Afterlife Club: Milky Way
The music blasted his eardrums, the stench assaulted his olfactories, and the taste of alcohol numbed his tongue. All in all, this place is what it usually is...Abuzz. His royal blue eyes scan the entire area, and rest on the Asari dancers.
He had known many names, been to many places, and lived multiple lifetimes. His friends had all moved onto the afterlife, and he was stuck here. He had witnessed small towns turn into cities. He had witnessed planes, helicopters, and other terrible things. His eyes betrayed him. Despite his youthful looks, the man was over three hundred years old.
At one point, he was a superhero. No one remembers those days, though. They were wiped out, and their stories were burnt. The people who spoke of them were abducted, or worse. He had been the only one to survive. The X-Men were a long-forgotten memory, and he preferred it that way. He's never been good with loss, and memories.
A tortured soul, one may call him. However, he was the most dangerous human to ever live, and continued to be so. Even here at the bar, people walked around him. His eyes held a barely controlled fire, a rage that burned the brightest it could possibly burn. His wild hair had a grunge look to it, and an uncontrollable beard sat on his face.
Logan's mind was plagued by the death of his friends. His daughter. It was easier. Now that humanity has spread out so far, he could finally be drunk. It may take Krogan alcohol, but it was better than feeling it. He looked down at his body, and noticed just how fucked up his clothes were. He must smell like a fucking bum. Whatever. His hand reaches into his coat, and pulls out a large cigar. The box he had bought were extremely expensive. Cubans were becoming a rarity. He enjoyed one every year, so as to save them. Other than that, he just buys cheap stogies.
Walking past the many different aliens, he walked straight up to the bar. Ryncol is the only alcohol he's drunk since the discovery of other worlds, and he thanked the Lord above.
"Ryncol. Don't care how it is." He paid, and grabbed the glass. He tilted his head back and downed the glass quickly. The Turian bartender's eyes were the size of saucers, as the human downed a glass of the strongest alcohol in the galaxy.
Logan's throat and stomach burned from the liquor. It was much more potent than any human alcohol, and he enjoyed it. He waved the bartender for more. Due to his healing factor-still heavily in use-it takes much more alcohol to effect him. Even at this potency, he's looking at an expensive night.
That's why he had turned into a bounty hunter. He never took innocent lives, just the scumbags who deserved to be gutted. He was paid handsomely. How could he not? He was the most dangerous-and most skilled-bounty hunter the galaxy has ever seen. His name was unknown, though. He's never given anyone a name. If they ask, he just waves them off.
Four glasses in, he looks over. A Quarian was being yelled at by an Asari. He rolled his eyes, and stood. He trudged over to them, gently using his hands to guide the people around him away from him.
"I know that you stole my credit chit, suit-rat." The Quarian, obviously female, smacked the Asari across the face. He couldn't see her face, but her demeanor was extremely pissed off. The Asari held her face, and looked back. Her eyes were unsettlingly blue.
"Serves you right, bosh'tet!" The Quarian yelled, and the Asari raised her hand. When she threw it, Logan's large palm easily caught it.
"I can tell by her scent, and by her heartbeat that she hasn't stole your chit. Leave, before this gets any messier." He growled, and let go of her hand. She looked between the two, and left. Huffing.
"Thank you, misterrr. I think that's how you humans say that." She said, and extended her three fingers to him. He shook it, and nodded.
"I don't like how Quarians are treated. No biggie." He turned, and felt her hand on his shoulder.
"I cannot show you gratitude properly, but I would like to remember you. My name is Raana'Xila nar Moreh. I'm on my pilgrimage." She explained. He nodded, and sighed.
"Logan. A Quarian on her pilgrimage, huh? What's a girl like you doin' out on Omega? I'm not gonna doubt the skill you might have. I just don't like seeing good people sucked into the garbage 'round 'ere." She looked down at her feet.
"I can show you something in return, if you'd like. It won't be much, but it may be something." She said, and offered a hand. He took it, confused. He wasn't nearly stupid enough to lay her. A Quarian girl, especially this young, may die from even touching him. He took a bottle of mouthwash from his coat, and very quickly swished it around his mouth.
She pulled him out of the bar, and towards a ship.
"The ship decontaminates right upon entrance. I figure if my savior can step up for my honor, he should know just who he was saving." She laughed, and he looked over. He had never seen a Quarian without their mask, before. It's certainly entertaining trying to guess. By their shape, he could only guess they looked human. He could see their eyes and nose, and that seemed human enough.
Walking through the ship, they were stopped. A spray covered them, and he closed his eyes. He could heal whatever damage was done, but it still sucks. When he opened his eyes, she reached up to her blue mask. Taking it off, she smiled. Her glowing white eyes looked for a reaction.
To be truthful, she was beautiful. She pulled her hood down, and shook her hair out.
"You sure you wanna do this, kid?" He asks. His rough voice making her smile.
"Of course. You were willing to step up for me when no one else was. It's the least I can do." Her mouth opens, and a set of sharp incisors was seen. Logan smiled back, and shows his own sharp teeth. She giggles, and he notices more about her. Her ears are much different than a human's. They were much smaller, and lacked a lobe.
Her hair seemed to be different, as well. Despite looking like human hair, it reminded him more of a horse's, but much softer. He remembered they were the ones that pollinated for plants, so they needed coarse hair. Too soft of hair wouldn't be able to hold onto pollen.
"You are staring at me." She noted. Her cheeks flush, and he nods.
"Unless Quarians I don't know reveal their faces, I just couldn't help look for looking as long as I can. You're...Interesting." He told her, truthfully.
"Oh. Uh, w-well thank you." She responded, and looked at her feet.
"Look, kid. I gotta go. I'm getting drunk tonight, and takin' off, tomorrow. Take care of yourself, will ya?" He asked earnestly. She nodded. Before he could go, she grabbed his shoulders, and pulled him into a kiss. He kissed back strongly, and she moaned into him.
"Guess I can say I kissed a human." She said, stupidly. Surprised by the very pleasant taste on her lips, he chuckled.
