Yes another chapter and I'm getting sleepy so just read below!

Chapter 7 - Bad team?

Normandy

Carmine POV

"So you are telling me that you can upgrade my Gear Armor without problem?" I asked Garrus as he was checking my chest armor as he moved it around nodding his head. "Yeah, this armor is really thick and heavy but the materiel used on this one is unknown and pretty much old, but a few calibrations here and there I can make it better. I'm glad you came to me to upgrade your armor."

In reality I was sort of an a hurry, Jacob didn't know anything of upgraded armor, seeing it how beat up as been since the Locust wars, I needed to fix it, so my only choice left was him. "No problem Garrus, they told me you can calibrate weapons and armor so I came to you, what material would you suggest?" Checking on his Omni-tool he kept on scanning as he then put a smirk on his face. "Do you know what heavy metal material is out there Carmine?"

'Is this guy serious or is he fucking with me?' As I sighed I shook my head responding back to him. "Garrus, I'm a soldier not a fucking scientist." Garrus laughed as he sent me the codex to my Omni-tool I popped it open as I looked at the first screen he said.

"I came up with some choices that might be of your liking, the first one is called Titanium; it's the strongest, lightest metal you can have. Seeing how your old armor is heavy and thick this one should be the same only this time its light, so you can move even faster if you wanted too." 'Even faster?' That could actually help a lot during my combat, but I will miss my heavy armor seeing how I got so used to since my boot camp days in the COG. "Seems good Garrus, but what about the second one on the list?"

"The second one is called Tungsten; it's the strongest metal also, but it is heavy, so it's similar to the one on your armor but it's going to be heavier." 'Now that's sounds like my armor!' I agreed, I was never the type to use something light really, but if the Titanium is light and could make me move faster it will help me indeed. But in reality I don't know what is better right now; my previous life I used that armor because it was thick and heavy for them grubs to pierce right through it, and also was because I wanted to kill them up close with my Lancer.

"Garrus I'll let you pick what's best for me, seeing how I got the shields and all, I don't know what to pick so I'll let you decide on this one." I saw Garrus shocking expression as if I was crazy, but then he looked at my armor and then back at me as he replied. "You sure? I don't want you to hate me if I mess up your armor Carmine."

"Its fine Garrus, you're a solider just like me, I trust your judgment. Besides I didn't want to ask Shepard because I'm pretty sure she would have ignored my request." Garrus and I looked at the armor and laughed seeing that is something she would do, he nodded his head as he copy my armor into his Omni-tool. "I'll let know you know soon when it's finished Carmine. But let me say this before I forget, just because they are heavy metal don't mean that they can't be penetrated Carmine, so be careful how you use it."

"Thanks Garrus." I extended my hand as he shook it I let go for I can get my armor and put it back on and walked out of the room. Walking down into the mess hall, I looked at the crew members smiling at me as they waved their hands; I nodded my head to them as I headed towards room until. "Going to your room so soon big guy?"

I looked to my left seeing her actually stand right in front of me for once. "I was planning to." I heard her laugh as she walked towards me. "So how are you wounds holding up Carmine?" I looked down at my body, I was pretty much banged up bad from the shots them Krogans game when I fought them alone, but everything else I was fine. "Same as always Kasumi, did you want something from me?"

I really just wanted to go to my room and sleep really, hell even when the five beds put together is still hard to sleep in, shaking the thought I look at her once more as I heard her say. "I just wanted to check up on you big guy you seem to be getting along on this world."

'Was I? Maybe, I don't know' I looked down at Kasumi as I nodded my head to her, I didn't want to worry her about a Gear like myself. "Yeah, just need more time to get used to you know."

"Alright big guy well I'll leave you alone, see you around Carmine." She said as she disappeared right in front of me, turning my head I walked straight towards my room. I began to remove my gear armor once more as I set it besides the table where my weapons where, then I heard something fell out of my pocked as I looked down at the floor knowing what it is.

