Mass Effect The Revenge
Chapter 1 – The Hunt
He had them on the run now. The Blue Suns retreated spraying bullets in the lone mans direction. Throwing them away like loose change. Not taking their time. They were panicked and easy pickings. Seeing the change in battle, the man crouched low and sprinted to a cover on his far right. Climbing on the crate he pulls the sniper rifle off of his back and lines up the shot. The batarians still firing at the space he had been at earlier, clueless to their imminent death. The man breaths evenly as he fires. Five shots ring out in quick succession sending five bullets into the heads of five batarians. They all fall to the ground with a thud showing a woman as the last standing.
"Fucking batarians." He spits as he stands, revealing his position to the woman. The one who has what he wants. Wide eyed, the woman looks around frantically before predictably running in the opposite direction. Reloading his sniper rifle before putting it on his back he follows her slowly. Having knowingly forced her into this bear trap, he knows there was no escape. Walking across the bridge the man's pulse quickens. After chasing the woman nearly halfway across the galaxy and killing countless mercenaries along the way he had her cornered in the under belly of Omega. Finally he was going to get answers. His vengeance was fast approaching. Rounding the corner she came into view, back against the wall of a dead end.
"There is nowhere left to run." The man's husky voice echoes in the empty room. She looks around one last time before giving in, leaning against the wall with a smile. She opens her mouth as if to say something before going for her pistol. Before she can take aim a knife pins her arm against the wall causing her last hope to be dropped to the ground. She looks at her helpless arm and breaks out into manic laughter.
"Did you really think that was going to work?" He asks while closing in on her. She continues to laugh for a moment before regaining her composure. Brushing her straight black hair out of her face with her free hand she looks at him with dead eyes.
"For a second there, yeah. I kind of did."
"Enough of this bullshit! I've been hunting you for too long. Now tell me what I want to know!" She stares at him with a smirk on her face before bursting into more laughter. He is upon her in a moment, the back of his hand smacking her so hard across the face that her head crashes into the wall behind with a loud crack. Her head swings back around and slumps to the side as she continues to chuckle. Smiling up at him she lets the blood that covers her head drip down her face freely.
"What do you want to know?" The woman toys with him like an animal playing with their food when it should be the other way around. He doesn't like it.
"You know very well what I want. Who was behind Akuze?" The man tries to keep his voice steady but this bitch has already used up his last ounce of patience.
"Akuze?" she laughs "I haven't the faintest idea what the fuck you're talking about. " The man had just about enough of this crap. Taking his pistol from his hip he points it at her kneecap and fires without blinking. Who's laughing now? He thinks as she screams. Using her free hand to clutch at her knee, she slides down the wall, forcing her pinned arm to rotate around the knife.
"I am running out of patience but that doesn't mean I'm going to make this quick. Oh no, you're going to begging me to put you down. I think I may start with your fingers, alternatively blowing and cutting them off one at a time and that's just the beginning." He says as he crouches down in front of her grabbing her by the chin roughly, so he can look her in the eye.
"Don't. Fuck. With. Me." He spits in her face and drops her chin. The woman's head slumps against her chest. Finally she raises her heavy head to look up at the man and he notices a slight change in her. She looks defeated but a flash in her eyes makes him nervous.
"As tempting as that sounds, I'm going to have to decline." She laughs as she holds her free hand out to him. The grenade pins glisten like silver rings around her fingers. Eyes widening, he quickly pushes himself off the ground and away from her breaking into a sprint.
"You will never find them Orion!" She calls after him. "Give up." She mutters staring after him with a twisted smile on her face before exploding in a massive ball of fire. The blast lifts him off his feet and sends him crashing into a nearby pillar causing it to crack. The broken pillar crumbles atop of him as the bridge around him groans from the blast.
Orion grumbles as he sits in the rubble, propped up against the near destroyed pillar. Feeling a bit worse for wear he gets to his feet shakily, brushing the debris off his black armoured duster coat.