"I think my bragging rights are stronger, darlin'." He laughed, and left the ship. If he had turned around, he could see the Quarian raise her hood, sadly.
Walking back to the bar, he walked past the Elcor who stood watch. He could only laugh as the people began to complain. Walking up the stairs, he entered the bar. He sighed, and walked back to his stool. He sat down on it again, very heavily. The Turian bartender came back with a smile.
"Logan, friend. You should know better than trying to seduce young Quarians." He laughed, to which Logan joined.
"You wouldn'ta believed it, Tulcus. She kissed me. I got to see her unmasked." He said, and he nodded. His eyes lit up, curiosity the source of such light.
"What'd she look like?" Logan thought of how to describe her.
"Angelic. They don't have eye colors, mainly human. They have two lines going down their face, her's were a blue-ish color. She didn't have ears like mine, though. They were tiny, and she didn't have an earlobe." Tulcus laughed, and clapped Logan's shoulder.
"You're a dog for that, Logan." Logan smiled, and nodded. After, though, he frowned. He shouldn't kiss and tell. With one of the many Asaris, he didn't mind. They were whores, and he was just as big of one. He didn't care about them. Her entire personality made him wish he could speak to her again.
He didn't love her, though. The kiss was nice, but he couldn't take advantage of her like that. She deserved a good, Quarian boyfriend. She actually reminded him of Rogue, which made him definitely separate himself from her.
"I feel bad. She was too good for me to raise her hopes up." He said, and stood. His mood was ruined. Just as he turned, the Asari from earlier stood with multiple men. They were armed to the teeth, and she had a faint blue tint to her armor. She was a biotic.
"For earlier." All eight men fired their entire clips into him. He threw himself to the floor, acting with it. Bullets hurt a lot more than they once did, but they healed just as fast. He lied still, and waited for them to check the body. As one stood above him, Logan snapped his shin in a punch, and grabbed his neck as he fell. With one hand, he threw him at the farthest.
Easily dodging a sloppy kick, he slammed his own foot into the man's ankle, causing him to lose his balance. Keeping the hold of his leg caused the man to do a split. Logan spun quickly, slamming his heel against the side of the man's skull. He dodged a man trying to punch him, and then a second. He then began to block, and easily took on both at the same time. A sloppy punch turned into a broken forearm, and the other had their knee slammed in.
Four down, four to go. He grabbed one man's gun, and slammed it against his knee, breaking it. He easily flipped over the man, and punched the merc behind him with a good deal of strength. The man was sent flying across the room. Logan turned, and took a shot to the back of the head. He groaned, and grabbed the man's gun hand. He ripped it to one side, ripped it to another, before finally flipping the merc over his shoulder. He wrenched the man's forearm sideways, and a sick snap was heard.
Two pulled out knives, and went after him. The first was too slow, and resulted in being thrown off the balcony. The second's wrist was snapped, as Logan simply crushed it. The last man, the one whose gun was broken, had a shaky jaw. He turned, and ran. Logan simply laughed, and opened his coat. The leather jacket was old. Older than any living human, for sure. He pulled out a cheap cigar, and lit it. He took a long drag, and his shoulders sagged. He missed the adrenaline of fighting.
Even he was surprised at the mercy he showed the mercenaries. Usually, he would have gutted them. Or worse. His thoughts fell back to Raana. A smile was cast onto his face, and he nods.
Before he could even make it to the door, he was blocked by three humans. One wore N7 armor, the other two had Cerberus insignias on their arms. This wasn't the first time Cerberus had come knocking for him. He stayed as far away as possible. He actually enjoyed whatever else out there. Even if he was human, he understood. Cerberus was just as bad as the anti-mutant groups, during the 21st century.
"James, may we speak?" The one in N7 armor asked. He was taller than Logan. Logan stands at five feet, and nine inches. This man must've been six feet and two inches. The man next to him was the same height, and the woman was Logan's height.
"Listen, bub. I don't know who yer talkin 'bout, and I don't wanna know." The woman seemed to exhale hard, as if stifling a laugh.
He walked by them, and out of the bar. Using his advanced hearing, he could sense they were following him. He spun, quickly.
"It's been over one hundred years, James. Wandering wherever you can, mourning your teammates' deaths with drink, and with blood." The man's baritone voice called to him. He grabbed him, leading the other two to raise their guns.
"Tell 'em they'd be wasting their bullets. Who the hell are you?" The man held a fist up, and the other two let their guns fall.
"I'm Commander Shepard. I'd prefer if you let go of me, James." Logan pulled him closer, his nose practically against the man's helmet.
"How do you know that name?" Shepard placed a hand on the man's shoulder.
"Cerberus put together a list of dossiers for me. I'm not with them, but I agreed to cooperate with them. Just until the Collectors are stopped. Most of the information about your life is there. To a certain point. It starts during your time as a CIA operative, over two hundred years ago." He said. Logan let go of the man, and shook his head.
"I shoulda known those records were still out there. What dirt do they have on me? I'm guessing either you, or some Cerberus slimeball, will try to blackmail me into this." He said. A thick finger pointed at Shepard's breastplate.
"No dirt. I'll even give you the files to destroy, personally. James, I just need your help. The Collectors are a tough enemy, so I need a tough team. You're one of the toughest out there." Shepard said. Logan looked into the man's blue eyes, and found no doubt. The man knew what to say, that's for damn sure. He smelled no lies, either.
"Alright. I'll join the Motley Crüe. One thing, though. James Howlett died a long time ago...It's Logan, now." Shepard nodded, and clapped his shoulder.
"Will do, Logan. Come on, we're on a mission that you'll like. Three gangs have another recruit pinned down. We need to rescue, and save him." He said, and put a hand on Logan's shoulder. "Can I trust you to come with?" Logan looked into the man's eyes, and nodded.
"Yeah. I can do that." He looked to Miranda, who nodded.
"Miranda, return to the Normandy. Keep an eye on Mordin. We'll be back in no time." He said, and Logan watched her go.
