Zrocker119: Something really important has happened...I got my first full on hate Review!(confetti falls from nowhere) I'll tell you though, had I gotten that review when I first started writing on this sight I would've been offended an gotten upset. Now though, I just found the whole thing to be really fricking hilarious. I mean if somebody wants to waste their time writing a review saying how shitty my story is then sure go ahead. You do you man, you do you.

Be warned for some serious bull shitting in the beginning of this chapter. Also I edited the 2nd and 3rd chapter. I didn't change much, just that I made it so that Alex's weapons no longer completely ignore shields. That's it.

-DOOM Effect-

I stayed silent throughout the whole ride to the police station. Even when we got there and the officers tossed me into a cell, I didn't speak a word. They only time I did speak was when they asked me to remove my armor. They couldn't tell because of my helmet, but I stared at them blankly and said.

"Sure, if you want me to sit in here with nothing on besides a pair boxer briefs, then I'll do just that."

That ended any and all talk of me taking off my armor. I did take my helmet off though.

Not too long after that, I was taken to an interrogation room and put in a chair. I didn't struggle even when they cuffed me to the table. I could easily break them but I didn't feel like making a scene. They're just cops trying to do their job.

I did the only thing that I could, and that is sit and wait.

Didn't have to wait for very long as the door slid opened and somebody walks in. I curse internally as I see who it is.

First I run into Tali on a slaving ship. And now...

"Hello," Says a familiar looking Turian. "I'm Investigator Garrus Vakarian."

I do my best to keep a straight face. But god damn me and my shitty luck!

Garrus takes a seat across from me and pulls up his omni tool. "Alexander Cater, born and raised on Earth. Son to Jon and Samantha Carter, younger sibling of Gregory Carter. All deceased." Good thing I'm good at hiding my emotions otherwise I'd be giving Garrus a fierce scowl, "Your file doesn't show any sort of aggressive tendencies other than the occasional bar fight."

He forgot to mention my hostile take over of a slaver ship but I choose not to comment.

Garrus taps away at his arm until images of Fist appear between us. "Care to tell me why you suddenly decided to hospitalize this man?"

"...He had it coming." I say not looking away from the pictures. "If not from me then eventually it would've been somebody else...At this moment though I'm sure he's wishing for the latter."

"You tore the mans leg off," Garrus says hotly. "Fist's a known criminal but that doesn't give you the right-"

My chair hits the floor as I rocket to my feet. "That fucker tripped the alarm at my bosses work, waited for him to leave his house, then sent in his goons and had them hospitalize my bosses, no my friends wife while her children were present. DON'T YOU FUCKING TELL ME THAT I HAD NO RIGHT TO DO WHAT I DID!"

"You don't," Wow I didn't think Garrus could glare like that. "That's what C-sec is for."

I laugh dryly at his insult, "Please, you just said that Fist is a known criminal, and yet two children that I see as my own niece and nephew are waiting at the hospital in hopes that their mother will be alright. All because you didn't do your fucking job and put Fist away." It's a low blow but I'm fucking livid about this whole damn situation.

Garrus seems to contemplate my words. He hits a thing on his omni tool and I see the camera in the corner of the room shut off. "I don't always like following protocol but even I've got my limits to what I'll do to get the job done. What you did to that man, regardless of him being a criminal, goes past those limits." The camera comes back on.

Taking a deep breath I force myself to calm down. "Unless you've got something else to add, I think we're done here."

It has been four days since I was arrested. Not much has really happened.

I was taken back to a holding cell shortly after Garrus had left the room. Not the best first impression, in fact it's probably my worst one to date. With my helmet back on I wait for what comes next.

I had a lot of time to sit and think though.

'Did I act too rash?' I couldn't help but think to myself. 'No. C-sec wouldn't have been able to tie Fist into anything. The bastard would've gotten away scot free.' What had me worried though was how I acted during the whole ordeal. I showed no emotion what to ever when I tortured Fist. The sound of his screams didn't phase me in the slightest.

Just like when I killed demons. But Fist wasn't a demon, he's a human being. But at the time, I saw him as nothing but another monster that I wanted to rip to pieces.

I stare at my hands. Clenching them tightly I think, 'What the hell am I becoming?'

The door opens and an officer stands at the opening. "You're free to go sir."

"Why?" I ask glancing at him. My faceless visor must have made an unnerving sight.

"Orders from the higher ups."

Well this isn't suspicious at all. Standing up I follow him into through the building. We pass by Garrus who I look at out the the corner of my vision.

He looks very displeased with something and is arguing with who I assume is his higher up. He seems to loose his argument and looks my way with venom in his gaze. They must have been arguing about my release.

I could care less of what he thinks of me at the moment. I'll have plenty of time to reconcile with him once we're on the Normandy.

