Alpha woke up in his bunk the next morning and quickly prepared for the day, as he got out of the shower he looked in the mirror to see that he had grown a bit of a shadow. "Fuck it, it's not like I'm actually military." he muttered before getting dressed and heading up to the mess hall.

"Hey Alpha." Ashley waved Alpha over to her table where she sat with Garrus. Why don't you eat with us?" she offered

"Sure, thanks Ashley." Alpha replied as he seated himself. Garrus looked at Alpha for a moment slightly perplexed. "Somethin on my face Garrus?"

"No. Thought there would be after hearing about how Wrex tossed you around like a ragdoll though." Garrus replied with a smug smirk.

"So what? He's like a thousand years old. I'm 24, besides I'll get the old lizard next time." Alpha replied venomously.

"Good luck with that." Laughed Garrus as he patted Alpha on the back.

"Thanks." After eating a few more bites Alpha looked between Ashley and Garrus trying to decide who to ask. "Hey, could you guys show me how to modify my guns? I wouldn't mind using some incineration ammo." Ashley was the first to reply.

"I never used those before; I'm more of an AP girl myself."

"I can give you a quick lesson." Offered Garrus as he stood up and cleaned off his plate. Alpha followed suit then walked to the shooting range with him.

"So first you need to push this in here to pop open the gun." Garrus said as Alpha followed his instructions. "Then you just add that little converter there to the firing mechanism here and close her up. After that you just press the button above the safety to convert ammo types." Garrus skillfully instructed. "Think you can do the rest?"

"I think I got it. Thanks Garrus."

"No problem but, well you don't seem to use your guns too often." Garrus replied. "I mean you barely fired a single shot on our mission to get Dr. T'soni."

"Well close quarters I rely more on my biotics but if I can't close the distance easily I fall back to my rifle." Explained Alpha.

"Ok well you finish with your modifications; I have to calibrate my Indra."

After finishing with his guns Alpha decided to check on Liara and made his way to the med-bay. "Hey Doc, is Liara feeling better today?" he asked Dr. Chakwas.

"Yes, she seems to have improved significantly. She's been given reign over the back room if you wanted to speak to her." Chakwas said without even looking up from the screen in front of her.

"Thanks." Alpha said as he walked to the back and knocked on the door. Liara opened it slightly and peeked through.

"Alpha! Come in, please." she exclaimed quickly as she pulled him inside. "So did you need something?" She asked while closing the door behind her.

"Not really, just wanted to check on you."

"Oh, that's sweet. Thank you Alpha." Liara paused and gave Alpha a funny look. "Is Alpha really your name?" She asked.

"Well its Tyler Alpha but everyone just calls me Alpha."

"Sort of like Commander Shepard?"

"I suppose but it's probably just because it was how I was introduced to everyone." Alpha replied as he leaned against the wall. "So how was that whole mind-melding thing? Learn anything helpful?"

"I- it was very disconcerting. There wasn't so much of a message as a stream of feelings, Anger, regret, hope, helplessness. It felt like a warning, like the Protheans were trying to warn us that there is something that even they could not stand against, with all their might. It would support my own discoveries though."

"Have you found evidence of the things that wiped out the Protheans? These Reapers I think Shepard called them?" Alpha asked

"No not of the Reapers themselves, but I have found evidence that the Protheans were at war, and that they were likely losing. I also believe that there were other races, long before the Prothean's that were similarly wiped out, as though some sort of cycle has been playing out. But it is almost impossible to prove." Liara said as she started ranting on about the Prothean's and her theories.

"We always thought that the Mass Relays and the Citadel were left by the Protheans but what if that's not true? What if they found them the same as us? What if they were left behind by one of the older races? And if that's true then why are these devices still here for us today? It seems like someone went through a lot of trouble to erase any clues of anything before the Protheans so if the mass relays aren't Prothean then why are they still here? If it was another ancient species then why wasn't the technology destroyed? It just all seems very strange to me."

"Well if that's the case then it must have all been left here on purpose." Liara stopped rambling and look Alpha right in his eyes.

"You- you believe me?"

"Yes I do, it makes sense doesn't it?" Alpha said as he confidently stared back into Liara's big blue eyes.

"No one has ever believed me before... They always tell me that I'm making things up or connecting dots that don't exist. But you just, you believe me, just like that?" Liara smiled and blushed as she noticed that Alpha was staring.

Alpha stepped towards Liara and took her hands. "Liara I-

"Ground team assemble, Commander wants the ground team in the comm room ASAP." Jokers voice blared out over the intercom, cutting Alpha off from whatever he was about to say.

"I guess we should get over there then." Alpha whispered before he released Liara's hands and left.