Reaching down too grab it, opening my hands to see my brothers COG Tags. I sat down on the bed as I look down on my pocked, pulling out a letter, a letter that only I have that leaves me of my little brother, what I got left of my family. 'I miss you guys, I miss you so much'

I gripped my hands into a fist feeling the letter and my brothers COG Tags in my grip, feeling my blood boiled in anger, hatred, nothing but pure hate.

"No matter where we are, no matter where we die, we will always be there for each other, brothers to the end."

I felt my tears drip down on my face, as I remembered that sentence; it was me and my brothers that came up with it while we were young planning to join the army. 'We were so young and stupid' Smiling under my helmet I leaned back on my bed as I closed my eyes remembering what was left of my brothers, and family.

-x-

Normandy

Shepard POV

"The Collectors just happen to pick a colony with one of my former crew? I don't buy it." I said anger in my voice, seeing the Illusive man sitting on his chair smoking his cigarette as he replied back to me. "It shouldn't be a surprise the Collectors are interested in you. Especially if they're working for the Reapers."

'I don't trust this guy one bit!' I hate him but as for right now I need to play along because if it's true I can't let the Collectors get away from it especially if they are working for the Reapers. "Send the coordinates. We'll head straight there."

"Before you go Shepard I found out you recruited someone that was not in my list of options." 'Son of a bitch. Miranda!' I showed him no emotion as I replied to him quickly. "Yes, he is a good soldier and a great friend; he is a good ally against the Collectors."

"I would like to talk to him alone Shepard to see how he is." I glared at him trying to see what he was plotting. "Why do you need to talk to him, I already said he is a good soldier." I saw him puff a smoke as he looked at me and said.

"I believe your judgment Shepard, but I still want to speak to this Carmine, and see where his loyalty stands."

"How do you know his name!" I was getting already angry of him wanting to talk to him, knowing him he wants to brain wash Carmine for he can join Cerberus do his dirty work.

"Please Shepard information is what I'm best at, now after your mission bring him here for I can have a word with him." Before I could have said anything the hologram already began to shut off as I saw him disappear.

"Joker, set a course for Horizon, I got to go see the professor."

"Aye, aye, Commander."

"EDI do you know where Carmine is right now." I saw EDI hologram appear right in front of me as she replied. "Private Carmine is resting in his quarters Shepard, should I wake him up from his rest?"

"No EDI that won't be necessary, I'll go down there on my own when I'm done, thanks." I said as I began to walk towards Mordin's lab. Seeing him look at the seeker bug creature flying around in the tank I walked up to him. "Tell me you have something?"

I waiting for answer from quickly but he stood still for a second before he put a smile on his face. "Yes." He walked towards his computer typing in some work as a body armor hologram popped out explaining me how this will work.

-x-

Horizon

Normal POV

"You sure this will not freeze me against them bug bites?" Carmine asked as Shepard already tired of his questioning for the third time she nods her head. "For the third time Carmine yes, the under armor you are wearing should prevent it so quit asking already!"

"Ha, for a tall human you sure complain for a bug." Grunt said as Carmine stared at him and pointed his finger at his face. "Shut up Grunt."

"You shut up Carmine!"

"Don't push it Grub!"

"Can you two be quiet!" Shepard yelled as Grunt and Carmine looked at her seeing her how angry she is getting the looked at one another and nodded their heads agreeing a truce. Shepard rubbed her head as she sighed. 'Why in the world did I agree to this team' Shepard second choice was going to be Garrus to company her to the mission, but Carmine somehow convinced her that She should of bring Grunt on this mission. At first she was glad that Carmine was getting along with different aliens already among the Normandy, so she agreed to it until.

"So you stomp the heads of your enemies when they are in the ground?"

"Yeah, it's fast and easy to do; it also saves you a lot of bullets."

"Haha you 'Gears' know the true meaning of battle."

