. I assume There a reason your desperate to get it." Shepard asked Kasumi.
"Your right, it contains memories of Keiji. a colleague that I used to work with." Kasumi explained. Her voice is laced with a stained tone.
"Used to?" Shepard notices.
"He sadly…. Passed on" Shepard can hear the guilt in Kasumi its affection in her tone of voice. so, he does not press on the matter. Ben who been sitting in the back frowns hearing this almost remembering his friends' deaths, but this is not about him.
"Hello Chop liver back here. So, what the play." wave the two in front of him.
Kasumi jumped at Ben present company "Sorry. We going to a formal part for the worst of the worst. Hosted by yours truly Donovon Hock a no-good scoundrel with connections with eclipse."
Ben points at Hock holo figure "I heard of him. In fact, I have seen him."
Shepard looked back at Ben in the sky car "Really."
Ben nods "He came to Horizon months before the collector attack. He spoke to the mayor of the town that I lived in. Well now I know why. I should send a message to Kaiden, let them know not to trust Sanctuary, he was funding it."
Kasumi coughed "Moving on, the plan is simple. We give Donovon a present of your old friend Saren. Inside there will contain, your weapons and amour plus with my level of skill. It make the armour not even pop up on radar."
Kasumi turned to Ben "Ben you are going as big chill to find the vault entrance. Once you find it send a silent notice on your omni tool of its location. Once we find it, we go from there. I expect heavy security and locks" Ben and Shepard nodded "Shepard you be going as Solomon Gun an alias I created with many criminal connections behind him." Kasumi explained the plan.
"Looks like we coming close to the entrance" Shepard stated.
"Then I better get change then" Ben raising his hand and hitting the Omnitrix. A Green light flashes
"BiG CHIll!"
"That never gets old. You know him name shouting" Kasumi quips.
"Really Miranda being trying to get him to stop that." Shepard said though it sound like he enjoyed it also.
"She really needs to loosen up. Ben acts how he acts. Though I am looking forward to her educating him. wink, wink." Kasumi giggled at Shepard gag reaction
"Urggg. It just a simple understanding of our history and culture. Nothing of what your suggesting" Shepard point out and it probably true. Miranda never one to add pleasure to lessons.
"Uh huh" Kasumi smirk in Response
Hock Palace: entrance.
The Skycar lands and their get out of the Vehicle. seeing the golden face of Saren coming towards the entrance. Shepard shuddered under its sight. They themselves walk up to the entrance only to be meet by a guard. "Excuse me sir but something wrong with the statue"
Shepard grumble. Rolling his eyes. "Of course, something wrong with it. It Saren. Even after death he cannot leave me alone." Kasumi Elbow bashed him in the waist.
? "Is there something wrong here."
Both Kasumi and Shepard look up to see Hock. He was walking down a flight of stairs to see the commotion.
Guard called out. "Sorry boss. There seems to be something wrong with the statue."
"I Highly doubt our guests here would bring in something that can cause such trouble." Hock pointed. He looks at Shepard/Solomon asking. "Right?"
"None at all Mr Hock. Name Solomon Gun. Though I am sorry this has caused a problem, and you were taking away from your party."
Hock narrow his eyes "I appreciate it."
Guad 'coughs' "Statue clean"
"Looks like you can join the part Mr Gunn. Try and enjoy yourself but your friend here stays outside." He looks at Kasumi then back at Shepard/Solomon "I hope you understand. I had a few break-ins. Just want to cover my track as the criminals would say."
Shepard/Solomon nods in understanding. "I understand, you cannot trust what you cannot see."
Hock smirks "Exactly. Enjoy your time here my Gunn." Hock walks back into his house and to his party.
Shepard and Kasumi Walk to the side in silent "I do not like this." She said alarmed.
"I know Kasumi, but we do not have a lot of options, and he clearly knows who you our given his reaction." Shepard mention and pointed out.
"Your right. I go invisible and follow you from distance hopefully we can get back what does not belong to him." Kasumi said voicing her plan in a stressed tone.
"beep" A sound came from Shepard Omni-tool.
Shepard open his omni-tool "Looks like Ben find the vault."
"That was quick. Anything else"
"Yeah. He says it triple locked; quadruple is you count the sensor grid on the entrance of the vault. He also stated that we need to get Hock voice print." Shepard explained.
