A/N: Some action here. Sorry it took a while to write. Got into playing mass effect again. Not used to writing action scenes, either. Let me know what you think!

That night, Shepard lay in bed, considering her options. She really needed to contact Garrus, but on the other hand, a part of her felt guilty for leaving Nohalah behind, particularly after making the promise of all promises. And Shepard wasn't one to break those. She had her priorities, however, and Garrus was at the very top of the list. She'll just have to remember to return in the future to fulfill her promise.

Quietly slipping into her original attire, Shepard made sure the food she saved up was still where she had hid it. Making the long trek into town without it would not be fun. It would not be wise, either. Earlier in the day, she made sure to fill a couple canteens with water and packed the extra tunic. It got cold in the deserts at night, that much she learned as a kid on her runs with the Reds. With everything packed and ready, Shepard jumped out the window and headed west.

The night was cool and the air felt good against her burnt skin. It would take her at least six or seven hours to make it to town by foot so Shepard decided to jog. Jogging was more natural to her than walking, anyway. At least at this rate, she would get there an hour or two earlier. And the sooner, the better.

The sun was already starting to rise by the time Shepard was able to sight the town. This was better than she had hoped and she picked up her pace. For an early morning, the place was busy. She wrapped a shawl around her head to hide her face and strode in through the main gate. Figuring the best place to start would be at the bar, Shepard asked a local for directions.

"Personally, lady, I wouldn't go there!" the local exclaimed. "The place's overrun by damn turians and them other green aliens. Think they can run the place..." he mumbled as he tripped over his own feet, clearly drunk. Sensing it to be the local sentiment, Shepard nodded.

The bar was nowhere near as overrun by aliens as the drunk had said. It was, in fact, nearly void of any life. And whoever was there, was human. She strode over to the bartender, signaling for a drink. The first gulp burned down her throat and Shepard realized she hadn't drank in a while. The liquor was sweet and she asked for another.

"Not a local, are ya." pointed out the bartender, filling up her glass.

"You seem to know a lot." Shepard responded, knowing that contradicting that statement would be counterproductive.

"Live here for a few hundred years and you will too. What brings you to this wasteland?"

"On business." she replied.

"Yeah, that's what everyone says. They don't usually live long."

"I don't intend to stay."

"Shame. I could use intelligent company. The only other smart person around here is a drell who comes in every now and then."

"Wouldn't know him.... her. Got a working communication relay here?"

"Yeah, sure, one by the restrooms."

The asari bartender gave her an odd look but Shepard ignored her, thanked her for the drink, and headed toward the restrooms. She was glad that the bar was nearly deserted. It made her task that much easier. She powered up her omni-tool and turned on the communication relay. It didn't take her long to hack it and within minutes she created a secure channel to connect to the Normandy.

"Comm...er? Is tha.....ou?" Joker's voice rang through the speaker, broken up by static.

"Joker, I'm sending the coordinates of my location. Get Garrus down here. Now!" she barked, not willing to risk wasting time. The more time she spent talking, the more time she gave others to hack into her channel.

"...ot it! .... er out."

All she could do now was wait. Shepard wasn't very good at waiting, though. Her patience was limited. To pass the time quicker, she went back to the bar.

"Did you get what you needed?" the asari asked her.

"You could say that." was all Shepard said and ordered another drink. The asari did not ask any more questions after that as more and more people started to come in. Shepard wrapped the shawl more tightly around her self, keeping her head down. It was a while before she felt a small tap on her shoulder. Assuming the worst, Shepard automatically reached for her pistol, only to remember that it wasn't there.

"Looking for this?"

She swiftly turned around to find Garrus standing behind her, holding her heavy pistol. Relief washed over her.

"What took you so long?"

"Oh, you know, I couldn't decide which gun you would have preferred to use getting us out of here." he chuckled. "EDI found seven other frequencies tuned into your channel. So, I propose we get the hell out of here first and I'll ask questions later."

Shepard didn't need to be told twice. Seven different frequencies meant at least ten people per frequency which meant they were facing at least seventy mercenaries. And that was if they were lucky. In situations like this, they were rarely lucky.

"Should have brought my SMG." Shepard joked. "But then, you know me, I like impossible odds." Garrus laughed at her remark, but she heard tension in his laughter. Rightfully so because moments later, the doors to the bar closed and they found themselves face to face with heavily equipped and armed mercs.

"Any last wishes, Shepard?" Garrus asked jokingly, turning his back against hers.

"Just one. Hey, wait..."

"What?"

"You didn't see a gunship out there, did you?"

"No, I didn't."

"Oh, good. For a moment there I thought we were in trouble."*

"Shepard!" rang a voice above her. "Didn't think you could hide from me forever, did you?"

She turned around and looked up to try and find the source of the voice. It was unfamiliar.

"If you know me so well, then you should know that pissing me off is not healthy for you!" she shot back. Keep him talking, she told herself. There was laughter, all around her, mocking her. It was irritating.

"Threatening me will not work. I know more than you think I do."

"Enough playing games! If you're so brave, show yourself, you son of a bitch!"

