I'm on a roll! I have to warn you now though don't expect a very regular update. It will fluctuate here and there depending on my free time and mood. But here is the newest installment for your pleasure. =] Reviews are appreciated.

However before you read on I have to apologize for a couple of things that Helljumper_1337 has brought to my attention:

1. I cannot believe I have gone through this whole time spelling Shepard as Shepherd. A very stupid mistake to make but one that I have already corrected.
2. Apparently according to the novels Batarians find humans ugly. My only way around this is that since some humans are into sick things like beastality, perhaps some batarians find the thrill in humans?

A warning, rape and murder is mentioned in this chapter. I know, kind of strange how that comes up so often, but it's because I spend a lot of my time fighting for women's rights and safety and all that, it is on my mind quite often.

Year 2176; 5 years and 4 months has passed since the last chapter.

Shepard is 21 and Sky is 22.

Shepard has been in the military for 6 years; Sky has been in the C-Sec for 5.

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"So… How was your day Sky?"

The ever-clear, deep, double-based voice of a turian vibrates gently in my right ear through the disguised com. I roll my eyes and resist the urge to throw something at a wall as I walk through the smoke filled club clad in so little clothing I my as well not be wearing anything at all. The skin-tight black leather clings so close to my body that it acts like a second skin, leaving very little to the imagination. The outfit has a strange alluring shape that makes me feel like my breasts are spilling out of it and my rear is exposed for the whole world to see. To make matters worse my feet are graced in a pair of black thigh-high stiletto boots that make me look like any regular hooker, and I am balancing a tray of drinks in my right hand. Around me the asari strippers are dressed in something similar, bumping and grinding to the beat. Needless to say, I feel highly, highly uncomfortable at the moment. Hence why I do not find it extremely amusing that the turian finds this entertaining.

"Hey, do you know that everyone turns to stare at your butt whenever you walk pass? You have an amazing walk you know, you should model."

I grit my teeth in frustration and bite the urge to slam the Martini I have in my hands right on top of the seemingly innocent looking turian sitting in the corner of the club. Instead I school my features and continue on my journey to the opposite side of Archo's- Citadel's most shady and seedy hangout spot for the regular criminals, 'Gentlemen's Club' my ass. However, I am really curious as to the name it held, I swear it was called Chora's Den when I played ME. Then again, it has been almost 6 years since I indulged in that RPG so perhaps my memory is getting a little hazy. Better go home to re-check my notes just in case.

Having taken up Psychology for A-Levels I knew that the longer I spent in the world of Mass Effect, the worse my memory of the details would become. So I took the liberty to spend an entire week writing down every single thing I could remember about the game, just in case I would require it in the future. The past 6 years haven't proven me wrong for day by day I began to lose little bits of information about everything. It was tedious, mind-wrecking work at the time. But I am very thankful for it now.

"You know what? Maybe you should wear that everyday from now on. We would get jobs done SO much easier! All you have to do is bend down a little bit, and 'BAM' I can hit them while they are distracted and its lights out."

"Chellick, shut the hell up." I whisper into my hand as I disguise it to be a cough. Even without turning my head I can imagine the flare of his mandibles that I have come to realize happens whenever he finds something highly amusing, a little bit like a human's grin.

"Awh Sky, why so mean? Just a little bit of-" The com goes silent for a bit and I nearly stumble with worry. But instead of turning around to check I smile sweetly at the human patron before me and set his drink on the table. "Stay sharp. They're here, three o'clock."

I take the money that the man hands me and return to the bar to pass it to the bartender. "You sure about this? Mind you, I don't really have much experience with all this."

"You'll do fine. Just be confident, smile, and touch them a lot. My research shows that they prefer humans to asaris anyway. And since you are the only other female human here aside from the two waitresses, you're pretty much good to go."

I straighten my back and push my strained breasts out even more. "Alright, here goes nothing."

"There is nothing to worry about. They are already staring at you like a pack of vultures."

I approach our targets at their round booth. Before me sat the three most (suspected) notorious rapists I have ever come across. Not only do they do incredibly sick and sadistic things to their victims until their death, they also enjoyed hacking apart and defiling their corpses. Looking at their supposedly innocent faces makes me want to shoot out their brains there and then. But I can't, we need solid proof to place these guys behind bars and that is my aim for tonight. "Good evening gentlemen. What can I get you today?" I say in a sickeningly sweet voice. The three men sitting at their places resembles Chellick's description down to the mole on one of their faces. They are reasonably good-looking men, in their late 30s, all with a hint of stubble growing on their faces. It is no wonder why their victims fall for their plans so easily. 10 human women over the past two months, and that number grows larger as more time passes. According to Chellick, the most gruff looking one is called John, he is the leader of the 'pack'; the other two are named Wilson and Groft. The three are obviously out tonight looking for their newest victim.

Their scheming stops here.

