New Arrivals V2

Chapter 9

A/N: Sorry it took me so long people. Though, most of efforts are now focused on RL and my new collab Warframe Effect, which is already 67k+ words and more to come. Though, there are a lot of fillers because I and my coauthor are essentially world building. Check it out.

Unbetaed and unedited

In the meantime, read and review, would you kindly?

Normandy SR-2

Cargo Bay

*Three days since the events aboard Purgatory*

I finish the set with an elbow strike, hitting a phantom target in the chin. Stepping back from the strike I reset my body back into the starting position.

"Again." I mutter to myself before starting a new set. It's currently three in the am, ship time. It runs on a twenty-six hour cycle, the reason being is that many are from worlds that go beyond the twenty-hour cycle, the Citadel itself having a twenty-eight hour cycle. So aside from the graveyard shift, everyone's asleep or at their posts.

'Better for me at any rate. I haven't been able to sleep at all. Not since the events at Purgatory.'

Hook kick to the jaw followed by cross block and punch.

'The sight of the dead still haunt me.'

Side kick to torso followed by roundhouse.

'My creation did that.'

Cross chop, elbow strike and forward leap.

'The blood is on my hands.'

Spinning hook followed by palm strike.

"Mine!"

The final punch that would have struck my opponent's throat hits open air. Nothing else sounds in the empty bay except for my breathing and the air circulation. Least until I hear a slow clapping.

Resetting myself again, before pulling away from the position, I turn towards it. Seeing the batarian, Eram.

He stops clapping as I make my way over to one of the crates where I dropped my drinks and towel. "Impressive. That was quite a display." Raising an eyebrow, he says. "Haven't seen much in the way of formal hand-to-hand combat. Some of those moves looked like they could do some damage."

I shrug. "Not really, not like how I did. Sets, or katas, as some disciplines call them, are mostly for two things. First, to build discipline. I think it's obvious how."

"How so?"

"Really? You don't see it?" He shakes his head. Rolling my eyes I answer. "Per rank in any martial arts discipline, there is a set to be learned and memorized. It must be executed perfectly or near as to progress to the next rank. Before, during and after the set. What you saw me do before, returning to a neutral stance? That's part of it. Each move must also be executed perfectly. If it isn't, at lower ranks it is inconsequential. But as you progress, any errors can completely ruin the progress and pace of the set."

"That's impressive. And the other reason?"

"The other reason is, well I guess now that I think about it there are actually three reasons. The latter two being that it's for show. Like you said yourself, it was impressive and showy. To get other people interested in the discipline and the other is training. As you progress, the sets get more complicated, more strenuous and longer. Example being TKD or Tae-Kwon-Do. The first set anyone learns is ten moves, twelve at most, depending on schools. Bo-dan, or the rank before black belt, which is mastery, has almost forty moves at least, usually more. I won't get into how much more complicated it gets because it's difficult to explain. It defers per school, discipline and master, but it's usually identical among disciplines, with only slight differences among schools."

He crossed his arms. "I'll admit I'm impressed. Once I get my business done on Omega, think you can teach me?"

I'll admit it, my eyes widened like a deer in the headlights when he asked. "Uh…I'm not the greatest teacher. And I don't know how to teach other than how my master and friends did."

"Friends?"

"Cross-trained with friends and family. Some in other disciplines like Judo and Egyptian-karate. Others, taught me what they learned in the military."

"Military?" I saw his four eyes widen just a fraction. "Now I'm really interested."

I sigh. Running a hand through my hair I ask, "Look, are you really sure about this? I mean, you said you were part of a revolution I get it, but don't you already know some of this?"

"Not really. Whatever I learned, I learned through experience." He smirked. "Though, I'm pretty sure I can hold my ground against you."

"That a challenge good sir?" I ask in overly-pompous tone.

"You want to try it?" The smirk still on his face.

"Center of the bay. About a meter and half between us." Walking over there, I take a normal stance while he puts up his fists like a boxer. "Let's see what you got. You can have the first strike."

Standing there, we look at each for a good minute before Eram takes a step forward a throw a punch. It's a good solid punch, would have given me a bruise if it connected, I could tell from when I grabbed his wrist to move the punch. Taking a step forward, my left hand still holding his left wrist. I grab his throat with my right, before planting my right foot behind him, between his legs. And push where I'm holding him by the throat. Sending him slamming into the ground with a solid thud. Approximate elapsed time from first step by Eram: two seconds.

Eram just laid there on the ground, looking blankly at the ceiling for a second before glaring at me. He pushed himself of the floor. "Consider that lesson number 1."

"What kind of lesson was that? You just choked me and threw me down!"

"Well it's two-fold. Never strike first unless you are certain you will hit them, or can counter the counter. And the only way to learn, is to experience it yourself."

Rubbing his throat where I grabbed him, he asked. "And that's how you learned?" When I confirm it he actually laughs. "Never thought anyone would train like this outside the military. What was that you just did to me anyway?"

"Basic takedown technique. Taught to new initiates as their first Takedown move."

"You got any others?"

"Yeah, but first, show me what you got. I want to see just how skilled you are."

He just nods before going back to the starting position. This time, he waits for me to make the first move. 'No need to go too easy on him.' I start off with a hook kick, making him step back to avoid me.

He leaps forward, closing the distance between us. He starts throwing punches, aiming for midsection and my head.

I block what I can but he gets several strikes in before I can jump back out his arm's reach. I send a roundhouse, aimed for his midsection. He makes to grab it but before i actually strike, I twist my body. Now instead of going for his side, it's aimed at his head.

He ducks sideways, my foot barely misses his head. What he does next surprises me. Instead of going for another strike. He jumps forward, intent on tackling me and taking me down.