"Logan, do you need a gun?" The man asked, and Logan shook his head.
"Nah. I'm pissed, though. Those damn mercs caught me with my oldest and my favorite leather jacket." He looked down. His jacket from his days of being an X-Man was shredded. He looked back up, and Shepard seemed to frown.
"I'm sorry to hear that. I can guess when you says oldest, you mean over a hundred." He chuckled, and Logan nodded. The other man still stood silent.
"Don't talk much, huh?" Logan asked him. The man looked at him, and shook his head.
"I just don't know what to make of you, yet. Once I do, I'll start talking more." Logan nodded, and the three move forward.
They quickly walked through all of the rooms, finding whatever data they could afford, until they finally had met the leader of the Eclipse. The Salarian's snarky attitude made Logan want to smash his teeth down his throat. When Shepard was done talking, they turned, and walked through the door on the right side of the room.
Walking through the hall, they went directly straight, and bumped into a massive Krogan, and a group of Vorcha. Logan's eyes lingered on the Vorcha. He was very open-minded when it came to aliens, but he never let his guard down around Vorcha. He kept his arms crossed, and a frown on his face.
"You're in the wrong place, freelancer." The Krogan said to him. Shepard's helm hid his expression, but Logan doubted it was a smile.
"You the Blood Pack leader?" He asked, and the Krogan's face fell.
"Name's Garm. That's all you need to know. I'm stuck here, waiting, until you freelancers are done playing war. Ask your questions and go." His dismissive tone made Logan's lips curl upwards, revealing his own teeth.
"When do the Blood Pack attack?" Logan appreciated the man's attempts of learning about the enemy. If they were gonna assist Archangel, they had to know what they were up against. Disabling the YMIRs was the first step. Without the mechs, the Eclipse were fucked.
"Damn Tarak wants to keep us waiting. I hate waiting. He says the Suns have a plan, and they don't want us fucking it up. Hah! We're supposed to wait until the Eclipse sends their mechs. We'll see..." In any other situation, Logan would have smiled, maybe even laughed. The irony of the plan was clear to all three men.
"What do you know about Archangel?" Shepard asked. Logan respected the man's ability to hide his emotions. The dude hadn't let up his tone, or even his body language. This man was a seasoned talker.
"He's a pain in the ass. He's a Turian, which makes him harder to look at than you. He's brave, too. Until he realizes you're more than he's bargained for." The Krogan casually ended the last bit.
"Sounds like you've had personal experience." Shepard's ease at digging information out of people was extremely useful. Not only were they dealing with idiots, apparently he's been doing it for so long that he knows exactly how to ask his questions. Logan nods, slightly. His massive forearms sitting menacingly against his chest. If one looked hard enough, they'd see a faded black, "X," where his heart lied.
"He tried to take me down, once. Waited till I was alone. It was the longest damn fight of my life, I was able to hold off until my men got there, though. He wasn't so tough after that. We chased him over half of Omega. We almost had him, too, but the slippery bastard snuck away before we could pin him down." Logan's mind relayed the information. Great hand-to-hand combatant, Turian, and obviously not fond of gangs...Maybe Krogans, but that's a different subject. Shepard nodded, curtly.
"I should get going." Garm snorted.
"'Bout time." With that, the trio turned. Logan reveled in the lack of Vorcha stench. When they walked out of the chamber, they instantly witnessed a Vorcha being slaughtered. A bullet entered the creature's head, and sent it flying off of it's cover. Their buddy wisely decided to stay down.
"Looks like one hell of a time." Logan chuckled at the sight, and the other two look over to him. He nodded, and walked forward. Shepard lead them to a datapad, and easily hacked into it. He smiled, and looked into his omni-watch.
"Well, I just gained around sixty-thousand credits." He threw the datapad, and continued. When they reached the locked door, Logan's patience began to falter. Shepard is a good guy, and a good leader-so far-but the man checked every single nook and cranny of every single place he goes to. It's frustrating.
He cracked it, and shifted through different things. He found plans for the power of a submachine gun, heavy ammo, and forty-thousand credits from the Blue Sun's gunrunning accounts. They walked out of that room, and straight to the next door. They walked across the bridge, and into the room on the right.
They walked right up to the screaming Batarian, and he stared up.
"Get these freelancers out of here, now. I don't have time for this shit." He growled, and continued typing away. Shepard raised a hand.
"I just have a few questions about the operation." Logan looked over to the Batarian, and waited.
"Jentha, get this scum out of my face." Logan stepped forward. Long ago, he had done a deal for the man. He was desperate for money, and told himself that he was killing someone just as bad.
"Tarak, what the hell crawled up your ass?" All four of Tarak's eyes looked up at Logan, and seemed to widen.
"Logan?" He asked, surprised.
"I take it you two are acquainted?" Shepard looked at Logan, before looking back at Tarak.
"I did a job for him, once. I was desperate for money, and the piece of shit I killed was worse." Logan said, and ended that little conversation.
"Since when do you work for so little?" He asked Logan. He looked at the man, and shifted his weight.
"Since when are you a fuckin' madman?" Logan shot back.
"It's Archangel! Bastard's gonna kill me! Almost did, already." The panic in the Batarian's words was noticed.
"That bad, huh?" Logan easily replied.
"Worse. Look, Logan. I gotta deal with this shit." He pointed to the woman besides him, "Jentha, talk to these guys. Answer any questions they have." Logan nodded at the Batarian, and looked back at Shepard.
"Good thing you know him, Tarak hates hiring freelancers. He doesn't trust anyone outside of the Suns." The woman, Jentha, said.
"I didn't notice." Logan's sarcasm practically dripped off of his tongue.
"What can I do for you?" Ignoring Logan's sarcasm.
"What's Tarak gonna do if the infiltration team fails?" Shepard asked. Right into it, like usual. Logan appreciated the man's bluntness, but even that took time. His mind went to Archangel, and he wondered if the man was alright.
