Chapter 2: Archangel
I woke several hours later to see that I was on the Normandy, the old one. For some reason I could only dream up scenario after scenario about that event. What if we had some back up? Had Alliance ships or even some Turian escort ships. Never understood each of them really. Just ran through scenario after scenario, but eventually you wake up to the reality before you, whether you liked it or not. But now for me I woke up in the new Normandy and Shepard was still alive. Good to have things back. I put on the Cerberus uniform and was just disgusted by the fact that I wore the symbol of a group I hated each time I put the damned thing on. I walked to the Mess to see the never impressive sight of MRE's and was greeted by Mess Sergeant Gardner.
"Hi there. You must be the new guy Shepard picked up. You're infantry right?" he asked.
"Was. Now I'm just a plain old Engineer. Can't do too much with my heart in the shape it's in combat wise," I said.
"Damn. Well least you're back with your old commander, pilot and doctor. Shame we couldn't any more people from the Normandy," he said.
"Wait. Chakwas is here too? Damn just need to get Adams and resurrect Pressly and we'll just need to track down the others," I said. Gardner laughed a little at that.
"always a joker huh?" he asked.
"Should see Mike. He would've been the funniest Alliance soldier nominee had we not been thrown out. But now I've got no idea where the hell is. Could be mayor of a colony for all we know," I said.
"Yeah. Well here's your food soldier boy. Sorry about the MRE's. all I got to work with," he said.
"No problem. Been eating this shit all my life. Kinda hard to eat like a normal civvie when you're raised on Alliance ships all your life," I said. I took the tray and sat down next to a couple Cerberus people. Kinda hard to stay away from them on a boat like this. But they were quite friendly. Then again I was human, not an alien. Shepard came down eventually and sat next to me.
"So how you liking the ship?" he asked.
"Pretty well sir. Food has something to be desired but what exactly, you'll have to talk to the cook. So we having to put together a team again huh?" I asked eating what looked to be beans.
"Yeah. We're headed for Omega. Ever been there?" Shepard asked.
"Couple times. Mostly was for business. You'd be amazed about how many people there are that want an engineer to help fix stuff," I said sipping the coffee that came with my MRE. Well it was more like a black powder in a cup. "Other than that though no. But when we go there keep a good eye on your credits, weapons, armor and whatever else, Omega has a bad habit of swallowing those up. Learned that the hard, lost about three hundred credits in one location," I said.
"Good to know. Hey know of any upgrades you can think of to improve the ship or the squad?" Shepard asked.
"let me think. I might know where to get a small one-man fighter for close air support. I mean if you want it," I said.
"We'll need all the help we can get. Where is it?" He asked.
"Well to be honest its in an Alliance facility. Heard my dad talking about a smaller version of our planes to get behind enemy lines or provide close air support much faster than any plane we have today. My dad heads the project, I could call and see if he'll let us have a prototype but don't expect much. I'll talk to him while you go get whoever is on our list," I said.
"Well it'll have to wait. I want you to come with us," he said.
"What? Shepard in case you missed it I've got a bad heart. I wont be of much help in a heavy weight fight. And on Omega with the gangs about, heavy weight fights are almost a sport for Omega to boot. I'll just be a liability," I said.
"If I considered you a liability, why did I recruit then? Could've just let you stay an Engineer," Shepard said with a smile.
"Bastard, got me good. I'll do my best then. Get any word from the rest of the old squad?" I asked.
"Other than the people here and Tali? Nope," he said.
"Tali? You ran into Tali? What did she decided to go on another pilgrimage or something?" I asked.
"No, she was on a human colony looking for a fellow Quarian. Went by the name of Veetor. Cerberus wanted to take him in for interrogation but worded it differently. Didn't buy it for a second though. She asked about you too. Guess she thought Cerberus pushed you enough to join. Miranda told her that you constantly told her and Jacob to fuck off was it?" he said with a smile.
"Most of the time it was fuck off. Sometimes I'd say piss off too. Hated Cerberus with every fiber of my being. Must've kept at for a while but then I just stopped checking my extranet messages. You know just seemed better than always than constantly seeing a message from those fuckers everyday," I said.