"Ah!" His head slams into me, with my head slamming into the deck. I barely get my guard up before he starts landing punches on me. With me pinned below him.

As he throws another one, I grab one his arms at the wrist and twist it. He just grits his teeth but I don't care. It's not meant to make him get off. It's to give me leverage. I try to throw my body so that we'd roll.

Realizing what I'm trying to, he snarls and he headbutts me! "Fuck!" Ok, fuck playing nice! I throw a palm strike, slamming it into this chin. Hurts like a bitch! But it knocks him back partially. Still holding on one of his arms, I twist as much as I can. This time, he rolls with the twist to avoid dislocating the arm. I throw another punch at his midsection, pushing him off me even more until I have room that as I let go of his arm, I get out from his hold and back onto my feet. "Damn you son of a bitch! I'll have to admit; this is the most fun I've ever had." I press a few fingers to my forehead. "Never been headbutted before." I take a step to my right.

Eram matches it as he asks, "What about your spar with Shepard? That one got pretty interesting it sounds like."

"How'd you hear about that?" I was genuinely curious, as he wasn't around when that happened.

"Scuttlebutt. You'd surprised what you hear when people ignore you. Going between decks using the ladders, I hear a lot."

"The ladders huh? Why don't you just use the elevator?"

"To be honest, it's faster. And I stay out of people's way. It's more for my benefit then theirs. Rather not deal with nonstop death glares. Got enough of that on Purgatory thanks."

"Huh, that's interesting. As for our spar, I'll admit, that was very interesting indeed. But that was fun. This, THIS, is really fun. Never had to adapt to unorthodox moves like yours." I stop side-stepping. "As fun as this was, I think it's time to end it. How about one last move? See what happens?"

He shrugs. "Sure I guess."

I crack a smile. "You first then."

He steps forward, closing the gap. Grabbing one of my arms at the elbow, and planting a foot between my legs. Before pulling back his free arms and throws it forward, his hand acting like the point of a spear.

I can't block it, but I sure as hell can move it elsewhere. I slam my free hand into the arm, pushing the strike. Instead of slamming into my throat, it goes over my shoulder. I punch Eram in the elbow of his arm that's holding mine. Breaking his grip enough to get out of it. I stumble as I step backwards over his leg. Creating a meter wide space between us again.

"Damn, you need to learn to hold back you know that? That would have killed me."

He shrugged, "I was sure you'd stop me like you did. Otherwise I would have stopped myself before it landed. Probably."

I glare at him. "Probably...Fine. If that's okay with you. Then you can't complain about this. Then." I get back into the standard position. "Try not to get hit." With that, I execute my triple kick. A spinning hook kick, followed by tornado kick then a basic roundhouse kick. Using the momentum from the first to the next.

He steps backwards and avoids the first. But I land a solid hit with the tornado. He stumbles backwards from the blow and avoids my last roundhouse. He almost falls on his ass but, stumbling, stays up. "You okay?" I'm actually concerned. I never actually landed a kick when I pulled a triple. Not as solid like I did him. Not with protective head gear. It's not supposed to; at most it's supposed to make my opponent stepping back and maybe give me an opening to strike hard. Not serve as an actually strike in and of itself.

He shakes his head, probably cause of the slight disorientation. "Yeah I'm good. But I think we're done for now."

"Yeah I agree." He staggers again but I grab him before he can even think of falling.

"C'mon. Let's take a break." He just nods in agreement. Bringing back over to the crates, I set him down on the floor and sit down next to him. "So…tell me about this revolution of yours."

"That's a very vague statement. There are numerous things I could tell you. Care to be more specific?"

I pass him the bottle of water which he takes and starts drinking from. "Alright, just how the hell did something like that get started in the first place? I understand how what essentially amounts to a police state keeping it quiet, but I very much doubt that they would be lax enough to let it start in the first place."

"They didn't exactly try hard to prevent either. Whenever the people began to feel the burden of inequality and oppression, the Hegemony would respond by repressing the people even further. They enforced more strict curfews and taxes. Taking away more and more essential freedoms. Batarians in the lower caste could hardly walk the same streets as those who were above them. Quite frankly, I'm surprised we didn't rise up sooner."

"Not really, from what you're telling me. The people of the Hegemony sound as though, to an extent, they've been indoctrinated by the government. Not to mention with all the constant repression, it probably made it difficult to get any, let alone serious, resistance effort going. The fact that you and your resistance have, is an achievement in and of itself. Considering you people don't have the modern equivalent of the human AK-47 and RPG-7." I pause, "You, do know what those are I assume?

"You've never met an average batarian, have you? No, I highly doubt you have. A typical batarian isn't an indoctrinated Hegemony lover. The government has one hell of a propaganda machine, but no one truly believes it. How the Hegemony keeps its people in line is through the caste system, conscription, and surveillance. They use batarians drafted within our borders to enforce the laws and keep the government's grip on us tight. The caste system ensures that those deemed 'undesirable' are kept in their place. If they step out of line, don't expect to see them again. The Hegemony sees everything that goes on. The eyes of their leaders see all. Walk down the street, a camera is looking at you. Go into a bathroom, listening devices are hearing whatever you are doing. To put it plainly, the people were always kept in the dark of the outside world, living in fear of the long shadow of the Hegemony, and are allowed hardly any time where you truly alone."

I don't say anything for several moments as my mind processes what I was just told. A totally repressive state and that went above and beyond in monitoring and oppression? "God Almighty. And how in the Seven Levels of Hell does the Hegemony get away with this? I mean, I understand the Alliance not stepping in, since, from everything I've learned, the Alliance in miniscule in comparison. But the Citadel? Just, how?" If it were up to me, and I were a sociopath who didn't give a damn about collateral damage, I would have nuked every single major government building in hegemony space.