The one called John looks me up and down with such a predatory gaze that I have to keep myself from shivering. I maintain the innocent, sweet look on my face as I look at them expectedly. "We'll have three house specials." He finally says, but his eyes never leave my chest. The inner Sky rolls her eyes in disgust. "And we'll give you a very large tip if you would get a fourth and join us."

I giggle and brush my fingers on the low-hanging necklace that lie on the crevice of my breasts almost bashfully. "That is really sweet of you but I'm not allowed to drink on the job."

A hand begins brushing up and down the back of my thighs and I bite my lip in attempt to resist the urge to break that said hand. I look to the owner of it, Groft, trying to keep the mask of shyness on my face and the rage hidden. "Just one drink honey? It won't hurt much. And, I'm sure if you pass this to your boss," he hands me a 100 credits. "he won't mind if you take a break."

Wow these guys are persistent. On the bright side, they are making this job easy for me. I lower my head as though giving way to their demands and nod slowly. "Okay, I'll ask him."

Twenty minutes later I found myself pressed in between John and Wilson, laughing my supposedly intoxicated ass off. "I am so so sorry!" I cry out in embarrassment when I finally stopped laughing. "I told you guys I am lightweight but none of you would listen to me! Now I don't think I can even work anymore." I pout in what I hope is a cute manner.

"Oh sweetheart, our sincerest apologies. But don't worry, you won't get fired or anything. Tell you what. If you would come home with us tonight I will transfer a 1000 credits to both yours and your employers account right now so that they would forgive you for missing one night."

I stare at Groth with a bewildered look on my face. "A 1000 credits? Oh wow, that is a lot of money. I could pay my rent for this month with that." I look on in worry. "But- your home? What do you expect from me?"

"Oh nothing much. We just want to make sure you have a safe place to stay for tonight. I don't really like a woman being home alone by herself especially one as beautiful as you." I nearly gag in response for at the same time he said that, Wilson's hand began traveling up my thighs. Before his limb could go any further I stand up.

"Okay! Why not? It will be fun! Like a slumber party!" I giggle and stumble, only to be saved by John's supportive arm.

I didn't miss the sadistic glance that was passed from each man to another, but I feign ignorance, laughing shrilly while chatting away happily as the men guide me out of the club. At the corner of my eye I can see a turian stand up to settle his bill. It makes me feel more at ease to know that he will be right there, every step of the way.

The men lead me towards a very quiet and empty area at the bottom of the club. It looks strangely familiar, but again my blurry memory of ME 1 doesn't really help. Not to mention I wasn't exactly lying when I said I was lightweight. The amount of alcohol that I had to down was not very far from my limit. I am having trouble keeping with the sway of the room. Then the group stops.

I look around and giggle. "Is this where you live?"

John laughs. "No." Suddenly the Mr Nice Guy masks comes off at I can swear that his eyes glint red in the dim lighting. "But this will be where you stop living."

I allow true and raw fear to leak into my eyes as I take steps backwards. I didn't count on this happening. I thought I would at least have time to reach their usual place of action where our back up are currently stationed at. They are changing their MO for tonight. I feel a pang of regret, I should have guessed. Isn't it basic criminology that serial killers' crimes get progressively worse the further deep they fall? Damn Sky, you idiot. This mistake could very well cost you your life.

"Hey. Relax, I'm with you." Whispers a calm voice over the com, soft enough so that the three murderers cannot hear it. "I decided to follow you instead." Thank God. Despite all the endless teasing that came from my partner, he always had the ability to pull through when it really mattered. I could kiss him right now. "Say the safety phrase Sky, and I'll get you out of there. But I need you to say the safety phrase."

The safe word, 'my brother Owen'. With those three words I know that the Chellick would tear out of the corner he is currently hiding behind, guns blazing. But in doing that I also know that we would lose the only opportunity of a lead we have. I cannot let that happen. Not after we have worked this hard to get to this place, besides if not me, they would hurt so many other women, so many other families…

No, I have to end this today.

"Wha-what do you mean?" My voice trembles, "who are you people?"

Groft cackles evilly. "Who do you think Missy? Dark area, alone by yourself, stupid enough to follow three complete strangers. Well... We're the infamous Branding Killers of course."

The 'Branding Killers' is the name the media dubbed the three mysterious culprits of the murders all around Citadel. This was because they had a habit of 'branding' their victims with their initials, J.G.W. When the case first came to our attention we original thought it was one man who was stupid enough to label his name for us. It took us a while to realize that no, it was not one man, but three, and the names they used for each other are just codenames.

All this while a strategy has been forming in my head. Serial killers who have managed to get away with their crimes this far along normally became very proud and obsessive about their work. If I could make them admit what they had done exactly, in terms of what was not released to the media, then we would have them. Calling themselves the Branding Killers is not enough evidence.

I scoff. "You three? As if. You three look too weak and too stupid to get away with what they have done." I take a step forward in defiance. "You know what I think? I think you three are idiotic copy cats that are trying to act cool and that's all."

