Chapter 2

The sound of Shepard's "escort" pierced the atmosphere. Massive boots pounded against the steel floor. Shepard took in his surroundings; the inside of the vessel felt oppressive and depressing; it stank of cordite, and burnt engine oil. The only light source available was the flashing red emergency floor lighting, and the green glow of the space marine's eye lenses.

"We're running on emergency power. We cannot afford to use more than what's available." Tantius stated as if he was reading Shepard's mind. For all Shepard knew, he probably was.

Several men and women in various articles of clothing milled around the halls of the ship; they stopped and stared as the entourage passed. Shepard could hear murmuring, but he couldn't make out details over the sound of the giant boots clanking on the floor.

"You still haven't answered my question. Who are you?" Shepard asked the Sergeant

Tantius turned his head over his shoulder, "I would not say that you are in a position to ask such things Shepard. If you help us, then I might be inclined to answer some of you inquiries. We are the Deathwatch, Chamber Militant of the Ordo Xenos, the Emperor's most holy Inquisition… that is all you need to know."

Tantius faced forward and continued to lead the party through the dark hall. A man similar to the soldiers escorting Shepard stood near a pierced bulkhead. A shield of some sort was protecting it from the vacuum of space. He had what looked to be three mechanical arms extending out from his back. A focused jet of fire sprayed out of the nozzle of what was obviously a welder clamped in one of the arms. Instead of hands, the other two limbs sported what looked like a strange form of vice grip. The three extremities worked at an exponential pace in order to seal off the damage.

Shepard didn't realize he was staring until one of the large men walking behind him nudged him in the shoulder with its massive hand. Shepard grunted; he could already feel the bruise beginning to form.

Oscar the adjutant approached Adantis's side. "Sir, Sergeant Tantius has just met with the unknown team. He says that they're cooperating, and that he'll be up here within moments."

Adantis shook his head in approval. "Good… that will be all Oscar."

Adantis waved his assistant away and looked down at his robe; they had been splattered with the blood and brain matter of a guard's head.

"Damn." Adantis mumbled under his breath as he attempted to wipe the gory debris away; all he managed to do was cause it to smear.

His staff milled around him attempting to fix the damage that had been done to the ship's controls, and instruments. Adantis knew that it was mostly irreparable. This ship was ancient, and there was no way that he could think of for them to get new parts. He sat in silence contemplating his thoughts inside his head.

Five minutes later, the massive double doors slid open and Sergeant Tantius stepped in. He walked up to Adantis and kneeled.

"What is it Tantius? This isn't the time for formalities." Adantis grumbled down at the kneeling space marine.

Tantius stood up and spoke, "We have the unknown search party, and they're just outside the door with the rest of my men."

"Good… anything I should know before we bring them in for a talk?"

"The leader of the group is a one Commander John Shepard of the SSV Normandy… I can only assume that that's his vessel."

Obviously. Adantis thought. "Anything else worthy of note?" Adantis asked.

Tantius considered how to respond, "He appears to be working with xenos sir. If you hadn't given me explicit orders to bring them to you, I would have killed them then and there."

Adantis smiled to himself, "If they prove to be a waste of our time, I might just let you."

Shepard, Steve, Tali, and Garrus were shoved through the colossal double doors. Their escorts took up positions in front of the portal as it slid shut, cutting off any hope of escape along with it.

Shepard looked around the room they now occupied. It was filled with men and women bustling around ancient looking computers. A massive observation window covered the majority of the place. Shepard could see the stars outside. Screens were cracked and shattered and sparks shot out of everything. Several men sat in the corner with their hands covering their eyes; blood was seeping through their fingers.

Tantius stood next to a sitting man wearing a blood spattered robe of gold. The man looked like a dwarf compared to the mechanical man. He had a shaven head and had a serious case of five a-clock shadow. Wires snaked into the man's head. He stood and walked down from his shining silver chair; the wires connected to his head trailed behind him dragging on the floor.

He spoke as he moved towards Shepard. "Well, what do we have here? Shepard is it?"

Shepard's brow furrowed as he analyzed the skinny figure that addressed him. The man stopped just a few feet short of the commander. Tantius closed the gap and stood right behind the man in robes.

The man extended his hand. Shepard's own arm remained pinned at his side. He heard the clatter of bolts stutter into position as the giants guarding the door raised their weapons. Shepard hadn't realized that he was reaching for his own gun braced across his back with his other hand.

He looked down at the extended hand and spoke, "I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage… both militarily, and socially."

The man brought his small hand back to his side. "So civil… oh where are my manners, I know your name, but you don't know mine. I apologize. I am Davian Adantis, commander of the Deathwatch battle barge Black Dragon. I'd say that it was good to see another human such as you and your friend, if you hadn't brought along those two." Adantis gestured to Tali and Garrus.

Both of them looked like they really did not want to be here; Shepard couldn't blame them, he didn't either.