Chapter 3: The Situation at Hand Pt. 2

You're Commander Shepard now…

The words repeated like the lyrics to a bad song over and over again in my head as we approached the colonized world of Freedom's Progress. I hadn't exactly been…willing…to accept the mission, but, unfortunately, the asshat in the shadows had an offer I literally couldn't refuse. I swear I could feel his smug grin grow as I chewed him out for bringing me into this mess.

"This is insane! I don't know you people, I don't belong in this world, and I'm not Commander Shepard! I'm not the good guy, okay?! I'm not some great hero who saves the day and gets the girl! I'm just someone who happens to have powers trying to get by!" I had yelled.

"I didn't ask to switch places with your Shepard, I didn't ask to have my head fucked with, and I sure as hell didn't ask to play savior to a galaxy I don't even know! Why don't you just send me back, and take Shepard? She's obviously way more qualified for this than I am!"

The Illusive Man waited for me to finish before sitting up and exhaling a puff of smoke as he looked me in the eyes.

"I see you weren't listening as well as I had hoped. We can't get Shepard back. If we could, then we would have gladly sent you on your way home, Ms. Yuuki."

Somehow I doubted that last statement, but his next line didn't give me time to snap at him for it.

"However, we are currently researching the energy signature that brought you to us in the first place. Given time, we could find a way to locate it and send you back through. I'd even forward you updates regarding our progress on the matter as you go about your mission. If for nothing else, then I ask you to accept the current situation and the role you've been given for the sake of getting away from us, and back to your normal life. Sound fair enough?"

I didn't want to admit it, but it was a pretty good offer. Except, there were still some things that concerned me.

"Say I do accept, and play the part of Shepard, what happens if you find a way to send me back home and I haven't yet finished your mission? How can I be sure you won't just keep me here for experiments or some other contrived shit like that?"

The Illusive Man paused for a moment. His forehead seem to get more wrinkles as he frowned slightly, and I couldn't help but wonder if I had hit the nail on the head with that last statement. Eventually though, he sighed and put down his cigar before facing me again.

"Very well. If it will ensure your cooperation in this matter, then you have my word that should we find the means to send you back to your world, we will allow you to leave." He said with reluctance, but then continued with a serious glare.

"However, I will not allow you to fully depart unless we can be assured that the real Shepard will return to us as well."

Couldn't really fault him there, I suppose. If I left, and there was still no way to get their hero back, the galaxy would be even more fucked than he's making it out to be. Unfortunately for me, I still had no idea who to trust, if anyone, and no way of knowing if anyone else had the kind of resources at their disposal that this guy has. Don't really have a lot of options here, Yuuki. It's either play the hero, and ride it out until they find a way to get you back home…or do nothing and most likely become a lab rat. Sighing for what felt like the hundredth time since I arrived in this strange world, I looked back at the Illusive Man. Guess there's really only one choice.

"…Fine. Deal." I said reluctantly. "But if you go back on your word, then so help me god…"

The Illusive Man waved his hand.

"I hope it won't have to come to that, but I'm glad you're on board. I'll notify my people to begin searching for the energy signature immediately. Now then, may I assume you're ready to start working?"

"I'll learn what I need to about the changes you made as I go. The sooner I get done, the sooner I can go home, right? Let's just get started."

He nodded.

"Then I suggest starting with the colony on Freedom's Progress. It was hit very recently, so you're most likely to find something of worth there. Find out anything and everything you can about what's happening."

"Alright then. I guess that means we're done here for now."

As the hologram started to disconnect, the Illusive Man reclined in his chair.

"Good luck, Ms. Yuuki. We're counting on you."

And that's how I ended up where I am now, straining my eyes to read through the massive databank of knowledge my omnitool provided access to. I had a feeling that even with his resources, it was going to be a very long time before the Illusive Man found anything relevant or solid on getting me home, so in the meantime I might as well brush up on everything I can. Who would have thought there'd be so many different alien species out there? Quarian, Turian, Asari, Krogan, the list just keeps expanding. The sound of the shuttle going in for landing broke me out of my reading.

"We're here." Miranda said after the last hiss of escaping steam the brakes gave off.

Nodding in affirmation, I got out and drew the SMG at my side. Even if guns weren't really my thing, I had to admit it certainly didn't hurt to have one. It was one of the lighter weapons I had been given prior to departure, along with that pistol I had earlier and a sniper rifle. Well, that's they turned out to be, because at first glance the damn thing looks like an oddly colored box. But when it's needed, the rifle folds out and extends into something that looks more like what you'd expect a laser gun from the future to look like. Despite my oddly proficient accuracy with firearms back on the station, I wasn't just about to rely on something so new just yet, especially when my threads are so effective. Once all three of us were out, I took a minute to look at Freedom's Progress. It was quiet, almost deathly so if not for the breeze. The snow that covered everything in sight made me glad that I was wearing a full suit of armor. Miranda must be freezing her ass off in her skin tight suit.