There was a flash of rage in John's eyes before he shoves me into the wall so hard that my head slams against the concrete. Bright spots explode in my vision as a high pitch ringing resounds through my ears. "You bitch." He spits in my face before his hand comes up to grab my neck. He easily lifts my 55kg weight off the floor grinning as I choke and claw at his hands.

"Dammit Sky, what the fuck are you doing? These men aren't your regular criminals!" asks the concerned voice of Chellick.

"You know what we are going to do to you? How about I tell you in detail because I love seeing such stupid wenches sweat." John presses his body up to mine and whispers in my ear. "Like our first victim, we are going to take our own sweet time raping every orifice of your sweet body until they bleed and tear." His hands run up my inner thighs and at the same time he grinds his erection onto my leg. "Like our second we are then going to cut all your pretty little digits off and- I don't know, use them as dog food? Like our third, we will remove your tongue, eyes, and those straight white teeth of yours, without anesthesia of course." He giggles in glee, obviously excited by the prospect of blood being spilt. "Like our fourth, after you have left us to join the spiritual world we shall slice you into mini little pieces and leave you for the police to find. How about that?"

I gurgle in response and he loosens his grip slightly. "What was that?" he asks, smirking.

"I said," I rasp out. "My brother Owen will kill you."

All three of them bellow out laughter's that echo throughout the area. "And you think we are afraid of your brother?"

"No." Calls out another voice, a voice that I have never been so glad to hear before. "But you should be afraid of me."

I lift my right leg up with as much force as I can muster, hitting John in the groin with my knee. His grip on my neck immediately slackens as he lets out a shout of pain and drop to the floor, hands cradling his goods. At the same time, my turian partner slams his three-fingered fist into the Wilson's surprised face, knocking him to the ground. Groft recovers from his surprise and runs toward Chellick but the turian doesn't even bat an eyelash before he side-steps his clumsy tackle and shoves his hardened elbow into the back of Groft's neck, causing instantaneous paralysis.

And just like that, our entire two months of hard work comes to an anticlimactic close. I walk over to the doubled over John just as Chellick calls reinforcements in to deal with the mess. Placing the edge of my heel on his temple, I apply enough pressure for him to begin squirming in discomfort. "For the women you have killed, for the people you have hurt and the family you have destroyed I should drive my heel into your brain right now." I press down a little harder and the pain from his groin is momentarily forgotten as I dig deep enough to draw blood. "But instead I'll let the families take the pleasure of delivering you to your execution." He sighs in relief as I remove my boot from his view. But before he could react in any way I lift it back up and slam down on his crotch with all the strength that I can muster. There is a sickening crack, followed by the screams of a man in true agony. I turn around with a huff. "You can handle the rest Chellick. I'm going to get out of this disgusting costume."

The turian grins and shakes his head in admiration before nodding. "Alright. You get out of here or you are going to miss the shuttle."

"Thanks partner. You're the best." I reach out and rub the shoulder pad of his armor affectionately. When we first started working together my intimate gestures freaked him out. I was quick to gather that turians are not physically intimate creatures. But it is not something I can help. It all comes natural to me; if I'm in the presence of someone I trust and care about I enjoy being in physical contact with them one way or another. After being my partner for 3 years he has gotten used to it, chalking it all up to be a 'Sky' thing.

"Wish Jane a Happy Birthday for me."

"If I can get there on time!" I call out as I rush out of the little underground passage. Then it comes to my realization why this place looks so familiar, it was where Shepard first meets Tali in ME1.

Huh, pretty cool.

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"What? What do you mean it has been canceled?" I cry in outrage at the C-Sec officer before me. He shifts nervously, clearly uncomfortable for having to stop an evidently very impatient and irritable superior.

"Sorry ma'am. It appears that there is a situation going on. All civilian transportation to that general area is currently on hold."

No no no. This is not happening. I cannot miss Jane's 22nd birthday! Especially since this is the first time she has been given proper shore leave when I am free in 5 bloody years.

"I demand to know the situation."

The officer fidgets. "I'm afraid I do not know much ma'am. Only that transportation has been cancelled."

I narrow my gaze and send him a death glare. "Look officer, I am running very, very thin on patience right now for I am late for a very, very important event. Even a nitwit can tell that you are lying. I can very well contact C-Sec to ask for the real details but how about you save me that time by telling me what the hell is going on."

The boy gulps. Shooting sideways glances around him to check that no one else is around, he then leans forward slightly and whispers in a very low tone. "We're forbidden from telling anyone outside the investigation because it might cause a wide-spread panic but-"

"Elysium is under attack."

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Dum dum duuumm. Not a very big cliffhanger. But a mini cliff all the same, perhaps a step?

Let me know what you think.

Oh I forgot to mention before, Bioware owns almost everything but my OC!

Till next time.

xx

ps. longest chapter ever!