He got lost in thought for so long, the two were done talking.
They walked back from where they came, and came back into the large room. A human male was laid out, as brains seeped from his skull. Jacob flinched at the sight, but the other two were unreadable. Logan's eyes had seen much worse. A freelancer stayed in cover away from the rest. He was in cheap gear, and held a very old gun.
"I'm looking for Sergeant Cathka." The man's eyes met where Shepard's should be.
"You and me both, pal. He's over there, working on the gunship. We go over the bridge when he gives the word. Go talk to him if you want, but I'm in no hurry." Shepard nodded.
"I'll be right back." Shepard said, and the man nods. They all walk across the opening, and walk towards the gunship. Sparks flew into the air, as a shape lied beneath it. Logan raised a thick eyebrow, but didn't say anything.
"Cathka?" The man just pointed behind him, and the other besides him moved. The trio easily moved between them, and walked up to the man underneath the ship. Upon further inspection, it was learned that he is indeed Batarian.
"Sergeant Cathka...Ah, you must be the group that Salkie mentioned. You're just in time."
"Salkie?" Shepard asked, while shrugging his shoulders. Logan looked back at the Batarian.
"You met him when you were dropped off. He radioed and said you were coming. You three stand out from most of the other freelancers. Anyways...The infiltration team is about to send us the signal. Archangel won't know what hit him. Got any questions? This may be your last chance." The sour note didn't go unnoticed by any of the three.
"Are you gonna give us cover with the gunship?" Shepard asked, as Cathka blew smoke from a cigar. If Logan wasn't about to leap into battle, he would've done the same.
"Ha," he laughs, "Tarak's the only one who flies her. Besides, she's not quite ready. That bastard Archangel gave her a beating last time she was out there. With a few tweaks, she'll be as good as new." He nodded, and looked at the ship in question.
"Why are you coordinating the attack and fixing gunships?" Logan wondered the same. Usually someone in power wouldn't bother to even touch the tools, never mind actually put them to use.
"I'm in the infiltration group. We coordinate with the gunship. I'm staying back to organize the freelancers, and make sure that the gunship is ready to go, if needed." Shepard considered what the Batarian said, and looked back at him.
"So our plan is to jump the wall and head for Archangel's building?" Shepard asked, and watched for the man's answer.
"Also trying not to killed so fast. You're only a distraction for as long as you survive. You don't have to make it all the way across. Just keep Archangel looking at that bridge. The infiltration team will do the rest." He took another puff of his cigar.
"How will the infiltration team get to Archangel?" Shepard asked. Logan's patience is becoming dangerously thin. He can feel his own face heating up.
"They've got two options. Trap him in close quarters, and finish him off hand-to-hand. If that doesn't work, they got explosives. It just takes time to set up." He waved his cigarette around as he spoke.
"Are you leading the assault?" Shepard asked, as a cloud of smoke was blown in his face." The question seemed to amuse the Batarian.
"Tarak doesn't pay me to fight. I just fix the damn gunship, and plan the attacks. You freelancers get the privilege of-" His monitor went off, and he suddenly stopped talking.
"Check...Bravo team, go, go, go!" He yelled. Everyone in the room before them got their weapons ready, and began moving. "Archangel's got quite a surprise waiting for him. But, that means no more waiting for me." Just as the last man went out of sight, Logan unsheathed his claws and stuck them through the back of the alien's skull. He ripped them back out with a wet rip, and sheathed them.
"You talk too fucking much." He said to Shepard, whilst jabbing a finger into his breastplate.
"Archangel doesn't have much time left." Jacob pointed out. Logan rolled his eyes.
"So why are we still standin' here?" The sounds of weapons firing soon drowned their conversation, and the sound of an explosion rang out. Shepard ran towards the wall, and Logan leapt over it. He landed softly, as the other two continued climbing.
Shepard nodded at Logan, and the man smiled. SNIKT! The blades from his knuckles returned, and he threw himself at the freelancers. He easily ripped one's throat out, before leaping through the air. It was like watching a deadly art. Logan killed with such a graceful brutality, it was unlike anything they've ever seen.
The last man shot him in the chest with a shotgun. The two noticed the gaping hole in the middle of his stomach, and how his flesh was mending. They could see his skin closing, already. A few seconds later, it was normal skin. He cut the man's gun in half, and crushed his ribs in a solid blow to the chest.
They ran up the stairs, where two men stood at the end. Their shields had two layers, but that wasn't a problem for Logan. He ran down the hall, easily keeping them off balance. His speed took them off guard, as they couldn't even get a beat on him. He easily caught one by the throat, and sliced the other's trigger arm off. He snapped the man's neck in one hand, and put his blades through the other's throat. A wet rip was heard as he pulled them out.
"Nice work, Logan..." Shepard said, with uncertainty. He'd never met a man so good at being violent. The way he killed showed that he was a master.
"Hmmph." Logan replied, crossing his large forearms. His icy blue eyes looking at the door in front of him. A green ring on the front.
Logan followed behind Shepard, and walked behind him. He wasn't worried about the sniper, so he walked normally. His arms hang by his sides, and only moved when he walked. He watched Shepard swing around, and point his gun up. He let it go, and nodded his head.
"Archangel?" The man in blue armor raised a three fingered hand, and took a deep breath. Silence drowned them, until a shot burst out of the Turian's rifle. A man cried in pain, and Logan heard the man's brains and body fall onto the ground. Impressive, he guessed.
The man got up from a knee, obviously painfully. He had probably been down for hours. Logan watched as the man stood, and towered over all of them. Even the Commander.
Taking off his helmet, his long crest was easily visible, as was the facial tattoos that most Turians have. He put the helmet down, and his blue eyes stare into the Commander. A huge smile broke out on his face.
"Shepard...I thought you were dead." He admitted. Logan knew that was as sappy as this reunion would get. Words aren't needed when actions can be taken.
"Garrus! What're you doing here?" Shepard exclaims, and opens his arms. Garrus didn't seem to share the excitement. Fighting for your life for almost a day did that to a man, no matter who.