'I'm in a mad house' Shepard shook her head as she felt the shuttle descending on the ground. "Carmine, Grunt get ready!" Shepard yelled as soon the shuttle got in the ground the doors open up as they got out quickly.

Carmine was surprised of the sight he saw looking around the perimeter he saw a lot of them small bugs flying around, but what surprised him more was the huge ship in front of him. 'That's the Collector ship!' Griping on his Lancer he looked at Shepard as she was too looking up at the ship turns her head forward she said.

"We're groundside. Mordin, you sure those armor upgrades will protect us from the seeker swarm?" Shepard took point as she began to walk forward following behind Carmine and Grunt.

"Certainty impossible. But in limited numbers, should confuse detection, make us invisible to swarm. In theory."

"In theory?" Grunt said as Shepard shook her head not liking where he was saying.

"Experimental technology. Only test is contact with seeker swarms. Look forward to seeing if you survive!"

"Is this fucking lizard grub serious Shepard!" Carmine yelled as he didn't like that he was a test subject in a battle field. Shepard ignored his comment as she spotted five Collectors approaching towards their location. "Collectors take cover!"

Carmine took cover as he looked at the grubs in front of him. 'That's an ugly looking grub' Carmine lifted his Lancer as he aimed his rifle up and shot the grub close to him seeing the blood splatter off from his chest as he drops dead.

Grunt pulls out his Shotgun as he spotted one of the Collectors approach beside him he head butt him as he is dazed he placed the shotgun straight at his gut as he squeezed the trigger giving him a giant hole on his stomach.

Carmine ran towards the upcoming grubs as one of them spotted him began to fire his rifle at him. Carmine felt his shields going down but was not enough as he got in close range in one of them, as he tackled one knocking him on the ground he ripped up his chainsaw as he sawed one of them close to him. Feeling the blood splatter on his armor as he saw the body drop on the ground as he looked at his right saw one of them aims is rifle at him but saw his head getting shot as he dropped on the ground.

"Missed one." Shepard said as she reloaded her rifle, making Carmine laugh as he shook his head. Turning his head he walked towards the grubs that he tackled down, he stomped on his chest pinning him down on the ground seeing him struggle to break free.

"Carmine." Carmine turned his head as he saw Shepard look at him. 'Dammit even them too!' He was about to protest but what he heard next coming out of her mouth made his day. "Make it quick." Carmine put a wide grin under his helmet as he turned back to the grub under his boot. "Hey Grunt come over here for a second."

Grunt walked beside Carmine as he looked at the Collector pinned on the ground. "Stomp his head like I told you." Grunt smirked as he looked at the Collector raising his foot up he brought it down with full force as he saw the head splatter blood on his armor and Carmine as he moved it away.

Carmine nodded his head approving how he killed the grub in front of him. Grunt laughed as he made his first execution like a true Gear. "Ok now that you two are getting along let's move!" Shepard yelled as she took point once more, Carmine reloaded his Lancer as Grunt did to his shotgun following right behind Shepard.

"Comman… -tting all kinds… -ference. We can't Maintai…" Shepard tried to radio back to the Normandy but was cut off. "The Collectors are blocking us. We are on our own." Shepard said as she spotted a households in front of them jumping down from the hill as she looked her surrounding seeing that it was empty she walked a few more steps until she spotted Collectors dropping into their location.

"Grubs!" Carmine yelled as he took cover in the middle, Grunt taking cover on the left and Shepard on the right side. She looked up and spotted three going on the left, four in the middle, and three going on the right side. "Grunt flank the left, Carmine you have to take the middle, I'll take the right will give you cover soon as we can."

"Will see who needs cover after this!" Carmine jumped over his cover as Grunt looked at his left and roared charging in towards them, leaving Shepard as she aimed her rifle up and brought down one of them down as she kept on moving.

