In the alley beside Afterlife a turian had knocked down the quarian lady, and was about to do something that was very rude when Shepard interrupted.

"You no-good son of a bitch!" Shepard shouted, tackling the turian. He drew his revolver and put it up to the turian's head. "You wanna hurt Tali again?" The turian shook his head. "If I see you again, you ain't gonna take another breath." Shepard let the turian get up, and the turian started walking away when the Deputy quickly drew her revolver and shot him.

"You were gonna let him get away?" Miranda asked, but Shepard ignored her, instead going to the quarian's side.

"You okay Tali?" Shepard asked.

"Shepard? Why didn't you tell me it was you?" Tali asked, getting up to her feet with Shepard's help.

"Didn't wanna open old wounds. People said I was dead, and I wanted to keep it that way." Shepard said. "You changed since I saw you last."

"Two years does that to a person." Tali said. "I gotta get back to the Migrant Wagon Train. 'S nice to know you're back."

Shepard nodded, letting her go, then turned his attention to Deputy Lawson. "Wanna take me to meet the Sheriff?"

The Deputy nodded, then gestured for Shepard to follow. "That bartender, Jacob? He's workin' for the Sheriff- undercover, for now. What 'ya been doin' for those two years you were gone?"

"Nothin' much. 'Came a hermit for a little. 'Course, past came back to me and I needed to wander the country 'gain." Shepard said.

"In there." Deputy Lawson said.

"Can I get a first name?" Shepard asked.

"If you join us, I reckon' you can." The Deputy said, shutting the door behind him.

"Nice to meet you, Shepard." A woman's voice said. It was coming from a red-head in the middle of the room. "I am the Sheriff, though some know me as the Illusive Man."

"The hell? Ain't we meetin' in person?" Shepard asked.

"No. For people like me, it's much too dangerous to go to Lazarus." The red-head said after tapping what Shepard said to the Illusive Man.

"You think I can be killed by some average Joe?"

"No, but I need your help. There is a gang, known as the Collectors. They've been attacking some of my cities. I have challenged them to a showdown next month in the city you're in right now." The Illusive Man said. "I know you're supposed to be fighting the government agency destroying the West-"

"The Reapers." Shepard growled.

"Yes, the Reapers. I have it on reliable information that the Reapers have a significant influence in what the Collectors are doing. So, when the Collectors raid the West, the Reapers are really to blame." The Illusive Man said. "My organization, however, wants to remedy that. So you'll work for us-"

"I ain't workin' for Cerberus. I don't work for nobody but the Citadel. I'm doin' this for the West." Shepard said.

"Good. Deputy Miranda Lawson and Officer Jacob Taylor will be your main crew. You may find others, if you feel so inclined." The Illusive Man said. "Good luck, Shepard."

"Yeah, sure." Shepard said, walking out of the building. "Deputy, let's round us up that Jacob guy."

"Yes sir." Miranda said.

"Can I call 'ya Miranda?"

"It'd be shorter than callin' me Deputy Lawson." Miranda said.

"Thank 'ya kindly." Shepard said, then he put his ragged cowboy hat back on, made sure his lasso was on his belt, made sure his revolver was loaded, and pulled his black bandana up to his nose so it covered his mouth. "Any idea what we should do?"

"We should gather up teammates. There's plenty 'o Collectors, and Jacob and Me ain't enough to hold the fort." Miranda said.

"Smart girl, ain'tcha?" Shepard asked.

"I was brutally trained to be perfect." Miranda said.

"Are ya'?"

"I'm just human, sir. I make mistakes." Miranda said.

"As do we all." Shepard said, walking over to the bar.