"Eram, I have to ask, this isn't the first time someone has tried to fight the Hegemony, is it?"

"We are the first large-scale revolution to rise up against the Hegemony. Smaller revolts have occurred, but they were always quelled by the Hegemony's superiority. Even now, the Republic struggles to confront them. If we don't get the troops and supplies we need, then we will fall, and the Hegemony will continue its reign of terror. You wonder why no one ever stepped in, it's because the people never had a voice to speak up with. The Hegemony took every step to ensure that Council intervention in batarian internal affairs never occurred. They repressed us so that only the elite and loyal to the Hegemony ever made it beyond batarian space. Now, the Hegemony is a rogue state, which means that the Council has no reason intervene. In my opinion, turning to the Citadel for help would bring us short term success, but at the cost of us being bound by the Citadel laws and restrictions. By raising support in the Terminus Systems we are creating a base for independent growth. Territorially, economically, and militarily."

"That's understandable." And it is. This is a situation where the people have to help themselves, and too much outside assistance and there is no real point to the resistance, it would simply be trading one master for another. But at the same time, they need help, otherwise this resistance force is doomed to fail. "Wait, Eram. I just realized something, you never told me if you had any sort of plan for if you actually do succeed." When he quirks an eye-ridge, I elaborate. "How I understand it, you are about to fall into the trap that many revolutions fail to see until it is too late."

"And what trap would that be?"

"What are you going to do once the revolution is done? You say that you're revolution has already formed its own government, but is it ready for all that it entails from being a government over several planets? The trap that most revolutions fail to see, or truly comprehend in its entirety is the fact that they are unprepared for the war's end. To shift from fighting to governing. Stabilizing people's lives and the like. For this reason, many revolutions have become excessively bloody, in human history at least, or the entire country just fell into civil war, or in worst case scenarios, total anarchy. All because those who were fighting had no real, or least actionable, plan once the bullets stopped flying."

"The transition has already been put into effect. The Batarian Socialist Republic has under its banner nearly half of former Hegemony space. Our government has been presiding over those planets for nearly ten years. We have established a firm base for future governing. I do not deny that the larger we grow the harder things will come to manage, but we have good leaders and people in charge. I'm confident in the both those currently leading us and the people who follow us. It will be the people of the Republic who lead the batarians into a new golden age and take our place as a respected race in the galaxy."

I snort. "Only a fool would believe what you just said. Your government may have been in existence and working to replace the Hegemony for a decade, but you are a fool to believe that it will be so easy. This is a revolution, and this will get incredibly bloody. This won't be clean-cut. Even if you win in the next three years or so, the BSR will still be fighting an anti-guerilla campaign for however long the old generals remain alive." I take a drag from another water bottle I had with me. "And I know you will say that you know war. But trust me, I may only know war from studies, but I have a feeling that long before this is over, this war will become biblical. Enough on that though. Is there anything I can do to help?"

He waves his hand in a dismissive manner, "The majority of batarians support the Republic, the problem is that those under Hegemony rule are persecuted and killed. They already let half of their people rise up, they're not about to let any more do the same. Once we take Khar'shan, every batarian will know they are free. The old leaders that survive may resist us, but their supporters will be nearly non-existent. The Republic will establish itself from the ashes of the old, and a new batarian race will rise. One equipped with a sense of pride and optimism that has not been felt in centuries. You may have your doubts, but the Batarian Socialist Republic's victory will be absolute." His voice showing that he genuinely believed in what he was saying.

"For all your people's sakes. I truly hope you are right."

"All we need is supplies and reinforcements. After that, you will see I am right."

"That's beyond my abilities though. The only real thing I'll be able to provide is new ideas for strategies and weapons designs. If your resistance is interested in that sort of thing." I raise a hand before he can say anything. "Before you ask, in terms of strategy, everything I've seen of modern ship-to-ship combat, there are so many strategies that have been abandoned or forgotten. Whilst others have never been truly realized. For example, space, mean the combat between ships is truly, three-dimensional. A fleet, to be cornered, must be approached from, at the very least, six separate points, like in a cube. Otherwise, there is an avenue for escape. And everyone seems to have forgotten the advantages of fightercraft in this day and age."

"No offense kid, but you're still rather young. I appreciate the offer for strategic advice and weapon designs, but we've got some of the best batarians of their respective fields filling the roles of strategists and weapon manufacturers. You understand, yes?"

Again I snort. "You may have that, but your ideas have stagnated. The weapons technology of this day and age, are all based around the same idea over and over again. No one has made any serious innovation since the Geth with the application of disposable heatsink technology. As for strategy, a young and open mind is sometimes what one exactly needs but sure, I get it. I'll keep quiet for now. But you ever need something new, come to me. For now, get back up. I want to spar again."

"Maybe some other time. I've got to write my next report to Chairman Gailani."

With that Eram got up and moved towards the elevator. "Stubborn bastard. Really do hope that everything works out as you wish."

**NAV2**

"What are you saying I can't take my helmet?!" Right now I'm in the armory picking up my armor since Shepard wants me with her when we disembark on Omega, which, from what I'm told, is the galaxy's shithole. And I've just been told I've got to go without a helmet! In a place where I'm likely to get shot for a funny look! "This isn't funny Jacob. Just give me my damn helmet." After what happened on Purgatory, Shepard had me dump my armor in the armory. Post-op maintenance she said.

And really hoping Jacob didn't just say what I thought he said. "Please tell me you're joking?"

He shook his head. "Sorry, but it's going to take me at least another week to repair it after what happened, and we don't have any more spares. You should consider yourself lucky. A couple of bullets cracked the casing in a few places. Luckily those were glancing hits than anything else. Otherwise you'd have a new hole to breathe out of."

"Damn it, you got anything else I can use at the very least? I like have a HUD."

"Sure give me a sec." As he moves over to the storage in the back of the armory, I start pulling out my weapons from a locker. An M-9 Predator, M-7 Shuriken and M-96 Mattock. The Mattock itself is different from the base model. After talking with EDI and Jacob, I had the top integrated sight and housing removed and an actual iron-sight mounted in its place. As a result it's a lot sleeker now but it has some more weight. Some reason, the designer had critical parts placed in the housing so we had to move them into the main body of the weapon. "Here you go." Hearing Jacob's voice I turn around just in time to see him lob something at me.

I fumble a bit when I grab it but I manage. Looking at it, it's a large thing that looks like it would attach to the side of my face with two protrusions that would be place over my right eye and as comm. piece. "What's this thing?" Holding it up.

"It's a Kuwashii Visor by Ariake Technologies. It's a sacrifices extra protection in exchange for assisted targeting. If a sniper could hit a target a 1.5 kilometers without it, then they could hit a target at 2.3 kilometers with it."

I let out a low whistle. Even with a scope, 1.5 kilometers is just shy of a mile, but 2.3? That's just outrageous. "So how's this thing supposed to go on? Just place it over my ear or something?" Doing so as I tell him.

"Yeah, though be careful. It secures itself by-" I let out a hiss as I felt the thing pierce my skin in several places as I placed it against my face. "micro-hooks digging into your face." He grimaced. "Don't worry about scarring. There's only so many hooks and a little medigel will fix it. And even then it's only along the main body of the visor.

"Well," I nudge the visor and surprisingly it doesn't hurt but it's stuck fast. "as long I got a HUD, I'll take a little pain."

He nods before turning back to the other weapons. "The rest of your gear is okay. Just basic strip and cleaning."

"Thanks." I start slotting them to my back. "Here's to hoping nothing else breaks while we're here." He just smirks before turning away.

Why do I not have a good feeling about this place?

**NAV2**

"Yo, Garrus. Just how much longer are we going to have to wait?" Right now Garrus and I are standing inside the airlock waiting for the Commander to show up. Eram already left a while ago to his ship. "Last time I was the last one to get to the air lock."

"I'm not sure. Maybe she's changing? I heard you human women take sometimes hours to get ready." He's still wearing the same armor as when I first saw, and tried to attack, him. The right side is seriously damaged and scorched, the same area where his face has some massive scars.

"That's for going on a date or to a party Garrus. Not armor. A professional soldier like her should be able to get in her armor quick." I snap my fingers for emphasis.

"Oh? And when did you learn so much about women?" We turn to the new voice and surprise, surprise, it's Iria. "Is my little brother all grown up now?" She smirks at me.

Old feelings and memories, both bad and good, bubble up inside me before I quickly push them back down. "Oh, I've more than grown up since we last talked Iria. Much more." Looking over her gear, it looks as though she's not wearing more than a bulletproof vest, or least a modern analogue. "You uh, forgot something I think." Still I will admit, her outfit is pretty nice, making her more attractive. A short jacket over the vest, the sleeves themselves looked armored, the vest being a solid but form-fitting piece and her pants are something like leather and contours to her body.

She looks herself over, trying to find what I'm talking about. When she asks me what, I answer, "Your armor? I think you're going to need more than that?"

"Oh, that's what you're talking about? I don't need it." Before I can ask why, she raises a fist which is wrapped in a biotic aura before it spreads around her, encompassing her body before fading from sight, but I know it's still there thanks to a small shimmer around her body. "Biotic Barrier: it'll stop anything going at a lethal velocity before it can touch me until it's overwhelmed."

Shaking my head, I retort. "Sure, just be sure to not get shot okay? You know I care about you Iria. Just be careful." Leaning against the bulkhead, I remember how I pushed a meeting between her and Shepard. "So, sis, what's your thought on Shepard? She everything you thought she'd be like?"

She turns her head, heading her face from me. She mumbles something but I can't hear what she said. I notice she's fidgeting just slightly, her fingers rolling around in a sort of fist. "What was that?"

She stops fidgeting but her stance is still a nervous one. "I said she's interesting. She's not like the way all the vids portrayed her. Not that I expected her too!" She all but yells before she stops abruptly as Garrus laughs at her display. "I walked right into that one didn't I?"

"Yup. So interesting huh? Never realized you swing that way. Last we talked, you were adamant in saying that you were and would be, straight as an arrow."

"It's been almost a decade Chris. And living in this world? I've had to open my mind." She gave me a sly smile that said there was a lot more to that then I knew. And perhaps, more than I want to know.

"Whatever. What's taking Shepard so long anyway?" I draw my pistol, idly playing with it in its compacted form. "EDI, where's the Commander?" I still don't trust AIs but so far it hasn't given me reason to think it'll try anything. But still, doesn't hurt to be careful.

"Right here."

I let out a breath, turning to face here. "Finally. What took you so…long...Really?"

"What?" Her voice comes out slightly muffled because of the full-SEALED HELMET she's wearing.

"Let's just get a move on commander."

**NAV2**

Let me tell you right now. For a good part of my life, I lived in New York, both uptown and downtown. Upstate and the boroughs, and mostly in the latter. And let me tell you. I had to get used the smells right quick. The smog, smoke, trash, people, subway, etc etc. It was an incredibly pungent array of smells that took me years to eventually ignore. And never was I more seriously gratefully then I am now.