N7N7N7
"FUUUUCCCCKKKK!" I yell looking at the blood patch where the woman had been just moments ago. Although I knew she was obviously dead the moment I saw the pins, the impact had only just hit me. After spending the last six months hunting her across the galaxy, my most promising lead yet and using every last credit I possessed for it to all go up in flames. With nothing! Absolutely nothing. No closer to finding the ones responsible. I continue to yell while pacing around the bridge I punch the pillar.
The only thing she had left me with was confirmation. Confirmation that there was someone behind the attack and that I wasn't just a bitter and obsessed man looking for someone to blame for the event that ruined my life. The people that took away my future. That gave some relief.
The beeping of my omni tool slowly brought me back to reality.
"How did you get this channel" I bark annoyed by the interruption.
"With great difficulty and a number of credits. Am I speaking with Orion?" asks a man's voice with a confusing accent. Feeling no immediate threat and a little bit curious, I decide to keep the conversation going.
"Yes and who the hell are you?"
"My name is Donovan Hock and I have a business proposition for you. Do you still provide 'wet work' services?"
"If the price is right. Yes." I needed credits. After depleting all my funds chasing that bitch I needed to raise some capital so the hunt could begin again. Orion had been freelancing as a thief and assassin for a number of years to fund his vendetta and to hone his skills. He was the best in the business, his name feared and respected across the galaxy.
"I have sent the amount to your omni tool, it should be sufficient." It was. Not the most he has been paid for a job but it would make do.
"What's the job?"
"I'm expecting a thief by the name of Kasumi Goto to break into my vault in the next few days." Kasumi Goto. I had run into her many times over my thieving career. Sometimes I won and other times she did, our rivalry always made jobs more interesting. She was pretty good, better than me though I would never admit it out loud but she lacked marksmanship and combat training and that gave me the edge.
"I want you to wait for her in the vault. I need her alive and cooperative for a short period of time and then you can dispose of her as you wish." Hock continues as I pace around, picking my hat off the ground and putting it back on before walking back the way I had come.
"I'm sure you can handle one woman, so why do you need me?" Hock laughs at the other end of the line. He is already pissing me off.
"I have learnt that if a woman wants to become a nuisance she can become the greatest of them all. Besides, I believe she plans on bringing some muscle and I don't want to take any chances. This is too important and I will not underestimate her." I nod at his justified response. Sounds like easy money. Stopping as I come to the five dead batarians I stare at their bloody corpses with distaste.
"Half in my account now, half once the job is completed."
"Of course. I will wire the money immediately. Just send me your account details. I have sent you the jobs finer details. It's an honour to do business with you Orion." I grunt as I end the connection. I have no interest in flattery. Looking down at my omni tool I send him my information before turning back to the dead batarians.
"Fucking batarians." I unload my pistol into the closest one's head leaving it unrecognizable. I wipe the blood off my face as I begin to make my way to Afterlife for a much needed drink. The trail is cold for now but the hunt must continue.
N7N7N7
"Commander, the Illusive Man would like to speak to you in the briefing room. It's urgent." Shepard woke from his trance. Still stewing over the meeting with the Council he couldn't wait to get away from the Citadel.
"Thank you Miranda, I'll go right away." The raven haired beauty nodded coolly before returning to her quarters. This ought to be interesting.
"Shepard, we have a matter of some urgency." The Illusive Man states as he reclines in his chair. He takes a drag of his cigarette before continuing. I take this time to admire the impressive view and wonder, not for the first time, where the hell in galaxy he is.
"I know I had suggested for you to go to Omega first to recruit the scientist Mordin Solous however a unique opportunity has presented itself. Have you heard of the name Orion?"
"Yes, he is a thief and assassin. Extremely skilled and dangerous." Shepard answered automatically. He had never come face to face with the man but had heard several stories and rumours which made him out to be some unstoppable machine.
"Correct. Orion first appeared five years ago and has since killed hundreds, always coming out the victor. He is a skilled marksman and powerful biotic. One of three in the galaxy who can kill a man from five thousand metres, he is also an expert with knives and swords."
"Impressive." Shepard stated.
"Exactly, just the sort of man we could use on our side. I have been trying to track him down but he has been off the grid for the last year. By chance I managed to intercept a call between him and a man named Donovan Hock. Turns out Orion has been hired to help capture and kill the thief, Kasumi Goto." Shepard narrowed his eyes in recognition.
"Yes, you may have read about her in the dossier I gave you. We wish to recruit her too and this provides us the perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. The best place to start would be the Citadel. We have contacted her and she has set up an unusual advertisement on a terminal in the Zakera Ward, the password is silence is golden. Go from there." The Illusive Man takes another long drag of his cigarette and waits for the questions.
"Why would Orion want to join the crew? What's the incentive?"
"I can't be sure, his files are scattered. He kills for credits yet he keeps items he has been commissioned to steal even if it means he is hunted down by mercenaries for months and then he kills people for seemingly no reason. Orion is unpredictable at best. I will need you to find that out for us. We need him Shepard. He could be a huge asset to our team." Shepard nods. This was going to be a dangerous mission and would need to be handled carefully. One of his recruits was the others hit. There was a very good chance that one of them would end up dead. Taking a breath Shepard locked eyes with the Illusive Man.
"I will leave immediately."
N7N7N7
"Hey cowboy."
She smiled at me from the bed in her white underwear, her tanned brown skin glowing. So natural and beautiful. Her blonde wavy hair swayed as she sat up.
"Come over here cowboy." She calls softly in her Australian accent. I smirk as she mentions the pet name she has for me. It could be far worse so I can't complain. I smile crawling on the bed over her until I reach her face. She smells of lavender. I go in for a kiss but linger for a moment, teasing her and grinning as I do. She just laughs and pulls my head toward hers and into a deep but tender kiss. The kiss lasts a magical few moments before she pushes me away and laughs again.
"My cowboy." She looks at me lovingly. A perfect moment.
"Orion? Hello?" Donovan Hock's filthy voice tears me away from my memory. I lick my lips trying to savour it as much as possible.
"You are still with us then." He smiles, clearly impressed with himself for catching me off guard. If this continues I'm just going to put a bullet in his head.
"I was admiring your hat cowboy. Do you know its history?" I glare at him. I'm not here to make small talk. I'm here for the money and that's it. Hock just continues to wait for my answer not taking the fuck off hint at all. Breathing in I entertain him for the moment.
"It's an Akubra hat, cattleman style from the late nineteenth century." I could have given more detail. I had to learn everything about the damn thing before stealing it but I wanted to end this torturous conversation with him as soon as possible. He looks at the hat with a newfound respect.
"I would be very interested in an item like that." Hock says and goes to reach for my hat. Not going to happen. I grab his hand and press my pistol hard against his cheek.
"Touch it and I blow your fucking face off." I whisper in a deadly tone. Hock puts his hands up as a sign of surrender and smiles though I can detect that I have ruffled his feathers.
"No need to get touchy. Now to business. I'm having a party tonight. A nice public event to lure Kasumi here, where you will be waiting. I need her alive. You can roughen her up as much as necessary but she must be alive. Restrain the muscle though. Then I will appear and do the business I need to do with her. After that you can get rid of them. Simple." I nod, sounds pretty straight forward.
"Now I have a party to get ready for. Be ready, cowboy!" Hock laughs mockingly as he walks away. If I didn't need the money so badly I would put a bullet in the back skull right now. Putting my pistol away I look around. Even in a room full of treasures I'm bored and that's never good. I need to keep busy so I don't think about the mess this search is turning into. Where do I go from here? It's all too much to think about right now. If only I could get back to my memory. If only, if only, if only. Sighing I return to fantasizing about the different ways I would kill Donovan Hock as I wait for the party to start.
N7N7N7
"Then we just waltz into the vault and take back Keiji's graybox. And I'll finally get a chance to say goodbye…" Kasumi trails off looking away from me quite deliberately.
"Unfortunately it's not going to be as easy as that. We have received information that Hock has hired the assassin Orion to capture and kill you." Kasumi quickly turns to me startled by the information.