"Just keeping my skills sharp. Target practice." Shepard's concern was noted.
"You okay?" He asked, his tone more gentle.
"Been better, but it sure is good to see your ugly mug. We can't all be pretty," He laughs, and continues, "Killing mercs is hard work. Especially on my own." Shepard nodded.
"What're you doing out here on Omega?" Logan wondered the same. Garrus Vakarian was known to be a cop, someone he bumped into a couple times while on the citadel. He never heard of Logan, though. Logan made sure no cops found his name out. He didn't need that sort of trouble in his work.
"I got fed up with the bureaucratic crap on the Citadel. Figured I could do more good on my own. At least it's not hard to find criminals here. All I have to do is point my gun and shoot." Logan chuckled at that one, and the Turian looked up to him. He threw him a cheeky smile, and the alien seemed to look back down.
"How'd you manage to piss off every merc organization in the Terminus Systems?" Shepard asked, and Logan looked back to Garrus.
"It wasn't easy...I really had to work at it." His sarcasm practically dripped from his words. Logan was gonna like working with this dude, he can already tell.
"I'm amazed they teamed up to fight me. They must really hate me." He obviously didn't care.
"Since when did you start calling yourself, 'Archangel?'" Shepard asked, while shifting his weight onto his other foot.
"It's just a name the locals gave me for my good deeds. I don't mind it, but please...It's just, 'Garrus,' to you." The way he acted made it known he was screwing with the Commander, and Logan had trouble keeping a straight face. This man's personality was great.
"You nailed me good a couple times, by the way." Shepard said, and stood expectantly.
"Concussive rounds, only. No harm done. Didn't want the mercs getting suspicious."
"Uh-huh." Shepard said, bantering.
"If I wanted to do more than take your shields down, I would have. Besides, you were taking your sweet ass time. Someone needed to light a fire under your ass." Logan chuckled again, and the two old friends look at him.
"You didn't introduce me to the two newbies." Garrus said, referring to the two humans. His eyes lingered on the Cerberus insignia.
"Not yet. I don't think getting out will be as easy as in, Garrus." Shepard said, and Garrus nodded. He lifted his gun, and stared at it.
"No, it won't. That bridge has saved my life. It put all of those idiots into one scope. It works both ways, though. They'll slaughter us if we try to get out that way." He said. Logan nodded, and his respect for the Turian grew. The tactile genius the man has shown so far would be valuable.
"So we just sit here and wait?" Jacob asked, and Garrus looked at him.
"It's not all that bad." Garrus shook his head gently, and paced, "This place has held them off so far, and with the three of you...I suggest we hold this location. We then wait for the defense to crack, and take our chances. It's not a perfect plan, but it's better than no plan" Logan hated playing the waiting game, but the other three couldn't survive an onslaught. He could.
"How'd you even let yourself get into this position, Garrus? What happens if you ran out of ammo?" Shepard wasn't trying to shoot his effort down, but the man was one of his closest friends, he couldn't keep some sort of tone out of his voice.
"Then I would be killed. I let my feelings cloud my judgement, but it's too damn long of story. Tell you what? I'll make you a deal: get me out of here, alive, and I'll tell you the entire thing." Shepard nodded.
"If we fight as a team, we'll hold them off. Besides, someone has to keep your face pretty." Shepard joked, as he took his assault rifle off of his back.
"You're right, their numbers won't help them in here, anyways. Don't worry. My face will be the one covering your sorry ass down there." He winked at the Commander, and turned towards the bridge. "Let's see what they're up to...Hmm...Looks like they know their infiltration team failed. Take a look. Scouts, I think." He handed the sniper rifle to Shepard, who took a look down the scope. A bunch of mechs with carnifexes walked around, looking for them.
"Looks like more than just scouts." He pointed out, and Garrus nodded. Logan started itching to tear them apart.
"Indeed. We best get ready." Garrus suggested, "I'll stay up here, I can do more damage from this vantage point. You...You can do what you do best. Just like old times, Shepard." His mandibles formed a smile, and the two nodded to one another.
Shepard, Jacob, and Garrus shot from the balcony, whilst Logan took off his torn shirt. A white beater made itself known, and he cracked his neck. He ran at the balcony, and launched himself off of it. He landed on a mech, and tore it apart.
"What is he doing?" Garrus cried out in horror. Shepard just laughed, as Logan whirled around the bridge, totally in his element.
"Just watch." Shepard said. Logan's claws reflected light, and Garrus squinted at them. He finally saw them, and his eyes widen. Just as the LOKIs were done, troops began to pour in. Logan turned, just in time as a sniper bullet slammed into his skull. The force of the blow sent him off of his feet, but he simply rolled with it, and sprung back to his feet. He ran towards the ground troops, and roared. His claws met the closest trooper, a Salarian, and the man's blood splashed the rails of the bridge. He rolled on the floor, and slammed his claws through a human's forearm, causing him to drop the gun.
Logan quickly threw the man-using the man's forearm-at another person, dropping them both, before taking a shotgun blast to his face. The metal of his skull was seen underneath, and his left eye was missing. He roared, a scary sight, seeing as most of his face was missing, before jamming his claws into the salarian's throat, and ripping to the side. He chuckled as the alien suffocated on the floor, before springing from his spot, and slamming the heel of his foot on the back of one goon's head, before slicing the throat of another. The two fell, and he noticed a few more falling due to the bullets flying from where Shepard and the team was.
He leaned forward, and continued to run, dodging bullets as best as he could, while moving slow enough to keep their attention on him. Drawing their attention to him, rather than the team, meant that the team could put as many as they wanted down, while not worrying about any return fire. He was obviously the bigger threat to them, so they would continue to stay focused on him, thinking that was the best option...Either way, they were going to die.
When it seemed like they were going to win, he heard the ramblings of a Salarian across the bridge. The whirring of a rotor was heard, and a package flew into the bridge. A heavy box was dropped onto the floor, and it lurched to life. Massive cannons became seen, and a tall mech stood to its full height. A YMIR. Logan's lip curled, and the rest of the team suddenly became aware that this fight became more challenging. He felt the adrenaline rush through his body, and began to shake his hands.
"I'll slow the YMIR down, and kill the people around it. Keep shooting down the shields!" Logan yelled to the commander, and rushed the heavy mech. He dodged a swipe of the arm, and leapt over the machine. He dodged gunfire that emerged from one of the guns in its arms, and rushed the troopers that began to pour into the room. He used a Batarian as a meat shield, before purposely centering himself around the oncoming enemies. That way, he could properly take advantage of his location, and have the mech indirectly fighting its own people.
A human slammed Logan's nose with the butt of his gun, making Logan's nose drop blood from it. He angrily grabbed the man by his neck, and tossed him towards the YMIR. The mech, due to its machine nature, simply tore through the man. His screams echoed around the entire chamber, causing Jacob to flinch at the vantage point.
"That man is brutal." He called to the others, who stare at the rugged man, now shirtless due to the bullets, tearing through people, and distracting the YMIR.
"He's effective." Garrus said simply, ending the conversation before it started.
Logan leapt over the YMIR, and scraped his claws over the mech's head, drawing its fire once more. Finally, after what seemed like forever, the mech's first shield layer was down. Soon, he began to slam his claws against multiple areas, looking for anything that would damage the damn thing. The troops coming in were hesitating, as they couldn't shoot their own mech. Shepard and the rest began taking care of the ground troops.
When the shield finally came off the mech, Logan slammed his claws into the left shoulder of the synthetic, causing the wiring and metal to begin to groan. Sparks of electricity began to fly out of the arm, some causing minor burns to fleck his skin. He ignored them, as his healing factor quickly took care of it. He pressed his legs into the head of the mech, and-with the great strength his mutation gave him-pushed against the mech. The arm pulled away with a loud shriek, and the mech didn't know any better. He dodged a swing of the arm, and leapt into cover from the machine gun fire.
"All your's, Shepard!" he cried out, laughing. The Commander began to pour gunfire into the machine, causing it to finally fall over. The two red lights in the center of its head finally dimmed, before going out, completely.
Logan quickly ran towards the vantage point, and leapt towards it. He stuck his claws in one of the walls, before using his momentum to propel himself up onto the balcony. He landed on a rail, and crouched on the side of it. He took a step onto the balcony, and leaned against the rail he had just landed on. He nodded to them, and they just eyed him with awe.
"Good shooting, Shepard. They barely touched me! Nice work to you, as well. We also got Jaroth in the process. I've been hunting that little bastard for months..." He said, and his fist clenches.
"Why were you after him?" Shepard asks, and his right shoulder shrugs. Logan had little patience, but Shepard knew how to get straight to the point, even if he did ask a lot of questions.
"He's been shipping tainted eezo all over Citadel space. Half the goods I seized back at C-Sec came from his team here, on Omega. I took out a big shipment a while back, and killed his top lieutenant in the process. I'm not surprised he began to work with the other mercs after that." He said, and made what must have been the Turian version of a smile.
"We've still got Blood Pack and Blue Suns left...Think we can make a break for it?" Shepard asked. Garrus' eyes harden.
"Maybe...Let's see what they're up to." He walks to the balcony, and uses his keen eyes to look.
"They've reinforced the other side...heavily. They're not coming over the bridge, yet. What are they waiting for?" Just as he asked, a large explosion was heard behind them, and the floor shook. The door that was sealed behind them was under threat.
"What the hell was that?" Miranda asked. Her blue eyes were alarmed, and were on guard.
Garrus pulls up his omnitool, and began to click around on it. His eyes widen in alarm, and he seemed to become agitated.
"Damn it! They've breached the lower levels. Well, they had to have used their brain, eventually. You'd better get down there, Shepard. I'll keep the bridge clear." He said, and the Commander hesitated.
"Let's split up two and two. Take one of my team members." He said. Garrus' eyes fall onto Logan, who nodded. He walked over to the tall Turian, and crossed his arms across his chest.
"Are you sure? Who knows what you'll find down there..." Garrus says. Shepard nods, strongly.
"Logan, keep Garrus alive. Without him, our mission is all but done for." He said. Logan nods, and agrees. He has seen that Garrus would be an excellent addition to the team, and a solid selection for the mission.
"Thanks, Shepard. You better get going." He said, and Shepard shifted his weight to his left leg.
"How would I get to the basement?" Garrus also shifts, and points behind the Commander.
"Go down a level-the basement door is on the west side of the main room, behind the stairs. I'll radio directions if you need help, but you gotta get down there quick. Good luck." He said, and Shepard was on his way. His two allies close behind them, before disappearing from sight.
"So, you survived through this shit for an entire day?" Logan asks the Turian once they were alone. Garrus thought about it, and nodded.
"I guess it has been a day. A shitty day, for sure, but a day nonetheless. How'd you get to meet Shepard?" He asked, and fixed his eyes over him. Logan scratches the back of his neck.
"Cerberus. They had a dossier on me for a mission that they're starting. I don't know what was on the dossier, or what the hell the mission is, for that matter, but it sounds pretty damn important. If it shakes the great Commander Shepard up, it's something to worry about." He said, and blinked. The Turian nods.
"Agreed. Shepard doesn't scare easily, so this must be something serious. Especially if he is working with Cerberus. Do you think they have something to do with his sudden appearance? Last I heard from the Alliance, they were searching for his body. No one could have survived open space and a fall like that, though." Garrus points out, and the two think about it.
"Does Cerberus have that much resources to bring back a dead body? What the hell would that feel like, I wonder?" Garrus asked. Logan wondered, and shook his head. He would never like to experience that. Shepard was at peace, and was literally roped back into the bullshit. Made him almost pity the man. Almost.
"Even if they did bring him back, I still don't trust 'em. After all the shit they pulled, I can't." He said, and the Turian agreed.
