Axel jolted awake on his ship, as he tried to force his lungs to breathe again. He tried to stand up, but found himself to be too weak.

His mind was a foggy jumble of enquiries. Where was he? How had he gotten here? Why did the silence around him feel so oppressive? Why did that quiet feel so wrong.

But then all at once the memories came flooding back to him. With them, the torrent of swirling emotions that plagued him.

Anger, grief, disgust, shame, and an overwhelming sense of loss.

All weighing him down like chains.

But as his head cleared, so too did his resolve. The past belonged to the dead, the here and now belonged to the living.

He strained his ears to hear something, anything.

It took a moment for his ears to adjust but then he heard a subtle thrumming.

The hum of a ships engine.

The hum of the ship beckoned him to stay where he was. A lullaby that begged him to forget the memories that plagued him. Let them all be lost in the inky void of sleep.

The temptation was strong.

He ground his palms into his eyes in an attempt to force away these thoughts.

Spots of light began to dance behind his eyelids.

"Lights on!" He ordered, a last ditch effort.

Sensing the tone of his voice, the lights came on at full brightness. Even with his eyes closed and his hands covering them, light bled through, aggravating his eyes.

Begrudgingly, he pulled his body up from the container that had kept his body in cryogenic stasis these long years. Though, he expected that these years were nothing compared to what those in the Initiative had experienced.

He looked down at himself and made note of the skin tight suit that covered his body, all except his head.

It felt clingy and constricting, he couldn't wait to get it off.

"Sir, we have arrived a short distance away from where The Initiative's equivalent of The Citadel was to be located." The ships onboard computer informed him. Programmed to sound like the most proper of Old British butlers.

It was a bit stereotypical, Axel admitted to himself. But he had always been a fan of those old, archived vids from so long ago. He remembered a popular trope was aloof vigilantes having butlers.

A bitter pang hit his heart as he finally opened his eyes fully. It was probably best not to dwell on those memories for now.

Maybe he should change the voice.

Trying to bury the thoughts, he busied himself by moving to the adjacent room, the medical bay. Its sterilized, white walls and bright lights continued to punish his eyes. He accessed the panel that would begin running the automated/self diagnostic medical exam. Various automated machines helped him to test his motor functions.

Poking and prodding him gently and conducting a blood draw. Everything appeared to agree with the computers check list

To cap off the physical examination, he was given a full body scan.

This however, caused the computer to begin flashing red and displaying numerous alerts. All claiming he was experiencing massive trauma and was in need of immediate medical attention.

However, Axel only lazily examined the list and began slowly reading and eliminating items on the list.

Necrotic flesh: Immediate amputation recommended, the computer warned.

"Denied, recalibrate." He ordered.

Numerous Fatal Organ Failures: Immediate operation and administration of life support.

"Denied, recalibrate."

Blood Toxicity High: Blood heavily saturated with unknown substance. Emergency transfusion, recommended.

"Denied! Recalibrate." Impatience filling the tone of his voice.

A small circle of dots spun in a synchronized circle, indicating it was loading. The only thing else on the screen was a the word, recalibrating, in bold text.

"Every damn time, still cant get this damn machine to work the right way." Axel muttered.

The loading symbol and word disappeared and he was immediately scanned again. Then the screen displayed his body scan.

Subject Status: Nominal, It said above his figures head.

Finally, he could get started. He would start with removing this ridiculous suit that was becoming more uncomfortable, the longer he was awake. Riding up and pinching in rather uncomfortable places.

"Computer, status report. Follow me as i walk." He spoke aloud, already walking towards the door and looking for where to change.

"Or course, sir. We have successfully arrived in the Andromeda Galaxy. Preliminary scan for any nearby obstructions presence of Initiative personnel, or otherwise, were confirmed to be absent. Following which, reconstitution was initiated. Total travel time. 117.4 years. Approximately, 4 year behind the calculated arrival of the Human Ark."

