First of all, I am sorry but essays from school, a huge report and a stubborn girl have kept me busy. Don't worry; I am now completely focused on this. Path of a Talimancer will have its imminent end in the next few days. Enjoy guys, and for your patience, here is a long chapter! ;)

Disclaimer: I do not own Mass Effect, except Luke and Mindus... OH YEAH! MINE!

Chapter 11: Operation Spring Awakening

Mindus was worried. Hell, he was scared too. He had never seen Luke this mad, this… berserk. His eyes had this… emptiness, like the eyes of a machine; clear, focused, cold. He knew about Luke's background as a ruthless soldier, but kept it hidden. He didn't want his friendship with Luke to be ruined by saying something stupid. Now, they were going to the slums, where the poor, infirm and lawless lived in the Citadel.

"How long until we get there Luke?" Asked Mindus.

"Don't know" responded Luke, eyes focused on the way to the nearest elevator.

"Luke, I think we should plan this… interrogation with Mouse. He's harmless, yes, but we have to get this info out of him" Commented a pensive Kolyat, walking right beside Luke, on the left.

"Mindus will be the good cop, I'll be the bad one, you will be there just in case things go wrong" Answered Luke, in a machine-like voice. It shook the bones on both of his companions.

"Alright man" Mindus responded. No one dared to say a word anymore as the trio got to the elevator. The ride was in silence, very expected for all. Luke was standing tall, eyes on the door while Mindus and Kolyat would exchange looks on occasion. They were worried and incredibly afraid of what Luke could do to not only Mouse, but anyone that may get in their way.

Now, Mindus was thinking hard. 'Mouse will be a piece of cake, but after that what? What are we gonna do if this gang is behind? After all they openly recruit quarians, and she is a very good technology specialist.'

The elevator stopped, shaking Mindus' thoughts. Now it was time to get into probably the lowest of the low in the Citadel. It was like Omega, except with a nice touch of some security, but still it was a shattering look of decline and despair.

It was like a poor neighborhood bombed, destroyed and then reconstructed in a few days. It was that bad. There were many beggars on the streets, turians, humans, and even asari. Such a sad sight, but that didn't bother Luke, as he made his way to a set of apartments, not too far from the elevator. Mindus and Kolyat had to speed up their pace to keep it up with him.

As the duo made their way towards Luke, they heard screams in an alley nearby. Luke, who was focused to get into Mouse's depressing apartment, suddenly stopped and took a look at the alley, stretching his neck, trying to take a look at what was going on. What he saw was completely shocking. There were two men, a turian and a human by the looks, beating a quarian. He was screaming for help.

"PLEASE! HELP!" He screamed while the human was trying to take his helmet off. The turian laughed and patted the human in the back.

"Easy there Kurt, you will hurt him" He said softly.

Kurt laughed and then got a knife from his left hip. "Let's see what this scum looks like without that suit on Mak."

"Hmmm well what the hell, he's a quarian anyway, and we are doing this for the good of science" Mak said with venom and hatred in his voice. The human then was about to knife him when his hand stopped, blue aura covering his arm. The quarian fainted as he saw the hand stopping.

"What the hell?" Kurt was shocked, trying to move his arm. Mak turned his head and saw a lone human, with a C-Sec uniform in a battle stance, his fist in the air.

"Leave him alone" Luke said coldly. His eyes were fixed on the turian, who was watching him intently.

"Or else what? You think you can order us? C-Sec doesn't rule here y'know?" Replied Mak.

The human turned and screamed. "GET THIS OFF ME BITCH! I didn't do anything to you!"

Luke walked calmly and raised his fist, freeing the arm of Kurt. Luke then stepped in front of the turian and said "You guys have two choices, either get the hell out of here or I'll break your mandibles and shove them up your ass"

Mindus and Kolyat got there to see Luke standing in front of a turian and human, both with their heads fixed on their comrade. Mindus was about to rush into the scene when Kolyat put a hand on his chest.

"Let's see where this goes." Kolyat said, looking at Luke in front of him.

Mindus had to stop and look. Luke was obviously talking to the duo, but then he saw a quarian in the floor, probably either unconscious or dead. Shaking his head, he stood there watching the scene.