I soon find myself outside, the artificial sun light reflecting off of my visor. I take no more than two steps when someone familiar starts walking beside me.

"You bring a skycar?" I ask not turning to an agitated Miranda.

She walks ahead of me and I follow. We reach her vehicle, get in and are soon in the air heading for home.

"How did you get me out?"

"We've got agents all over the Citadel." She replies smoothly. "Even inside of C-sec."

Of course they do. I'm not even surprised by this point. They do manages to, almost, overthrow the Citadel in the third game after all.

We send the rest of the flight is silence. Or at least that what she would probably want but I can't help but say one more thing.

"I'm surprised that you haven't said anything about me getting arrested."

"There's a time and place for everything." Oh yeah, she's plenty pissed. "We'll be talking about what happened soon enough."

"Looking forward to it."

The first thing I do when we get back to the apartment is head for the shower. Having spent the last four days in my armor, I smell like shit.

Setting the shower on full blast I let out a sigh of relief as the near scalding water washes over me.

Twenty minutes later I step out with a towel around my waist. I bust out the shaving cream and razor and get to work on removing the 5 o'clock shadow that I have going on. As I finish up I notice that my right eye has completely changed.

What used to be forest green with a red outline is now a sickly yellow with red on the edges. Closing my eyes, I shake my head and look back into the mirror. My eye had gone back to normal, but I can see faint traces of yellow in it.

Before I realize what I'm doing I rear my fist back and punch the mirror. It shatters and cracks spiderweb across its reflective surface. I remove my hand from it, ignoring the shards stuck in my knuckles.

'What the fuck is happening to me?!'

Running a hand through my hair I pick the bits of mirror out of my hand and put on a pair of underwear and pajama bottoms.

I head into the living room and find Miranda sitting on the love seat tapping away on her omni tool. She turns to say something but stops when she notices my bleeding hand.

"It'll heal. I'll pay for the mirror tomorrow." I say over my shoulder as I go into kitchen and start rummaging through the cabinets. A few moments of searching later I pull out an unopened bottle of Blanton's bourbon.

Cracking it open I take a good long swig, "Alright...nag away."

Miranda closes her omni tool and pins me with a glare. "Do you know how much of a risk Cerberus took to get you released?"

I think on her question for a moment. If memory serves me right, then there aren't that many humans in C-sec during the time of the first game. And given that there are still months between now and the start of the game, that number must be even lower.

Miranda doesn't wait for my answer, "We're lucky that the man you hospitalized is a well known and hated criminal. Had it been anyone else then you would've never gotten released, short of breaking out."

"Can I know who got me out? I'd like to buy him or her a drink."

She is not amused. "Are you capable of taking anything serious? And will you put the drink down! I don't need you going and getting drunk!" She didn't yell, but the underlining rage made it clear that she wasn't going to tolerate any shit from me.

To bad for her though, I currently couldn't give a flying fuck. While looking her in the eye I bring the bottle to my lips, tilt it back and proceed to drink the whole bottle. I even smack my lips in satisfaction.

"Relax princess. One of the side effects of my enhancements is that I can no longer get drunk. Trust me I've tried." Setting the empty bottle down I lay myself out over the couch.

"What are you doing."

"I'm going to try and fall asleep on this very comfortable couch."

"We aren't done talking." I swear to what ever god you believe in, that the room got colder when she spoke.

"Talk away." Folding my hands behind my head I close my eyes. The couch felt like heaven compared to what I had to use for the bast three nights.

The temperature drops even further. I should real get the AC looked at. "I don't understand why The Illusive Man agreed to your terms. If it were up to me, you would've been captured and taken to one of our facilities for study."

'At least she's honest.' I think dryly. "Then it's a good thing that you're not in charge. You'd have a shit ton of paperwork to do after I kill all of the guys you would've sent."

"Arrogance is unbecoming of you."

"After all of the shit I've been through, I think I've earned the right to be a little arrogant."

A few moments of silence pass between us. With a sigh I say. "I realize that what I did was stupid. I knew that going into that club. But that fucker hurt one of the few people that I hold dear and he had to pay. I don't expect someone as cold as you to understand."

The only response I get it that sound of her walking away and a door opening and closing.

'Good talk Alex,' I berate myself. 'Good talk.'

Several months have passed since I was released from C-sec and things between Miranda and I have been pretty rocky. Even though I stay out of trouble I can tell that she barely tolerates my presence. She hasn't been outright hostile but she hasn't been friendly either.

Miranda would disappear every once in awhile to over see other projects and Cerberus cells. Not too surprised really. As the second in command, she has better things to do than watch(cough babysit cough) my ass.