Damn, axel marveled to himself. This ship really was fast. It had crossed the space between galaxies almost five times faster than the speed of the last ships to ever attempt such a feat.

He walked into his quarters, only glancing at the noticeably bare walls and empty space, to get to the side of the room that held his double sized bed and built in wall locker. He opened it to find full length mirror, several sets of relaxed wear, undergarments, socks, two sets of shoes, and a single set of formal wear.

Most all of it was monochromatic, dull grey and stark black.

The dress suit however was something else altogether.

Pitch black pants and jacket, a tie with overlaid crimson and black, and a blood red shirt. The inside of the jacket was a mirage of colors, like a peacocks tail feathers. Golds, blues, greens, all shimmering within depending on how you looked at it.

Axel loved the suit. Even though he couldn't see why he would need one, he kept it for sentimental reasons.

Admirable as the suit was, he couldn't truly focus on it due to the ever increasing discomfort he felt in his current clothing.

He stripped down in front of the mirror and appraised himself. He concluded that he looked like a monster or a some demented action figure.

His body was covered in scars, criss crossing his torso, angry dots, surgical scars. The ones that were at a few of his joints had visible pigment differences on either side of them. As if someone had taken parts from random people and just stapled them on.

His right arm and right leg, below the knee, was free of these scars, but only because the two limbs were made of metal.

He raised the prosthetic and slowly touched the fingertips of either hand to one another.

Though he could feel both his hands in the contact, the sensation was muted, he would need to recharge when he had the opportunity.

He was however impressed by the length of life it boasted. Over a century and it could still operate, albeit in a muted fashion.

Axel quickly dressed himself, admiring the comfort of the new material, and then addressed the computer, "Is the L-Terrarium currently up and running?"

"Yes sir, all readings are nominal." It informed

"Do we have any class three cocoons on standby?" A class three should be plenty to recharge his arm and leg, and any other faculties that may be running low.

"Yes sir, current count of class three cocoons are at seventy cocoons available for harvest. However, two dozen are permitted as emergency reserve but use is discouraged due to negative impacts on ecosystem. At least until next reproductive cycle." It replied.

Axel nodded his head.

"Queue one up for me, please."

"Right away, sir. Cocoon will be deposited in receptacle outside of your Crypt. Recommend you equip your combat kit until we are certain we have not arrived in hostile space."

Axel nodded as he went to his load out station, dubbed The Crypt.

He often wondered why his former organization would use such stereotypical names. Especially, when they worked so hard to not look like monsters. No matter how hard they tried, people were often scared by the things that they didn't understand.

Especially, when the thing they don't understand had to do with defying death.

Not in the way that a daredevil or an acrobat would defy death.

But reversing it.

Using energy and life as a means to ward away, and even undo, dying.

This is what Axel and his late people had been.

Necromancers.

Whenever that word was used around common people he could see the images flashing in their eyes, archaic images of men in black robes, blood sacrifices, satanic rituals, charms, magic, fiction, myths.

Axel didn't believe in magic. He believed that the things many deemed "magical" was merely science that wasn't understood yet.

His mind continued to wander as he reached the Crypt and reached into the pneumo tube, grabbing the container within that held the cocoons.

He held them in his metallic hand and began to concentrate. The specialized biotics within him causing the cocoons to blaze to life in his palms. Feeling returning to his extremities with every step.

Light and a dry heat radiated from his palm.

The comparison that Axel drew was to humanity when they first bore witness to the abilities of biotic wielders. Acts that many would have referred to as magic if it weren't for the scientists who found a way to explain and rationalize it.

Necromancy, as Axel knew it, was just biotics, electrical engineering, and biomass energy harvesting all spliced together. Sure, he could bestow animation to corpses for certain amounts of time, he could leech energy from living matter and repurpose in other ways, such as energizing his prosthetic limbs and implants.

He could even use this energy and his ability to manipulate biomass to heal others physical wounds. Some of the greater necromancers could even cure diseases, fix abnormalities and birth defects, some could even mend the delicate pathways of the brain and nervous system.