Alpha entered the comm room with Liara and saw that Shepard, Wrex, and Kaiden were already seated. "Something up Shepard?" Alpha asked as he glared at Wrex.

"We're going to discuss how we are going to deal with Noveria." Shepard stated as Garrus and Ashley walked in, followed by Tali a moment later.

Shepard stood up once everyone else had seated themselves. "So we are about to reach Noveria, it's time to decide who's coming along with me. Any takers?" Wrex and Alpha both raised their hands and Liara shyly raise her hand as well.

"If my mother is there than I would like to be as well Shepard. Maybe, perhaps she will talk to me, maybe there's more happening than we know."

"Sorry Liara but we can't bring you along, you don't have any military training and chances are that we're in for a fight." Shepard said softly.

"My mother ensured that I was trained by several Asari Commandos Commander. I assure you that I can take care of myself. And you can't deny that I might be able to talk my mother down before things get violent."

"Alright, but be careful, ok?" Shepard asked as he gave in to the young Asari.

Three hours later Shepard, Alpha, Wrex, and Liara all left the Normandy and made their way to the security entrance. "We may run into trouble guys, we barely got landing permission and they didn't seem the friendliest over the radio." Shepard quickly informed his squad.

As Shepard walked towards admissions a large squad of heavily armed guards poured out the doors aiming their assortment of assault rifles and shotguns at the Normandy's squad, Shepard replied by drawing his two pistols and the rest of the squad drew their own weapons as well.

"Drop your weapons now!" A woman in gray armor shouted as she moved to the front.

"You first!" Snarled Shepard. "I'm a Spectre; we're allowed to carry our weapons anywhere!"

"Not on my base you don't! There's no human Spectres, now drop your weapons or we'll drop you."

"STOP! Guards, stand down! The Commanders Spectre status has been confirmed, he is free to pass." The Guards looked at Shepard and nervously lowered their weapons, obeying the unknown voice at the other end of the speakers.

"Smart choice." Shepard deadpanned as he pushed his way through the guards.

"My apologies sir, I'm Captain Matsuo; please follow me to Ms. Parasini's office." Shepard waved his squad over and followed the Captain.

"Hello Commander Shepard. I apologize for the misunderstanding with the guards; they can be a little over-zealous at times." Gianna Parasini said as she stood behind her desk in a self-assured manner.

"So long as there aren't any more misunderstandings we won't have a problem. Now I need some information." Shepard threatened darkly.

"I- uh, of course, I will help however I can." Parasini stuttered.

"First I want to know where Matriarch Benezia is."

"Lady Benezia is currently on Peak 15. If you needed to speak with her I'm afraid there's not much to do but wait for the storm to pass."

"That isn't an option. We need to go to Peak 15 if that's where she is."

"I'm afraid that isn't possible, as I said there is quite the storm brewing so all traffic has been halted."

"So are you telling me it's impossible to get there?"

"Well it is possible to drive there but you would need a garage pass, which you do not have." Shepard slowly leaned forward onto the desk with his pistol in one hand, casually pointed at Parasini's gut.

"I think I misunderstood you Ms. Parasini, it sounded like you said I wasn't allowed to leave." Shepard threatened. Parasini raised her hands and took a step back as she started sputtering.

"No, no I would- I mean I wouldn't do that. I'm just saying that you need to procure a garage pass."

"Well perhaps you should get on that for me before I get really irritated."

"I would if I could, really I would. But only Administrator Anoleis can give them out!"

"Then it seems like I need to see the Administrator don't I?"

"Of course, his office us right through those doors behind me, go right in."

Alpha and the others followed Shepard into the back office where they were promptly ignored by a small statured Salarian until Wrex walked around the Administrators desk and stared him down.

"Yes, yes, will have to call you back. Unexpected interruption." The Salarian hung up then looked directly at Shepard. "What do you want human? Every minute I spend talking to you costs the company 7 credits."

"Let me make this quick then. I have Spectre business with Lady Benezia. I need a garage pass."

"Impossible I'm afraid. I will not allow some gun-toting council spy anywhere near my residents research. We charge quite handsomely to ensure that our clients are not, hindered, by the council or its agents." Anoleis gave Shepard a smug look, confident in his superiority.

"Wrex, tear off one of his arms." Shepard said coolly while staring the smug Salarian prick in the eye.

"With pleasure hehehe." Wrex chuckled as he took a step towards his prey.

"W-wait! You can't do this! Guards! GUARDS! SOMEBODY HELP!" Anoleis screamed as he tried to run away and tripped over Alphas foot.