"Can't argue with that logic. Would've done the same if I were in your shoes," Shepard said.
"Yes but to think you turned down a chance to have combat duty again for a Quarian. A Quarian of all things," Miranda said coming in to the Mess.
"I take it you've never had a human say no to a job that didn't involve working with aliens. Not me. I may have a slight hatred of a certain Quarian but other than that I'm cool," I said.
"Who Tali? I'm sure I can help with that," Miranda said obviously pissed of about something.
"No not Tali. A different Quarian. The bastard that sold out me and my boys on my first training mission as a demolitions expert. I'm not sure you've been told but I was the only man that got out alive, far as I know anyway," I said.
"Why's that?" Jacob asked coming in too.
"Well I'm hoping I can find the bastard that got my friends killed. Get some payback for my guys you know?" I said. I had anger but wasn't letting it eat me up.
"I can probably help. Just give me some time. Anyway, Shepard EDI says we're closing in on Omega," said Miranda.
"Good hate waiting. Tex, suit up," Shepard said.
"Aye, aye commander," I said.
"What? You're letting Tex come? Commander, with his heart condition he's liable to get someone killed. We can't simply wait for him every time his heart threatens to give out," Miranda said.
"I'm not that useless. Besides I've been around Omega more times than you I bet. I also have exceptional skill with a sniper rifle. So if we get in a situation, all I have to do is point and shoot," I said walking away. I walked to my quarters and grabbed my weapons and armor. I slapped in a fresh clip for my sidearm and got my ACR and slapped on a thermal scope. My secondary was an old Winchester 1887 shotgun. I met the rest of the squad at the airlock and walked toward the end of the hall when we were greeted by a Salarian who seemed a bit nervous.
"New to Omega huh? I can always tell. Ah wait Tex? It is you good to see you. Whatever-" he said.
"Leave, now," a Batarian said sternly approaching.
"Yes Moklan. I will whatever you want," the Salarian said. He left quickly and the Batarian turned to face us.
"Nice to meet you Shepard. Aria wants to see you too," he said.
"How do you know who I am?" Shepard asked.
"Had your ship tagged the moment you entered the system. Aria is curious on why there's a dead spectre here. But I'm sure she'll be happy to deal with her favorite engineer," the Batarian said. He walked away after that.
"Okay, mind elaborating?" Shepard asked me.
"Don't be going to your smutty mind for the answer to that. I just provided her some Intel I got while I was here. She paid well too," I said.
"Right I bet she did," Shepard said jokingly. That caused Jacob to laugh some too.
"Laugh it up assholes," I said. We headed into Afterlife and went up the stairs in back to where Aria was. We were stopped by her and as Shepard was scanned we had the attention of everyone there, which was just about half a dozen guards all armed with assault rifles. My fellow team mates all drew their respected guns as Shepard was scanned. "You might want to put your guns away. They don't take kindly to people with guns aimed at or near Aria," I said calmly.
"Listen to your engineer. You fire he makes it out alive but you three don't," Aria said.
"What makes my squad member so important?" Shepard asked.
"He caught wind of a coup that was going to go down against me. Found out about it while working with a Quarian. He didn't have the creds to help him as he wanted but spruced up his inventory to get more buyers. He overheard it while grabbing some tech from Vorcha. I owe him a lot more than I can pay. What do you need?" Aria asked once the scan was complete.
"Tex? You're the one she owes a favor," Shepard asked.
"We're looking for a couple people. One's a doctor Solus. He's a Salarian possibly-" I said.
"Possibly from the Salarian Special Tasks Group?" Aria asked.
"Yeah. I take it you've seen him around," Shepard said.
"Yes. He set up a clinic over in the infected districts to help with the plague. Anyone else you looking for?" Aria asked.
"Know a guy named Archangel?" Shepard asked.
"Not as much as I like but yes. He showed up some time ago. Put together a team and decided to pull the gangs apart. But he lost them all, now he's on his own and about to be killed by the gangs," said Aria.