"Shit. If only I was recording earlier" Shepard Smirk at that
"Well Ben getting the DNA and Password. Not in that order. We also need to take down the sensor grid, but we need to locate it first."
"I can deal with that. You think you can get the big man talking."
"Of course,"
Hock Palace; Party. (Ben)
"I need to find the security office. I also need to find DNA and the Bedroom the best bet." Ben mutters to himself. He goes intangible flying through the building being invisible to the naked eye. He sees both Shepard Walk in but not Kasumi.
Ben thoughts 'Hmm Kasumi must be invisible.'
Ben sees a door in the corner of the main room next to stairs that are off limits. He goes through to see a long hallway and the security office. Big chill blue eyes widen. He though 'Bingo' He flies in. He sees Two guards. He smirks. He un-intangible himself.
"Hi"
The Guards shock "the…/where the" They did not get to finish when Ben Frost Breath to encase them in ice. They now cubes of ice.
"Have a nice sleep. Now for the password" He goes up to the computer and starts searching. He also starts looking around the office. He notice on the security terminal that they a list of guests one of them is called Lawson and his occupation.
"Well, Hello. It seems princess father is running Sanctuary or at least when it up and running that is" He stop the search on the computer and looks around. He notice a data pad. He picks it up. He smirks.
"Best send this off to Kasumi. Now for the DNA" He flies up to look for Kock Bedroom.
Hock Palace; Party (Shepard and Kasumi)
Kasumi omni-tool like up. Her eyes sparkled in delight. "Ben just sent me the password it Peruggia." Kasumi quietly call out to Shepard.
"Good is the sensor…" He was cut off.
"Yes, first thing I did when after I went to the vault door. I traced the circuity back to the source. Now we need his voice and wait for the DNA." Kasumi explained.
"Record me, I get you that voice."
"On its boss man" Shepard starts walking up to Hock. "After you." Kasumi said. Giving the go ahead. Signally everything ready for recording.
Hock notices Solomon walking up to him. "Ahh My gun I hope you are having a suitable time. that scene at the door has not soured your evening I hope."
"Not at all. I understand the security but who would dare break in the Donovan Hock ho."
"Mr gun in our line of work we attract a certain element if you understand the pines we take to keep the barbarians at bay. people these days want comfort, entertainment and love they do not see that the galaxy is fragile. I only have to worry about simple luxuries why because people like me and you are doing the terrible things that keep the galaxy spinning. This party is for us. The cleaners. The support structure for the galaxy's gleeful delusions of peace may there always be a market for the things we do." Hocked spoke out. Gaining momentum that people around him and Solomon started to feel attracted to the sight.
Everyone in the background claps at Donovan rousing speech.
Kasumi calls in "Well, you got him talking. Let us head to the vault once Ben gets that DNA. Right now, it best to mingle so you do not stand out."
Shepard Smirks "Time for the famous Shepard Dance"
Kasumi groans. He face horrified for the guest of hock party. "I see vids. You were not pretty."
Back with Ben
"Fancy" Ben looks around the Hock Bedroom for DNA. Of course, he had to trip up a few eclipses guard along the way for fun.
1 hour later
"That was not easy" He searched everywhere. "Those housekeepers knew how to clean." Ben Muttered. He opens his Omni-tool and sends a message to Kasumi to meet him at the Vault. She sends a video back. His eyes widen in disgust.
"What the fuck am I seeing."
2 minutes later everyone Meet back together in the hock vault entrance.
"You going to shut the door behind us?" Shepard asked
Kasumi nods and as she does that. A wild Ben appears from below.
"Hey."
Kasumi turns back with a grin "Ben! Kasumi turns to the commander "Shepard get change. I shut down the cameras in the elevator" A hidden draw underneath the Saren statue opens up relieving Shepard N7 armour and his weapons.
"Well, I'm going to get change too" Ben reaches for the Omnitrix turns in dial and hits it.
"Eye Guy!"
Shepard stop getting change and looked at Ben "Eye Guy, really?" A bat like man with Pale yellow skin and eyes across his body.
Ben snorted. He retorted back. "Yeah, you can question my name choices after you get better at dancing. Figure It be nice to have a heads up if anything happens when we hit the treasure room."
Kasumi can back after dealing with the elevator security and cameras. "Alright Elevator is clear annnd you look creepy Ben."
"Trust me we will not be caught off guard when I am Eye Guy." Eye Guy explained pointing to himself.
Kasumi snorted "Eye Guy really?"
