"Viktor I need your help with the siege of Rannoch." Viktor sat in the life support room, Thane's old room. Viktor had been contacted by an old Quarian comrade, Zar' Locke vas Qwib Qwib right before Viktor was about to make some anti-gravity boots. Viktor sat back; the last time he had been on the Flotilla was when he helped with Tali's trial. Zar and Viktor had a drink, through filters, and caught up. Viktor didn't think that the Quarians would go through with the attack on Rannoch because Shepard made it exceedingly clear that the Reapers were coming and the war on Rannoch would weaken both sides. Though here Zar was asking him to help with the war effort.

"What the hell do you mean 'siege of Rannoch'?" Viktor said hotly. Zar paused for a moment possibly choosing the right words. When Zar answered it was with practiced words.

"When the Reapers invaded we figured we should use the distraction with them to attack the Geth. You know it was a crazy move, I wanted to wait and try to talk with the Geth-"

"Bullshit!" Viktor yelled "You have always hated the Geth. Lie to the Admirals but don't you dare lie to me." Viktor raged Zar had always hated the Geth.

"No really. Please my old friend. When Tali returned she shared her talks with the Legion Geth. I have changed my mind. The Geth have become a sentient people now. It is not our place to say if the Geth should or should not live. Please will you help us?" Viktor sat back and sighed.

"Yes. Get in contact with my old contacts from the Citadel and Omega-"

"That won't be possible, Omega has been shut down by the Illusive Man. Citadel has been cracking down so most of our old contacts from my pilgrimage are crapping in a bucket in some C-sec cell. I've heard Aria was alive and on the Citadel." Viktor sat back with the sudden barrage of information. Then he thought of something.

"Zar I'll see you as soon as I get to the Flotilla" Viktor hung up immediately after. He got up and jogged to Liara's room.

"Why didn't you tell me that Omega was attacked by Cerberus? You know my history!" Viktor said calmly. Liara looked up from her console.

"Because I knew you would leave" Liara said. Viktor knew how she felt about him. He loved more as a friend and sister than a lover. Viktor looked down.

"I love you, Liara but as a friend. Please can you help me when I get to the Citadel? I need an unmarked transport so no one, and I mean no one" He looked at her and what he saw in her eyes stung him. He saw sadness and mistrust. "Liara," Viktor said softly as he walked and put a hand on her shoulder, "Do you trust me?" She looked at him in his eyes. She slowly leaned towards him closing her eyes slightly. Viktor knew she needed it. He kissed her and held her. When they parted she opened her eyes and said 'Embrace eternity' and she saw everything he had ever done good and bad. When she broke away she looked at him in a way that made Viktor know that she trusted him completely.

"I trust you. You will get what you need when we reach the Citadel. You do really love Tali don't you?" Viktor simply nodded and turned to leave. He needed to talk to Shepard. He was going to the elevator when Viktor stopped. He had a feeling something bad was about to happen. Then the feeling passed as quickly as it came. He got on the elevator and went to Shepard's room. When he got there Shepard was filing a report to Hackett. When he saw Viktor he stood.

"Do you need something?" Shepard asked.

"Yes. When we get on the Citadel I'm going to leave for a while."

"Care to tell me why, Viktor?" Viktor looked at him and tried to form a response but couldn't.

"Look Shepard I really can't tell you. Stay focused on the mission. We were never close so don't go out of your way to worry about me." When Viktor started to leave he stopped and turned. "Please old friend just let me do my job." Shepard nodded once and Viktor left to pack his equipment.

The Citadel was a bustle of movement thanks to the Reapers. Refugees were coming in droves. Viktor stood with his left hand in his trench coat pocket and his right in his suit pants. A Drell bumped into him and left a note and credits in his left suit pants pocket. He pulled it out and saw that it said 'BAY E13 PAY WITH THE CREDITS' he went to the bay and saw that it was an Asari luxury cruiser. He scanned it with his visor eyes and saw that it was outfitted with the latest everything from weapons to shields. When he got on after paying the docking fee he saw that it was equipped also with the latest navigational gear as well. He started the ship up and left when he got to the Mass Relay he stopped. Viktor opened a secure channel to Zar.

