Heavywolfblade: Glad you liked it, i wasn't fully sure how to incorporate the VI at first, but then i got the idea lol. Yes, i thought Kasumi would make a good friend to Tali, based upon some of her quotes and whatnot.
XT Vengance: Thank you, yes lol sounds different.
AnimusFerrus: Thanks for the review, yes, perhaps the VI needs to make another appearance lol.
Nooneimportant: I appreciate the ideas, but i need to do the story the way i envision it. the whole paragon/renegade thing isn't exactly the way it is in the game. its a fanfiction. If how i envision it becomes mature rated in some parts, then that's the way it is. I'm not going to make the story filthy or anything, but i am going to make the story you like it though. and yes, I made a mistake calling it an FTL, i meant IFF
Lord Mandalore: Yeah, i know it isn't the best written story. not everyone can be perfect. But yes, thank you for the review. I've been improving a bit though. I'm glad to see though that you enjoy this story, and my Shepard's uniqueness. Im sure it seems odd that one moment he's all nice, then bursts into ruthless behavior depending on the circumstances. I did that to make him different, rather then all paragon or all renegade. he's both, depending on the situation. It makes him more human to experience both, rather then just one. =) thanks again, im glad you like my writing, ill keep at it
Sorry if the chapter releases start slowing down, and sorry this is shorter. I'm working on another story, for resident evil. also, i may possibly end up doing a humor story for mass effect 2. I'm still keeping at this story, don't worry. i love this story. It will change to a few different perspectives, next chapter.
Several hours later in the briefing room
Commander Shepard stepped into the crowded briefing room, now in a full N7 armored combat suit, his weapons attached to his back.
Tali turned from her conversation with Kasumi and nodded to him. He smiled and nodded back.
All thirteen of his squad mates stopped chatting and turned to face him as he walked up to the front of the room.
"Alright everybody listen up. We have an assignment on Lorek, as you all know. We need to find a missing Cerberus operative. We should be gone a few hours, meanwhile, EDI will be uploading the Reaper IFF to the Normandy's system's", he informed them.
Head's nodded in acknowledgment all around the room.
"Now, Id like to leave a couple of the squad aboard the Normandy, you know, just to be careful. We all know what Reaper technology is capable of", He informed them.
There was a silence for a moment, then Legion spoke up.
"We concur. A logical idea Shepard commander", It commented.
Garrus nodded.
"Yeah, better safe then sorry. We both saw what Sovereign was capable of", He agreed.
"Thanks", Shepard replied.
"Who you gonna leave behind then Shepard?", Zaeed asked him.
Shepard pondered this for a moment.
I should leave behind someone with tech ability's, and a biotic. It's a potent combination.
Shepard looked at his Tech crew members. Garrus, Tali and Legion.
hmm.. lets see..
"Legion? You remain aboard", Shepard told it. "Your tech expertise are the best".
Legion strapped it's pulse rifle onto its back and inclined its elongated head.
"Acknowledged, Shepard Commander", it replied.
"Who else Shepard?", Miranda spoke up curiously.
Shepard looked back at her, and then glanced briefly to Samara, Jack, Jacob and Thane.
After a few moments of considering it, he replied.
"Jack, you stay on the ship with Legion, alright?", He asked, turning to the small heavily tattooed woman on his immediate right.
Jack shrugged her shoulders, uncaring.
"Yeah, sure, whatever. Why the fuck not? Not like I have anything better to do", She muttered to herself.
There were a few moments silence, then Shepard spoke again to the others.
"Alright, everybody else, take your gear down to the hangar and get to the shuttle. I'll come down and meet you in a bit", he told them.
The crew filed out of the briefing room. The door closed behind them, and Shepard turned back to Jack and Legion.
"You both can head back to your respective areas. Be on your guard, just in case", Shepard ordered.
"You got it boss man", Jack replied, snapping off a sarcastic salute.
She turned and left the briefing room, muttering to herself.
"Acknowledged", Legion told him, following after her.
--
8 minutes later in the hangar
Shepard stepped past the M-44 Hammerhead in its rack, and up to Miranda who was leaning against the side of the shuttle with her arm's crossed.
"Everyone is inside, and our gear is aboard Commander, we may depart now", She informed him.