Once the airlock doors open, the smell was like an uppercut to the chin. It just hits you. Garrus visibly flinched at the smell, me. I. Well I coughed but I dealt with it. Well, as best I could. I'm still coughing now here and there. But otherwise it's just like New York, if with different…odors.

"So, where are we headed?" I ask, keeping an eye on the HUD of my visor, which is constantly tagging people and whatever weapons they had, marking their locations, etc etc. "And why are we even here?"

"This is Omega, the Terminus system mirror of the Citadel. And here, there's one person in charge of the entire station, and that's where we're going." Garrus supplied. Quite a few people are giving us quite a few different looks. Some are coveting; wanting to take our stuff, even kill us for it. Others are wary, giving us careful looks, some even scurrying away at the sight of our weapons. And others are more, calculating. Mostly from others who are also carrying weapons or at the very least wearing some sort of armor. Several of them are wearing the same, blue armor with a strange decal on the front. And a scant few look upon us with respect. Respect. Though I will admit, it's all directed towards the Commander.

Though I notice more than a few lecherous stares directed at Shepard and Iria. I draw their attention and finger my pistol, glaring at them. Most of them scatter in fear but a few just give me more insidious looks. Though all of them stay back as we approach Afterlife. I can tell it's the place thanks to the bright neon signs everywhere. And of course how it says "Afterlife" in bright neon letters.

The door is being guarded by this massive four-legged beast, with a long line in front of it of people trying to get in. The one in front is quite insistent. "C'mon let me in. I told you, Aria's expecting me!"

The folds in front of the alien's mouth move and it speaks. "Bored: I very much doubt that human. Angrily: now leave the line." Ignoring the now complaining would-be club-goer, it turns towards our group. "Tiredly: please go to the back of the line…"

I see Shepard smirk. "Aria's expecting me."

The thing, an Elcor if I recall correctly, steps back. "Terrified: of course Commander. Humbly: please go on through."

With that we just go on through. No one trying to stop us or anything. Though once we get inside, it's a massive hallway with people just sitting around in the hallway. And the people inside are giving us the same look as the ones outside. But they are a lot more cocky then the ones outside were.

There are more than a few looks towards Iria and Shepard, though most turn away once they spot me or Garrus. Some though, just don't get the message. One of them even walks up to us and tries to grab Iria's ass!

Another human, he just walks up, and I see his hand going to try and grab her. Before he can, I grab him by the back of his shirt and pull. HARD. I hear him gag from the force before I force him around and grab the offending appendage and twist. He screams in pain, I'm pretty sure I'm twisting hard enough to crack bone but I couldn't give a damn. I keep rotating until he's looking towards me. "Listen you little prick. People like you, they are the ones why humans are considered to be such scumbags." He's not listening too well. Just glaring at me with hate. Let's rectify that shall we? I twist, this time I hear a slight crack before the bastard screams in pain. I headbutt him to get his attention. "You listening to me?" He nods. "Good. Now, I suggest you get the hell out of here before my sense of mercy disappears." The guy nods frantically before I let him go and he bolts. I watch as he runs out the exit, not even bothering to turn back. Looking towards others in the hallway, I'm getting more than few looks of respect, especially from the other women in the hallway.

Though the biggest reactions are from Shepard and Iria. At their looks, which ranged from impressed to surprise respectively, I shrug, "What?"

Iria is the first to recover. "Uh, that was different for you Chris. When did you become such a gentleman?" She asked, "I mean, I could have handled that guy myself, but I have to ask: when did you become so…" She trails off, unsure.

"Violent?" She shakes her head, trying to deny it. "Don't worry I'm alright with it. I've gotten used to people thinking I'm that way. It came with the territory when I decided to get into the defense industry. People thought I was going to go on a shooting rampage because I was researching weapons for a research-and-development project. As for being a gentleman, I've always been like that. Since before I met you. You just never noticed it seems."

"Impressive." This time it's Shepard who spoke. "I've never met anyone like you Chris. A gentleman I mean."

I shrug. "Chivalry isn't dead yet ma'am. Though, it may be after I am."

She shakes her head in exasperation. "C'mon, let's go."

Continuing down the hallway, we come towards another set of doors. They open are we are blasted by club music, the smell of booze, sweat all that makes a club a club.

Shepard walks off with a purpose, followed by Garrus and Iria, I follow but something catches my attention. And no, it's not the scantily clad women dancing on the poles but I will admit it is a nice sight. No, it's one of the guys at that the bar below, wearing body-armor that wouldn't be out of place back in the 21-century. Which means it's an eye-catcher here. The biggest thing is the weapon on his back. It's strange. Looks as though it was made out of scraps. The biggest thing though is the side-loaded magazine. It looks like it's been seriously modified. I can see the LEDs that signify a working mass accelerator. But where have I seen that design before? I know I've seen it before.

"Hey, brother, you coming?"

"Huh what?" Iria shook me by the shoulder.

"I said, you coming or what?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming." I look back towards the bar, but the guy is no longer there. "Just thought I saw someone familiar."

Pulling myself away, I follow Iria. Walking up the stairs to what is likely the VIP lounge. Up there, we find several guards, human, turian and batarians. Stationed along the room along with an expansive couch that all but dominates the room. Garrrus is standing also, and there's only two people sitting on the Couch. Shepard, and an asari. This one giving off a serious 'Don't fuck with me' aura. The pair are talking and the aura of the room is such that no one wants to speak.

"So, who are your pets?" The asari, whose tattoos I see now for the first time, turns toward us.

"Leave them alone Aria." Shepard all but snarled to, the now named, Aria. "They're my crew, not yours." All of Aria's apparent guards stiffen as Shepard glows a biotic blue, some tightening their grips on their weapons but not raising them.