"Where do you think you're going?" asked Alpha, "The Commander isn't done with you yet, I would suggest giving him what he wants." Alpha softly whispered in the Administrators ear while he lifted him in the air with a single hand.

"OK! Ok. I'll give you what you want. Just don't hurt me..." Alpha dropped the Salarian and watched him carefully as he opened his desk drawer and handed Shepard a garage pass. The squad turned around to leave but just as they reached the door Administrator Anoleis decided to have the last word in an attempt to save face.

"You'll be hearing from my lawyers Spectre! I'll have your career for this! You think your better tha-"

'BOOM' Anoleis was cut off as a round from Shepard's pistol blew off half his head.

"Woah! Are you allowed to do that Shepard?" Alpha asked.

"Threatening a Spectre is a capital offense. So yes, I am." Shepard deadpanned as he walked out the door and approached Parasini once again. "Was Benezia alone when she arrived?"

"N-n-n-n-no, she had a squad of Asari Commandos with her."

"Anything else?"

"I-um, there was a crate! Several crates actually, she arrived with them and brought them with her"

"What was in those crates?" Shepard asked as he leaned forward.

"I don't know, I swear! They passed the weapons scan, beyond that we don't need to know what it might have been." Parasini squeaked.

"Great, you idiots are just determined to make things difficult aren't you?" Shepard muttered as he quickly strode out of the office.

Twenty minutes later the squad headed for the garage with upgraded armor for both Alpha and Liara. Alpha had outfitted himself in a sleek dark blue, slightly outdated medium armor with hardening upgrades to make him tougher while Liara had gotten a shiny black set of light armor with shield relay upgrades to help her shields regenerate faster.

"I can't believe you spent so much on that armor Alpha, we could have gotten something much better on the citadel for a lot cheaper." Said Shepard.

"Look at it though; I'm going to be able to upgrade this till all hell breaks loose. Plus it was the only armor that was compatible with this." Alpha said as he stared at his new Omni-gauntlet in awe.

"I've never even heard of an Omni-gauntlet before." Shepard said dubiously.

"That's why it's called a prototype Shepard; besides the Hanar said that it was discontinued for being too expensive. Not many of these out there." Bragged Alpha as Shepard swiped the garage pass so they could continue onto peak 15.

"How did you afford all that crap anyway?" Shepard asked.

"Well it seems SOMEONE in the Alliance has recognized that since I'm technically a mercenary I need to be paid. Long story short, I was paid for my help on Eden Prime and for joining you."

"I didn't realize that they had set up an account already. I thought it would take a bit longer." Shepard replied.

Wrex stopped dead in his tracks and drew his shotgun. "Something's not right Shepard... Look at the radar, we're jammed."

"Alright guys, weapons hot." Shepard ordered as everyone prepared for the undoubtedly impending battle. Alpha activated his Omni-gauntlet which lit up a dark red and covered his entire forearm and fist.

"GETH!" Alpha shouted as a Geth Ghost zipped from the wall to the ceiling before launching itself straight at the young human. With the flick of a finger Alpha's Gauntlet became a massive shield with a large protruding spike at the center which the Geth was promptly impaled on.

Shepard had started firing short bursts at the incoming Geth Troopers while Liara set up singularities along the garage.

"PRIME! Cover me Shepard!" Wrex shouted as he used a biotic charge to get behind the hulking synthetic, fired an overkill right between its shoulders and finished it with a throw field that launched it directly at a small group of troopers.

"There's too many of them!" Liara shouted as another dozen troopers materialized followed by several more Primes.

Alpha concentrated a multi-pull field while taking cover behind his Omni-Shield. "Eat this tin-heads!" Alpha swung his arm and let loose three pulls that connected with the fuel tank and dropped it on the Geth line, destroying them in a massive explosion.

Wrex pulled Shepard and Liara back to safety as the explosion spread across the garage. "Nice move runt!" laughed Wrex as he observed the destruction.

Alpha smirked and smugly replied. "It's what I do old lizard, all in a day's work."

Suddenly a large contingent of security flooded the garage.

"What the hell is going on? And where do you think you're going; you murdered the Administrator!" barked Captain Matsuo as she and her men trained their guns on Shepard and his squad.

A.N.

So I always felt that we never got to see Shepard truly take advantage of some potentially badass renegade situations considering that his Spectre status gives him immunity to just about everything. I mean here he is, trying to save the galaxy and dumb selfish bitches keep getting in his way, I dunno about you guys but I think that Shepard must have had a godly amount of patience not to resort to violence more often. Anyways, who's excited for the Rachni? Or for the showdown with Benezia? Leave a review with your thoughts and I'll be sure to get back to you.