The mysticism surrounding the word however, was not present in them.

Axel had a profoundly greater respect for the dead than most others. But he did not commune with them. He didn't speak to spirits, or attempt to reach the "Other Side," as it was so popularly referred to.

Spirituality was in an entirely different sphere than the one he was in. Science deals with largely tangible subjects, meanwhile spirituality dealt with the intangible. He couldn't disprove those less tangible subjects, but he comforted himself by thinking it was just science that no one understood, yet.

All these thoughts swirled in his mind as he approached the locker that held his armor and equipment.

He braced himself on the door.

He hesitantly reached for the handle. A storm of emotions threatening to rise up in him.

He allowed himself a moment, taking carefully measured breaths, before opening the door.

Inside, was a beautiful and intimidating suit. Axel was entranced by it.

Glossy black armor like obsidian, inlaid with rivers of platinum that veined the entire body. Thicker plating covered all of the vulnerable locations, but thin and flexible material covered the joints and key points of movement. A hybrid between protection and mobility. Tiny, nearly imperceptible amounts of red were found across the , upon closer inspection, small runic symbols could be seen.

Axel knew the design of the runes was largely cosmetic, but the red metal was inlaid across the suit due to its efficiency as acting as a conductor for the energy that necromancers wielded.

He looked at the helmet was simultaneously excited and hesitant. It was as easy to marvel at as the rest of the suit, and it looked similar to the fabled N7's helmets. Yet, despite the latter already being intimidating, this new helm seemed more vengeful, judgmental.

The Hades exo-suit was designed to not only protect, but to strike fear into the enemy.

The name was another stereotype that had been adopted when his people finally gave in, and became the monsters they had been feared to be, Axel thought darkly.

He donned the suit, but kept the helmet tucked underneath this arm. He did not carry a typical weapon, for his weapons were two retractable, wrist mounted blades.

The Keepers, the necromancer's combat force, preferred this method of fighting. Closing distance with the enemy to better use their abilities. They knew early on that it would be impractical, and downright foolish, to send troops into combat without the ability to fight at a distance.

To mitigate this, the Omni-Combat Drone, or OCD, was developed. Small, arachnid like drones, about the size of a dog, would accompany each Sentinel. They could roam freely and support from advantageous positions or mount on the backs of their counterparts and fire over their shoulders.

He tapped out a quick command onto his wrist pad. A quick clattering could be heard a moment later as his drone, Charlotte, woke up and scampered over to him.

Its thin legs making a clicking sound on the metal floor.

He turned, allowing easy access to his back.

It clambered on easily and latched onto him, its legs forming a harness around his torso.

He made a few adjustments so its weight sat properly on his back.

Stretching a bit, he walked back towards the helm of the ship. Feeling ready for whatever was thrown at him.

As if something wanted to challenge his notion, the lights of his ship suddenly changed to a reddish hue. An alarm began sounding.

"Unidentified ship of unknown make has appeared, sir." The computer announced via the ships PA system.

"Get ready to get us out of here!" He ordered as he began running to the commander's terminal. "How long until we can make another jump?"

"We can safely execute a jump in ten minutes." The computer informed. "Warning, unknown ship attempting a scan. Our own scans indicate its weapons are on standby."

"Raise the shields, sync weapon controls to my visor, and give me a countdown to when we can make that jump." Irritation in his voice. He had barely arrived and someone was already pointing their guns at him. He had hardly expected anyone to be alive, let alone readily hostile.

As soon as he spoke, a countdown timer appeared in the upper left hand of his visor. It began at nine minutes and fifty three seconds and slowly ticked down.

He approached the command console and grasped either side of it, and began to assess the entity with his own eyes.

Its design was unlike anything he had ever seen. It did not look human, turian, salarian, or any of the other Milky Way Galaxy's species design. Not even the cooperative works that had been produced in his time visibly compared.