"Damn…it's just like he said. Everyone's gone." Jacob stated, breaking the silence.

"Yeah…" I added after getting a good look myself.

"Well, we won't find anything just standing around, let's get moving." Miranda said as she and Jacob drew their own weapons.

I nodded before heading toward the nearest door. The house inside looked a bit like a more futuristic version of an everyday house, from what I saw. There weren't any signs of struggle, surprisingly enough. Nothing looked out of the ordinary as far as I could tell. Seeing nothing that could point out how the disappearance might have happened, we moved on through the home and out onto the ramps beyond it. Not long after, a number of those damn robots stood up from behind some railing and started shooting at us. Cursing under my breath, I took cover with my companions.

"I thought this place was supposed to be deserted?" I yelled over the gunfire.

"Apparently someone's still around!" Jacob retorted. He then shot a quick glance over at our assailants.

"Those are security mechs, probably been reprogrammed to attack on sight."

"Not again…" I groaned, remembering the mechs back on the station.

Luckily for us, these mechs went down just as easily with a few well-placed shots to the head and chest. Just as we were standing up to move on, low mechanized growling rang out from the stairway leading up to our right. A pair of short, dog like mechs started running at us, most likely intent on ramming us with their big round heads. However, I wasn't in the mood for dealing with them, so I quickly brought out my element and lashed out at the mechs. As expected, my threads cut through the metal with ease, slashing them to ribbons. I couldn't help but smirk as the severed parts exploded. Safe for the moment, Miranda looked at me in surprise.

"What the hell was that? Some sort of biotic?" she said.

"Nope. That's a little something called 'element'." I responded.

"I wasn't kidding when I said she could handle herself, Miranda." Jacob interjected.

"I can see that…but it makes me wonder, what other kinds of powers do you have?"

I shook my head at Miranda's question.

"Sorry, I prefer to keep my best stuff for when I really need it."

A disappointed grunt was her response, but she seemed to stop pressing for now. Weapons at the ready, we pressed on. As we moved through buildings and fought off mechs, I noticed the recurring pattern of little evidence to the abduction of the colonists. At one point we came across a set dinner table, with nearly untouched food that was still warm. It was as if the occupants had just stood up and left in the middle of dinner. After finishing off yet another series of mechs, we came across an unexpected sight. Inside one of the buildings, a group of humanoids all wearing strange suits with purple visors and well armed were huddled around what looked to be an injured comrade. It took me a moment to remember from my readings that these were Quarians. Of course, by the time I realized that said aliens had stood up and pointed their guns at us. Reflexively, my companions did the same.

"What are you doing here?" demanded Miranda.

"I was just about to ask the same question, Cerberus!" responded a Quarian with red highlights on his suit.

Before either side could make a remark, a female Quarian ran in between us and seemed to glare down at her ally.

"Prazza, enough! We've already got enough problems to deal with!" she turned to us. "We don't need any more wounded-wait….Shepard?!"

I froze up. This Quarian girl…she knows Shepard?! Shit! What do I do? While I was trying to think of how to respond, a surge of memories coursed through my head at lightning speed. …..Tali….this girl's name is Tali. Knowing I had to say something soon, I did my best to ignore the painful throbbing in my forehead from the memory surge and put on a small smile.

"It's me, Tali. Cerberus rebuilt me." I answered.

"But…I heard you were dead…and you…you look younger for some reason."

Shit. I forgot about that. Okay, time to think fast.

"…yeah, even I was surprised at how effective they were at it. I can hardly believe the results myself."

C'mon, take the bait…

"Well…I can agree on that. I'm mostly surprised that they helped you, given your history with them." Tali said after a time.

Gotcha.

"I need their help this time, but I'm still calling the shots. What are you doing down here?"

"We're here for a Quarian named Veetor. He came here on pilgrimage, and somehow didn't disappear with the colonists. But, when he saw us landing he…sort of panicked and locked himself in a building on the other side of the settlement."

"Veetor probably reprogrammed the mechs, if he was that frantic." Jacob interjected.

"It looks that way…"

Veetor probably had knowledge on what happened to the colonists, and if he was that frantic then it must have been pretty bad. But why didn't he get abducted as well? Regardless, none of us were getting any answers standing around. If Tali was a friend of Shepard, maybe I could use that to our advantage in getting to Veetor, who probably has lots more mechs between him and us.

"Veetor has some info we need. Maybe we should work together." I suggested.

"Good idea." Tali said, nodding.

"Now we're working with Cerberus?!" the Quarian called Prazza growled.

"No Prazza, you work for me. Now suck it up and let's go!"

I smirked at Tali's lecture. I think I see why Shepard was friends with this girl. Feisty and self confident, not bad. As she and her group left to approach the building Veetor was in from one side, my group started heading toward it from another. Once we were well out of earshot, Miranda and Jacob pulled me aside.

"That was close, Ms. Yuuki." Miranda said. "I didn't expect to run into one of Shepard's colleagues so soon…"

"I'm surprised you managed to convince her you were Shepard. No offense, but I was afraid you'd blow your cover right away, especially when she brought up your age." Jacob added.

I took a moment to let out a sigh of relief.

"Yeah, I was seriously concerned. Luckily, your little trick of giving me Shepard's memories gave me enough info about her to piece a façade together. I'm just glad she's so gullible."

"Agreed." said Miranda. "But she probably won't be the last of Shepard's former allies that you meet, so you should brush up on your history some more once we've finished up here. Also, I'd advise against using your powers in their presence if you can avoid it."

I nodded in understanding before we continued our approach to Veetor. Just before the last door before the building where he was hiding, a ton of flying turret shaped mechs landed on a series of crates in front of us and started firing non-stop, barely leaving a chance to return fire. Had I a few seconds, I could bring out my element to cut them apart. Suddenly, I remembered a certain feature my armor came with. Pushing a button on my wrist bracer, I activated my suit's active camouflage feature. While my companions drew their fire, I snuck up behind the turret mechs and called out my element. In seconds, those meddlesome turrets were scrap metal. Barely a minute had passed before our communicators went off and Tali's voice came through.

"Shepard, I tried to warn him but Prazza wouldn't listen. He and his men went ahead of us, and they're getting slaughtered by a heavy mech!"

I cursed under my breath at this, but couldn't help feeling Prazza had brought it on himself for rushing ahead.

"If it's a heavy mech, it's gonna be packing some serious firepower. We better get into a good position for when that door opens." suggested Jacob.

I nodded in agreement, then took up a spot behind one of the crates in front of the door while my companions got on either side of it. When we were all ready, the door opened, and we were immediately presented with the sight of a large mech with guns for hands massacring several Quarians, one of which was unfortunate enough to take a direct hit from a rocket. With the amount of firepower the thing was unloading, getting close with my element didn't seem to be much of an option. Well, if ever there was a time for it, it'd be now. Groaning in frustration, I took out the sniper rifle I had been outfitted with and took aim at its neon red eyes. Once I got the damn thing steady, I pulled the trigger and watched…as the large bolt from my rifle barely put a dent in its defenses. Growling, I holstered my sniper and started to think up other options. My SMG is supposed to be good at taking down shields, but that thing's armor is too thick, and my pistol doesn't shoot fast enough to be much of an option, I can't get close enough with all those bullets to try my element…guess I've only got one option. Hearing a rocket being armed, I ran from my cover to another crate just as the first exploded into debris. Smirking, I held out my hand and summoned my element.

"Juliet!" I yelled, attempting to call forth my Child.

Just you wait, tin can. My lovely Juliet is going to bind you up so tightly you won't be able to do a damn thing, and then she'll run you through! …is what I thought. But she never came. I could feel my eyes widening in disbelief as the mech turned its head to me again. Juliet? Juliet! Come out! I need you! Answer me, damn it! JULIET! No matter how hard I tried, my Child wouldn't appear. Gritting my teeth, I broke out of my shock long enough to avoid another rocket blast.

"God dammit!" I yelled as I drew both my SMG and pistol.

I felt tears form and fall from my eyes as I unloaded everything I had into the mech, not caring whether or not it was effective. I don't know how many rounds I had emptied into the thing until it finally collapsed and exploded. All I could do was stand there staring at the ground. Juliet didn't come. The only thing in life that I trusted, the only one I could rely on, didn't appear. She didn't answer my call. Not even when I was begging. I stayed like this until I felt myself being shaken back to my senses, and looked to see Jacob holding my shoulders.

"Shepard!" he yelled.

Scowling, I pushed his hands off of me.

"I'm fine."

"But Shep-"

"I said I'm fine!"

He didn't look very convinced, but he relented.

"…fine. Veetor's just inside. Come in when you're ready."

I answered with a slow nod, hearing him walk away. Alone, I looked down at my hands.

"Juliet….why didn't you come?"

Why? What reason could she possibly have that would keep her from listening to me? What could be responsible? The only reason a Child wouldn't answer when called would be…would be…

I felt my arms fall to my side, dropping the weapons they held as the truth came to me. I knew. I knew why Juliet didn't come.

"…..oh. That's right…..

….you're dead."

A/N: Hope you all enjoyed! Don't forget to review! Till next time! Dark Novelist out.