Carmine aimed his Lancer up as he squeezed the trigger sending multiple bullets towards two grubs seeing how they ripped to their barrier they drop in the ground dead, he saw one of them charge close to him but fired his weapon that shot like a beam dropping Carmines shields quickly. Getting it from the beam once again he felt his chest armor crack as he aimed his Lancer unloaded his clip at the grub that shot falling at the floor dead.

Taking cover as he was getting shot he saw his shields slowly regenerate he pulled out his Boltok as he shot the grub on the gut making him drop his weapon instantly as he lands on his knees holding on to his wound. Walking out of cover he walked up towards the wounded grub as he flipped his Boltok grabbing the barrel of the gun he raised it up and brought it down with full force cracking the back of the grubs head as he drops in the ground twitching.

Seeing how his chest is burning up places his right hand on his chest as he feels the blood on his fingers seeing how the armor did indeed cracked through. 'Damn, there goes my armor now' Carmine put away his Boltok as he shakes the injury away. "Carmine!"

Shepard yelled as Carmine looked as he turn his head at her direction but she was aiming her rifle at him? Turning his head he felt someone jumped on top of him. 'What the fuck!' Carmine managed to grab the thing that surprised him and tossed him at the ground, as he looked at it his eyes widen, the grub had the shape of a human, but it had grey skin, blue tubes on his chest and his eyes were blue this thing almost looked like. 'Human Lambent!'

Carmine quickly pulled out his Gnasher as he pointed the barrel at the grub blasting a hole in his chest, seeing the blue blood splatter on him he then saw two more of them charging at him, getting close to them he swung his shotgun with full force decapitating the grubs head as he drops dead on the ground. Pumping his Gnasher he shot the grubs legs off clean as he was crawling towards him lifting his boot up quickly he stomped on the back of his head as he felt the brain matter splatter all over his boot.

"Way to defend yourself Carmine." Grunt said as he reloads his shotgun, Shepard walked up to them. "Those things look like the husks the geth used in Eden Prime." Carmine kicked the grubs body over as he examined took a better look.

"You call this 'Husk' they look almost human?" Carmine asked as Shepard nodded her head, but spotted him bleeding under his armor. "Carmine you're bleeding take some…" Carmien cut her off. "No need for it now Shepard, save it until one of us it's critically wounded."

She didn't like the idea but agree to it for now, as she looked at the husk she decided to answer his previous question. "They are synthetic organics, meaning they were once human but now just synthetic, think of the as 'Zombies' the 'Geth' would put them in a machine that impales them with a large spike, turning them into that, its Reaper tech."

'Reapers' Carmine gripped his weapon seeing how these husks remind him how the Lambent would turn them into 'Zombies' also making them aggressive. 'Even on this world too huh' "You're ok Carmine?" He snapped out of his thoughts as he looked at Shepard looking at him worriedly, he smiles under his helmet as he nods his head to her. "I'm fine Shepard, let's move."

Shepard knew something was wrong with him, but she ignored it for now, she still didn't know much about him and couldn't judge if he was going to pull another stunt like Korlus. 'I'll have a talk with him after this mission' Taking point once more, Shepard kept on moving as she turn to a corner found a pile of capsules?

"You're people… gone." Grunt said as he looked at the empty area around, Carmine saw the capsules and griping his weapon in anger knew exactly what they were doing and he hated it! "None of this grubs are leaving out of here alive!" Shepard then spotted four more Collectors coming towards them before she could have said anything Carmine pulled out his Longshot as he bolted in a bullet aiming quickly as he fired the sniper decapitating one of the Collectors head clean.

"Die bitch!" Carmine yelled as he was bolting in another bullet he saw Grunt roared as he charged towards one of them lifting him up he pinned him hard towards the wall as he smashed his whole back side completely. Shepard managed to pull out her shotgun as she shot one of them straight at Collectors chest killing him instantly.

The last Collector ignored the death of his fellow comrades as he aimed his rifle at Shepard but before he squeezed the trigger he felt his whole left arm gone as he dropped on his knees holding on to his wound.

"What where you trying to do grub!" Carmine said as he over tower the small grub in front him, if the Collectors could show any sign of fear, this was one as he was deliberately shaking in fear at the tall human in front of him as he extended his hand and gripped him straight at his neck. He lift him up from the ground as he stared at the grub in front of his eyes, Carmine gripped it even tighter as he could feel the fingers penetrating straight at his flesh as he was shaking to break free.

'You and your kind will die!' Carmine ripped his throat as the blood splatter all over his armor as he saw the grub slump dead at the ground as he slowly stopped twitching. Grunt laughed and padded Carmine of what he did liking how he does things, but Shepard in the other hand was beginning to worry.

"Let's go, I'll hack through that door for we can advance." Carmine nodded his head as he and Grunt followed right behind her.

-x-

Horizon

Shepard POV

'We just got to get through here' Soon as I finished hacking into the systems the doors opened up as I raised my rifle up and moved inside seeing that there was nobody inside until I heard a noise come from behind the wall. "Get out here. Now!"

I saw a men walk out as he seemed like he was one of the colonist. "You're… You're human! What are you doing out here? You lead them right here!" I heard him say as I was about to respond Carmine said. "You must be one stupid son of a bitch, thinking you were going to be save hiding in this place." I put my hand on his shoulder to calm his anger as I replied back to him.

"You had to hear them trying to get in. Seems like it's hard to hide from the Collectors." Feeling Carmine shrugging his shoulders he walked a head of him as to check the area around as Grunt did the same. "Those things are Collectors? You mean… they're real?"

"No! They got Lilith. I saw her go down. Sten, too. They got damn near everybody!" I nodded my head understanding his desperation. "And you didn't do jack shit to help them as you hide in here like the coward you are!" I turned my head as hearing what Carmine just yelled; I walked up to him putting his hand down as I glared at him.

"Stand down Carmine! He is not the enemy." Seeing him shake his arm off he kept on staring at him until he turned away walking over to Grunt. I sighed as I know the feeling, but not all human and aliens have that sort of will to protect others.

"Look we are sorry what happened here in your colony but, we have to stop the Collectors, I noticed you have defense towers around the area, we can use that against the collector ship."

"You need to calibrate the targeting system first. It never worked right." I cut him off. "We can figure it out. Just give us the location."

"Head for the main transmitter on the other side of the colony. Pretty hard to miss. The targeting controls are at the base." I nodded my head as I turned towards Carmine and Grunt, I can tell Carmine was getting angry by the minute but at this moment I needed his anger to go against the Collectors. 'I just hope is not too much'

I walked towards the entrance of the building as I spotted the Collectors flying in, as I spotted some Husk rising from the ground on the far back, and then spotted a enemy I haven't seen as that enemy used a biotic shockwave! "Move!"

I saw Grunt jump out the way as did Carmine, getting behind cover quickly I looked at the left and saw there is a way to get towards the Husks. "Grunt go up towards the left side of the building and take care of the Husks!"

"With pleasure!" Grunt yelled as he shot one Collector down as he walked towards the left side of the building hearing him blast anything in his way as I turned towards Carmine but he was gone! 'Dammit!'

Carmine blasted one of the Collectors on his chest as I saw the blood splatter on him, seeing hold his Gnasher out I aimed my rifle trying to give him some cover fire but I could see his shields are decreasing in seconds! "Carmine!"

I yelled as I shot another Collector down, he kept on pushing forward as he kicked one of them down and blasted his head off and punched another on his head making him land on his knees as he swung his Gnasher at the back of his head completely destroying him. Everything seemed to go at his favor but the creature that used the biotic launched it at Carmine as he didn't react quick enough was caught in the blast but he didn't budge.

Taking in a few steps he landed on his knee as he put his hand on his chest, I saw blood dripping out of him, seeing two more Collectors coming towards him. "Carmine!" I sprinted towards him as I gave him covering fire but before I could reach him he stood back up slowly as he pulled out his Boltok he shot one of them straight into his head as the Collector dropped dead on the ground instantly.