"Where are you at?" Viktor asked over the comm.

"We are in the Hades Nexus gathering platinum and eezo. See you soon old friend, Keelah Saliah." Viktor said Keelah Saliah and hung up. He always loved the Quarian people. They were so beautiful both inside and possibly out. He seemed to have a special relationship with them because he had grown up on Earth moving from city to city after he had ran away. When he found out that he had an aptitude for the thieving world he started getting involved with the Mafia. Almost everyone thought the Mafia died out long ago but those with the aptitude got in with them. When he got in he quickly moved to the top because of his great intellect. By the age of twenty he was the second in command of the Earth/Citadel Mafia. Viktor in a coup killed his predecessor and took hold of the Mafia. He soon turned it into a multi-trillion dollar enterprise. He then split it into two different companies now known as Elkoss Combine and Serrice Council. The Illusive Man thought that he had the most underground organization. Viktor laughed out loud in the silence. Viktor sat back recounting what all he owns and nobody knows. Except Liara thanks to her clever mind meld. Viktor swore now truly realizing what has happened. He pulled up his Omni-tool and triple secured a channel to Liara.

"Liara, answer me now" Viktor said sternly after waiting a moment.

"Sorry I was asleep. Do you need something?" Viktor knew she wasn't sleeping.

"Liara what all did you see when you kissed me." Liara hesitated. "Answer me" Viktor almost yelled as he pulled up a vid screen. She had a look of fear.

"What all haven't you told us?" Viktor just realized he just let the old him back in. Liara was scared of him and she now possibly knew what and who he truly was. "Viktor please, I want the truth." Viktor sighed. He decided it was time to let his story to be told.

"Liara, if I find out that my story is on a server in your database. You know what I am capable of. I am trying to turn a new leaf. That's why I was in Omega." Viktor paused, he was about to tell his life's story to an information broker. Viktor checked the nav computer, he still had a day or so before he reached the Flotilla. "So I was fourteen when I stared to climb the Mafia stairs."

Years ago

"Beat the shit out of him again." Viktor knew he had messed up. He knew that when the police showed up to the warehouse he was in trouble. Little did Shaun and Mikhael know that Viktor knew they called the police. They had always been jealous that Boss had taken Viktor in like a son. Viktor had been on to the two stooges for some time now. He had a bug put into their Omni-tools. The Boss was on his way here. Just as he finished the thought Mikhael hit Viktor so hard the chair he was tied to fell over. Suddenly the door to the room slung open and the biggest man you had ever seen walked through. Boss wore a red silk shirt under a big black trench coat and black pants. His hair was black, short, and slicked back. In a calm but very loud voice Boss said,

"What exactly is going on here?" As he said that around ten guards walked through heavily armed and pointed their guns at Shaun and Mikhael. Mikhael was stumbling over the words while Viktor smiled though bloody teeth.

"Sir this little imbecile led the police right to our warehouse on fifty-third" Boss told the guards to lower their weapons.

"Oh really." Boss said. He pulled up his Omni-tool and played a recording of the call Mikhael made to the police. Mikhael looked at Viktor as Viktor laughed. Boss walked over to Viktor and kneeled. He pulled a sword out of his trencher and cut his bindings. Viktor stood feeling accomplished but in pain. Shaun and Mikhael were bumbling on about how they were tricked into it by the other. Boss' face was unreadable, etched in stone as it were. Viktor at five feet nine inches tall was only just under Boss' pecks. Viktor looked up and Boss handed Viktor his sword. It was surprisingly light weighted. Boss leaned down and whispered in his ear.

