Mass Effect The Revenge

Chapter 2 - Reunion

I can't believe what I'm seeing. Blinking heavily I stare at Orion. The dangerous assassin and thief, the skilled marksman and powerful biotic. My dead brother. He looks like a different man. His face is more worn than I remember and more scars have been added to the collection. Still none of them are as imposing as the scar I know from Akuze. The dominant scar that runs over his right eye across his strong nose which is now crooked, looking like it's been broken several more times since I last saw him. His usually clean shaven square jaw was now covered with dark facial hair. There was a moustache as well as some hair on his chin and the rest was covered in rough stubble, weaving its way around his scars. So different from the clean cut marine I remember. His gunmetal blue eyes, however, remain the same, so much like my own. They are what tell me my brother's still there.

"Heath? How…how can it be you?" I manage this as my mind races with all the things I want to say, all the unanswered questions I buried away years ago. It's overwhelming.

"Wow" Kasumi states slowly and even though I can see she is standing next to me, she sounds like she is a world away.

I could hardly hold myself steady. I was in a bad way. My face was black and blue and my right arm and possibly a couple of ribs had been broken. My legs were useless, moving without my permission in all directions. This really pissed my captors off, causing them to lash out at me with their harsh boots and guns.

"Stupid two eyed scum. You can't even walk can you?" The green batarian inclined his head to the right and looked at me with all four of his eyes in disgust. Spitting at me he turned back to his partner, the brown batarian, as a gunshot rings through the air.

"We better check it out." He says before looking back at me. "Now move you worthless piece of shit!" Finishing with a kick to the guts that sends me sprawling across the ground screaming in pain, I try to soften the fall with my injured arm. I can hear them laughing as the brown one boots my face to the side so I am forced to look him in the eye.

"Move your skinny arse boy." Unable to hold back the tears that spill down my face, I cry in silence as I haul myself back onto my shaky feet.

'One foot in front of the other Johnny boy, one step at a time. Come on, you can do it.' That's what Heath would say. The idea of having the ghost presence of my brother with me was more comforting and powerful than anything I could have imagined. It's what got me through that day. It's what got me through the worst day of my life. My own guardian angel watching over me. I tune out my surroundings and everything sounds as though I'm underwater. So far away. It's so much more peaceful this way.

"We've lost another one." Brown says from somewhere distant.

"That just means a larger cut for each of us. Think there will be any more?" Green continues.

"Nah, most of its up in flames now anyway. Reckon he's the last one." Brown kicks me in the ribs and I grunt feeling more of them break but I'm not really there anymore so the pain's not so bad. I tried fighting back, several times even but it didn't work. They just beat me down again and again. There was only so much a sixteen year old boy could do. Now what else was there? Crawl like a turtle into its shell and shutdown? Wait for it to end?

"Let's get the fuck off this planet then. Filthy humans, I can't stand em." Brown kicks me in the direction he wants me to go and I obey like the horse they've broken. That's when the commotion breaks out. There are yells and clashing of metal but by the time I manoeuvre myself around it is all over. Brown and green batarian lay dead on the ground next to me and standing over them is what must surely be a mirage. My ghost in the flesh, my brother. Heath Shepard. But he isn't focused on me, he is staring at the back of green batarians head with a frightening hatred and that's when he starts stomping on it. Slow at first but picking up in speed and intensity until he is yelling with each stomp to his head. This lasted for the several minutes it takes for me to get to my feet and grab his arm and by that point the batarians head is pile of mush and bones.

He spins around roughly and looks at me with an expression of fear, grief and anger. For a moment I'm scared but my brother isn't gone for too long. A wave of calm seems to wash over him and he returns to the brother I know.

"It's alright." He speaks softly and I relax. "I've got you." I smile up at my brother as I feel my body grow heavy in response to his words. I'm safe, my brother is watching over me. My guardian angel is watching over me.

"Look Johnny boy we can talk all you want back on your ship. You're not the only one seeing ghosts but right now we need to get the hell out of here!" He finishes loudly ripping me out of my head. I shake it off and nod.

"Alright, move out." I' am Commander Shepard again.