"That bastard! Keiji probably encrypted his graybox and Hock must think I am the key to unlocking it." I can see the gears turning as she takes the new information in.
"That sounds like a logical possibility given your…relationship." I finish lamely but she flashes me a smile.
"Was I that obvious? Keiji's graybox holds a lot of priceless, personal memories. It's all that remains of who he was but the secret he discovered is dangerous and Orion's presence proves this. We have crossed paths many times over the last few years, it's become a bit of a game even." Kasumi smiles a little before turning back to me seriously.
"But he is a very dangerous man. He throws himself into a fight recklessly, it's…it's like he doesn't care if he lives or dies."
"Nothing more dangerous than a man with nothing to lose." I voice my thoughts.
"Exactly, if I was going in with anyone else I would turn back now but you Shepard are more than a match for him." I smile at her kind words even if they are just to reassure me.
"Hopefully it won't come to that. We are going to try and recruit him." At this Kasumi laughs in my face.
"Well this just made things a whole lot more interesting." I can't help but join her given the situation, her laughter is infectious.
"That's what I'm going for."
N7N7N7
Pushing the magazine home into my pistol, I finish reassembling it for the tenth time. Shaving five seconds off my best time. Not too shabby. I sigh, lifting my hat up so I can run a hand through my unkempt hair. I have been here far too long. When in the hell was Goto going to show? Clearly she was getting rusty, the party had started hours ago and there was still no sign of her. Damn women, they were always late.
Sitting up, I look over the Statue of Liberty's crown surveying the room from my birds nest. Nothing but statues and other junk that has no value to me. Growling I slump back down. There was nothing left to do. The best vantage point had been chosen, I had checked and cleaned all of my weapons, memorised the floor plan of the room locating all the possible entry points and escape routes.
There was nothing left to do but wait and I hate waiting. Just as I was about to go another round of disassemble reassemble the vault door clicked open on the other side of the room. Straight through the front door, obvious choice if not unimaginative. Pressing myself hard against lady Liberty's head I steal a glance to the door. Nice to see you again Kasumi but where are your friends? I watch as she turns off the security cameras. A useless precaution but she doesn't know that. Staying hidden I wait. The plan is to lure her into the middle of the vault letting her find the graybox before springing the trap.
"So this is Hock's vault. Very nice." Kasumi's voice echoes though the vast room. "This scanner will hone in on the graybox, it's not far." Looking toward the ceiling my pulse begins to increase and the void takes over me. Emptying my thoughts so all my focus is on the fight ahead.
I dare not look around. It will be too messy if I'm spotted and this begins with a fire fight. Squinting my eyes I focus on the sounds around me, the echo doesn't help but I manage to make out two distinct sets of footsteps. Only one person Kasumi? I shake my head ruefully this was going to be too easy. After hearing them wander around aimlessly for a painfully long time they finally make it to the graybox.
"Oh my god, there it is." That's my cue. I stand up silently, checking my gear one last time. Of course everything is in order. I smirk as I leap off the statue's head, slowing myself down with biotics so I land silently. She stands with a man in front of me, both facing the other way. Always stay alert. I close the distance between us in moments pressing my fingers on my palms to unleash the swords out of my gauntlets. The noise of the swords alerts the man and he begins to turn but I am already on top of him. Wrapping an arm tightly around each of them, I press my swords into their necks forcing them to back up into my chest.
"Orion I presume." The man says calmly. I breathe in sharply taken aback. What's the hell was going on here? Was this a set up? Putting more pressure with the sword on their necks I bark in his ear.
"Who are you?"
"We've got a charmer here." Kasumi comments dryly.
"You shut your mouth Goto! It won't take much to cut your head off with this scrawny neck." As if indicating to her neck I push my sword against it harder, just enough to draw blood. The man notices this and begins to cut to the chase, finally.
"Look we haven't got time for this…" but he is cut off by the entrance of Donovan Hock and his two Eclipse Merc bodyguards.
