"You cannot leave me behind." He grabs my arm spins me to face him. "We are a team, a family. If we fall we fall together. I would take a bullet for you, and you would take one for me. That was the deal." He stares at me. This man has been at my side since it started all those years ago. But this time it's different. –"You have a son. A wife. A life outside wars and missions." He sighs, searching for a retort but I know I have won. "I'm not leaving you behind Marcus. You're going to be beside me whole time…but do me a favour. Give me a good ending. Make my final chapter be as heroic as our first." I smile, "I'll see you on the other side." I turn away heading towards the final launch. "What's more dangerous than a Phantom?" I shout as I start to run towards my end.

"A phantom with nothing to lose."

Chapter 1

The gun was aimed right at Shepard. Behind it was a female soldier. She wore black khaki trousers with a black, white and red tartan belt. Her top was a black tactical recon top layered with straps for old fashioned armour. Her hair was dark brown tied up. Strong jaw lined her face, as focused hazel eyes stared back.

Tali moved forward "Wait, we are working with Dr Thompson." The weapon shifted target. "We are here to get you out!" The soldier lowered her aim.

"Dr Thompson … the blue one?" Her guard lowered, stance shifting, she holstered her weapon. "So who are you again?"

Shepard stepped forward. "My name is Commander Shepard. This is Tali'Zorah nar Rayya and this is Lieutenant Kaiden Alenko. We are looking For the Asari Nieve Thompson." Kaiden stepped forward and shook the soldier's hand while Tali bowed her head.

"Well I'm Sargent Rosie Charles." She smiled and saluted the commander. "It's a relief to meet a friendly face." Charles stated "Not many of them round these parts." She chucked as she headed for the door. "Don't know what an Asari is but the doc' went through here but be careful Commander. I'm not sure I'm the one these assholes are after." She kicked one of the Cerberus soldiers to the side. "I'll catch you up once I've found some of my gear. Good luck" With that she was off darting into the shadows.

"Well… what just happened." Kaiden chuckled as they made off towards the doctor.

"I think we just met humanity's greatest war hero." Shepard replied as she checked over her rifle. "And she gave just me a salute"

They found the Doctor surrounded by Cerberus troops. One flick of her wrist and three of them were now floating in mid-air. Her lab coat reminded Shepard of Liara, but it was all white no green in sight. Her blue skinned shined paled at her face where asari markings and tattoos stood out. Taking out the remainder of the guards she walked over to Shepard. "Commander Shepard." The asari approached flicking up her Omnitool "I see the councillor was worried. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Dr Nieve Thompson." She brought up a file on a nearby terminal.

Data and info started streaming from the machine. "I am one part doctor and one part commando. I specialise in military rehabilitation, tactics and recon. I'm also the first adult Human asari." She turned and faced Shepard.

"I have downloaded everything into Miss Zorah's file, and I can explain more once we are off this damn station." More Cerberus soldiers started to rush through the door. Diving to cover the team was scattered. Ten or so more troops came flooding in. Outnumbered and outgunned Shepard pulled out her shotgun. Just then an explosion erupted from the troops. Smoke and debris filled the space where the soldiers once stood.

There, in the middle of the chaos stood Sgt. Charles but now she was armoured with an old combat Exo-skeletal armour suit. The metal supports of the suit flowed across her body, helmet and visor covering her face. Flashes of the clothes could be seen underneath the mesh of pipes and supports. The line between armour and soldier were blurred. Shepard thought she looked like something straight out of a history vid.

She stepped towards the Commander helping her to her feet. "Got to give these assholes credit, this suit is like nothing I've ever worn before." Turning to help Tali she noticed the quarrion wincing, "You ok?" the simple "Keelah" was her only reply. "There will be more on the way Commander so I hope you have a good Evac plan." Shepard nodded and led the team towards the exit. To Shepard's surprise, the Sargent had been coping with everything moderately well considering.

The rest of the mission flew by without any major hitch. The guards were easily dispatched with quick and effectively everyone working together. Shepard noted the way Charles was fighting. She barely got hit at all. She in and out of cover, fluid movement around the battlefield and effective use of ammo. She only got held up when she was tasked with opening the doors.

The minuet she walked aboard the Normandy everything stopped. Every single eye was staring at the Sargent. But Charles didn't seem to notice, she removed her helmet and smiled to the crew.

"As you were" Shepard stated as she started to remove her armour. "Meet in the meeting room as soon as you can. I feel we may have a lot to discuss"

A/N: Thanks guys for sticking with it. This chapter was quite a challenge but that should be the action for just now, the next few chapters will contain a lot of relationship building between our stars.

Please leave a follow and review if you are enjoying it so far.

XoXo Lover …