"Know where we can find him?" I asked.
"Yeah so long as you don't mind fighting through them after you rescue him. They're pretty adamant on killing him," she said.
"Damn, guess I should get you back to the ship then huh Tex?" Shepard asked half jokingly.
"Please do. He's kinda pissing me off," Miranda said.
"I aim to displease. Besides I can always just run to wherever Archangel is and set up a sniping a position," I said with a smile.
"Good enough for me. Lighten up too Miranda. Just be glad we haven't run into Mike. He's worth four of Tex, annoying wise not soldier wise," Shepard said.
"And he is trust me. I swear he'd always get us in damned trouble with the D.I.'s. nearly got us kicked out the service. But you could always count on him to watch your back. I wish he were here," I said.
"Why? So we had more familiar faces from the old crew?" Shepard asked.
"No so that way miss 'pissed off cause I chose freelancer business over god damned Cerberus work' doesn't slit my throat," I said.
"Come on lets get Archangel. There, lets ask that Blue Sun over there. Maybe he knows where to find him," Shepard said.
"Good idea. Looks like he's recruiting too. Or just directing the recruits to the recruiter," said Jacob. We walked to the Blue Sun who directed us to the private room they were using to recruit freelancers.
"Okay send in the next one," said the recruiter. We walked in and the guy seemed happy to see us. "you look like you could do some damage. Standard fee is five hundred credits each and if any of you die your friends can't pick on your cut," said the recruiter.
"Well not much of incentive to actually have friends along huh?" I asked Jacob.
"Apparently not," he said in response.
"You'll need to provide your own weapons and armor, hmm seems you already got that covered. You'll get paid once the job's done and no this does not make you a member of the Blue Suns, Blood Pack or Eclipse. You are merely freelancing for all three in this case. Nothing more, nothing less," he said.
"So long as we get paid we don't really care," said Shepard. He was laying on the whole I don't really give a damn like he was an actual merc or something.
"Like the attitude. Keep it up and show what you got on the job and maybe Tarak will offer you a job with the Blue Suns. That is if you live. Archangel's been tearing through you Freelancer's like a knife through butter. Ah well from the way you're equipped, you might survive. Might anyway," he said.
"We'll take our chances," Shepard said.
"Send in the next one," the recruiter said as we left.
"Hey this where I sign up?" the next guy asked. Shepard took notice of the voice and realized this guy sounded too young to be going into a fight like this.
"Hey kid. You even old enough to be freelancing?" Shepard asked.
"I'm old enough. I grew up on Omega. I know how to use a gun," he said.
"So does Archangel," said Jacob.
"Yeah also apparently he's one hell of a shot with it," I said.
"Whatever. And besides I just spent fifty credits on this pistol and I want to use it," the guy said pulling out a shitty looking gun. Shepard rushed him to see if he actually did know how it worked. The guy did but the damned thing jammed on him.
"Get your money back kid," he said hitting the gun and forcing the overused clip out. And apparently that was the guy's only clip. The guy seemed sad to actually be left on a fight. Poor bastard didn't get what we meant. Well he'll find out on the news soon enough. We walked to the designated shuttle and were taken to the merc staging point. Turned out to be just a walk across the bridge to Archangel's hidey hole. But Archangel was just killing them like crazy. Seems that the mercs also got a special team in to wire the place with explosives and or kill Archangel.
"hey you know where sergeant Cathka is?" Shepard asked.
"Over there fixing up the gunship. But I'm in no rush to die," said the freelancer.
"Hey Shepard, Tex here. Got the little problem in the storeroom fixed," I said over our communication link.
"roger that," Shepard said.
"Going to help Archangel huh?" the freelancer asked.
"What makes you say that?" Shepard asked.
"Don't worry. I'm no snitch. Just don't kill me or have Archangel kill me," the freelancer said.
"Will do. Thanks," Shepard said. The Freelancer left and I quickly caught up to the rest of the team. But I found that Cathka was dead from being impaled from a type of welding thing.