The other one didn't expect Carmine to keep on moving but before the Collector could react, Carmine plunged the barrel of his pistol straight into his eye as he squeezed the trigger making the bullet go through him as he hit the other alien on the chest. Carmine yelled as he kept on squeezing the trigger sending every bullet in the chamber at the creature as it dropped in the ground dead.

I was actually still amazed of how he kept on moving, an alliance Marine would have been dead from a wound like he haves. 'The wound!' I shook my head as I ran straight towards Carmine, moving towards his chest I can hear him breath hard, as I looked at his wound, the left side of his armor chest plate is gone, I saw a big gush of blood spilling out of him, I quickly applied medi-gel but it was barely closing the wound.

"Stand still Carmine your wound is really bad." I applied the third medi-gel on him but he stood still, I can hear his breathing finally calming down but his armor was literally damaged, actually destroyed no way to fix it. "Thanks Shepard, I'm fine now."

I heard him say as he looked down at his chest seeing the wound is barley close he walked towards his Gnasher as he reloaded it. I sighed knowing that his wound is healed for now, but he was getting reckless. "Carmine just be more careful understand, I don't need a squad member dying on me today."

"Shepard, it's going to take a lot of grubs to take this Gear down." He said as he put away his Gnasher and grabbing his Lancer out. I shook my head either happy to hear him say it or worried, I shook it off as I nodded my head to him as we walked towards Grunt location.

"Shepard, the computer is over this door." I nodded my head. "Good, be ready I'm going to open it." I saw Grunt pull out his shotgun as Carmine aimed his rifle ready. "Be ready. Opening them now!"

-x-

Horizon

Carmine POV

As soon as the door opens up, I searched around the area and noticed that there were no grubs around. 'Something feels wrong here?' I ignored it as I saw Shepard walking forward ahead as I kept on looking around.

'My armor is a mess, these shields are barely strong enough for me' I heard a slight noise coming from my right side, but then again I heard it another one behind me. "Ok EDI will activate the defense towers; defend this computer at all cost!" She didn't have to tell me twice as I then saw a group of Husks coming out and a few Collectors coming flying down towards us. 'More blood to spill!'

I ripped up my chainsaw as I sawed the blue grub from his shoulder up to his waist, feeling the blood splatter on my helmet, I kicked the one of them knocking him on the ground as I felt a scratch hit on my left rib, I elbowed the grub as I ripped my chainsaw again this time decapitating his head clean.

I kept on killing four more of them blue grubs as one of the Collectors shot me on my thigh with his beam weapon; landing on my knee I aimed my Lancer at him shooting him straight into his chest as he drops dead. Trying to catch my breath I felt someone jump on my back as heard my helmet being scratched I grabbed him from his shoulder as I tossed him over me seeing it was one of them blue grubs, I raised my fist as I brought it down with full forced crashing his whole face open.

I saw more grubs coming towards me as I squeezed my Lancer hearing it 'Click' knowing that I was out of ammo. 'Fuck!' I put it away quickly as they got in range with me, seeing I'm still kneeling I grabbed one of them by his legs as I flipped it over, forcing myself to get up I pulled my Boltok as I shot two in the head dropping them dead as I walked towards the one on the ground. "Die motherfucker!" I raised my boot as I stomped his head feeling his face crack as the blood splatter on my armor.

"Grunt! Give me cover!" I yelled as I saw Grunt drop a dead Collector from his hands as he tossed him away and ran towards me. Aiming my Boltok up I shot one more grub dead on the ground as I began to reload. Seeing three more of them coming towards me I heard a loud yell from beside me. "I AM KROGAN!" As I saw Grunt charging at them as he tackled two on the ground trampling over them as he picked up the last one by his head as he then slammed him against one of the crates smashing his whole head completely.