"Ha! You think you can take on us bitch? You will regret those words." Kurt then stood up and charged head on at Luke. Mak just took a few steps back and laughed.

Luke then positioned both his hands at each side of his head, as to cover it. His hands then turned to fists and, when Kurt was close enough, unleashed a barrage of punches into Kurt's livers and head. Within two seconds, Kurt was on the floor, bleeding profusely from his face and unconscious.

Mak jumped in fright and tried to run away but Luke caught him by his arm. "Your turn." Said a smiling Luke as he punched the turian in the head and sides of his body. Luke then kicked Mak in the groin, making the turian kneel on the floor while grunting in pain. Luke then punched him hard in the face, making his body fall to the floor like a tree. Both the turian and human were knocked out within a minute. Luke then rushed to the quarians side.

"Hey, can you hear me? Are you there?" He asked softly while he shook his body. The quarian jerked and opened his eyes.

"Hmmm" The quarian moaned in pain and his eyes shot up, looking at Luke. The quarian then spoke softly, as in a tired voice.

"Are you going to kill me?" He asked in a tired voice, he was now prepared to die.

"No, I'm not. Are you wounded, any suit breaches?"

The quarian was shocked at Luke's knowledge on quarians, but that didn't stop him from replying.

"No, I'm okay, just a little beaten that's all" The quarian then got up and looked at Luke, tilting his head to the right, as in a curious stare. He couldn't help but ask.

"Why did you help me?"

"Because you were in trouble. Good luck with your Pilgrimage." Replied Luke in a robotic voice, cold but assuring. Luke then turned to his friends and made his way to get to them. The quarian then spoke, again.

"Hey! Officer!" The quarian had already identified the C-Sec uniform.

Luke turned to see him. Mindus and Kolyat started to approach them.

"Thank you, you just… saved my life…"

"No problem, just doing my job" Luke had a small smile on his face.

"No one would have saved me, not even C-Sec" The quarian replied in a sad tone.

Luke walked towards him and tapped him in the shoulder. "Now you know some of us do care about the well being of others."

The quarian smiled behind his helmet and offered his hand for a handshake. Luke took it instantly.

"My name is Lirius, Lirius'Doral nar Qwib Qwib"

Mindus started laughing on his way to Luke and Lirius. Kolyat was just smiling.

"Really? Qwib Qwib? Damn, never thought quarians were so lame at naming ships" Mindus was trying to be funny. It was clear that he wanted to get the mood up.

Lirius glared at him while Luke chuckled. Kolyat patted Mindus on his back. "Really Mindus just shut up." Mindus just shrugged. "My jokes are good anyway."

Luke then spoke, in a gentler tone. "My name is Luke, Luke de la Vega" He then gestured with his hand towards his friends. "These stooges are Mindus and Kolyat, friends of mine"

Both Mindus and Kolyat smiled and offered their hands to Lirius, who took them hesitantly. The quarian then turned to Luke.

"Why are you here? This is not a place common for officers of C-Sec to be patrolling."

The quarians question made memories rush to Luke like a waterfall; Lia captured and endangered, Mouse in the apartments and his quest to find that wretched turian Jorax, to make him pay. However, he had to keep that in check, as he was about to make an interrogation on Mouse, a petty criminal, and a low life.

"Just patrolling." Luke was reluctant to tell the quarian anything. Just because he was in danger, didn't mean he had to be trusted. Mindus then spoke up, much to the group's surprise.

"Lirius, I think you missed a level. This is the garbage level, the good level is up." He said as he pointed with his talon up, to the ceiling.

"I know, but nobody wanted to give me a job. It's always the same thing. No hiring quarians, no job for you. It's getting me tired." Lirius then looked to the floor, as if ashamed.

Luke patted the quarian in the shoulder. "Hey, I know this may offend you, but are you good with computers and electronics?"

Lirius looked at him, his body language that of dumbfounded. "You are not offending me in any way officer, and yes I am good at electronics." He replied.