"Alright then, let's get going", he replied.
They both turned and stepped up into the shuttle with the others, the door closed and locked behind them. It was rather crowded inside for the 12 of them to fit in
"Dibs on a seat!", Jacob told them. "I hate standing all day".
"Afraid you're too late, Taylor", Mordin told him from his seat. "Besides, should be used to standing at terminal all day".
"Give me some space Garrus", Grunt complained gruffly, standing in a corner. "Don't need a Turian cramped up beside me the whole way.
"Maybe you should go on a diet or something then", Garrus replied. "It's not exactly fun for me either".
"Why don't they make these things more roomy?", Kasumi wondered, sitting cross legged in her seat.
"This shuttle is standard regulation size", Miranda explained to her, wrapping a hand around a support on the roof. "Perhaps I should request another one from Cerberus".
"This is nothing", Zaeed piped up, waving a dismissive hand. "I remember this one time, me and a band of mercenaries had to-
"Spare us the boring tales Messani", Grunt muttered. "Maybe it's a good thing that Jack isn't here. Would probably get pissed at the confined space.
Samara and Thane were the only ones keeping quiet to themselves at their respective spots.
Tali walked over from where she stood beside Kasumi's seat, towards Shepard and took his hand into hers.
"I'd better protect you down there Shepard", She teased.
Shepard grinned as the Normandy's cargo doors opened, and the shuttle took off.
"Thanks, you could kick anyone's ass in the galaxy... mine included", He replied. "Sovereign could testify to that if it were still alive".
Tali giggled.
"Don't you ever forget that", She ordered.
The shuttle departed the Normandy's cargo hold, the ships doors shutting soon after.
Shepard walked over to the window nearest to them and watched the Normandy move out of view. Tali followed him over.
"You don't need to worry Shepard", Tali said encouragingly, placing a hand upon his shoulder. "The Normandy will be fine for a bit without you. Joker wont crash the ship".
Shepard smiled and nodded as the shuttle began it's jump.
"Yeah, I Know that you're right Tali", he replied, putting it out of his mind.
--
One hour later, on the Normandy's bridge
"I'm telling you EDI, your readings are completely off. It's radiation bleed, just white noise", Joker assured her as he approached his seat.
"Mr. Moreau, I have detected a signal embedded within the static. We are transmitting the Normandy's current position", EDI informed the helmsman urgently.
Joker sat down in his chair and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Transmitting? Who could we possibly be transmitting it to?"
Before EDI could reply, a huge sinisterly familiar shape appeared on the monitor, passing over the ship and stopping suddenly.
Joker raised his eyes to the monitor, and they bulged in fear.
"Oh shit! Not them!", He uttered. "We need to get the hell out of here!, Hang on!"
Joker began typing in a fury of commands on his station.
"Here we go! Eat my dust you insect bastards!", Joker said happily.
But there was no response from the Normandy's engines.
Joker stared at the monitor, dumbfounded.
"What the hell...
"Mr Moreau, propulsion systems are disabled. I have detected a virus inside the ship's computers", She informed him.
"The IFF had a virus? Damn it! Why didn't you scrub it?", Joker asked her frantically, burying his face in his hands.
"Ship's primary systems are now offline. Boarding crafts are latching onto the ship, and I'm viewing from the monitors. Collectors are swarming onto the ship as we speak. Our crew is arming to repel. We can still save the Normandy, Mr Moreau, but you must help me", She answered calmly.
Joker looked up and turned to her hologram.
"What do you need me to do?", he asked quickly.
She paused for a second, then replied.
"Give me the ship", she told him.
Joker's eyes widened again.
"What? Your insane! If you start singing daisy bell or something, I'm done!", He shouted.
"You must unlock my sealed databases and I can initiate the countermeasures. The maintenance shaft in the Mordin's lab will allow passage to the AI core. The main hall's are no longer safe Mr Moreau. The emergency floor lighting will help guide you", She informed him.
Joker shook his head in annoyance, and struggled to his feet.
He staggered slowly past the chair and stood in front of the first floor light near the airlock.
"Aw dammit... Shepard is going to break my arms over this", he muttered.
There you go, a shorter chapter. the next one will take longer, i think it'll be pretty good. thanks for reading. hope you liked it.