There was a momentary silence before the crowd suddenly parted to reveal a small figure, covered from head to toe in tattoos.

"Jack...?" Shepard heard Garrus's surprise behind her, reflecting her own. A breathing mask covered Jack's mouth, distorting her voice. Which explained why Shepard was unable to recognize it.

"Surprised, Vakarian?" Jack laughed menacingly. This was definitely not anticipated.

"You don't have to do this, Jack." Shepard said as calmly as she could when in reality she wanted to tear the bitch to shreds with her bare hands.

"There you go again, Shepard. See? This is why I never liked you. You and your self righteous attitude. You were a real pain in the ass to work with, know that?"

"So now, instead, you work with third rate criminals."

"I don't work with anyone!" Jack spat. "These idiots are just here for the same job as me."

"Sure doesn't look that way." Shepard replied, keeping her cool. "Seems like you've sunk pretty low, Jack."

"Insult me all you want. You'll be dead by the end of this conversation anyway!"

The first shot rang from Jack's pistol, narrowly missing Shepard's head. She turned over the nearest table and ducked behind its cover, Garrus right next to her.

"What's the plan, Commander?" he asked, anger dripping from his voice like venom.

"Only one." she replied. "Stay alive or I'll kill you myself in afterlife."

They were cornered, she knew it, but it proved to be an advantage. It left their backs protected. She blindly fired a couple shots over the edge.

"Hope you brought a ton of ammo..." Shepard exclaimed over the gunshots, interrupted occasionally by screams of pain. Shots from his assault rifle tore through the air.

"Not enough." he replied, reloading. "But, I'm sure we'll think of something." Garrus added, rather cheerfully.

"Glad you're on my side." Shepard playfully cocked an eyebrow at him. He smiled in return.

"Just like old times."

Employing tech armor, Shepard stood up and fired a round of successive shots, each one landing perfectly between a pair of eyes.

"Nice shots." Garrus complimented when she ducked back down. Despite his bravado, however, Shepard knew they weren't going to be able to hold this position forever. Not with their limited ammunition.

"I say we try to make a break for the door. Take as many as we can out now and the rest outside."

"I don't doubt your judgment, but Shepard, that is not a good idea." he shot a few more rounds over the table's edge.

"Alright, then. I'll freeze some fuckers and then you blow the crap out of them."

Shepard sent a wave of cryo blast, freezing a few targets on instant, while Garrus's well placed shots completely shattered them.

"Is it me or is Jack being a little too quiet and non participatory?" she stated more than asked.

"Maybe she's saving the best for last. She must know the mercs can't last long against us."

And it was true. The mercs were dropping like flies, some by their own gunfire. The bar was in absolute chaos. For a brief moment Shepard wondered what happened to the asari. But it was more than likely that she had been killed. What a sad end. Hundreds of years serving in a crappy bar, then die in crossfire. She sent another volley of shots over the table, taking down two more mercs.

"Idiots!!" she heard Jack's voice when there were only few remained. "Can't do anything fucking right! I'll kill you myself!"

There was a lot of noise and then suddenly, gunfire seized.

"Enough play time, Shepard! Get out here and face me! One on one!"

Shepard looked at Garrus who had the 'don't do it' look on his face. She shook her head and stood up. It happened so fast she didn't even have time to react. Both her and Garrus were slammed against the wall as Jack sent a shockwave in their direction. Lights popped in her eyes as her head violently hit the metal panes. It took Shepard a moment to regain her composure and she unsteadily got back on her feet, thoroughly pissed off.

"You'll pay for this, bitch." she managed, throwing Jack off her feet and sending her flying through the tables, firing the pistol after her for good measure. Her head hurt and as Shepard stumbled, her hand went to the back of her head. When she brought it back, there was red on it. Her footsteps faltered, again. The bar was beginning to spin.

".....Shit...."

She watched as Jack emerged from the rubble, seemingly unhurt. But her footsteps were uneven as well.

"I can do this all day." Jack spat, throwing the tables out of her way. "You and me, Shepard. All. Fucking. Day. And I will enjoy it, too."

"Well, lucky you. Unfortunately, however, I've got shit to do, so hurry and and die!" Shepard yelled, sending Jack once again flying across the bar, followed by a volley of shots. Behind her, she heard Garrus stir. He had lost consciousness from the impact. But as soon as he was up, he was right beside her.

"High power shot her ass, Garrus." Shepard ordered. The concussive shot ripped through the air, momentarily deafening Shepard. She couldn't see straight and she couldn't hear. By the time she regained her senses the bar had become silent except for heavy breathing coming from Garrus and Jack. Shepard cautiously walked over to where Jack was laying, her small hands clutching at her waist, blood pouring through her fingers.

"Why did you do it?" Shepard asked, kneeling down beside her.

"Because I fucking hated you, Shepard." Jack gritted in response. Her words were forced as her body was fighting to keep the last bits of energy. And before Shepard could apply medi gel, her body went limp.

"Shame." Garrus said behind her. "I was just starting to like her."

"Come on, let's get out of here."

"Right behind you, Commander."

* REFERENCE TO BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID