Preamble

I was inspired by the huge universe Bioware has created over the past years, including the 3 available novels it is a story to delve in. Anyway I decided to write a story about someone else than Shepard, one reason is the fact that already a lot of really great stuff is existing out there. Another reason is simply that I am free to invent new characters and change the story to my liking, not bonded by a given storyline in the background.

Timeline: The story plays shortly before Saren's attack of the Citadel

Rating: Rated T to be on the safe side, as some detailed fighting and "romantic" scenes are included.

This is my first story published on FanFiction, and I'm open for any suggestions, critics or hints you can give me, any feedback is appreciated!

The first series contains 8 chapters, another 4 are in the making and will be published soon, but I'm far from the end, so you can expect another 4-8 chapters after those, all in all I expect it to be 30+ chapters in the end.

Update August 8th 2011: 9th chapter added, 10 & 11 to be published soon!

Update August 11th 2011: 10th chapter added

Update August 15th 2011: 11th chapter added

Update August 30th 2011: 12th chapter added

Update September 5th: Can't stop writing :-) - 13th chapter added - Thanks for the reviews, I really appreciate that!

Update September 19th: Busy days kept me from writing, here's the newest addition, chapter 14!

Update September 29th: Here we go again, chapter 15 has arrived! Thx for the reviews!

Update October 17th: Long time no see, business travels kept me occupied, now for Chapter 16, have fun!

Update October 31th: Here's the new release, chapter 17, lot of action in this one. I had to split it into two parts, the second one follows soon. Have fun & please review the story if you like it!

Update November 23th: Finally chapter 18, took me longer than expected, now for my holidays, will be back to work mid december ;-)

Update December 14th: Presumably the last issue this year, here's chapter 19, by far the biggest one so far!

Update February 28th, My apologies for being lazy so long, but buying a house beside work is a full time job! Considering this the next issue will take a little longer again, please have patience with me! Anyway Chapter 20, hope you enjoy it!

Update May 11th, Long time no see, our new house is not fun only, anyway here's the next release, hope you like it! Thanks for the reviews, keep going!

Arrival

"Here we are finally" said Captain Morrison when the old space station came into sight; it's huge, hulking form was impressing, but missing maintenance over hundreds of years had taken its toll, giving it a gloomy and filthy appearance.

I stood beside her glancing at the station which drew closer now every second. "Almost if the hull gives you a warning before it gets worse inside"

"It seems our journey comes to an end now" Captain Morrison said while turning around and looking at me "I enjoyed your company over the past weeks, a delighting alternation to a freighter's captains usual routine" she continued with a smile in my direction.

"Thanks for the flowers, a compliment I can return in kind, since the past weeks were running much faster than usual for me during space travels" I answered smiling back at her. "Anyway I'm glad to be able to use my own feet again, I always feel vulnerable on space ships, lacking the possibility to fight back when it comes to that."

"By the looks you are awaiting some of that during your stay on Omega" she replied looking at the full battle gear I was now wearing, a light Colossus Armour with enhanced kinetic shields, and a fair amount of plating without losing much flexibility and agility.

Accompanied by a Mantis sniper rifle, a heavy Phalanx pistol and a light Shuriken SMG, a possible attacker would at least put a second thought into it before engaging me. "Well, I'm always prepared – especially when it comes to Omega – it helps you live longer and get to know your grand children, ya'know. The best way to stay alive in this pisshole is to stay out of trouble; my appearance should keep most of the scum away".

Nodding her approval she turned back to her console as the freighter reached the designated docking area. With a hint of regret I stood looking on the entrance doors of the docking bay, and the treacherous place behind them. The past few weeks were one of the few occasions I felt almost comfortable in the past years, which was to the contribution of the woman sitting before me for the most of it. She had made subtle advances on several occasions, which I had pretended not to notice. "I am simply not able to feel anything, hell, I cannot even imagine letting someone closer to me than an arm's length. Even to think about it makes me wish to embrace a Krogan warlord instead."

After the docking process was finished, Captain Marla Morrison turned her attention back to me, her eyes wearing a sad expression. "Ok, Mr. "I pretend to not notice any advances", this is it then, you will attend to any business you may have on this damned station and I will have to take care of my cargo".