"This is a Katana. It was used by the Samurai in ancient Japan. That was a sign of respect and fear in the ancient world. Show these men why and you can keep it and you can start to be my replacement when my time ends." Viktor hefted the weight of the blade. He walked towards the two that had caused him so much pain. First was Mikhael he walked over and said

"Kneel" Mikhael just stood begging for his life. Viktor took the blade and cut Mikhael's leg off below the knee. Mikhael hit hard and Viktor gracefully cut his head off in a kendo move he learned. Shaun started to run but was hit by one of the guards. "No, he's mine." Shaun got up and pulled a knife from his pocket. Viktor let him start to jab then in a grace full swing took his arm at the elbow and his leg as he stepped behind him. Shaun lay squirming and Viktor just watched him bleed out. Boss pulled up his Omni-tool and called in the 'Cleaners'. A special organization that Boss founded that did professional clean ups. Boss put his hand on his shoulder and whispered.

"I'm proud of you son." Viktor knew he wasn't his father and that calling him 'son' was symbolic more than love. They left the storehouse together and rode in a limo shuttle to and estate far out in the country on top of a mountain. All the way home Viktor couldn't stop thinking that this was the first time he had taken a life. Viktor knew this wouldn't be the last.

Over the next few years he would spend time as a professional assassin for the Mafia using only the Katana that Boss had given him he had worked his way up the ranks and was directly underneath Boss in command. Unlike Boss he preferred to oversee operations himself. Boss had often warned and praised him for thinking it might be trouble if the cops ever found out. Viktor knew he what he meant and didn't care. If jobs went right in the first place no cops would be there. And he was right.

In the years that led up to Viktor's final ascension to Boss Viktor had many run ins with the Shadow Broker and his ilk. Viktor always wore a mask so as not to draw attention to his face and so that when he planned to move to Boss no one would know who he was. The death mask he so often wore was black just like his suit and trench coat. He still had the Katana and would often practice in simulations and underground fighting rings. When he finally decided to make his move to Boss he was more than ready.

Viktor walked in Boss' study Katana in hand. His death mask was giving him readings on Boss' bodily functions. He slid the Katana into the sheathe. He grabbed the whiskey from the desk.

"Good afternoon father" Viktor said slowly, He poured himself a shot and knocked it back. Boss turned in his luxury swivel chair,

"Viktor have you read the reports on this Jack Harper or Illusive Man? His Cerberus is getting to be quite the bother." Viktor looked at him and poured Boss a glass.

"Yeah I actually just got back from a base of theirs. Snuck in and out with some very interesting cybernetic enhancement blueprints, the augmentations are wrong and the math is a little off but other than that I'm planning on getting it." Boss turned and took the drink and drank it quickly. Almost immediately Boss went into convulsions and went to the floor with foam coming out of his mouth. Boss looked at him and mouthed,

"Why?" Viktor looked at this man that was dying. The man who practically raised him. When he looked he didn't see that anymore. Ever since Boss had Viktor assassinate a father of three simply because he denied Boss protection money. He saw an evil that needed to be cleansed from the universe. Viktor quickly went into a fake fuss.

"Help! Somebody please help me Boss is dying" He ran to the door as guards came in. Everything moved in slow motion. He realized that he was about to become one of the most powerful men in the galaxy. They were in the hospital and all the underbosses were there. Viktor was head now, he had found a holo of Boss a year ago saying that Viktor would take over the family. They all respected him and none suspected a thing except a young Quarian named Zar who was their newest contact in the Flotilla. He was asking a few questions.

Viktor gave Zar a ride back to Viktor's new penthouse. When they got back Viktor and Zar immediately started talking about turning the Mafia into a more reputable organization on their way to the penthouse. Viktor and Zar had a profound dislike for Boss and when Viktor said what he did Zar said he did the right thing and that now they can move it towards more reputable things. Viktor liked this Quarian, he was extremely honest. They spent the next year 'getting rid' of all the more prominent bosses in the Mafia. Zar was brilliant and helped him perfect the cybernetics. When they had turned the Mafia into a thriving economical empire Viktor told Zar he was going to Omega to get the help of a Salarian doctor named Mordin. Zar said his Pilgrimage was coming to an end and thanked Viktor for all the ships he was going to donate to the Flotilla on his behalf. Zar and Viktor said their goodbyes. Viktor now put into action his plan to fake his death. He saw Zar's shuttle leaving and he blew the building.