Aria waves a hand, all but ignoring the glowing commander, her guards slackening their grips. "Calm down Shepard, everything on Omega may be mine, but even I know when to hold back. Don't worry about your pets. As long as they remember the one rule of Omega, I'll leave them alone."

"And what's that?" I ask, "Don't fuck with the Aria?"

Aria smirked. "Well, someone's a quick study. And you are?"

I open my mouth to answer before Shepard cuts me off. "He's mine. My crew. And that's all you need to know."

Aria's smirk doesn't fade in the slightest. "Well, someone's possessive. That makes you," directing her comments toward me, "all the more interesting." Aria leans back into her Couch. "You have what you came for Shepard. But now, I have a price."

"A price!? You just said I was doing you a favor getting Mordin Solus off this station!"

Unshaken, Aria continued. "I did, but you broke the one rule of Omega. And that means there's a price to be paid. But don't worry. It's a small one to pay."

"What is it?" Shepard ground out between her teeth.

"Oh, nothing serious. Just him." Pointing towards…me!

"Wait, hold on, hold on! What do you want me for?"

"Like hell I'll hand him over to you!" Shepard yelled. "Or any of my crew!" We shout at the same time. Though I can't help but notice that Shepard said the part about the crew almost like an afterthought.

"Oh, I'm not asking him to hand him over to me permanently. I'd much rather keep Omega intact SpecTRe. No, I just want to question him."

"Why?" Again, we, me and Shepard, say this in unison, but this time, Iria also asked the question.

"It's for a simple reason; you are a very strange individual." Aria leans forward from her couch. "And I've only encountered a few others like you." She leans back with an almost imperceptible smirk. "So what is it Shepard? You pay the price? Or leave without your precious doctor?"

I can see the Commander clench her fists, which leaves me wondering, why? It's not like it's too big a price. Just being interrogated right? It's nothing major. I've been in a few with local police when someone overheard me talking weapon designs with someone from the Arsenal. "Commander, ma'am?" She looks at me. "It's alright ma'am. It's just a couple of questions right? It's nothing major. I'll do it. Not like I'm entering eternal servitude or something." I smile at the end, getting a small one in return.

"Alright Aria. I agree to the terms."

"Good. Now, go off and find Solus and get him of my station. The sooner he leaves, the better. As for your pet, I'll let you take him with you get the good doctor. But once you're done, I expect him here. Understood?"

I give a mock old salute to the asari Queen of Omega, as I've started calling her in my head, cross my chest with my right arm. "Yes milady!"

The others, Garrus and Iria give me weird looks. Shepard, Jane, just gets up and motions everyone to follow her. "Understood Aria."

As we leave, I spare once last glance towards the Omega Queen, who has a faraway look in her eyes, a glass half-raised. This is going to be interesting.

**New Arrivals V2**

We've reached the door leading to segment of the station that was apparently infected by some sort of plague running rampant through the area. Though, the plague seems to only effect every other species except for humans and vorcha.

Because of that, Shepard sent back Garrus and Iria, and brought on Miranda and Jacob to replace them. Well, she sent Garrus back. Iria, sis, vehemently refused to be sent back.

And right now, we're dealing with an angry lady being denied access to the area.

"I said get lost lady! No one's allowed in during the quarantine."

"I'm human you bastard! Humans can't get the plague; now let me so I can get my stuff before looters do!"

"Not happening lady."

Shepard pauses before looking at us, well me, "Stay here, and let me handle this." No problems there, I raise my hands in surrender. She goes and talks with the guard only I can't hear a thing.

Soon enough though she waves us forward and the other woman there starts griping again.

"Wait you're letting HER in?"

"You don't have a grenade launcher lady."

The moment we step inside Shepard pulls out her rifle and the rest of us follow suit. Four of us, Me, Miranda, who is pointedly ignoring me, Jacob, Iria and me.

We come to a checkpoint where two of Aria's men, I assume Aria's, are watching to prevent anyone else from coming into the area. "Wait! Check fire, they're allowed in." The two lower their weapons and we pass without incident.

Going past the guards and the air changed. *Cough cough*, "What's that smell?" Smells like New York downtown on trash day. And local kids decide to go garbage bashing.

"That's Omega for you, it's the ass end of the galaxy." Jacob said. Ass end nothing. The smell of rot and people living in slums and streets is pungent. That's not it though.

Still coughing I answer, "No, I mean the smell that's mixed with ash." *cough* "Someone's lite some big fires." The ash is thick enough in the air that my pitch-black armor is starting to gray from it. "And I know fire."

Miranda raised an eyebrow, "How can you smell something like that? It's impossible to differentiate smells here."

"You've ever been to New York?" Miranda shook her head, "I lived there for a couple of years. Rule number 1: get used to the smell and ignore it. Otherwise you'll be coughing every day. Had to learn that rule fast." Miranda raised an eyebrow, "You learn to ignore the worst of it." 'You had to if you wanted to use your nose to avoid the worse smelling areas or somewhere to buy lunch.' I remember. 'Got to learn to ignore the other smells.' *cough cough*

"Trust me, if he says there's a fire somewhere, there is a fire somewhere. He's played with fire, and been burned, enough times that I've given up trying to talk him out of it. Remind me to tell you people later about how he created an eight-foot tall inferno once." I smile at the memory. It was a great one. Very stupid, but a good one nonetheless.

"Let's get moving; we'll figure it out later." And later we did. Shepard found and took down a pair of Blue Suns Mercs, and there were two blazes nearby.

A blaze being fueled by a pile of corpses.