I somehow accomplished to hide my surprise on that verbal shot "Point taken, Marla. To tell you the truth I don't exactly know what to say, only that it is not because of you, even if this sounds lame."

"Anytime I tried to intensify our relationship you backed away, your eyes wearing an uncoated expression of grief and hurt. First I feared it was because of me, but the more I think about it, the more I'm convinced someone or something hurt you deeply in the past and you fear to let someone have a closer look behind those amazing eyes" she continued her explanation with a small smile accentuating the latter part.

"Point taken again, you're obviously winning this one, Marla. And – to acknowledge your guesswork – I'm fighting against my inner devils, and maybe I will lose that one. And if that happens, it should happen to me, and to no one else. I sometimes don't remember what I did in the past five years or why I'm still alive, and I guess I'm better off leaving it that way, anyway this is no story to be told now. Well, In fact I was never able to recount these events to anybody". I said in a gravely tone, my voice trembling slightly.

"Ok, enough of that, I can see this' not easy for you to even tell me these few bits and pieces, I'm sorry now for even asking." As she said this, her eyes glanced with a sad expression but also a slight relief for not being the reason of my rejection.

"Don't be sorry, you were just honest, and I am not able the return that favour in kind. Anyway, I have to take my leave now, 'would be glad to see you around sometime again, y'know how people say: You always see twice in life."

"I won't put a bet on it, but hope falls last, so I wish you farewell, Gray. Maybe you will find salvation sometime, and maybe I will be around to witness it" She added with a smirk after a short hesitation.

"Thank you Marla, thank you for everything. I'd be glad to have you around if I come to my senses again, not that I'm awaiting this in the near future. Anyway Omega is certainly not the place to lean back and spend some days with self reflection". I replied returning to the unpleasant view of the shabby docking bay filling the viewport of the bridge. With that I left the freighters bridge, eventually glancing back to Marla who followed my steps until I reached the outer doors and engaged the opening procedure.

Following the trace to the docking bays' entrance doors I carefully watched my surroundings, not that I anticipated an ambush – nobody awaited me actually – but with 80 murders a week, Omega was surely one of the most dangerous places to be. "What in irony they count the murders in weeks, maybe to keep the numbers smaller, in any other place it would be at least months' if not years."

Leaving the docking bay I entered the streets of Omega, inhaling the reeking smell of the station, a mixture of filthy air exchange units and the vapour of uncounted bodies and lots of rotten filth. "Certainly not a place to live in, so let's get things done and be off as soon as possible; would be great to have some rock below my feet and some fresh air coming along with it." With these thoughts old memories of my home world flooded my consciousness, like advertisements crying for your immediate attention. I suppressed the images and emotions of a time I didn't want to delve in, fearing the memories which must come up on this path. I suddenly realised I had wandered a couple of streets towards the lodging I intended to stay during these days. I accused myself for being inattentive and quickly eyed my surroundings for possible dangers, but couldn't find any. I reached the small lodge and decided to book the room before paying a visit to the "darker areas" – as if any place on Omega could be called alight –in order to buy some potentially interesting equipment and supplies, namely the black market.

Ringing the bell at the front desk, the owner of the place – a small human with nearly grey hair, a studded nose and blood-shot eyes approached me with "Hello Sir, 'would like a room for the night or need some directions?"

Remembering the man from the last time I was here roughly a year ago, I tried to recall his name but couldn't remember it "Seems lately even my otherwise good memory starts to fall apart like the rest of me, not a big surprise, even so."

"I would like to book a room for 3 days, maybe more, that depends; if possible a room at the backside with no windows."

"Hope you don't expect bad company, eh? Let's see what we have" he answered looking into the screen before him. "This might fit; it's at the backside, last room on the floor, only one small window in the closet. May that be ok for you?"

"Sounds good to me, I'll take it, I pay the first three days in advance, I guess you prefer that."

A slimy smile appeared on his bruised lips. "You're really expecting some trouble, eh? Anyway, o'course I prefer you pay now, ya' never know what happens tomorrow on this station". He handed me over the key card in exchange for my credits and left for the door he had emerged. "If you need something or want to prolong your stay, just ring the bell".

I quickly inspected my room, installing the small jamming device I always used on these occasions and protected the door with some additional security systems before leaving for the black markets, leaving unneeded parts of my luggage behind.