As he was going down the chute he had specially designed to help him escape. Viktor told Zar about the plan so he wouldn't worry. Viktor hit the bottom of the chute hard and heard a snap in his right knee. He swore up and down and limped to his ship. As soon as he was in he took off and headed to Omega to see the Salarian. When he was near Omega he ran a scan on his leg. It was snapped in two and marrow was in his blood stream. Viktor knew he had a very short time before he would be dead.

Omega was a very strange place. Full of crime and no one to stop it. Viktor was starting to sweat and his vision was blurry. As he started to pass out he went into the clinic. When he walked in a Salarian grabbed him.

"Quickly get this man to operating room four," the Salarian said. Viktor whispered into the Salarians 'ear'.

"Get the plans from my Omni-tool, please doctor Solus. It's the only thing that can save me. My leg snapped into two pieces under the knee. I'll pay you to put the plans to my arms to" Viktor said as he passed out.

When he woke up he saw his arms were metallic and his muscles looked like industrial cords. Mordin walked in and started asking questions about where he got the plans and how they were beyond advanced. Viktor simply asked,

"How much can I bench now." Mordin looked at him like he was insane. Mordin started rambling on how unknown they variables were. Viktor threw back the covers and stood up. He almost hit the ceiling because when he stood up the cybernetics launched him into the air. He looked at the hospital bed that he used to be in. With two hands he wrenched it off the ground. He then let go of it with one hand and it stayed. Viktor laughed for the first time in years. He let go and immediately ran out of the clinic. His was the time for him to start over. This was how Viktor Bane the lone wolf, the freedom fighter, and avenging angel would rise.

Present day

"So that's my happy ever after." Viktor said with a trembling voice. "I'm coming up on my stop. I'm going to drop off the radar. Please don't put anything about me out there" Liara looked at him with a look of confusion.

"Of course but you are more powerful than even the Illusive Man. Why keep that a secret?"

"Because I change things from the darkness and shadows; hence why I faked my death. Then I was known as Death Mask for obvious reasons but now I must go. One day the universe will know but not now. Now if you don't mind I'm at my destination" Viktor hung up before she could answer. Liara had cheated him by kissing him acting like she was in love. Viktor knew she would not publish anything because he was her friend. He looked at the massive Flotilla. It was as amazing as he remembered.

"Your ship is untraceable. Please verify."

"I'm being expected by Lt. Admiral Zar. Please contact him and tell him Viktor Bane is here." Viktor sat back as docking clamps from Qwib Qwib.

"Ah yes Viktor Bane. You have our eternal gratitude for helping the lieutenant with his Pilgrimage." Viktor thanked him back and was told that he would be met by admiral Zorah.

"Admiral Zorah? When did she become Admiral?" The dock hand didn't answer but the light above his docking door came on and he quickly put on his old death mask and an enviro-suit then put his trench coat on over that. When the doors opened Tali rushed through and put her arms around his neck causing him to drop his cane. She let go as the quarantine team came on an doused everything with disinfectant spray.

"What are you doing here? I thought you would be with Shepard." Viktor told her about Zar and him being old friends and when she asked why he hadn't told him before Viktor simply said it slipped his mind and that they hadn't talked in years. She took his arm in hers and they walked through the ship. Tali filled him in on their plans to send someone to the Citadel to get more resources. Viktor offered to give her his credit chip so he could get far more. She declined saying he should keep what he had. Viktor said Zar had contacted him to help with the war not just watch. Tali looked at him and then accepted the out stretched hand. Zar met them and saluted Tali.