N7N7N7

So many discoveries in such a short period of time. The trail running cold, confirmation of the plot I have been chasing for the last five years and my dead hero brother alive before my eyes. A cruel joke. I stare at my boots for what feels like an eternity. It got me through the hell that was the shuttle ride back to the Normandy.

Soon enough the ship stood before us, it was fairly impressive but that wasn't what held my gaze. It was the bright orange Cerberus logo staring at me in plain sight. The plot thickens. Johnny what the fuck have you got yourself into?

"We are going straight to my rooms, no stops." Shepard tells me as he grabs my arm wheeling me onto the ship. I don't muffle my smirk as I allow the big Commander to take control.

"Shepard I didn't get any progress reports, you know that you are meant to update me regularly on each mission."

That voice, laced in the Australian accent so much like hers. There is no way it could possibly be her but then my brother had come back from the dead…was anything impossible? Please, I need it to be her. It has to be Sophia. I stare at my boots admiring them once more as I prolong the moment of truth. Taking a deep breath I turn to where the voice had come from and all my hopes come tumbling down like a pack cards. Where blonde hair should be there is dark black hair and the skin that should be warm and brown is cold and pale. I stagger a bit and Shepard has to pull me up to steady me. This causes her to stare at me analytically before flashing back to Shepard.

"Well?" Miranda taps her foot impatiently standing next to the rest of the crew by the galaxy map blocking the way to the elevator. They all stare shamelessly at the spectacle. Shepard just grabs my arm and pushes past her.

"Later Miranda, I have other business to attend to." He says gruffly as we enter the elevator. Before the doors close I look at her one last time just to make sure it's not her, this time our eyes lock and I am certain. There is no warmth behind those eyes.

N7N7N7

"What's his problem and what is he doing with Orion? Miranda Lawson grumbled aloud.

"He's just had a visit from the ghost of Christmas past. Give him a minute." Kasumi smiles as Miranda and Kelly Chambers descend upon her.

"Tell me everything."

N7N7N7

"So, now can we talk." Shepard wakes me from my brooding state and I find myself sitting on the couch in his quarters. I don't even remember getting here from the elevator. Taking a look around I'm impressed by what I see. Fish tank, couches, king bed, music and desk with model ships. Cushy, nothing like the military bunks and bare necessities you get with the Alliance.

"Sure, a question for a question?" I say quickly surprising myself. That's what me and John used to do when we were boys. Shepard just nods as he stands in front of his bed with his arms crossed.

"Alright then. I was told by Anderson that you had been killed in a shuttle explosion. Explain." Straight to the point, I like that.

"I was in that shuttle explosion but I managed to jump free of the shuttle before it exploded. I fell a few stories and luckily landed on the edge of a platform on the outskirts of the Citadel, knocking myself out in the process. By the time I came to and managed to make my way back to civilization I saw the vids. 'Heath Shepard, Akuze Survivor, dead'. My dog tags had been caught on something as I was getting the fuck out of dodge and that was the evidence they were using for my death. Bullshit if you ask me." Shepard paces before me.

"I don't understand! Why you didn't just announce you were alive?" he glares at me exasperated, I return his gaze unflinching.

"Hey it's my turn now. How are you alive?" He begins pacing again.

"Unlike you, I actually did die. However some people wanted me alive and badly. More specifically Cerberus. They spent billions of credits on the Lazarus Project. A project to resurrect me and as you can see they succeeded." I grimace at the news. Sure I was glad that my brother was alive again. He couldn't know how glad I was but the news that Cerberus had their claws in him now. I didn't like it.

"That explains the big fuck off Cerberus logo on the ship. Johnny do you know what you've got yourself into?" I had encountered Cerberus a few times over my infamous career and I still wonder about some of the things I witnessed but each to their own. How could I chastise their actions when my own were so far in the grey that there appeared to be no silver lining to them? But that was me, when my kid brother was involved…that became a different matter entirely. Shepard stops and smiles at me warmly for the first time since our hasty reunion.

"I'm a big boy now Heath and I can look after myself." The words sting. I decide to stay silent as I wait for him to continue.

"I don't go into this blindly. I have seen some of the things they have done and they will be burned into my mind forever." He says looking at the ground darkly. "But they are the only help we have right now and I will take it. With caution of course." This eases my anxiety slightly.