"Everyone a fucking critique. Let just go" Shepard just finished getting change at that point.
All three look back when the elevator doors slam shut.
The Vault room
The doors open. Ben walks out first. He scouts around standing there with his eyes moving about in his skin. Kasumi shivered at the sight. He looks back. "It clear but there a squadron of eclipse mercs on the other side of that door over there. Eye see them." He points to the doors on the far side of the room "They do not look like they know we here but we best hurry just in case."
Kasumi walks on ahead. Shepard nods asking "How.?"
"Eye guy has can see through most things. Thermal vision, heat sinks, echo location. Hell, I even have a frost blast which makes no sense since I have Thermal. So ambushed do not work on me that well when I am in this form." Shepard like this form a lot. He shows in his glittered eyes. Eye guy smirked but move on to scout out the place.
Eye guy looks around further until he spots "Hang on, what is that doing here" He runs towards the object.
Over with Kasumi and Shepard. "That the M-12 Locust the gun that killed two presidents" She looks over it in awe. "And here the Keiji Greybox" She picks it up. Caressing it. Teas pop out of her.
"Kasumi?"
"Oh… Sorry Shepard"
"It okay Take your time."
Eye Guy chims in here appearing from whence he came. "Sorry but we do not have time. The eclipse guards are gearing up. There know we here."
Hock appeared in giant Holo graphic face "Ah miss Goto, I was wondering if that was you at the door, but you can never be too carful…." Eye guys shoot an eye laser in his face. It passed right through him. Hock was not amused.
Shepard looked at him. Raised eyebrow in full. "You never told he can do that."
Eye guy shrugged "you never asked."
Kasumi chuckle "Boys the bad guy still clearly wants to monologue here."
"Oh right, yes sorry but you are boring. So, we just going to go now." Eye guyed quipped.
"WHAT NOO! Guards get them." Hocked demanded.
The eclipse guards rush in. They see Eye guy first "What the fuck/The hell is that thing." They shouted.
"Im Batman!" Eye guy darkly spoked. Kasumi snorts. Shepard chuckles.
A grunt just snorted "No you're Not." At least he got the joke.
Eye guy Smirk. Shrugging "Worth a try" A eye pop out of his chest and fires at the guards. He also fired all around him when mercs started to flank them. Shepard and Kasumi pull out they respected guns and starts firing towards them.
"Shepard, your right" Eye guy called out. Shepard turns right and uses a high-powered throw at the eclipse merc. Eye guy blast a few more mercs "Kasumi Behind you" Eye Guy exclaimed. A cloaked Kasumi hits a merc on the back of his head to then turn around and get smacked by a sentinel merc.
"You bitch, it took me…." A green blast hit said sentinel in the chest destroying her in the process.
"You good" Eye guy ask while given out his hand to pull Kasumi up. "Yeah, going to feel that one tomorrow."
Shepard comes up to us. "Is that all of them?" he asked.
Eye guy checks around with his eyes. "For now, but we need to leave, and I just found us a way out" Kasumi and Shepard look towards each other, then look to see where Ben was going.
Eye guy creepily smiles "Say Hello to the Rustbucket."
"Urm Ben, how is that going to get us out of here." Shepard asked.
"Oh, that easy, I just turn into upgrade and get us the hell out of here. while you guys are safe inside of course. Although what is it doing here and how it got here is a mystery in of itself." Eye Guy muttered.
"Ben that the stupidest plan ever. How would Upgrade help this thing get going. In fact, how will even break down the door" Eye Guy smiles at that question remembering how beefy the Rustbucket can be. The tears storm across his eyes. Both Kasumi and Shepard notice.
"Just get in" Eye guy Opens the door to the Rustbucket allowing entry for Kasumi and Shepard. Eye guy hits the Dial of the Omnitrix.
"Upgrade!" He slams his head of the hood of the Campa. Upgrading it. The design of the Rustbucket was a greyish Yellow with red strips now with upgrade it shows a circuitry wiring of green and black throughout the body. Shepard and Kasumi were sitting in the front driver and passenger seat of the Rustbucket But there looked around to see the interior of the campa and it was old. Like it was styled around the early 20th century.
Upgrade head pop out of the dashboard of the of the campa "You two better hold on tight."
A few minutes later
Hock over loudspeaker "Do not let them escape. Trap them"
"Dam Chief Row got hit. Fuck these guys must be… wait what that noise?"