"Uh what's up with Cathka?" I asked.
"Told him to take a break," said Shepard. He patted me on the shoulder and said," Get ready Tex. We're headed for Archangel now."
"roger. Let's go," I said. We hopped over the barricade and watched as the hapless freelancers were begin gunned down as they ran towards Archangel. Archangel was a demon with the rifle. Every time the stupid freelancers took a step, one of them fell.
"Come on lets give these guys a little surprise of our own," Shepard said. We pulled out our rifles and shotguns and quickly started to gun down the enemy. I used my biotic charge ability to take out a merc bomber. I wiped around and used up my last few rounds in my rifle to hit a couple mercs. I pulled out my 1887 Model and found myself aiming at an old friend, Mike.
"Mike?" I asked over the gunfire.
"Watch your back!" he shouted as he fired a three burst into a merc behind me.
"Good to know you're still on my side," I said.
"less talking more shooting," Mike said. Shepard and his squad came up and started mowing down more mercs.
"Hey, Mike what are you doing here?" Shepard asked.
"Helping out Archangel. Good to see you alive Shepard," said mike. We were able to kill every freelancer there and a lot quicker with Mike with us. Archangel opened up the door leading to him and we saw that Mike wasn't the only guy from the old Normandy crew. Archangel took off his helmet and showed his true identity, Garrus Vakarian.
"Garrus what are you doing here?" Shepard asked with outstretched arms.
"Just keeping my skills sharp. Nice to see you again Tex. Thought you were retired from combat and were working as an engineer," he said.
"Was and engineer. Shepard came back from the dead to put me back in action. Was getting tired of not being in the fight too," I said.
"Well good to have friends here," Garrus said. He explained about how he was capable of getting the gangs of Omega to team up. But then he noticed a lot of Eclipse scouts were attacking. "Damn scouts are hitting now," Garrus said.
"Actually no. I reprogrammed them to attack their so called masters once they activated. Also reprogrammed that heavy mech of theirs. Should keep them at bay for a while. But not long mind you," I said. I reloaded my ACR and loaded a couple rounds into my shotgun.
"Like the way you think Tex. Wrex would be proud," Garrus said.
"No more like Tali, if you know what I mean," Mike said with a smile.
"Stow those smutty thoughts mike. We need to-" said Shepard. He was interrupted by several explosions. "I take it that's very bad," he said.
"Yep. They just started to break through the lower levels. We'll need to either get those shutters down or stay here and face a much more difficult fight," said Garrus.
"Right. But I'm not leaving you here alone. Tex, you and Miranda stay with Garrus. Two snipers and two biotics should keep them at bay," Shepard said.
"Commander, maybe you should have Mike stay here instead of Miranda. I trust him more than her," I said. And I did trust Mike more than Miranda. If Mike wasn't trust worthy, he'd have shown it during our investigation of Saren. Plus he and I watched each others backs during boot camp and Eden Prime.
"Good point. Plus I hate fighting in tunnels too cramped. Plus gives me a chance to screw with Tex's head after a year," said Mike.
"Yeah on second thought I think you should leave Miranda," I said realizing that the only thing that doesn't make Mike the perfect soldier was his mouth. Drove the sergeant crazy sometimes too.
"Too late. You're stuck with your buddy," Miranda said, apparently she saw how I hated Mikes idea on him bugging me.
"Sorry Tex. But you do do better with someone you trust watching your back. Having two people you trust works better too," Shepard said.
"Fine. Mike set up position near the stairs just incase they start to get by us. Shepard good luck," I said. They left and mike started making up for lost time on his mouthing off duty as he calls it.
"So you and Tali finally do the deed when I was gone?" Mike asked with a chuckle.
"I'm a bit curious as well," Garrus said. Little I or the rest knew, Shepard was still listening.
"Okay, well first of all keep eyes down range. The Heavy mech is taking damage and Eclipse is about make a big push. But to shut you two up, no we didn't. In fact we're not exactly on speaking terms," I said peering into my scope.
"Oh. So what she take one look at you without your uniform on and dumped you?" Mike asked as I took a shot.
