The Hollow: Chapter 31

We got back in formation and continued down the cavern. I tried my best to ignore the pain in my back, but EDI chose to give me a small dose of painkillers.
The journey down took about two more hours and we were lucky to avoid any more patrols.
It wasn't until we reached the Locust stronghold, Nexus, as Baird referred to it, that we spotted quantities of Grubs.
We were near a larger tunnel when we saw an army of them on the march. Thousands of them moved in well organized groups.
I didn't know at the time that they were on their way towards Ilima City.
Regardless, we kept moving until we reached a bridge that was placed over where we needed to go.
"Spartan" EDI said, "We are getting close to where Doctor T'Raza and Lieutenant Commander Ambrose are being held".
All of us were moving at a crouch as we crept our way down the bridge, speaking in whispers and hand movements.
"Acknowledged" I said in a low voice and turned to everyone, "We're almost there, people".
We went down a spiraling staircase that lead us to a large gate. Baird ran his hand along it until he found a lever, then pulled it. The gate slowly slid open, and we moved in.
When we entered, there were coffin-like crates in every direction. "I'm detecting life signs in the containers, 264." EDI said, as I went up to one to inspect it. I could hear someone groaning from inside.
There was a small slit, near eye level, that showed the interior of the crate. I peered inside, and didn't see anything. It looked empty.
Suddenly, a bloodied hand shot up and started clawing weakly at me. A figure stood up, a salarian, and he pushed his face up to the slit. He looked malnourished and dehydrated, his skin dry and peeling. "Please!" he whispered, "Help me!" He then started babbling nonsense, and collapsed back down.
I walked away. "What is going on here?"
Baird came up behind me, "It's called 'processing'. Locust use it to break down prisoners, until they finally lobotomize them. After that, the prisoners are used as mindless slaves..."
I turned to him, "Seems unnecessary. Why not just lobotomize them right away?"
Baird shrugged, "I don't know. Maybe it's their idea of fun: torturing helpless victims, then when you've had your fun, you turn them into slaves."
Tali came up, "That's... I can't even imagine..."
I turned towards her, "Stay focused, Tali".
I focused my attention back to finding our quarries, "EDI, where are the VIPs?"
Two waypoints appeared on my hud, "T'Raza is the farthest away. I recommend splitting up into two teams: one to get Spartan-051, and the other to grab Seyi T'Raza".
I nodded, "Tali, you're with me. We'll grab the Doctor". I motioned to Mickey, Liara, and Baird, "You three, get Ambrose. Keep in radio contact".
They responded in unison, "Yes, sir!"
Tali and I moved silently past the capsules, keeping an eye out for any Locust guards in the area. "Spartan?" Tali asked in a hushed whisper, "What if Dr. T'Raza can't walk on her own? What will we do?"
I said without hesitation, "I'll carry her if I need to".
"Right..." She sounded like she was preparing for the worst.
When we reached T'Raza's crate, I could hear some quiet sobbing coming from inside. I looked to Tali, "Watch my back".
She nodded, "I'm on it".
I holstered my rifle and walked slowly to the capsule. I could hear some of what Seyi was saying. "Vasani... Alosa... I miss you both so much".
I knocked on the frame, and she uttered a cry of terror. "Go away! Don't come near me!"
I managed my softest tone, "Dr. Seyi T'Raza? Is that you?"
She started to sob, "Oh Goddess! Now I'm imagining things!"
I tried again. "Doctor, you're not imagining this. I'm Spartan 264 of the UNSC. My friend and I are going to get you out".
She started to calm down, "A Spartan?"
"Are you injured?"
"I... I don't know".
I started looking for a way to open the door and found a latch. "Give me a minute, Doctor".
I wrapped both of my hands around the latch and started to pull. After a few seconds, the latch opened, and the door swung open.
Seyi was in a sitting position, her face covered in bruises and cuts. Her skin was the same color as Alosa's, but she had purple markings on her lower lip: a stripe running down the middle while another was under it.
Her eyes were dark blue, unlike Alosa's.
She looked up at me, and I could see the terror in her eyes. She was dehydrated, so I pulled out a canteen and held it out to her, but she shook her head, "I don't need it".
"Doctor" I said, trying to persuade her, "You need to drink".
She took the canteen and started taking slow gulps of water.
"Can you stand?"
She gave the canteen back to me, "I don't think so".
I turned to Tali and waved her over.
"What's wrong?" she asked. I ignored her question, "Hook your arm under her left shoulder, I'll get the right".
She nodded and shouldered her shotgun.
We lifted up T'Raza, and we could see why she couldn't stand on her own: her left ankle was twisted in an unnatural angle.
"That's not good..." I mumbled, realizing that carrying her would impact the team's movements. We'd have to move at a slower rate, which would give the Locust an advantage.
"I have a med-kit" Tali said, "If you can hold her, I should be able to get a brace on it".
Tali pulled away and I gently lifted up T'Raza in a bridal carry.
Tali pulled out her med-kit, "Is there anything I should be aware of, Doctor?"
Seyi looked at Tali, dazed, "What?"
"Should I know anything before I start treating you? Any infections, other injuries, allergic reactions to medication?"
"What are you planning to do?"
"I'm going to give you some painkillers to ease the pain."
Seyi grabbed onto my left shoulder pad, "No! No, don't give me any medications!"
That made me curious, Seyi's refusal for any painkillers. She looked like she could use some.
"Seyi?" I said, still managing a relatively calm tone, "Why don't you want any painkillers?"
She turned to me, "I don't want any!"
She still looked dehydrated, "You need to keep drinking".
I laid her down and pulled my canteen out, "Come on, drink".
She sat up, hesitantly grabbed the canteen and started drinking, while Tali started to put the brace on.
I looked to Tali, "We need to get her out of here. She might have psychological trauma".
"Right, but she needs medication to treat any infections that might've entered her system".
I tilted my head. "Never took you as a medic, Miss 'Zorah".
She shrugged, "It's what I'd recommend if she were a quarian with a suit rupture".
T'Raza pulled out a holo and shoved it into my face. "Have you seen my family?" She sounded a little calmer and more focused.
I studied the holographic image: a family photo with T'Raza and her bondmate, a female turian, holding Alosa.
I nodded. "Alosa. I found her at Switchback Base".
Seyi's tone grew frantic again, "Is she okay? Is she safe?"
"Affirmative, she's onboard the SSV Normandy, being watched over by an Asari commando".
T'Raza's eyes began to tear up. "What about my bondmate? Her name is Vasani Seveso".
Tali shook her head, "No, I'm sorry. We haven't found her yet".
Seyi nodded grimly, "I see..."
"Spartan, it's Baird".
I stood up, "What's your status, Corporal?"
He sounded breathless, "We found 051, but his capsule, or whatever it is, won't open".
"Have you tried the latch?" I could hear Mickey straining in the background,
"Yeah, but it's stuck. Were you able to get the Doctor's open?"
"Affirmative."
"Well, you might need to help us, but leaving Tali alone isn't a good idea."
I thought it over, then said, "Baird, fall back to Tali's position. I'll try getting the crate open."
"Wilco, Baird out."
I unholstered my Battle Rifle, "You think you can hold this position until Baird gets here?"
She nodded, "If he doesn't take his sweet time, we should be fine".
"Understood".
I took off in the direction where the second waypoint was, "I'm on my way."