As surprising as it may sound there are times when we do get along. They may be few and far between but they do happen. It's mostly during the times that we spar with one another, which we do a lot.

She helps me out with my martial arts, which I have been neglecting lately, and I help her when it comes to fighting an opponent that can resist her biotics. We're pretty even when it comes to fighting. I have reach and brute force, while she has biotics and flexibility.

We don't hold back all that much either. The only reason neither of us have gotten seriously injured is because of our heightened healing factors.

I discovered that there is something that I have one over her though and that is my skills in that kitchen. She tried making breakfast one time and well...calling it a disaster would be a severe understatement.

I told her as much and she responded with.

"I'd like to see you try and do better."

I only wish that I had taken a picture of her face when I did just that. Safe to say that I was in charge of preparing the food from that point onward.

Another thing is that my nightmares haven't gone away. In fact they're getting worse. Luckily Miranda hasn't seemed to really take notice. The few times that she's seen me tired I just wave it off and say that I didn't get much sleep.

I can tell that she doesn't fully believe me but I'm just glad that she hasn't pushed the issue.

For now that is.

I struggle to stay standing as my body glows purple from Miranda increasing my body's mass. The two of us are currently in a Cerberus owned warehouse that we use for practicing our skills.

I keep standing for another 20 seconds before collapsing to the floor. I'm stuck like this for several seconds before the pressure lets up.

"You lasted 12 seconds longer than last time."

Flipping over so that I'm now I my back I see Miranda standing over me and immediately wish that I stayed facing the ground. Instead of her usual body suit Miranda is wearing a black sports bra and shorts, leaving a whole lot of her flawless skin showing.

The games never said how comfortable Miranda is with her body and that she has no problem showing it off. Then again given what her normal attire is I shouldn't be too surprised.

Regardless, it takes all of my willpower to keep myself from getting aroused. Not an easy feat when she's standing right over me, giving me a perfect view of which to admire her curves.

'God I need to get laid.'

"It would seem that your body is adapting to the effects of my biotics." Miranda says wiping away a small trail of blood from her nose. "I almost gave myself a migraine from trying to bring you down."

Finding my footing I stand up and wipe away the sweat that had accumulated on my forehead. "Don't push yourself so far next time. The last thing I want is for you to make yourself pass out." Miranda may not like me all that much, but I can't say the same. She's really grown on me over the course of these last few months.

"Alex it's almost time for the party." VEGA says through my earpiece.

'Thanks for the heads up VEGA.' Activating my omni tool I check the time. "We're gonna have to cut today's session short."

Miranda looks at me quizzically before she remembers what was going on later today. "Right, you've got that party to go to."

"You can still come you know. The offer still stands." I say trying to sway her.

"I don't do well around children." Before I can argue more she heads towards the back where the showers and changing room is. "No means no Carter." That's another thing. Since we started rooming together Miranda has been calling me by my last name. I've tried convincing her to call me Alex but she wouldn't listen.

She's still in her Cerberus cheerleader mode, but it won't be too much longer until I break through that huge layer of ice she keeps herself wrapped up in.

'Well I tried.' Shrugging off her refusal I get changed into my casual clothes and leave, but not before calling out. "I'll try and be back at a reasonable time."

"Try to not get arrested this time!" She calls back.

'And here I thought she didn't have a sense of humor.' "Are you ever going to let that go?" I receive no answer. "I'll take that as a no!"

Leaving the warehouse I start making my way towards Harg's shop. Harg and I had cleared the place out of any weapons in preparations for the party. Before I get there though, I have one stop to make.

Buy the time I make it to the shop, the party is just getting started. I see multiply Asari, and a few Turians going inside. Walking into the shop I announce my arrival. "I'm not too late to the party am I?"

"Uncle Alex!"

And I am promptly tackled to the ground by my surrogate niece and nephew. Well they tried to tackle me. Instead of falling over at their combined weight, I wrap my arms around them and lift them off of the floor and into a hug, them laughing as I do.

Putting them down I pat them both on the head. "Happy birthday you two!"

That's right. This is a birthday party. Now Ralph and Taranysa don't share the same birthday, but the actually days are only a week apart from each other. So Harg and Bamela decided that they would celebrate both birthdays on the halfway point.

"Glad that you could make it." Harg says as he and Bamela walk up to us.

"Like I would miss out on my favorite niece and nephew's birthday. I'm hurt that you would think so low of me." I spoke with mock hurt.

Bamela just laughs, "We're happy regardless."

I share her look. "If it's alright with the two of you, I'd like to give them their presents now." Hearing this Ralph and Taranysa turn to their parents with pleading expressions.

Harg shares an amused look with his wife and nods. Stepping out really quickly, I come back in with the gifts. Sitting in the palm of my left hand is a small grey kitten, while a white varren pup with a dark blue stripe rests in my right.