"Please Zar stop doing that." Tali said pleadingly

"Can't ma'am it's protocol." Zar said. Viktor laughed.

"Zar having respect for command where was that when we got arrested on the Citadel?" Viktor said laughing again. Zar who wore a completely black enviro-suit with a black visor wasn't a big Quarian but you could see every muscle underneath his suit. Zar was ripped in a way that made Bruce Lee look anorexic. Zar punched him in the exposed cyber arm. He quickly held his hand like he hit steel.

"Oh my god you did it?" Zar said in disbelief.

"Sure did. I also got the legs redone as well. We'll have to catch up later. I would like to be shown where I staying and a drink." Zar laughed and Tali rolled her silver eyes. They talked idly as they walked to a rather large room. Tali looked at Viktor and Zar stood at attention.

"You'll be staying with me" Tali said. Viktor felt his heart jump.

"Is that appropriate?" Tali looked like she was about to cry.

"Well don't thank me all at once." Tali said.

"Oh no I want to stay with you I mean it would great. I just wondered if the Admirals would fuss about it." Tali visibly perked up. Viktor loved her and he would have given his empire to be here. Zar and Tali both laughed at his stumbling. Viktor laughed too then said,

"Yeah, yeah laugh it up. Now where's my drink." Zar shook his head.

"You dope we don't have anything for you to drink. Amino based foods remember." Viktor didn't even think. Luckily he bought plenty to last him for at least a year.

"Don't fret I have my own private stores. And when your emissary goes to the Citadel I'll add some Jack Daniels to the list." They all laughed when Zar said he had terrible taste in liquor. Tali got a buzz from the Admirals and had to leave. Zar waited until the door shut.

"Have you tried to get into contact with your businesses? Or anything for that matter. You have the most powerful empire waiting to be moved into action." Viktor held up his hand silencing Zar.

"Everyone thinks Death Mask is dead, and he is Zar. I'm a new man and I won't have anyone know who I am. You are my only link to my past and I trust you more than anyone." Viktor said putting a hand on Zar's shoulder.

"And I you." Zar said putting his hand on Viktor's shoulder. Zar poured himself a drink from Tali's fridge as the door buzzer rang. When Viktor opened it the quarantine team had all Viktor's things.

"Hey corporal, tell the Admirals they can cannibalize the ship. I won't be leaving until Rannoch is free. Keelah Saliah." The quarantine team returned the salute and left his things. Zar took his leave to go and see to fleet affairs and left Viktor to arrange his things.

When Viktor got his things set up he started working on the grav-boots. He was working for the better part of an hour when Tali walked through the door looking very agitated. She went over to her sofa and sat down exhaling loudly. Viktor smiled under his death mask and said,

"Don't bust your speakers Tali" Tali slowly turned and looked at him.

"Just don't Vik. Just don't. The Admirals are pressing for this war and I think it's stupid. When I had time to sit down and talk with Legion, did you know that we started the war not the Geth?" Viktor got up from his work table and sat down beside her.

"What do you mean?" Viktor asked. Tali told how the Geth had gained consciousness. Tali said that when they began asking questions the Quarians panicked and tried to shut them down. When the Geth refused the shutdown sequences they tried physical shutdown. Failing that they left the planet and now they float among the stars.

"So it's actually my people's fault. So I'm second guessing if we deserve our planet." Tali started to go into tears. Viktor wrapped his arms around her.

"Hey. Hey now that's not true. When we win back Rannoch I'm gonna help you build that home for you and Shepard, and when you and Shepard are together after these damn Reapers are gone you and he can live happily ever after. Just like that movie you like." Tali looked at Viktor and squeezed his neck. She let go and Viktor stood up and went back to work.

