I forget to add this in the first chaps, but here they are, "I don't own Mass Effect."
Now that's out of the way, I hope you enjoy this chapter and maybe cringed a little less on any grammar errors and OOC-ness, Sorry!
"Hope this won't turn ugly."
"Connecting…" "Connecting…" "Conn… Transmission accepted."
Then his omni displays a Holo of a man sitting in an armchair with his smoke and liquor, he's human and looks too much like a galactic mafia than a cop, he certainly had that perfect smugly look. The galactic mafia man looks like he had expected the cloaked call, his expression clearly showed it.
"Ah, I take it you are Zero? I understand why you added some security for a random call, not even offended. It was difficult to reach you, but your client is a good friend of mine." He smokes his cigarette.
"It was my client." He thought before finally letting his voice known. "Yes, I am Zero. This was necessary, some people wanted me dead or arrested. But I've guessed that Mr. Weinstern gave you the intel."
The man on the other end let out a little laugh, "Very resourceful of you. Don't worry, we're not here for that, we're here for business." He flicks his smoke, "I am the Illusive man, founder and head of Cerberus. Perhaps you've heard of us?"
"Yes, and none of them are alien friendly." he thought, remembering all of those terrorist acts Cerberus did. But instead he replied, "I've heard of the name. So what is it that you offer?"
"HM, skip the pleasantries, then? Alright." He said, putting out his smoke. "I'm sure you've heard about the missing humans. Plenty of the human colonies were founded empty."
"I've heard" Zero said while rubbing his chin, "This should be interesting, perhaps he offers a rescue mission?" He muses.
"Many lives went missing and no one is doing anything to stop it, not the Alliance, not the Council, nobody except Commander Zoe Shepard."
That was the name Zero hadn't expected to hear. The first human specter and savior of the Citadel, but even with her heroic deeds, some people still questions her sanity on the Reapers. The Council tries to hide her beliefs, shoves it far away from the public reach. But no matter how hard they tried to make the illusion of safety, it is still there.
"And she will need help for this mission. We have investigated the case further and found a very disturbing discovery." He paused for a second, tapping something on his console, "It was the Collectors. They were the one who abduct humans from the colonies, shipping them to an unknown destination and reason."
"C..Collectors?" Zero thought in shock, mortified when the Illusive man mentioned the name. Zero then hears that his omni receives an incoming transfer, he opens it and it's pictures, pictures of the Collectors kidnapping the humans, putting them in some kind of a pod.
A digital exclamation mark flashes on Zero's helmet, he personally confirms that they are Collectors. He first met one when he was still running with his comrades, another client of theirs. But that changed when they are the very reason that all of his comrad…families are dead or may god protects them, are missing. The Collectors are dangerous, vicious, resourceful and not one for mercy, Davin learned that the hard way. Zero almost let out a growl, remembering the horrid memory.
"But we do know that the Collectors are working for the Reapers."
Zero forces himself to relax, now is not the time to show emotions, "That is… an intriguing discovery. But the Reapers? I respect the Commander, but are you entirely certain?"
"You might not have heard about it yet, but one of the biggest human colonies, Horizon, was attacked by the Collectors. Commander Shepard and her team arrived just in the nick of time, and she saved many but unfortunately not all. We have seen, record it, that the Collectors answered to the Reapers."
"Disturbing, yet what is my role in this?" Zero asked, can't contain his curiosity any longer.
"I was getting to that." He smirks and takes a sip of his whisky.
"This mission, the Commander will need a strong team. Without one, she will surely fail and our hope to rescue those missing people will be gone. And who's to say that the Collectors won't move their target to other species." Zero got to give him credit for acting like he truly cares for the aliens, or maybe he didn't want to offend Zero and trying to have his sympathies, considering that the Illusive man might not know that he's human, yet.
He saw the Illusive man uses his console again, "We are offering you a place in the team."
And right on cue, something was transferred to Zero. He opens it and it was a copy of a check, a huge value of check. The Illusive man continues, "You don't need to worry about the payment for your loyalty toward the mission, I have send you the numbers of half the full payment."
"Half?" Zero wonders, a bit delighted when he did the math for the full payment.
"If you so chose to accept this offer, you will receive the real check, full payment in advance. But if you're not persuaded by the money," he slumped into his chair slightly with clasped hands, "Perhaps a personal favor can convince you? We, both Cerberus and the Commander herself, can assist you in any problem you had trouble with. I'm sure you have that one problem, people like you and I always have that one special problem."
"Am I that infamous to be pampered by some powerful organization?" He thought sarcastically. But quickly ponders back about his offer, "This is my only chance. They are after the Collectors." Zero feels immense hatred inside and a glimpse of his family's faces then lastly her face. He doesn't care about the money, he needs to be in this and destroy every Collectors in the galaxy. He shall finally fulfill his promise.
Zero took note of that personal favor the other man just clearly mentioned, he may use that to find Cherrise.
"I will not lie that this mission will be dangerous, suicide. But we need people with your talents to stop them." The Illusive man finally admitting the big tempting rewards are to hide the actual danger of the mission. Zero gave him little to read, but he is confident that Zero is tempted. A mercenary with such talent always loves a challenge.
"hm, what exactly do you ask for my services again?" he finally asks.
"We need you to aid the Commander in her mission, making sure that the mission succeeds whatever means necessary. I am sure with your expertise and experience that you will be a good asset for this team. And…" He paused for a second, making it all dramatic like. "I want you to be the Commander's personal bodyguard, a side job to protect her, whether she likes it or not."
A digital question mark appears on his helmet. "Will she be informed of it? I prefer my clients to know of my services."
He let a small laugh, "Don't worry, she'll know. Does that mean you've considered to accept the offer?"
Again silence. Zero re-thinks the whole situations, but half his mind have made a decision minutes ago.
"I accept." Illusive man smirks, slightly leans forward in his seat, "Excellent! We shall…"
"But. I will need that personal favor from you." Zero cuts in.
"Ah, certainly." He relaxes again in his seat. "What can we do for you, Zero?"
"I need to find this woman, her name is Cherrise, but I doubt she still uses the name. She has no last name, she's a human, an ex-mercenary and a biotic. She has blue dyed hair and eyes, tattoos on her right arm and shoulder." Zero uses his omni to send him Cherrise's picture.
Illusive man receives the file and views it, "A friend of yours?"
"Possibly." Zero said in a "none of your business" tone.
"Very well, it may take a while, but I assure you that we will find her."
"That would be appreciated. If you can help me get some information on her, I shall vow myself to assist the Commander in her mission."
The Illusive man nods in understanding, "So where is your current location? The Commander will personally welcome you to the team. She.."
Again Zero cuts in, "Citadel, Zakera Ward District level 26, there's a ramen stand. I will wait there after you and the Commander decided the date and time."
"Good. Your cash will be transferred shortly." A beep in Zero's omni. "Welcome to the team, Zero. The Galaxy is counting on you all. We'll be in touch." "End Transmission"
"That's a bit dramatic." He said to himself. He checks the incoming transfer, and saw the huge transfer. He will need to sort that out later. He sighs rubbing the back of his neck, it's almost 2 years and today he was finally given this chance. God have answered his prayers and he will not fail them all.
"Guess I need to start packing."
To be continued...
I plan to update this story daily, maybe two/three days per chaps? A week? Meh.
Let me know what you think of this chap :D Thanks for reading.