"My turn. Why didn't you announce you were alive?" I lift my hat up to run my fingers through my long hair. This was going to get interesting.

"While I was sitting there in the Citadel still battered from my fall and seeing myself declared dead to the galaxy I sat and contemplated my situation. I thought, what the fuck is the point of returning to life of Heath Shepard? My world was burnt to the ground before me. Declared 'unfit for duty' by some Alliance bitch after nearly getting ripped in two by some unnatural thing… having the love of my life torn apart before my eyes." I rest my elbows on my knees and hold my head in my hands. A moment of weakness. Pull yourself together man! I thought you left this pathetic shit behind you! Snarling I resume my previous position and continue.

"Sophia…she wasn't the only one that died that day. What else was there for Heath Shepard?" I chuckle hollowly as I ask the last question out loud but Shepard doesn't find it funny. He rounds on me violently sweeping his hand across the table and smashing the glasses in front of me against the wall.

"What about me? We are all that is left of our family, doesn't the mean anything to you?" What was I worried about? He's taking this about as well as an anal probing. Fanfuckingtastic!

"You said we would always have each other's back, where were you?" He continues in a more level tone, calming down. That's a good sign.

"Wasn't I worth coming back for?" Shepard turns to me, eyes shining with unshed tears, looking at me like the scared sixteen year old boy waiting for me to tell him everything was going to be alright. I look away.

"Of course you were and I never truly left you but as I sat there reminiscing on all that I had lost I remembered something I had read in the aftermath of Akuze. A military document that had said that the beacon responsible for the transmission that brought us there on that horrendous day was unusual. It said that there was a possibility that it had been planted there in order to lure the Alliance Military into an ambush. This paper vanished soon after I had read it and for a while I thought I had imagined it in my fucked up state. I would have left it at that had it not been for raging fire I felt in my gut as the idea consumed me." I close my eyes as I feel the fire coming over me again.

"I managed to remember the name attached to the document and tracked him down. Raulkin, Borr Raulkin. A Salarian. He was easy enough to find, only took a few hours for me to be right in front of his building but still it wasn't quick enough. As I was about to walk in and get all my questions answered there was a crash and a squeal. I looked up in time to avoid the shards of glass that would have impaled me on the spot and the body of Borr Raulkin flying through the air. Suicide they said. Coincidence they said and crazy they called me." I sit on the edge of my seat getting more agitated by the second.

"But they weren't there. They didn't see the bastard that looked out the broken window confirming the kill and they didn't hear the screams of murder. I of course raced up there catch the son of a bitch responsible but he was long gone leaving a pathetic suicide note. Of course C-SEC bought it, ate it up. Easy open and shut case, lazy fucks." My blood boiled at the thought.

"I wouldn't let it die and so I fought them on every aspect of the case. Telling them my theories, about the man I saw and about the missing document. They called me a raving fucking lunatic and penned it down to a mental breakdown caused by the physical and psychological trauma from my mission on Akuze." I slammed my fist down on the couch arm reliving the moment, so outrageous I could have killed them all and I would without hesitation if they ever crossed my path again.

"It was after my final 'meeting' with C-Sec that I died. Coincidence? Unfucking likely." I finish my teeth bared. I look at John for the first time since starting my story to notice that he has stopped pacing. He is staring intently at me, no sign of mockery on his face. He goes to say something but I stop him waving a hand in the air.

"Look Johnny, this is a lot to take in and it's probably the longest conversation I've had in the last year without at least killing someone. So can we continue this later?" I get to my feet feeling drained, I'm not lying. He looks disappointed as I see his jaw clench but he nods reluctantly.

"Great, now where in the hell can a man get a drink on this thing?" I clap Shepard on the back which surprises us both. It seems so familiar but wrong as too much time has passed and pain felt on both sides. He answers after a moment of awkwardness and I place my hand clumsily back in my coat pocket.

"You can stay in the Port Observation area on the third deck, it comes with a bar." I nod and go to leave but he calls out to me.

"There is still much we need to discuss Heath but it's…it's good to see you again." I turn and look at him as I get on the elevator and force my best impression of a smile.