"Yes, I agree. Cerberus is most certainly not trustworthy. I hope the Commander keeps this in mind, and doesn't fall for their bullshit tricks." Garrus said. Logan wished the same thing, silently wondering if he'd have the resolve to kill the Commander if it came down to it.
Other than the occasional tip to the Commander, the two were fairly bored. Due to the bloodbath that had commenced once Logan stood on the bridge, they didn't waste any more men on there. They simply had zero chance of survival if they had.
Once they had shut the shutter down, Garrus heard the door begin to be breached. Logan nodded to him, and leapt over the railing again. He landed in a crouch, and hid behind some cover. The element of surprise would be on his side.
The doors open, and Logan could smell a Krogan's reptilian hide walk into the room. He the separate heartbeats of about six people right now, but knew there would be more of them. His lip curled, and he looked over to Garrus, who nodded.
"Rahh, rip them to shreds!" Garm cried out. Logan took a deep breath before leaping onto his cover, and launching off of it. The force of it sent him underneath the Krogan, before lifting and throwing the reptilian alien across the room. That was no easy feat. Garm was a massive Krogan, weighing nearly eight hundred pounds. Logan quickly made towards the Krogan's form, whilst the Commander and Jacob took up his back, shooting anyone who came into the room with him.
Logan stood off with the Krogan, circling around him. He was hunched over, snarling. Bits of drool fell over his mouth due to the anticipation of the fight ahead of him. The massive Krogan stood over a foot taller than Logan, and weighed over twice as much as he did. None of this truly stayed in Logan's mind, though.
"Garrus, take his shields down. Logan isn't fighting this guy by himself." The Commander yelled into his comm over the sounds of gunfire. Logan heard it, due to his advanced hearing, and tried to tune out the sounds.
"Just me and you, runt." Garm licked his teeth at the prospect of fighting Logan. From what he had already seen, the human was a worthy opponent. One who would go down with a great fight. He watched the human circle him, and met his icy blue eyes with his own red ones. A shot rings out, and Garm's shields flicker. The powerful rifle got rid of a good bit of them.
Launching off of his powerful legs, Logan came down towards the large Krogan, who swatted the smaller human out of the air. Logan was sent flying away from him, before landing on his back. He used the momentum to spring off of the floor, and back onto his feet. He unsheathed his claws, and sprinted back to the Krogan. He dodged a swipe of the Krogan's arm, and stuck his claws into the alien's ribs. He twisted and ripped them back out, causing a wave of blood to splash the floor. He leapt over the Krogan, and let another round of the sniper rifle to smash into his shields.
When the shields fell, the Commander lifted a grenade launcher off his back.
"Logan, get the hell outta the way!" Logan hand springed away, landing a good deal away from everyone. He shot the grenade launcher against the Krogan, causing the explosion to get rid of the rest of his armor. Logan sprinted full speed, totally blitzing the Krogan. He sliced parts of his thighs, shoulders, wrists, neck, and anywhere else that was exposed. They were to bleed and slow the Krogan.
Garm roared into the air, and finally did what Logan wanted him to. When he entered his blood rage, it sent adrenaline into his blood, causing his heart to pump faster. The small wounds caused the Krogan to begin to bleed out onto the floor. Logan simply began to dodge all of the rapid, sloppy swings of the Krogan. He watched as Garm finally began to slow down.
The Krogan fell to a knee, where he grunted in pain. He was caked in blood, and the ground around him was puddled. Logan stood over him with a grim smile on his face. The Krogan's red eyes seemed to plead with him.
"Give me an honorable death." He said, and Logan chuckled. The Commander walked over to him, and Logan shook his head.
"You're gonna bleed out for all the bullshit you've pulled." He turned around, and walked away. His shirtless torso was rapidly healing the battle's marks on him. He cracked his neck, and stood next to the Commander.
"They've stopped. Come find me." Garrus said over the comm. Due to his hearing, Logan could hear it without the comm in his ear. He nodded, and followed the Commander up to where the Turian was located.
"Tough bastards, but I've seen worse. We also took out Garm and his Blood Pack. This day just keeps getting better and better. He was one tough son of a bitch." Garrus said, and looked at Logan. Logan grunted in response to the look.
"You fought with Garm, before?" Shepard asked, even if he already knew. He wanted to hear it from the Turian's perspective.
"Yeah, we tangled once before. Caught him alone. None of his gang to help him. I still couldn't take him out. Never seen a Krogan regen that fast before. He was a freak of nature." He said, and looked at Logan.
"Until you saw me. Yeah, yeah. He's dead, now." Logan said, and crossed his arms.
"He kept going at it until his Vorcha showed up. It was close, but I had to let him go. Not this time..." His flanged voice finished, and his eyes squinted. Logan grinned widely at the comment.
"Only the Blue Suns are left. I say we take out luck and fight our way out." Logan and Jacob both nod with the Commander, agreeing with his opinion. They were not going to get another chance to escape unscathed.
"I think you're right. Tarak's got the toughest group, but nothing we haven't faced, before. Besides, he won't be expecting us to meet him head on-" As he spoke, a drone made its way to the balcony. Garrus immediately dove for cover, as did the rest of the people in the room. Logan absorbed whatever bullets he could, and became a meatshield for the Commander and Jacob.
He growled to himself as he stood besides them, the bullets falling out of his skin. They clanged against the floor upon contact.
"I thought I already shot that damn thing down! They're offloading troops. Watch your back, Shepard!" The Commander was behind solid cover, and Logan could hear the separate heartbeats. He waited a moment before shooting around the corner. He leapt from his spot onto a merc, before slicing him twice in the stomach, before grabbing the closest merc to his right. He used the body to absorb bullets, before throwing him at the farthest merc from him. He slammed his claws into the skull of a human running towards him, killing him instantly. He turned and the Commander shot the last merc in the face. He fell to the floor, dead.
"They've reached the rear staircase!" Garrus called out, and rolled into cover. Bullets began to fly into their location. Logan grinned as he propelled off of the railing. He unsheathed his claws in midair, before slamming into a merc. He rolled off of the man, before ripping the throat of a Salarian passing by him with his claws. He slammed his head off of another human, splintering his nose and facial bones.