*cough cough*

My vision is starting to waver in and out but I can't tell if it was the sweat getting into my eyes from the heat. I wiped away another trickle with the back of my hand coughing once more. My skin feels like it's burning from the inside out... 'What the hell is wrong with me?" I look around for any reassurance but Shepard and the others seem to be amidst something else not, noticing a thing. 'Okay calm down maybe it's just this damn annoying cough'.

I look back at the burning bodies as my vision clears a bit, I turn to Shepard, who was looking over from a terminal she was hacking, the smell and sight damn near made me want to puke. The smell was more pungent than anything I've ever smelt before. The filth on the bodies, their last meals, their clothes, all burn and create a sight of pure horror.

*cough cough*

Only good thing about this is at the end it's all just going to be ash. Shepard turns when I start coughing again. Seeing my face she says, "Standard Triage and Quarantine Protocol, burn the infected the bodies to reduce transmitting of the disease by the corpses." She shakes my shoulder, "Let's get moving." We go past a Batarian who's looking at Shepard gratefully.

*cough cough*, "Hell, what's happening to me?" *cough cough* "Ow." *Cough cough.*

I hear someone else coughing and when I look for the source, it's Iria. I can tell it's worse than mine but she's handling it better than I am. *cough cough* Oh damn, this is kicking my ass. *cough cough*

Everyone starts looking at me, Jacob, Shepard, and Miranda's edging away a bit. Iria though comes closer and places a hand under my chest, in case I start falling over. I thump my chest a few times, "It's nothing." Why they looking at me like that? "What?" They all turn forward, but I notice they all give me a wide berth. Iria is the only one staying close and even then, she looks ready to bolt but at the same time she wants to stay close. Heh, probably just because she still feels it's her duty as my older 'sister'. I wave her off. "I'm fine. Let's just keep moving."

"Come on. Let's get moving." Shepard orders.

*cough cough*

We pass by other locked doors, inside each of them we find more of the dead. Starved, or killed by this Plague. Soon enough we come to an open area, Shepard orders to hold position. Before pointing to certain areas, "Miranda, get as close to the barricade as you can, but keep out of sight. On my order throw a warp at the closest guy and open fire." She nods and starts moving. "Jacob, get ready to run to cover on the other side once we open fire. Once you do, use your pull to bring whoever looks the most danger over the barricade. Throw them off balance. Light up with incendiary rounds." He gets ready, pulling out his Eviscerator shotgun. "Chris," I look toward her and she point up, "Get upstairs and get ready. Use your sniper rifle. Take out as many as you can." I nod but before I move I ask, "When do I start firing?"

She pulls out her M-15 Vindicator, "You decide."

"What about me?" Iria draws her own pistol, but it's different from the M-9 Predator pistol, it's a sleeker, more intricate looking model but it still gives off an aura of power.

"Follow Chris. Cover him if he needs it. I don't want to lose one of my crew because someone managed to get behind them. If you can, pick off whoever you can and support Miranda and Jacob, combine your biotics."

Nodding I make my way upstairs, pulling out the Mantis as I go. I can hear Iria behind me.

Getting up the second floor of the building that overlooks the barricade, I can't help but think how stupid these mercs are. If it were me commanding them, I would have sealed off the first floor of this building and taken over the second floor to serve as an overwatch position. Leave the barricade where it was. Otherwise, the barricade is an open target to anyone who can get the high ground. In this case, me. I take cover below the windows and load the rifle, before putting it on the railing and look through the scope. The trigger and grip is a bit awkward for me, but I compensate for it. I place the crosshairs on a batarian's head. The Kawasii visor linking up with the scope, projecting the scoped image directly on the visor in-front of my eyes. Lines of data fill the screen. Temperature and wind variance, humidity, distance, gravity, etc. before they disappear and a tracer line leaves the gun and projects the bullet's flight path. I raise the crosshair accordingly, the final destination of the laser being right between the batarian's eyes. I place my finger on the trigger, my breathing slows, like my cousin taught me, I start to squeeze the trigger…

"Boom, headshot."

The trigger clicks, a split-second later, a shard of metal flying at a ridiculous speed blazes out the barrel and slams into the batarian's head. Bypassing the shields, shattering them entirely, the back of the batarian's head explodes in a shower of blood and gore.

Half a moment after the first shot, I see Miranda toss a biotic sphere towards one of the Blue Suns that just ran up to the barricade, hitting him, the helmeted merc starts screaming as blue wisps starts coming off him and armor and flesh begin to fall apart under the influence of dark energy. Jacob does the same, except his pulls a turian into the air before he fill him with a trio of shotgun blasts, the body turning to ash midair.

Iria tosses a sphere into the mess that is the barricade platform. This one just planting itself midair, before drawing any mercenaries unfortunate enough to be close my and throwing them into the air like ragdolls. One of them, the one Miranda had 'Warped', is drawn into the sphere. His dark energy infused body touches the sphere. It detonates explosively, tossing bodies and dark energy tendrils everywhere before both the former and later fade.

I can't see where Shepard is though-"SHIT!" I duck as several bursts fill the air where I was standing just before. Before I try to get it, again bullets fill the window except this time on full-auto. Looking towards Iria, she's the same, just trying to avoid the fire coming in from the window. I click my comm. "Uh, Commander, could use a little help here."

"One moment, get ready, I'm going to open up a window soon."

"Copy that." I click off the comm. "What did she mean by that?" I asked Iria.

She looked confused for a moment since she heard it too before a feral smile crawls onto her face. "Oh, you'll know when you hear it."