The kids eyes light up as I hand the small creatures to them.

"It's so soft!" Taranysa says joyously, petting the kitten as it nestles into her arms.

Ralph looks at the pup in his hands with a nervous gaze. That quickly changes to joy when the pup licks his face. "Stop that!" The pup continues to do as it wants causing Ralph to laugh.

"They're gonna need names." Harg says putting a hand on his children's shoulders.

"The kittens female and the varrens male." I say to help them along.

"I'm going to call her..." Taranysa's face scrunches up cutely in concentration. "Janiri!"

"After the Asari goddess of seasons." She nods her head.

Ralph frowns as he struggles to come up with a cool name for the pup and looks to his father. "We don't have any gods that we look up to do we?"

"The only thing I can think of is Kalros, but she's just an enormous thresher maw." His father informs him making Ralph look crestfallen.

"I think I can help." I say putting a hand on Ralph's shoulder. "Early human civilizations had many deities. If that's the kind of name you want then I'm sure we can find one you like." I chuckle as Ralph nods his head vigorously. "We'll come up with a name latter buddy. For now though we've got a party to enjoy."

With that said Ralph and Taranysa head over to where the other kids were to show them their new pets and Bamela went to greet arriving guests, Leaving me and Harg.

"Hope you don't mind me sticking with you." I say to Harg. "I don't know anyone here."

"You and me both my friend." Harg glances around at everyone, "All these people are my kids friends from school and my wife's coworkers. The only other person I know isn't showing up until later."

"About that," Spoke a gruff voice. "There's been a change of plans."

Beside me Harg grins a monstrous grin and we turn around to see a heavily scarred Krogan with a red head plate.

'You've got to be fucking kidding me.'

While I'm mentally keeping myself from fanboying, Harg goes up to one of the most notorious mercenaries and pulls him into the Krogan equivalent of a brotherly hug.

"Wrex!" The two rear their heads back smash them together. They aren't even phased, "You're early!"

"I finished my contract sooner than expected." Wrex grins, "The fool thought he could take me head on."

"A fool indeed." Harg turns to me and waves me over. "Wrex, this is my employee that I was telling you about the last time we talked. Alex this is-"

"Urdnot Wrex."

Wrex looked at me with a slightly curious gaze. "You've heard of me?"

"Any mercenary worth his salt knows of you." I say holding out my arm.

Wrex takes it, "Your a merc?"

"Former," I cross my arms. "I was a freelancer for a few years but decided that I no longer wished to be one. I kind of like my new job though. Not as exciting or glamorous but it's a living."

Wrex just nods. "Harg's told me a bit about you. Including what you did for him and his family, and for that you have my respect. I'll buy you a drink the next time I'm free. Speaking of your family Harg, where are they. Unfortunately I need to get going and I wish to say hi to Bamela and the kids. Been too long since I've last seen them."

"Business?" Harg asks to which Wrex nods. "Bamela is over there talking with some work friends and the kids are running around somewhere in that general direction."

Wrex nods us a goodbye and moves on towards the others.

Once he's out of ear shot I grab Harg's shoulder. "Why didn't you tell me that you're friends with Urdnot Wrex?!"

"Friends? I'm his uncle."

"...Let me rephrase that. Why didn't you tell me that your the uncle of Urdnot Fucking Wrex?!" I all but yell while shaking him.

Harg chuckles, "Somebodies a fan."

"The dude killed a thresher maw on foot," I say giving him an excellent deadpan look. "How can I not admire the lizard? The guy is a badass through and through!" As my mind calms down from being thoroughly blown from meeting Wrex I realize something.

'If Wrex is here then that means...' I suddenly go ridged, 'I only have about a month or two until shit hits the fan.'

"Alex?" I'm brought out of my stupor by Harg slapping me upside the head.

"Sorry what?" I intelligently say.

"I was thanking you for helping set all of this up but now I want to know what the hell caused you to freeze up like that."

"Sorry," I say while rubbing my neck. "Just remembered something. Don't worry about it." Harg looks at me quizzically for a moment and nods.

As he walks away my expression goes from happy to nearly blank. As much fun as these last months have been, it's time for me to prepare for the up coming storm.

-END-

Zrocker119: For starters, I would like to apologize for the meeting between Garrus and Alex and for how Alex gets out of C-sec. I tried coming up with something better but I just couldn't think of anything. So sorry if you found it lacking.

Also for those thinking that Alex and Miranda would be happening right now, sorry but that's still a long ways off. As in that won't be happening until part 2! I'm so F***ING EVIL!

Next chapter finally marks the beginning of the games, and Alex reunites with a friend in an explosive way!