"Now that's what I call a kill Grunt, a great execution." I said as I finished reloading my pistol as Grunt turned around and heard him say. "Ha, this is what I do. But you are better; I can smell it in your blood that you are a terrifying warrior."

Before I could say anything to Grunt I looked up as I saw an ugly looking fucking grub as he was descending from the Collectors ship, as it landed in front of Shepard his mouth seemed to have one of them blue Husks heads!

Seeing that grub shot a beam out of his eyes it hit Shepard straight and seeing blood come out of her stomach ripped right through her shields! "Shepard!" I yelled as I saw her take cover quickly as she was checking on her wound. I fired my Boltok but it was hardly doing anything to the grub, I need to get closer. "Grub listen to what I'm about to tell you and you are going to do exactly what I tell you, understand!" Grunt nodded his head as I got close to his ear and explain to him what I'm going to do.

"Hahaha you Gears are interesting indeed Carmine, I'll do it!" I smirked under my helmet as I looked down on my wounded leg gritting my teeth as I forced my leg to move normally I saw grunt charge at the ugly grub as I sprinted right behind him.

Seeing the grub paying attention to Grunt, left Shepard alone as he moved in close range at him now. "Now Grunt!" I yelled as Grunt stopped as he kneeled down I jumped on his back giving me a boost as I was now in close range with the grub as I had my Gnasher out in front of him. "Surprise!"

I pulled the trigger as blasting him a hole in him but didn't kill him just yet as he tried to pull away I managed to hold on to his head as I put my Gnasher once more in his mouth as I began to shoot. Hearing the grub scream was something I didn't expect as I saw him descend further Grunt grabbed him by his legs as he pulled him down and me and him began to unload our shotgun shells at grub as it finally stopped moving.

"Nice kill Carmine." Grunt said to me as I turned my head to him I raised my hand into a fist as he took notice he fisted my hand. "You too grunt, you have the heart to become a Gear." I could tell by his face that he was happy of that word. 'Does he want to be a gear?'

I saw Shepard walk towards us as she first punched me and then Grunt as I heard her yell. "You two are nothing but trouble you know that! You could have killed yourself!" I looked at Grunt as he shrugged his shoulders and quickly replied to her. "Well… I thought it was a good idea from the start?"

Shepard just shook her head more as she punched my arm once more as she then spotted my wound on my leg, she raised her Omni-tool to give me some medi-gel but I stopped her. "I can wait until we get into the Normandy Shepard, if I were you apply it to yourself, you need it."

I saw her look down on her wound and looked back at me as she was about to protest but I cut her off once more. "I'm fine Shepard really, now apply the damn medi-gel on before me and Grunt force you." I was joking ofcourse but seeing her shake her head and laugh, we heard the defense towers firing at the Collector Ship. It didn't last long though as the ship began to take off seeing it fly off from this world.

-x-

Horizon

Normal POV

"No! Don't let them get away!" The mechanic yelled as he saw the ship fly away with half the colony inside. Shepard looked down as he then responded back to him. "There's nothing we can do. They're gone."

"Half the colony is in there! They took Egan and Sam…. And Lilith. Do something!" Shepard didn't like it as much as she wanted to, there was nothing they could have done now, they were gone. "I didn't want it to end this way, I did what I could." Carmine could tell that she was blaming herself; walking up to her he placed his hand on her shoulder as he said.

"It wasn't your fault Shepard, you did what you could." The mechanic stopped as he turned his head towards her. "Shepard? Wait, I know that name… Yes I remember you. You're some type of big Allince hero."

"Commander Shepard. Captain of the Normandy. The first human specter. Savior of the Citadel." Carmine looked behind the mechanic as he saw a woman with blue and pink armor coming behind a crate as she stood beside him. "You're in the presence of a god, Delan. Back from the dead."

'I'm guessing she's a Shepard fan?' Carmien thought as he saw the mechanic shake his head in anger as he walked away, but didn't feel bad for him at all. Shepard was happy to see a friendly face once again as she walked up to her the woman across from her extended her hand as Shepard shook it gladly. "I thought you were dead commander. We all did."