"You too brother, you too."

N7N7N7

I haven't been on deck three for more than two moments when I know that Goto has run her pretty little mouth off. Bloody bitch that is just what I need! I grimace as I walk quickly toward my room trying not to be noticed but that's a little difficult as the elevator makes a noise like a banshee announcing my arrival. I walk past the main mess hall and glance in to see everyone frozen staring intently at me. She is there of course, front row and center with her arms crossed looking me up and down with contempt. I resist the urge to pull my gun out and settle for an angry growl as I stomp off toward the Port Observation. I immediately lock the door, throw my gear on the couch and attack the bar. Not even bothering with a glass. I feel like a caged animal, claustrophobic. I don't know how long I can handle being here. Maybe it would be the best to slip out in the night like this never happened. Sure he had some mission he needed help with but I had a mission of my own and there was nothing that anyone could say or do to keep me from it.

N7N7N7

"Shepard, I wasn't expecting you." The Illusive Man states as he sits in in front of me enjoying yet another cigarette. I bring my hand up to scratch my head unconsciously.

"There were some unexpected revelations." He just tilts his head to the side unfazed.

"The mission was a success. Both Goto and Orion are on the ship." I take a deep breath in before continuing. "The surprise was that Orion turned out to be my brother, Heath Shepard." I pause and watch him keenly. Although his face betrays no emotion, he can't hide it in his body language and when the ash from his cigarette falls on his pants it is confirmed. He is spooked. This all happens in a moment as he quickly regains his composure coughing before taking a long relaxed drag.

"That is interesting. Did you discover what he wanted?" My eye's narrow.

"No, it didn't seem like the most important thing to ask given the limited time I've had to speak with him."

"I wasn't trying to be callus Shepard but there is a need for urgency. The sooner we know Orion's motives, the sooner we can get him on board. Was there anything else?" He asks as he puts his cigarette out ending the conversation.

"That's all."

"Good, please inform me when you know more." The Illusive Man signs off leaving me alone in the dark room. Taking a deep breath I nod, time to get back on track. As much as the Illusive Man is being cold bastard he is right, people's lives are at stake. I stride out of the room and Miranda is there waiting for me, probably having listened to the whole conversation.

"Commander could I have a word?" she asks me surprisingly with what might be a hint of kindness. I nod before heading back into the briefing room putting the lights on.

"I know who Orion is and I wouldn't be surprised if the whole ship knows by now. Are…are you alright?" Miranda asks me with poorly masked timidness.

"I've been better. I'm not the one used to being surprised by the man brought back from the dead. There is still so much I don't understand." I run my fingers along my jaw enjoying the roughness of my stubble while Miranda fidgets in front of me clearly uncomfortable.

"Er well good. We should be landing on Omega in the morning. I expect this revelation not to interfere with the mission." She snaps back to her old self as she hurries out of the room. Nothing is what it seems anymore.

N7N7N7

After several drinks I am still not drunk enough. The last twenty four hours of my life play in my mind like a movie on a continuous loop that I cannot stop. I am finishing the third bottle when I'm startled by the door opening. Dropping the bottle I spin around and dive to the ground as I pull my pistol from my hip and aim at the door. The bottle smashes next to me as I lie on the ground in a pool of glass and alcohol when Shepard steps in.

"Old habits die hard." I grunt as I get to my feet, using my hat to brush the broken glass from my coat. He raises an eyebrow and waits until I'm on my feet before speaking.

"Heath I just wanted to let you know that we will be landing on Omega in the morning." Omega was my kind of town. Dark, dirty, dangerous and beautiful in its own twisted way. The perfect place for someone to get lost in the crowd. The perfect place to disappear.

"I have business there and it could take some time. I would prefer that you stay on the ship until I return as there is still much to discuss. I of course won't stop you from leaving if you have business of your own to take care of but I hope…" he pauses with a pained expression.

"I hope you will come back." The last words make my skin crawl. All the guilt I have buried seems to be bubbling to the surface making me feel sick to my stomach. Shepard doesn't give me a chance to respond, leaving as quickly as he came.

"Bloody hell." I grab the next bottle and open it taking a long drink. This was why I cut off all the ties I had, they interfere. There is no room for emotion when it comes to revenge. I need to stay focussed, cold and calculating. These feelings would only get in the way and the longer I stayed the more fleshed out they would become. I needed to get out of here and the sooner the better but there were powerful people at work here. Cerberus of course but it must be quite high up the ladder. I'm not sure exactly how much it costs to bring a man back to life and considering I wouldn't even have believed it possible it must be a hell of a lot. That sort of investment would need to be monitored and it wasn't hard to guess who was in charge of that. Time to face her. Taking a last swig for courage, I slap my hat on and make for the mess hall. It's empty thankfully and I'm just in time to see a mass of black hair disappear into what looks to be an office down the way. Just my luck. I swagger through the door without announcing myself.

"Orion I presume. Can I help you?" Arrogant and smug. I can hardly understand how I could have confused her for my Sophia for even a moment.

"I want to speak your boss. I want to speak to the head of Cerberus. The 'Illusive Man' I believe." I demand roughly returning the arrogance as I place my hands on her desk leaning over her. She just smirks folding her arms as she leans back in her chair cockily standing her ground. I like that.

"And why would he bother speaking to you?" I smirk.

"Well why would he bother recruiting me personally? Surely after all that effort he would at least be willing to talk to me. Especially since no real price has been negotiated. There is nothing keeping me here so all that effort would have been in vain."

"What about your brother? Would you really turn your back on him when he's asking for your help?" My lips curl into a snarl as I slam my hands on the desk which causes her to push her chair back ever so slightly. So she is cautious now, good.

"Do. Not. Test me. I will walk off this ship the minute we land on Omega and never look back. I've done it before and I will do it again." I lean forward even closer until my face is inches from hers. To her credit she doesn't flinch. I take this moment to look at her closely. She is beautiful, breath takingly so but it's just too bad she's a heartless bitch.

"Your move." My husky voice is deadly. I back away slowly, turning to leave. Before I make it to the door however she calls out to me so predictably it's disappointing.

"I will make the arrangements." I can tell without looking that she must be rolling her eyes, annoyed at being forced to give into my demands. She doesn't like to lose, nor do I.

"Good. Make it before we land." I grunt without turning around as I briskly walk back to my quarters allowing myself a slight smile. It was the middle of the night so there wasn't much activity in the mess. Everyone had gone to bed like normal people. No sleep for me tonight. No sleep ever apart from the occasional few hours every other day. Insomnia was a bitch. At least I had something to get me through the night. Back in my rather huge room, I grabbed the bottle I was enjoying earlier and sat on one of the couches. Time to put Hock's money to good use. The thought of it still made me smile. The bloody bastard had paid me to kill him. If only every job could be so sickly satisfying.

Pulling my omni tool out I got to work.

[To: Information Agent #59714]

[Background]

[Miranda Lawson]

[Jacob Taylor]

[Cerberus]

[The Illusive Man]

I had read the two Cerberus Operatives names on a dossier on the woman's desk. It had been almost too easy. All there was left to do was wait. I had specially chosen Agent 59714 two years ago when she had entered into the information business because she was reliable, quick and thorough. Through these few years something of a friendship had grown between us. We shared information and friendly banter occasionally but not today. Today was all business.

[URGENT]

[ORION]

"Know your enemy and know yourself." I whispered. The information on all things Cerberus was extremely necessary, I wasn't going to share a ship with a bunch of fucking terrorists and not know every intricate detail I could about them. In a few hours I would at least have a basic knowledge of what I was up against. What we're up against. Finishing the bottle I take my coat and top off and stretch. Time to resort to one of my regular night time activities. Two hundred push ups would be a good warm up. Before I could start I had to clear my mind and there was something nagging at my conscience. My fingers flew across my omni tool sending one last message before I could get back to my workout guilt free. This ship was already making me bloody soft.

[INFORMATION TRADE – COMMANDER JOHN SHEPARD IS ALIVE]

AN – There we have it. Took me a while but we are back on track now, sorry to all involved. Thanks for those who reviewed the first chapter and hope you enjoyed this one even though it was lacking a bit of action. Please let me know what you think!