Nihlus cautiously approached the space port. He took cover behind some crates. There was someone there... a turian. He moved in closer. With his back to a crate he peeked around the corner to get a better look. He couldn't see the face. He left cover and pointed his rifle, prepared to fire. His face relaxed, his eyes grew wide. He lowered his weapon.

"Saren?" Nihlus said in disbelief.

Saren turned to face the turian. "Nihlus."

"This isn't your mission, Saren." Nihlus said with authority. He wasn't Saren's pupil anymore. He held a taloned hand up with a shrug. Defensive.

"What are you doing here?" He felt like a cadet again, being doubted.

"The Council thought you could use a little help on this one." Saren said as he walked casually over to Nihlus and put a reassuring claw on his old protege's shoulder, then passed by him.

"I wasn't expecting to find the geth here. This situation's bad." Nihlus confessed to his friend.

His eyes were drawn to the monolithic ship that hovered near by with it's arches of electric power cascading over the tentacle like extentions. He lowered his head for a second in thoughts of Shepard and her safety. He knew she could handle herself, but he still worried. They didn't train for geth. No one had seen them in...

"Don't worry. I've got the situation under control."

Saren's voice interrupted his thoughts from behind him.

Nihlus' features furrowed into a defeated expression. Saren had come to take over. Had the Council lost faith in his abilities? Why had they really sent his old mentor?

Saren pulled out his gun and aimed it at the back of Nihlus' head. It was for the best.

Nihlus heard the click of an armor weapons release clip behind him. He checked the area for hostiles. He saw none. He heard the safety release. Alarms went off and training and survival instincts kicked in at full blast. He ducked at the last second before Saren's gun fired where his head had been. He didn't wonder why Saren had tired to kill him. He just reacted. Saren would know his fighting style. He had to do something his 'friend' wouldn't expect, besides dodging the bullet.

Nihlus kicked out a leg, hitting Saren above the ankles and knocking him to the ground. Saren may have been more experienced, but Nihlus was younger. He moved quickly, while Saren was still down, to land a hard blow with his elbow to the unshielded neck of his former mentor. It crushed Saren's windpipe.

Saren grabbed at his throat, pushing Nihlus off of him with one powerful arm. He couldn't breath. Somehow Nihlus had dodged a point blank bullet. Perhaps he underestimated him, or trained him too well. He smiled up at his former student before sweeping out his own leg. Nihlus hit the ground, face first. Blue blood splattered the pavement. Saren rolled onto his knees and pushed himself up, ignoring his screaming lungs. He stretched his neck, hoping to open the air ways. It helped, but the path was still partially blocked. To his right, Nihlus was recovering his stance. Saren rushed over to kick him in the more exposed area of his waist. The force sent the young turian tumbling across the floor.

Saren was charging at him. He had to get up, fast. There was a fire burning in the corner, maybe he could use that. Nihlus rolled out of the way and jumped to his feet just as Saren came sailing through the air to pounce on him. It was Saren's turn to color the pavement with blood. Nihlus mounted his prey, landing a blow to the back of Saren's head, smashing his face into the pavement once more. He grabbed the plate at the base of Saren's neck, ripping off the strip of them in one quick motion. Blood poured out of Saren's neck like the screams from his throat. Nihlus had every intention of pulling out Saren's spine. It was exposed, centimeters from his capable talons, but he hesitated. The shock of betrayal setting in as well as the realization that he would have to explain Saren's death to the Council. It was enough time for Saren to thrust up and throw Nihlus to the blood covered ground. Saren howled his rage and agony before charging Nihlus. The young Spectre scrambled to his feet and managed to avoid the talons that would have tore out his throat. He heard gun shots not to far off.

"Shepard!" He breathed. She was coming.

Saren heard the shots through his rage. He was in no condition to take on back up. His lungs were screaming for more air. He was loosing too much blood. His head pounded inside his skull. Saren locked glaring eyes on Nihlus.

"I could have spared you the agony of your death, Nihlus," He choked out the words between gasps. "But you have chosen the way of pain! The Reapers are coming. They will wipe our time from the face of the galaxy. Join me... join Sovereign, and you may live!"

The beaten turian held out his talons in offering. He was hunched and his breathing was labored. The bleeding was slowing as the wound was filled with medi-gel from his suit. Nihlus shook his head and pulled out his gun, aiming at Saren's head.

"You've changed, Saren. You've lost sight of what it is to be a Spectre. I can't let you leave." He paused for a moment, mourning the loss of his friend. "I'm sorry."

"Not as sorry as I am!" Saren seethed.

The pain in his lower abdomen threatened to cripple him, forcing him to take several steps backward. He felt the crates shift against his back and he leaned into them cupping a hand over the wound. Cobalt colors fluid leaked out between his fingers.

Saren had been quick to draw a pistol hidden under his armor. Something Nihlus had not expected. He heard shouting. Shepard's team was topping the hill. While he and Saren had been fighting, geth had taken cover around them. Shepard flung one into the rock wall in a wave of biotic power, smashing it against the side of the cliff. Saren had seen the same thing he'd just witnessed and glowered at him before running off toward the transports.

"Damn it!" Nihlus swore. "Why isn't the medi-gel working?" He wondered allowed. He hoped Shepard would get to him before he bleed out.