"Ha-ha-ha. Good one mike," Garrus said.
"Actually it was because of damned Cerberus. Now keep the radio clear of unnecessary chatter. Goes double for you Mike and that's and order," I said.
"Sorry can't oblige. You're not a soldier nor my senior officer," Mike said.
"Yeah well I am. And Mike shut the fuck up now! Tex your squad leader there. Just like old times," Shepard said over the radio.
"Thanks Shepard. How you doing on your end?" I asked as I fired two rounds into an Eclipse merc charging at us. Damned fucker was tough to take down, used up an entire clip on him as he made strides to us. "Garrus, Salarian fucker headed right toward us. Get him," I said.
"On it. Damn it's Jaroth," said Garrus. With that he blew the guy's head off. "Got him," said Garrus. Then we heard the door behind us, on the ground floor blow.
"Damn it! Mike heads up. Behind us!" I shouted.
"I got it," he said.
"Shepard's got the shutters below closed. They're headed back now," Garrus said.
"Good. Hold the line!" I said.
"Rahh! Rip them to shreds!" shouted a Krogan. Several Vorcha entered the room. Garrus shot a Vorcha square in the face and Mike and I took down a Krogan with combined rifle shots.
"I got him!" Mike said with enthusiasm.
"It only counts if you call it!" I shouted gunning down a charging Varren.
"Oh that's Bullshit man!" Mike said. Shepard quickly showed up and helped Mike, Garrus and I gun down the rest of the attacking squad. "Yeah. Three points the good guys, jack shit for the bad guys," Mike said with a cocky tone.
"More like fifty points for us. Shepard, think we ought to head out and charge the mercs. I think we can take them. If we can't just sick Mike and I on 'em and they'll just fall over and die," I said with the same cocky tone.
"Garrus? Any suggestions?" Shepard asked.
"I think we should hit 'em now. Tarak may have the toughest group, but nothing we haven't faced," he said.
"They don't have Krogan," Miranda chimed.
"Yes thank you Miranda. How bout we file that in shit we already now?" I said.
"Can it. Tex, any thing coming?" Shepard asked.
"Don't look like it," I said. Then a gunship appeared and started off loading troops.
"'Don't like it' huh?" Mike asked firing at the newly arrived enemy.
"Hey I didn't see it until we did so fuck you!" I said taking cover. We were quickly able to kill the enemy reinforcements. Unfortunately that called for splitting our team. Shepard, Jacob and Miranda moved down stairs to take out the enemy squad that was deployed down there. Mike moved over to the broken window off to our right and looked out to see he could spot the gunship.
"Tex, looks like that ship bugged out," Mike said.
"It's got to be here somewhere. They got to know Archangel is still here. Shepard anything on your end? I got a bad feeling about this," I said.
"Nope. I'm going with mike here buddy. Lets get out while we can. Get Garrus," said Shepard.
"Roger that. Garrus, we're- OH fuck!" I shouted. I opened fire and tried to bring down the gunship. The ship quickly started to fill the room with bullets. Mike was able to stay out of the gun's range but Garrus and I got stuck in it. I took nearly two dozen rounds and fell. Blood started to pool from out of my body. Garrus didn't fare too well either. He took a rocket to the face, or just about anyway. Shepard and the rest got to us in time before more troops started piling out to finish the job.
Mike searched my fallen pack to see if I had something heavy enough to knock out the gunship. Luckily I did, a Grenade Launcher, M70. It also had a special design, four rounds of grenades with pump action slide. Mike showed off his aim and sent all four flying, destroying the gunship and clearing the shuttle for a dust off. Garrus and I pulled through but were worse for wear. Garrus had a hole in his suit and his face was torn to hell. Me, my shields took the brunt of the fire, about a dozen rounds, and my barriers held off another three rounds before failing but two rounds grazed my face and the rest were through and through shots.
None went through anything vital thankfully. Now we had an old member of the first team and were headed for the citadel to pick up another potential squad member, Kasumi Goto. The galaxy's most famous and talented thief.