"Ah Ms. Goto, I'm glad you could join us. I see you've met my friend Orion." He gestures a hand to me and smiles as he stands in front of us. Arrogant bastard.
"But I haven't met your friend." Hock begins as he takes a step closer to the man I hold hostage. "Is that? It can't be…Commander Shepard back from the dead! Your disguise for the party was very good, I would never have guessed." My gut tightens. It can't be. I saw the remains of his body with my own eyes. There was hardly anything of him left. It takes all of my strength to remain standing and stop my knees from shaking. Glad that my hat is covering my face I take a closer look at the man again with new eyes. How could I not have seen it?
"Not that it did any good, you have us now." He states calmly which takes me for a loop again. Why is he so calm? Not that he needs to worry, I have no intention of killing him but he doesn't know that.
"That is true. You are in somewhat of a pickle. I think it's time for you to give me full access to that graybox Kasumi." He focuses all of his attention on her.
"Orion." Shepard turns to me slightly and whispers barely moving his mouth, taking advantage of Hock's interrogation with Kasumi.
"Whatever he is offering I can beat it. Just trust me." Is all he manages before Hock's attention is drawn back to the group as a whole. I can beat it, he says. Wonder what is at play here.
"I think it's time to put Shepard six feet under for good. Orion, finish him." Hock waves his hand at me like I'm one of his dogs. I break into a big grin as I realize my fantasy is about to become a reality. I push Kasumi into the bodyguards on Hock's left and reach for my pistol with my free hand. I pull it up quickly as if to point it at Shepard's head but change direction at the last moment aiming at Hock. Before he can register what's happening, I blow his fucking brains out with my hand cannon. I push Shepard to the ground as I put my gun away and flare up the biotics while charging toward the Eclipse Merc's. Kasumi is clear having pushed herself away easily after the gunshot. They are still fumbling for their guns when I thrust my palms under their jaws, lifting them of the ground with my swords. Feeling them go limp in the extension of my arms, I throw them off and send them crashing into a nearby statue. I tone down the biotics returning to normal while squeezing my palms I put my swords away feeling bloody satisfaction as I do. I sense movement behind me and turn to see Kasumi standing next to Shepard clutching Keiji's graybox, both looking a little apprehensive.
I get distracted when I notice Donovan Hock at my feet. Despite the shot to the head he seems to be alive. I watch as his remaining eye rolls around wildly finally focusing on me. I smile, taking pleasure in his pain. His eye bores into me, pleading with me to end it. After a minute I pull my pistol out and finish him off showing more mercy than I have in a long time.
"Bastard." Giving him one last look I bring my attention back to Shepard and Kasumi. I can't take my eyes off him now, it's him, it's really him. He has grown a lot, matured and he carries himself with an imposing confidence that you don't see very often these days. Like a man who has seen too much, a weathered solider. He has changed.
"Orion I'm glad you made the right decision, I didn't really get time to make you much of an offer." Shepard starts as he takes as step toward me. Always so polite and diplomatic, some things never change.
"Yeah thanks." Kasumi rolls her eyes as she put pressure against the cut on her neck. It's just a scratch, what is she complaining about?
"You know I'm capable of much worse Goto. Now tell me what the hell this is all about?" I get straight to the point, no use in pussy footing around.
"We can talk about that on the Normandy. Right now we should get out of here before more merc's show up." Makes sense, though I'm surprised by his boldness. Talking to someone like me like that, you have to have some pretty big balls. I never thought he would grow them. My mouth turns up in a small smile, I'm feeling quite proud.
"You have some guts, I'll give you that. Lead the way." Shepard smirks and goes to turn around before double taking and looking back at me.
"Before we go can I ask you to take off your hat. I would like to see who is coming aboard my ship." It's not a question. Fuck. I was hoping to save this for a more private place. Kasumi takes a step closer, staring at me curiously. I guess there is no prolonging it, the moment has arrived. Looking down, I take a deep breath as I grab my hat and hold it against my chest. Looking up, I smile lopsidedly.
"Hello brother."