A horn noise blast across the room.
The Upgraded Rustbucket smash the wall into where the guard are holding their location. They eyes widen. The Rustbucket charges a head smashing into each wall. The Guards are fucking terrified as the thing as they like to call it. smashed everyone heads in.
"I do not Pay you eclipse mercs to stand around a gulp, fire back your MORONS! I want that Girl alive. Solomon and the creature are not important." Hock ordered. So, they did fire back while it was still charging at the exit.
"Woah Ben, remind me again, you can do this to the Normandy" Shepard ask while holding on to dear if in the Rustbucket.
His head pop out "Yeah, When I say upgrade, I mean upgrade. Weapons, Fire power, defences I can even add body modifications. Though Joker will not like it he made that clear. Did you forget about the cannons on horizon again" Shepard Eyes widen forgetting about that tib bit of information. Kasumi whistle.
"EEeeeeeeeek" The Rustbucket halted, screaming the tires out.
"What was that, Ben." Kasumi asked.
"Well, good news I can fly us out of here if the Normandy picks us up halfway through. This thing not bult for space travel 'yet'" Upgrade Explained.
"What the Bad news, Circuit boy" Kasumi asked again.
"Donovan Infront of us in a Gunship" Both Shepard and Kasumi look up through the window of the Rustbucket. Both muttered "Shit"
"You Know Kasumi, if you only stop and think this all could have been prevented if you just DIE! Like poor oh Keiji…." Donovan start firing upon them with heavily loaded missiles and a Gatleen gun. Ben start driving to the edge dodging the strike coming from Donovan.
Kasumi was, tearing up "Shut you Murderer. I kill you! You Monster!" She starts getting up only for Ben to hold her down.
"Kasumi. I have a plan. Shepard, I given you controls of the weapons. They are old and will not do much damage but right now we need to by time." Shepard nods and looks at the controls. "Urm what's the plan?"
"I scanned Donovan Gunship. His shields are, outsourced. If Kasumi gets close" Upgrade started explaining.
"I be able to Hack in and cut of that source. Let Us Gut the bastard." Kasumi exclaim finished Upgrades plan. while still tearing up.
"Good Because the Rustbucket flight mode is in 3, 2, 1 Transform!" Shepard and Kasumi are a little shaken by the Transformation, but it become smooth after that. It was an intense sky battle against. The weapons on the Rustbucket does not do as well as Modern weapons but does hold off until the Rustbucket doors open up. They now above Hock.
"Kasumi Jump" Ben shouts. She does so land on top of Donovan Gunship. Donovan and Kasumi lock eyes with each other. Kasumi uses her Omni-tool to Hack and destroy the Gunship shields.
"BEN NOW!" Kasumi Jumps off Being caught by the Rustbucket sideways down.
Donovan was confused "What?" He looks up to see Shepard on top of the Rustbucket using Grave mags. he aims a rocket launcher. ML-77 Missile Launcher to be precise. At Donovan Gunship. Shepard fires it hitting Hock gunship in the driver seat.
"Joker" He climbs back in the Rustbucket and speaking Through the coms "Meets us halfway for pickup. We in a 20th century vehicle with Upgrade improvements"
"Aye, Aye commander!"
A few minutes later
Kasumi Sitting on the Lounge chair opening her Omni-tool Reviewing Keiji Memories from the greybox. They was a lot to go through. Upgrade Helped configure the data through parts of himself.
"How did it go." Upgrade asked. His head sticking out of the side.
"Oh, it fine" Kasumi faked.
"Want my opinion."
"Sure?" Kasumi can do with anything at the moment.
"Destroy them" Upgrade said suddenly.
"What? But Ben there…"
"Memories Of your Boyfriend I know but Kasumi you need to let go... He want you to move on."
"That sounds like personal experience." Kasumi retorted angrily… They were silent between each other for a few minutes till Upgrade spoke up,
"Maybe it is but you know that these memories will hurt you in the long run." Upgrade explained calmly.
Shepard appear behind coming from the driver seat. "Ben right, this is what Keiji would have wanted."
"Shepard I…" Tears flooding down her face. Pressing one Button hesitating. Rain started pouring out of her eyes…. "I. I Cannot Do it"
Shepard steps forward "Here Let me" Kasumi nods and Shepard press the button.
"Goodbye Keiji" Kasumi grieved and cried out in pain… but it was a freeing pain.