{Arterius Returns}

An AU where Saren survived the events at the end of Mass Effect 1. Shepard dies before she can learn this, but it resurrected by Cerberus two years later and ends up on Omega where she discovers the barefaced Turian has been hold up there.

There will be some smut in this: hopefully it will be emotional too - so with plot involved.

First time I've published anything with more than a kiss. Fingers crossed.

Also, a language warning. There is some curse words in here.

And yes, I do have an obsession with Saren. No regrets.

|Part 1|

God damned resurrection!

Shepard threw her helmet across the room. No, not her helmet - that one had been burnt up along with her when she'd...when she'd...

The Hero of the Citadel, surviver of Akuse and of the streets of Earth could not say it, could not even think about it.

Two years dead. Brought back to life. Implanted with cybernetics which flared her eyes red, shadowing the sapphire they had once been. Comrades had moved on. Deep burning scars on her face, not the same. The one on her cheek, it had vanished, the one which reminded her of what she had come through during that Thresha Maw attack. Then the one on her lip, from a knife attack on the streets of London where she'd risen up from.

All of it gone.

Omega. That was their first destination. Followed by an ex-alliance solider and a woman who oozed spite and wore the colours of Ceberus like a fucking flag.

They went in, and got the job done. Shepard wanted it over and done with. The Asari, Aria, was a bitch, but Shepard could respect her. In a way, her time on the streets and in the Tenth street Reds had allowed her to deal with people like the Omega Queen far better than her other Solider compadres.

Pretend to dance to their tune, but never bow your head in submission; that would show weakness, and people in power loved to feed of those they could exploit. It was the same anywhere in the Galaxy.

After their little meeting, and discovering that the slums were in lockdown and it would take some time before the guard would get in contact with those inside to let them know they were free to pass. Shepard ended up ditching the Cerberus lackeys as they headed back to the ship.

Both protested, but she waved them off. Jacob was an alright guy, and Miranda obviously believed her own bullshit about the Illusive Man but Shepard was not in the right frame of mind. Hadn't really been since she'd woken up on that operating table.

Who would have been mentally sound after being dead for two years?

Joker was with her, and Doctor Chakwas. That had given her breath in her lungs, to see and be in contact with people who had been from her life before.

Being on the re-make of the Normandy didn't help. It seemed hollow, and every free surface was covered by a Cerberus logo. It was laughable.

Anderson had saved her from the life she had been living, the path of destruction she had fought against. At the age of eighteen, she'd taken herself and all of her belongings, a small back-pack really, and headed off to enlist. It had been a small white building, she remembered, and those who wanted to sigh up had waited in line to reach the desk where they would sign their names.

Shepard was a biotic. From an accident which had occurred when a carrier of Ezo had ruptured on the streets. There were conspiracies about it, of course, but all that mattered was that it had killed several of the youngsters who had crowded in the alley to sleep. She hadn't died from it, like others had, but had been changed.

The powers which had surfaced had been volatile, and she realised she needed to learn to control them. The Alliance could help her, and she could do some good, for once she'd thought.

Anderson had spotted her early on. She had found it hard to fit in with the other recruits, and her temper meant her biotics were unstable. It was Anderson who taught her restrained, paid to have a tutor teach her to read and write. With her combat skills she'd learn on the streets, and her strong biotic capability, they had deemed her a Vanguard. A heavy hitter, and that was what she'd trained as in N7 years later.

The bar tender was Turian. Shepard had never minded the different races, had been curious of their cultures the first time she'd stepped on the Citadel, of course, but she'd kept a leash on it to be polite and act as a solider should. The Turian male had white markings, nothing like the blue Garrus wore.

At the memory of her old friend, her chest tightened. He'd vanished, apparently, only to come back as a Spectre. She smiled a little at that, having brought him along for her own Spectre training in preparation in case he ever choice that path.