After a few days the boots Viktor had made turned into small slip-ons that he could put over his regular armor. Viktor slipped them on and was actually able to levitate slightly. On one trial run he accidentally slammed into the ceiling and knocked himself out for an hour according to Tali. Viktor was tweaking the algorithms for the lev-boots when he got a summons to meet the Admirals. Viktor got up and ran to the meeting room. When he got there the Admirals were their podium. Tali looked quite professional. Viktor thought it was kinda cute. He put the thought out of his mind because the Admirals brought the room to silence. When everyone was silent Admiral Koris spoke.

"Viktor we have called you here to accept you into our flock. We would like to extend a hand to you and ask if you would like to be one of us." Viktor was dumbfounded and just looked up at them. Koris continued, "We are aware of your past history with Zar," Viktor immediately looked at Zar and Zar shook his head slightly. Viktor knew he hadn't told them everything. "Zar has told us about how you gave him the small fleet and how you helped him escape his criminal past. You have made more contributions to our fleet then most of our people. We are not forcing this upon you, and if you accept you will be given a place among us in the research and development fleet under the express command of Admiral Daro'Xen. Viktor take your time, when you have made a decision you can contact us. This is the first time we have let an alien into the fleet as a Quarian." Viktor was overwhelmed with emotion. He was just unable to really say anything at all. When he started to talk he couldn't. Viktor simply walked from the room and back to Tali's apartment. He sat down on her couch and just waited. He heard the door open and Tali sat down beside him. She just sat there with him letting silence do the talking. When he was ready to give his decision to the Admirals Viktor found that his mouth was completely dry. He went to his little nook he made and poured himself a shot of skyllian rum and started to the Admiralty meeting room. There were so many people there and Viktor was nervous. He had risen from the dirt like a phoenix from ash on Earth and now here he was quivering in front of Quarians. He was more than happy to help them but he was going to make a few demands.

"So have you made a decision?" Koris asked.

"Admirals and the Quarian people I have decided to accept your offer and become one of you. I have a few questions first." The Quarians had a murmur of agreement. Koris looked slightly agitated.

"Yes what do you want?" Viktor looked around.

"You all know over the past few days that I have expressed the utmost respect for you all. But in order for me to work at my optimal capacity I am going to need my old ship back and if anyone would so desire a crew for said ship. I want to work towards the goal of taking Rannoch" Viktor finished the later in a loud cheer and yelled Keelah Se'lai. The entire room erupted into cheers and when the Admirals calmed everyone down Tali was shaking her head and Shala had her visor in her hands. Koris, Gerrel, and Xen stood still.

"We will agree to give you a ship and you can start looking for a crew. We will have you promoted to Captain immediately. I have to ask why you want all of this responsibility so suddenly." Koris asked. Viktor was adamant; he was going to do ground ops.

"Admirals please don't take this as an insult, but with your immune systems like they are. I plan on running black ops on the home world when we arrive. While they concentrate on you in space I can sneak in and systematically shutdown their servers. All you have to do is say the word." The Admirals looked surprised and happy at the same time. Xen spoke up now in that snooty voice that Viktor hated her, she was insane.

"Are we to believe that you will selflessly put yourself in harm's way for our home world?"

"No Admiral I am going to selflessly put myself in harm's way for 'our' home planet. If Zar has filled you in on mine and his past, let me fill you in on my personal past. I was an orphan at a young age, I had run away from an abusive family. A mafia king brought me in and I was raised to see the worst of humanity. I was on Earth when the Reapers showed up. I didn't want it to happen but I felt no more sadness than you do right now. I have been wanting a home. So when Zar contacted me about Rannoch I saw a chance to start over and have a home. So please give me a chance." A murmur started among the admirals and spectators. The admirals turned and were talking while Viktor looked around trying to eye what his display might have done. He started to scratch his chin and then realized he was still wearing his mask and laughed at himself. When the Admirals looked back they looked happy. Tali was the one to speak this time.

"We the Admiralty Board have decided that you will be the acting captain of the ship now called S'er. When can you start getting a crew together?" Viktor smiled underneath his helmet.

"Immediately."