He turned around and was slammed with a biotic attack. He felt his feet being lifted off of the ground.
"Someone wanna help me?" He called out. The mercs opened fire on Logan, pouring hundreds of bullets into him. He roared in pain as most of them slammed into his bones, and tore through his flesh. He growled, nearly animalistic, and he finally felt himself fall onto the ground. He grunted as he got up, and felt the bullets begin to push out of his skin.
Shepard watched the muscular man sprint towards the group of mercs. He slashed upwards at the face of one, causing his eyeball and most of his face to go flying into the air. He side swiped another's, causing their skull to separate into three separate chunks. He gutted the next, causing the man to fall to a knee, holding his intestines desperately. The panic in his eyes was noticeable.
"Jesus Christ, Shepard. He's tearing them apart..." Garrus said, as Logan continued to mercilessly rip them to shreds. Literally.
Limbs lay around him. His pants were mostly gone, leaving him standing there in his naked glory. Blood-a mixture of his own and of those mercs-covered him. It dripped down his face, into his mouth, and off of his skin. He panted due to adrenaline, and looked at the others around him.
Shepard's eyes were widened. Cerberus was not kidding when they said this man was extremely dangerous. If Shepard stood in his way, there would be no way for him to stop him. For one moment in his life, he was glad he was not on the opposing side of a dangerous person. He quite literally stood in front of the most dangerous human beings in the galaxy.
"What're you girls looking at?" He asked. He looked up at Garrus, who was scoping for any remaining enemies.
"Archangel! You think you can screw with the Blue Suns?" Bullets flew into the room, sending Garrus into cover.
"This ends now!" A rocket came flying into the room, which sent Garrus scrambling. The explosion sent him off of his feet. Logan quickly made his way into the room, and stood in front of the Turian, ensuring a huge measure of safety to the Turian. He quickly carried the Turian into a safe zone, before turning around. He knew what he had to do.
"Shepard! I'm gonna take this goddamned thing down. Cover my ass." He chuckled at the irony of the command, before he stood. He sprinted towards the gun, dodging the fire, before using the railing as a springboard. He unleashed his claws and they make him stay on top of the drone. He slammed his claws throughout the drone, finding spots where he could truly fuck it up. He groaned as he hit a main wire, causing electricity to flow through his body. He heard the drone start to fail, though.
As it began to whip around, uncontrollably, he laughed in pure ecstasy. He timed the jump right, and threw himself back towards the patio. He had missed by a small amount, and ended up having to stick his claws into the wall. He climbed up, slowly, and finally made his way over the railing. He hit the floor and groaned. It's been a long goddamn day.
He looked over to the Commander, and saw him sprinting over to Garrus. He woke the Turian up, who was groaning. His copper-based blood was on the floor, staining it blue. He sobered up, and stood up, shakily. He quickly walked over there, and knelt down. Jacob and the Commander looked at him with a unnerved look on their faces.
"You gonna just sit there and stare, or are we gonna save this asshole's life?" Logan shot at them. It kicked them into gear. Shepard chuckled at his words. Logan quickly bent over, and lifted the man-bridal style to avoid further injury-before they made their way to the Normandy.
"Logan, do you know where the port is?" Shepard asked. His voice was laced with extreme worry. This was one his closest friends, after all. Logan nodded quickly.
"Run there. You're a hell of a lot faster than I am, and Jacob wouldn't be fast enough, either. Please. We need Garrus." He said. Logan nodded. He watched the Commander apply medi-gel to the wounds in his torso, and Logan nodded once more.
"Now go!" The Commander yelled in his leader voice. Logan took off. He sprinted around a corner, before exiting the building. It was quite the sight. Due to him being totally naked, he caught many eyes around the place. If there had been a police presence on Omega, he would've been apprehended for indecent exposure, and public nudity. He pushed his speed to the limit. Due to his own speed, and his healing factor being able to push his muscles, he was moving at nearly fifty miles per hour.
He quickly approached the Normandy-everyone knows the name of Commander Shepard's ship-and the doors swung wide open. He quickly entered it and ran through into the main entrance. He went up a painfully slow elevator, and picked the third deck. Upon coming out of it, he used his sense of smell to direct him to the medical bay.
"I need a goddamn doctor!" Logan called out. A salarian and older woman came rushing towards him, and checked the wounds on him.
"Quick, lay him down on the table." An older human woman said, as she began to prepare her materials. The Salarian was muttering things to himself, and making rapid movements.
"You're free to leave...And put on some pants. You may want to clean up first, though. You have a bit of blood on you." The doctor said with her back turned. He looked down, and dried blood covered his entire body. She was right. He nodded, and left the med-bay. He quickly took a seat outside of it, not sure of what to do next.
Maybe twenty minutes later, a panting Jacob and a normal Shepard were in the ship. Shepard bowled past the naked Logan, and into the med-bay to check on his friend. Immediately, he was instructed to get out by the doctor, and finally realized Logan was still naked.
"Unless you enjoy being in your birthday suit, I suggest showering up and getting dressed. Showers are down the hall, and uniforms are in the locker room. See if there are any in your size. When you're done, meet us in the briefing room." Shepard said. He nodded to the man. Logan walks by him, and a hand lands on his shoulder.
"Logan...Thank you. You were beyond excellent on this mission. Also, for Garrus. We cannot succeed in this mission without him. Now that I've seen you, it is the same for you." He said. His eyes were filled with a sincerity that Logan didn't often see.
"You're welcome." Logan skirted around him, and continued to the shower. He felt the ship's temperate breezes go to places they should never go, and winced. He quickly made his way to the showers, passing by a couple people. He growled at anyone who gave him looks. He pushed into the bathroom, and made his way towards the shower. He grabbed a towel on the way, and made sure not to stain the white cloth with the blood that he was covered in.
All in all...It's been a hell of a day.