"It's been too long, Ashley . How have you been?" Carmine was glad to see her smile seeing that she might have been a friend of hers but seeing as the other woman expression change. He didn't care what she would say but he began to feel lighted head as he looked down on his chest as he re-open his wound again and his thigh was not getting any better.

Carmine shook his head trying to gain his composure as he then heard the woman named Ashley say. "I wanted to believe you were alive… I just never expected anything like this. You've turned you back on everything we stood for!" 'What the hell is her problem?'

"Ash, you know me. You know I'd only do this for the right reason." Shepard said as she tried to reason with her, to make her understand that she is no traitor, but to make her realize that the threat is the Collectors and the Reapers. But Ashley didn't budge she didn't trust her words as she said back to her. "Doesn't matter… I still know where my loyalties lie, I'm Alliance soldier it's in my blood."

"What the fuck is your problem!" Carmine yelled as he startled Ashley as she saw the seven foot giant step in front of her. "As far as I know, you let this people down! You failed as an Alliance soldier! And you have the balls to tell her that she is a traitor while we came in this planet and saved your sorry ass! As far as I know you are weak, the Alliance is weak; you're nothing but a failure as an Alliance soldier! And if you value your life girl think what you say next because if you say something I don't like, it will be your last!"

Shepard put her hand on his arm trying to calm him down as he didn't even look at her as he was still glaring at the woman in front of him, Grunt saw what it was happening and laughed as he was enjoying the show. "Who the hell is this guy?"

Ashley said as she was surprised but also angry that he called her out like that. Shepard walked in front of Carmine as she replied back to her. "His name is Carmine, and he doesn't respond to Cerberus or the Alliance, he is a Gear, and one hell of a soldier." Ashley looked at Carmine as he was staring her down with his helmet and Ashley understood right there that this person is not meant to be fucked with.

"Ok, ok, I'm sorry alright. Shepard look all I'm trying to say is I don't trust Cerberus and knowing you I know that you are fighting for the greater good of this galaxy. Just be careful out there alright." Ashley said as she began to walk away, Shepard saw her leave although she was sadden she looked up to Carmine as she nudged him on his arm.

"Thanks Carmine." Carmine looked at her as he smiled under his helmet seeing her smile once again. "Any time Shepard, now how about we head back to the Normandy because I think doctor Chakwas is going to yell at me when she sees me."

Shepard laughed as she then saw his wounds up close now, and he wasn't kidding. She saw his chest re-opened once more as he was bleeding, his thigh, and all other wounds. "Holly shit Carmine what the hell! Joker send the shuttle in we are done with this colony!"

"Haha you are indeed terrifying Carmine you are a strong warrior indeed!"

"Next time you jump on top of them grubs Grunt."

"Carmine shut up! Nobody is jumping on top of any grub! And Grunt don't agree to his ideas!"

Carmine and Grunt sure did a mess of things. Lol I'm glad I did this chapter so now will see what will happen to Carmine now in the next chapter. Also I picked Ashley instead of Kaiden, the reason I did that was because I really didn't like him and also because I picked Ashley to live and let him die on the nuke lol My actual mass effect game choice lol

To my Reviewers!

edboy4926 - Glad you like the chapter, And you are right Jack is a psycho but in my opinion I dont see her as psycho, psycho you know lol Carmine is more ruthless when it comes to grubs and yeah lol

LordGhostStriker - Yes it does lol when it comes to a COG like Carmine blood will be spilled! lol

The Constitutionalist - Thanks for your review and I'm glad that I'm keeping Carmines original character when it comes in battle. Yes he does make a mess of things lol What Gears solder wouldn't lol I'm happy you liked the chapter and hope you liked this one also.

Well hope you readers, favorites, followers liked this chapter leave a review and stay safe now. See you next time.