Luke smiled. "Good, then report to my boss, his name is Bailey, Captain Armando Bailey. Tell him that you are a wizard at technology and that you are looking for a job. "

The quarian took a step back. "What? C-Sec hiring quarians? That is insane."

Mindus laughed hard and said "Insane? A quarian was working there and she was happy with her salary."

Luke smiled and shook his head. "What my friend is trying to tell you is that our boss hires quarians because you guys are good at that, and plus our computer systems have been attacked recently. We need help from people like you to fix that."

Lirius looked at all three of them. He patted his foot a couple of times and shook his head. "Well what the hell? I need a job; I am hungry and tired of this hellhole."

Luke chuckled while Mindus laughed. Kolyat just smiled. "Alright then, go and ask, tell him that we sent you. Agents DLV, MD and KL, he will get it." Luke replied as he chuckled.

Lirius nodded and said "Thank you, really thank you for your help, now I am heading to C-Sec and tell the Captain that I need a job, hopefully he will get me one." The quarian then started making his way to the elevator when Luke shouted.

"Hey Lirius! You forgot something!"

Lirius turned and headed towards Luke. "What did I forget officer?"

Luke smiled. "This." He then got the quarian's hand and put a credit chit there. "It fell from your little fight with those brutes." He said as he gestured with his hand towards the alley, where Mak and Kurt were still unconscious.

Lirius studied it carefully. He shook his head and tried to hand it to Luke. "No, I had no money officer, this is not mine."

Luke just gave it back to him, "Of course it did." He said while making a wink with his eye, much to his friends' amusement. The quarian reluctantly took it. "Thank you Officer, I will not forget you."

Mindus started laughing again. "Of course you won't. We work there dummy!"

The trio laughed while Lirius just shook his head while smiling beneath his visor and headed to the elevator.

Mindus proceeded to make his first bad joke of the day. "Really Luke? A wink? Now I know maybe you have a fetish for male quarians hmmm?" Kolyat laughed and Luke just chuckled.

"Be quiet Mindus" Was Luke's answer. It was good to know he had his friends were there, helping him in something that may hinder their careers in C-Sec. Kolyat was just a recent addition, but was performing brilliantly. Mindus was a veteran, like Luke, and both were some of the best Bailey had to his disposal. Still, it was an honor to have those two as friends. 'How am I so lucky with friends?' Luke smiled.

"Alright, let's get to Apartment thirty four, that's where Mouse lives." Now Luke was on his cold, command mode as he gestured his friends with his hand to follow him.

The apartments building was a like a bomb shelter, crude, poor looking… just terrible. Cries of babies could be heard, some drug dealers shouting at their clients for more money and homeless people sleeping in the stairs or floor, just to have a roof to sleep.

The trio had their faces in a disgusted way. All represented the shadowy, decaying part of the 'Great Citadel.' Omega was worse, but hell this place had the points to compete with that hellhole. It was like watching a horror movie, just the crude reality of life, the true face of the Citadel.

Luke finally saw the correct door after making his way through beggars and thieves. 'Heh, and they call quarians thieves when this place is so full of them we can drown on them'

Luke nodded towards Mindus. The turian then proceeded to knock on the door and shout "Mouse! Open the door!"

They heard footsteps behind the battered looking door. Then a voice came to their ears. "What do you want? Who is it?" The voice was that of a male, frightened.

"Just open the door or we will knock it down!" Luke growled.

The numerous locks and passwords were heard and the door finally opened to show a small, tan skinned human, his eyes darting back and forth until he saw the drell. He made a step back.

"Oh shit! Krios! What do you want?"

Kolyat smiled and said. "We just want to ask you a few questions."

Mouse shook his head. "You know I can't say anything! We are in the middle of a full scale gang war and I want my neck intact!"

Luke growled and took his pistol from his hip, putting it in front of the scared man, right in his forehead. "We can ask this nicely or I can show my friends the different ways to torture I learned from the N7 Academy." His voice was cold. "Do you want me to start teaching Torture 101?"

Mouse's body started shaking, and after a few seconds, he sighed and nodded. "Alright alright, just no guns or torture okay? Get inside."

Luke smiled and nodded. "Good enough for me, let's go in guys." With that, Luke and his friends entered Mouse's apartment, which was nice for such a terrible building, and neighborhood to add it to that. His dining area was large enough for four people while his private room was a few meters to the right. Two bathrooms were seen to the right and left of the kitchen, which had a table, some drawers, and a nice over, nice for Mouse and his 'duct rat' background. 'Too nice for a petty criminal' Mindus thought.

Mouse then gestured with his hand to a battered looking sofa for them to sit while he got a water bottle from his fridge. Then he sat down, in front of them in a chair and sighed before speaking. "Alright, what do you want to know?"

Luke put his body forward and said "We want to know about Jorax."

Mouse started shifting uncomfortably, true signs that he did know something. Kolyat was watching him intently while Mindus played with his gun, probably to scare Mouse to say something.

Mouse sighed again and trembled. "Bad turian. Worst one I've ever met. He…. he ….. he now leads the Shadow Gang, right under the noses of you guys."

Everyone had wide eyes. Luke's anger began to boil while Mindus and Kolyat looked at each other, as if not believing it.

"Since when?" Mindus growled. A turian merc was bad enough, but a backstabber and a liar was just dishonorable for his people, who had honor above all in their laws of how to be a proper citizen.

"Since a long time ago."

"Well then, what's the situation of the current gang war?" Kolyat asked.

"Bad, really really bad. Kelham is leaving. The Shadow Gang is fragmenting. The cartel is just killing everyone. Red sand dealers are being picked up and are never seen again. Mass recruitment is underway too; the cartel is reinforcing itself even though they haven't lost a soul in this war."

Luke was curious now. 'If the Shadow Gang is weak, maybe that will make my effort to rescue Lia easier for me and for my friends… never said I was going to give up anyway' "How is the Shadow Gang right now?" Luke asked.

"Screwed" Mouse said as he took a sip of his drink. "They are being battered everywhere. This cartel is just too powerful. This… Black Hand is just too much for them. They are so weak now that some drug dealers are selling behind their backs… People are losing respect on them."

Mindus looked at his quizzically. "Werent you working for Kelham? What is going to happen with you when this battle is over?"

Mouse smiled. "I left before this happened. When Kolyat here failed in his attempt to kill Talid, I quit and began working as a weapons merchant." He then looked around his apartment and smiled. "As you can see, I am doing well, for now."

Luke then asked him "Okay, the million dollar question. Did you hear about a quarian being kidnapped by Jorax or the Shadow Gang?"

Mouse nodded. "Yes, they said she worked at C-Sec and that she would be a good addition to their ticket out of here"

"Ticket? What do you mean?" Luke growled.

"Simple, they are selling her to a corporation for creds to leave the Citadel before the Hand gets them." Mouse stated simply.

Luke was now pissed, but he had to keep himself cool. He had to know where they and beat the crap out of everyone. Mindus put his talon on Luke's shoulder and nodded; a simple gesture that he will follow him wherever he was going. Kolyat smiled at Luke and nodded too.

Luke smiled, calming himself and asked. "Alright Mouse, where is the Gang's base? Before you put a protest I assure you, we are going to clean up, you are not going to be named. Trust us and your 'merchant' job will be left untouched."

Mouse played with his hands as he thought about it. He finally sighed and nodded. "Looks like that quarian is special to you guys… the Gang's hideout is a torn out building, used to be a hospital. It's here, in the slums, a mile away from here. You can't miss it, though I assure you, you will not enter without a huge firefight or backup."

Luke smiled. "When the hell did we say that we needed backup? We are that badass. As for you, thanks for this, you will be rewarded." Luke then offered his hand to Mouse, who shook it. "You don't have to, you guys have been nice to me, and now that you are getting rid of those assholes, it's good enough pay for me." Mouse said as he smiled at Luke.

The trio then got up and began to make their way to the door. Luke stopped and turned to Mouse. "Hey, by any chance would you happen to have any heavy weapons in stock with you?"

Oh damn, Luke and friends are going to storm the base. Stay tuned, next chapter will have lots and lots of fighting, a damsel in distress too! Gore, violence and a little surprise to y'all next chapter.

R&R!

Cheers and thanks y'all for your reviews!