She had ordered a drink. A beer, something simple. God, she didn't know much about any of the drinks which were lined up behind him, and she didn't fancy being poisoned. The new body might be able to take it, but it wouldn't help her mood.

She'd sipped at it, while those around the bar tried to deduce whether they did indeed recognise her. Thankfully nobody approached. It was rather tiring to be reminded that she had died.

When the place became too crowded, and she was sick of the neon lights and loud music, she paid her tab and headed for the door which led further down into Omega.

Aria had announced quite theatrically that she was Omega - meaning there would be hired eyes and ears throughout the station. Shepard thought on it, as she found a secluded batch of steps and sat down.

That's where she found herself a good half hour later, picking up her helmet from the ground after throwing it. Shepard let out a puff of breath at herself. She needed to get herself together, it was shameful. Sat in a stair pit in Omega, as if she were back on Earth, hiding away beside a dumpster.

She ran a hand through her short blonde hair, and tried not to think if it was the exact same shade as it had been. Instead she started up the steps, helmet in hand and conceded it was time to return to the Normandy, to throw herself into the mission. People were being harmed, and going missing - there was no time for her to fall apart.

As she headed past the Batarian preacher who really yanked her chain, she heard the crackle of a radio channel overhead. Much the same as the ones they had on the Citadel. Well, they had when she'd last been there.

It was a male voice. Batarian if the slight accent through the translator was anything to go on. She only half listened as she walked, striding up the way towards the small and separate docking bays.

Her foot falls faltered when she heard the mention of a Turian held up by a collection of gangs. Three of the most prestigious on Omega. A sniper, a vigilantly and a man who been causing havoc for the lawless on the station for months.

Something in her stomach twisted. An instinct, one she could never overlook as it had saved her life more times than she could count.

The description, even as vague as it was, resonated with something in her. It was someone she knew, and if it was who she thought it was, then she'd lay out the mercs heading for him before they could release even a single bullet in his direction.

"Shit," she cursed, and then quickly fell silent as the voice signed off, alerting all who wanted some credits that they were recruiting freelancers. Bullet-sponges. That's what they wanted, but if it got her close...

She power walked to the docking bay. From there she tapped on the voice com which would link her to the cockpit and EDI - the damn AI, of all things.

"Commander," the computerised voice sounded in her ear having been connected with her own com in her ear.

"There's something which has come up," Shepard still felt strange addressing the AI. The only words she'd ever uttered to a Geth had been with her bullets. "I'll handle it. Make sure Miranda doesn't send out a search party."

It was perhaps an idiotic thing to do. Heading out alone. But she would draw less attention, and the only other squad members on the team were two Cerberus operatives who weren't exactly discrete.

"Yes, Commander. If that is your orders. I will inform Officer Lawson of your current location."

"See that you do," Shepard disconnected. She winced a little. That sounded perhaps more arsy than necessary, but then she still could not get used to talking to an artificial intelligence. Maybe in time, when she'd forgotten that every other one she'd came across had been or turned hostile.

The Geth. The credit shifter who threatened to take down half the presidium, and the rogue AI on Luna station.

Shepard headed out. Grateful of the facility Cerberus had offered where she'd been able to customise her armour for the mission ahead. She no longer had her black N7 official medium armour, and so she had gone for something completely different - as if not to remember that old armour at all, and what had happened to it.

White plate, rimmed and edged by a golden brown colour. Heavy shoulder guards, a headset fitted with a visor after she'd liked Garrus' and her personal red and white N7 stripe. It was the only aspect of the armour which had matched the other, and one she could not get rid off. It meant and signified too much.

Hopefully, in the act of being inconspicuous, others would think she was just another N7 member. Not that she recalled there being many of them. Still, in two years there must have been some who had passed the final stage. That was something she would like to look into, to see some fellow N7 members. The only other one she had known was Anderson, and the trainer who had taken her group through the motions down in Brazil.

Slipping on her slightly scuffed helmet, she closed the object around her head, concealing her hair and half of her face. Shepard ought to be thankful, in that one moment, that the red cybernetics hid most of the real colour of her eyes - especially while adrenaline pumped through her veins, and she was angry.

Those who had seen her talk to Aria would have worked out who she was. The blonde hair was quite a give away when paired with the N7 stripe. She hoped that while the mercs had been busy hunting down their Turian, they wouldn't have had time to keep up on the news of her arrival.

She headed in the direction that the radio advertisement had said they were taking down names of freelancers. It was back in the bar, and she was glad when not one of the Batarian bouncers stopped her as she passed with a helmet on. They recognised her, and a flash of her unnatural eyes had them soon turning a blind eye anyway.

It was a room off to the side of the first bar. She ignored the booth above them all where the Queen resided, and instead headed straight for the Batarian merc stood outside.

"This where I sign up?" She asked, cutting to the chase. Grizz, one of Aria's personal men nearby, didn't seem to notice her - or chose to remain ignorant and inform his Boss later.

"Inside, human," he pointed over his shoulder.

She didn't grace him with an answer, and instead turned to head down into the exterior room. The doors slid open to reveal another Batarian with a sun upon his armour like the other. The blue Suns then, not hard of a guess.

"Aren't you a sweet thing," the Batarian leered, and Shepard immediately wanted to knock him down a few pegs. "The strippers quarters are the next room along-"

She released her pistol and cocked it. "Show me yours, big guy. I bet mines bigger," she bared her teeth. He couldn't see, but she was sure her eyes glowed ominously in that moment. Perhaps they weren't too bad, after all. Apart from when she was in polite society, like the alliance.

"Huh," the Batarian back-pedalled. "You're well armed, I see. If you want to sign up, go ahead."

Shepard crossed her arms. "You're looking for freelancers right? Here to nab a few easy credits. That might fool others on the shit hole, but I'd like to know what I'm walking in to, if it's all the same to you."

The Batarian grunted. She needed to get as much information from him as possible. "Fair enough. Three merc bands have joined up to take this guy down. Blue Suns, Eclipse and Blood pack. No, this doesn't make you a part of any of them. At first we thought he had a group, with the amount of problems the slimy bastard caused, but it turns out it's just one guy. But he slipped up. We've got him pinned down in an apartment complex. You freelancers will be helping up get to him."

Interesting. But also very worrying. One man against three merc groups, and freelancers piled on top? Even the best marksman couldn't hold out forever. Whether it be from a lack of bullets, sleep or food. Or the mercs simply breaking his defences and overwhelming him. She needed to act quickly.

"Where am I heading?" She made it seem like she was only bothered with the credits, a shrug in answer to his words.

"To the skycar lot. A man of ours will take you to where the others are hold up."

Shepard grunted in return. Then spun on her heels and exited the room before she punched the racist and apparently sexist pig in the face. She'd heard rumours of Batarians being like that, and hoped all the race wasn't tarred by the same brush. Apparently that guy was just a prick, however.

The club floor was pretty crowded, but she managed to make her way though without much fuss. People seemed to want to step out of her way, which was fine for her.

Down past the Elcor bouncer and the same human man who kept insisting Aria was waiting for him, she rounded the corner to where the skycars were parked. Another blue sun member, and another Batarian waited outside one of them.

She walked up to him, and he looked her up and down. "You a freelance?" He asked, when his four eyes reached her face again.

"Yup," she punctuated with her lips, and gestured to the skycar. "You the driver?"

"That'll be me," he smiled, but it was more a baring of teeth and then he started for the drivers side. The top flipped up, and she ducked into the seat next to his. Might as well keep an eye on where they're going, and watch where he put his hands for any hidden weapons.

He got in beside her, the top shut and the vehicle lifted off the ground. Shepard put her arm up to rest of the window ledge as she pretended to look at the view. A whole mass of buildings which ranged from steel white, grey and metal black. They were generally piled on top of one another in a block of apartments.

All the while, she did what every move he made through the corner of her eye. He kept shooting her glances, no doubt wondering why she was without a team. Most of the others would have signed up in twos or small groups. Only the veterans, insane or truly dangerous would volunteer for this big of a job alone.

She'd leave it up to him to decide which one she was.

Their journey came to an end sooner than she expected, and for that she was thankful. Getting into cars with strangers always made her uncomfortable. Not to mention she was eager to get on the ground and figure out what was happening.

It certainly wasn't like riding in the Mako with her old crew. She remembered a time when they'd been stuck inside a tunnel, which was dark and cold, and they had been left to entertain themselves while an escape plan had been formed.

She really missed that damn, undrivable Mako and the people who's been with her.

"The bridge is up ahead," he told her, eyeing the shotgun on her back.

"Thanks buddy," she muttered, and shrugged past him. Giving him her back was a bad idea, no matter how co-operative he seemed. Her biotic shield, along with the one built into her armour suit came to life. It was undetectable to the eyes, and most would be wearing them anyway. Going into a gunfight without either was not a smart idea.

The place was another of those apartments she'd seen which were all over omega. It was a stretch of doors and walkways which led to rooms. As she walked passed a couple of Salarian's hunkered down, the bridge finally came into view.

When she realised she was looking straight at the building where a Sniper was currently held up, she cursed under her breath and moved just in time for a shot to bounce off her shoulder.

That would teach her.

The Salarian's both turned to look at her, to which she ignored while muttering, "laugh it up," and carried on her way.

She needed to get across the bridge, without a heat sink through her head. Chances were, whoever it was on the other side wouldn't know friend or foe until it was slap bang in their face.

And if need be, she'd biotic charge that close.

Through the first door she came across, it appeared she had walked into some kind of meeting. A Salarian slammed his fist into the desk, which shook and she watched from the doorway as he spoke to the others.

Ah, one of the leaders.

He was so distracted that he didn't notice her listening in to his repeat of the battle plans. He was annoyed by the Blue Suns leader, who had been the one to orchestra most of it.

The Eclipse, they were called.

She carried on and came across the scarred Krogan who lead the Blood pack, and who had a whole host of Vorcha waiting in the lines.

From there she discovered a room with a heavy mec in and decided to test her hacking skills as she made sure it would not respond to anyones commands without a good amount of time to fix it.

Lastly there was the Blue Suns leader. A Batarian who threw his hand in the air as soon as he saw her, and demanded 'someone get this freelancer scum away from me'.

"What crawled up your ass and died?" She quipped, and he ignored her as he looked back to his screen and shouted.

"Get them out!"

She shrugged her shoulders and left. There was no more information she could listen in to from him, but she'd made more hedge ways than she thought she would. Shepard felt more confident that she'd be able to make it back over the bridge, once she'd seen who was on the other side.

As she came up to another portion where the bridge was visible, and was the closest point they had managed to push - there was a human pressed against one of the walls.

She approached him. "Sargent Cathka is looking for freelancers to head over the bridge."

"And where is this Sargent?" She asked, knowing the human was cowering beside the wall to keep from being shot.

There were also a lot of dead bodies around from past attempts of making it passed the sniper scope.

"Over there," he shrugged his chin to the left. She left him to whatever it was he would do, and skirted the wall to keep from being shot at again.

Across the other side of the bridge was a larger group of men. A few humans in the pile too. From their armour they looked like mercs from the colonies.

Sargent Cathka turned out to be a mechanic, and she walked over to him through the group.

...

This chapter got incredibly long so I though I'd leave it here. Just before Shepard crosses the bridge...

It's hard to get into Shepard's mind set for Mass Effect 2. Having died, and come back full of tech would defiantly affect them in some way. I know my Shepard is very angry, which I hope I showed well here, while not letting it completely take over her rational side. It's a dark and lonely existence until she comes into contact with people from her old life, I'd say.

Excuse any mistakes, it's hard to catch them when the chapter is so long.