"Wait, what? What are you-"

"RAAAH!" That was Shepard! What the hell is she doing?! Getting up, I look towards the barricade, just to see a body slam into a wall opposite the barricade. The far side of it. Shepard standing directly on the platform where the Blue Suns stood so they could look over it. Shots are bouncing off her barrier, which glimmers and ripples with every shot.

Me? I'm just watching in awe as Shepard just tears into a mercenary squad singlehandedly. Miranda and Jacob are taking care of any stragglers. "Hey don-seng!" I see Iria out the corner of my eye. "See you downstairs!" Before I can try and grab her, she jumps from the second floor. Her biotics flare, slowing her descent and landing softly.

"Neat trick." I mutter before re-shouldering the Mantis and start picking off the remaining mercenaries. This visor is really doing wonders. Auto-targetting and aim-assist. Once I take out one target, it directs it me to next closest one or rather, the next easiest target. The steady stream of mercenaries slows to a crawl before stopping entirely and soon enough every merc is either ash, free-floating particles or just dead.

My comm. clicks before I hear Shepard's voice. "Everyone okay?"

"No injuries here Commander." Miranda.

"All good here Shepard." Jacob.

"I'm okay. A few scratches but nothing else. "Iria."

"I'm clear up here." I'm still scanning the area for anyone that might be hiding in the area. Commander?"

"I'm fine. Now get down here and let's move."

"Understood." I unshoulder the Mantis and move to slot it on my back when my visor lights up again. This time tagging one of the bodies below. "What the?" The visor zooms in on of the 'corpses', which is moving and, aiming at Iria!

A loud crack sounded through the area, the four people down on the ground floor looked around, trying to find a shooter when they heard something flump to the ground. Searching in that direction, they saw a 'corpse' that had apparently just been shot through the head from behind, utterly obliterating the front of the mercenary's face.

Shaking my head to clear my senses, I find myself with my Mantis in my hands again. The barrel radiating heat from the shot. Since when were my reflexes that fast?

Looking out the window, I see everyone on the ground floor looking at me. "Sorry about that. Now we're clear."

**New Arrivals V2**

It's the same as we push through the area, finding more burning bodies and corpses of people that had starved to death in their rooms. We found a human couple hiding out in their home and promised to clear a path for them.

Thankfully I've been able to repress whatever guilt I've been feeling from killing so many people. Just moving on and trying not to dwell on it. Keeping myself detached from the action, only, just how long can I keep doing this before I break?

No, no. Don't think on, focus on the here and now. *cough cough* Goddamn it, whatever was kicking my ass backing by the mass pyres is kicking my ass now. *cough cough* I think it's gotten even worse. Vision is blinking in and out here and there but otherwise I'll be fine for now.

Eventually we get a hallway that branches off in two directions, one to a set of stairs going up, the other a straight hallway. And we can hear gunfire. "Same as before, Chris and Iria, you two are up top, provide support. Miranda, Jacob, you're with me." We all reply in the affirmative but this time I keep the Mattock out instead of the Mantis. "So, sis, it ever get this exciting back on the Citadel?"

She shakes her head. "We had few major busts, maybe a firefight or two, but nothing like this. Cutting through swathes of mercenaries and the like. Speaking of which, how you'd learn to shoot like that?"

I tap my visor, "Mostly it's this thing doing all the work for me. But I learned how to shoot, in theory, years ago. In practice, I've been seriously practicing for the better part of two years now." Reaching the top, we spot a few Blue Suns firing below, totally ignorant of us. "You take the left ones, I got the right side. On your go."

Iria doesn't even say anything, just chucks a singularity at the center of the group, rag-dolling the lot of them before tossing another biotic sphere and detonating the group. Some of them survive, the bodies of their comrades or just distance buffeting the explosion. I finish them off with shots from the Mattock before charging for the low wall overlooking the area below and using the visor again, start picking off targets.

They just keep coming and we keep killing, I learn quickly that the skinny ones have to be taken with either a triple tap or a head-shot, otherwise they just get back up like it was nothing. Despite how repetitive it is, the constant return fire makes it hellacious but manageable until I hear Miranda yell. "Krogan charging!"

"Krogan, whats a-" A massive hulk of a beast just charges up the stairs next to me from below before turning towards me and ducks it head. It starts charging forward at me! "I…Am…KROGAN!"

"FUCK!" I try to dive out of the way before it can crush me but it grabs me before I can and carries me with it. "Gah!" I can feel the wall as I get slammed into it. The armor takes the blow but damn if it doesn't hurt! "Get the fuck off me!" I start punching the thing but even without a helmet the damn crest on top of its head is fucking armor!

"Pathetic, is that the best you humans can do?" It starts laughing and that just pisses me off!

"Fuck you!" I jam my thumb in the krogan's eye, feeling the gelatinous organ be crushed under it. It roars in pain as I twist my thumb for good measure and pull my thumb out. The krogan glares at me with its remaining eye before pulls me back off the wall and, it has something in its hand. Wait, is that a blade? The krogan smiles evilly.

Oh no.

"Urk!"

Following the arm, I see only the hilt is visible of the blade. That hurt. But funnily, much less than I thought it would.

Though, the world is getting a bit fuzzy. Is it supposed to be like that? I hear a hard 'whump'. Something sounds just got slammed hard.

Maybe it was me, I think I'm against the floor now.

Least whatever my face is against, it's cold. Better than warm or hot for me.

Something's in front of me, I can feel myself getting turned. No, I was comfortable… "Chris-up-sta-awa-"

Awa? What's awa?

"C'mo—don't you-"

Maybe I should just sleep? "Tired, nap." I mumble. But I think I said, "Red, ap."

"som-ne—et-me-dic!"

Yeah, a nap sounds good. Sounds real goo-

**New Arrivals V2**