It was also much larger than his own ship. This one clearly a troop transport or assault vessel of some kind.

He was pondering the design, trying to find similar traits to compare with when the computer addressed him.

"Sir, I believe they are attempting to make contact with us. Shall I connect you?"

He paused and thought for a moment, before saying. "Yes, patch them through."

He remained silent as the connection was established, his countdown showed him nine minutes and fifteen seconds.

The connection was made, but Axel did not speak. Instead, he opted to allow this other ship make the first move, he did not wish to reveal too much too soon.

A human voice, but no video feed, presented itself. "Unknown vessel, please identify yourself and state your purpose."

Humans. Axel had found humans.

He couldn't believe it. This wasn't his ideal way of being approached. He had been hoping to scout the situation a bit and just shadow his way into their lives, if he would so choose.

But it seemed that fate had made his choice for him.

He took a breath, not realizing he had been holding it, and spoke. "This is Charon's Fury and I am-"

He did not get to finish his sentence.

No sooner had he spoken, the other ship opened fire, releasing what appeared to be an entire salvo at him.

Thankfully, his ship was small and agile enough to easily dodge the first barrage, which had beelined for him. His ship recovered and he saw that the other ship was now heading their way.

"Turn about! Get us away from that thing!" Axel ordered.

Just as he gave the order, the ship let loose another onslaught. This time however, they did not go straight for him.

They curved, adjusting their courses as Axel's ship changed course.

The other ship was big and clearly packing more firepower than he was. But Axel's ship was not an easy target.

The ships piloting AI was incredibly well programmed, mimicking the maneuverers that were mastered and invented by the Milky Ways greatest pilots.

The ship weaved through space, rapidly spinning and changing direction. Even causing some of the missiles to collide, or miss their target entirely.

Axel used his visor to man the ships crow turret that sat atop the ship, in an attempt to destroy the incoming projectiles.

Axel spared a moment to peak at the timer.

Three minutes and forty seconds remained.

Axel rallied himself. He knew he could last that long. He was already beginning to get a comfortable distance away from his pursuer.

"Unknown entity detected ahead." The computer alerted him.

"What is it?" He shouted.

"It appears to be some kind of debris or cloud of energy." The computer informed. "However, it gives off a number of anomalous readings."

"Can we go around?" He asked, as he destroyed another missile.

"We can, sir. However, it is incredibly large, with no clearly defined end within scanner range."

That wouldn't do. Axel began racking his brain for solutions. But he only had moments to make a choice.

He saw a number of smaller craft had just taken off from within the main ship.

There was no way he could take on interceptor craft and dodge the missiles that continued to harry him in open space.

His options narrowed, the only solution dawning on him.

"Navigate though it! Try to hide us" He ordered, continuing to fire.

"Sir, I recommend an alternate choice. The nature of this cloud is-"

"Go through now!" The ship shuddered as a series of shots landed, but managed to be absorbed by the shield.

Axel kept firing at the ships and missiles. Though many of his shots missed, due to his own ships evasive maneuvers.

The timer read just under two minutes.

But then, just as Axel saw the first tendrils of whatever he was flying into, the other ships suddenly disengaged and flew away.

His eyes remained glued to the rear, scanning. He couldn't see them trying to flank him or anymore projectiles following him. Relief washed over him, feeling more than a little impressed with himself for having pulled through unscathed.

But then his relief was suddenly replaced with curiosity, and then concern.

Why had they peeled off so suddenly? He thought.

Then he turned around, and saw he had ordered his ship to plunge headlong into something, the likes of which he had never seen.

A mass of unmoving tendrils that seemed to stretch on and on without end.

It was largely grey and black, but small tendrils of energy seemed to be coursing from within. In the larger masses it seemed to pulse, lighting up to an inferno slowly and then waning to an ember.

It was like an apocalyptic storm in the stars, and Axel seemed to be heading right for the middle of the maelstrom