"-tch, Howard. Keep them off me," Shephard screamed as she kicked back a varren, trying to seal the last blast door.
"A little busy here," I yelled back as ducked away from the angry charge of a krogan. I threw my arm out, cloaked in red, and the varren launched through the blast door into a rushing vorcha. The doors slid to and I was launched into some of the cargo, the krogan finally landing a hit.
"You're mine now!" he roared as he stood over me, just to be launched aside by a throw from Miranda and dispatched with a grenade from Shephard.
"I don't get paid enough for this," I groaned as my head thumped against the floor, my body aching.
"We have a problem, Gorm's cutting through the door. Get up here quick," Garrus cut in over the comms causing me to spring into action, sprinting past Shephard and heading towards the staircase that lead to the atrium. I spotted a few vorcha guarding a staircase as some krogan climbed the stairwell that led to where Garrus was. There were sounds of a battle from up top and the krogan Shepard was with came falling over the banner with a member of the blood pack.
"I'm headed up top," I told Shepard as they made their way through the door. I then ran over and charged my body with biotics as I used the enemy krogan as a springboard and launched myself up to where Garrus was, landing in between him and a krogan as big as Wrex. "Hey there beautiful," I said as he swung a large hammer from his back towards me, forcing me to roll to the side and retaliate with a biotic punch that stumbled him sideways. Garrus shot at him, only for the shot to be caught in the thick armor he wore. I rushed forward, going for another attack, when he dropped his hammer and caught my fist in his own, smiling dangerously.
"I've got you now pest," he wickedly said, squeezing his fist tighter around mine, bones crunching.
"Not quite," I replied, pushing my barrier out my gauntlet and flinging us both back, bits of his hand scattering around. He clutched the missing appendage and made to stand, when a salvo of gunfire peppered him from the side. Shephard's team finally joining the fight and dispatching the krogan.
"Are you both all right?" Shephard asked ordering her team to stand down.
"I'm fine Shephard, bastard barely touched me," Garrus informed her.
"That fucking hurt, you know?" I said cradling my hand.
"This one smells of blood and sand and wet varren. Who are you?" the krogan leaned in, taking a sniff and growling.
"Later, Grunt," she said pushing him back, "You good?"
"Yeah, I'm good. Now's probably the best time to leave though," I said leaning against the counter.
"He's right. Malik's got the toughest group, but it's nothing we haven't handled before," Garrus said as the gunship flew to the side and hit Garrus hard, causing him to fall to the ground.
"I'm tired of this fucking GUNSHIP!" I screamed picking up Gorm's discarded hammer and throwing it through the cockpit, biotics licking my arms. The mentioned gunship lurched violently forward, crashing into the building before falling into the depths of Omega with an explosion. A quick intake of breath was all it took for Shephard to call for evac and we were on a shuttle to her ship, Miranda and Shephard doing what they can to stabilize Garrus. We walked onto the ship and Grunt rushed him towards the elevator to go to the med bay.
"Look what the cat drug in," said the familiar voice of Joker as I unlatched my helmet with my good hand.
"I'll be sure to tell Shephard you called her a cat, Joker," I sent an amused look in his direction as I opened up omni tool, sending a message to Mira to rendezvous with us so I can get some things. "I'm sending you an updated IFF for my ship also, I'd prefer it if you didn't try to blow it up."
"Please, as if I'd waste any rockets on whatever pile of scrap you've been flying around in," he began as I pointed out the window to where it exited FTL. "Never mind. I'll happily shoot at the turian frigate," he jokes as he began hailing the ship to attach to the airlock. "I'm going to see the commander, don't let anyone on this ship, they'll probably try to take it apart," I said moving into the elevator and noticing each floor was labeled on the interface. That's handy. I pressed the button to the 3rd floor where the med bay is.
I approached the glass and saw Garrus in some machine that seemed to be putting his face back together, and a familiar face overlooking him. I knocked on the glass harshly, causing her to look up at me. "Hi, Karen," I said cheerfully as she gave me an amused expression and motioned for me to join her. I entered the room and immediately I was pushed onto a vacant table.
"What is it this time? Brain damage? Fist fighting krogan again?" she said amused as she pulled my hand that was still cradled to my chest towards her and pushed the release on my armor.
"Guilty," I said as she slid the glove off and my hand had small chips of bone sticking out of the knuckles.
"Oh dear. A compound fracture. You sure don't like to make my job easy, do you?" she said amusingly, putting on gloves and grabbing a localized sedative.
"Listen," I said stopping her from working, "I just want to apologize for how I acted before," I said awkwardly.
"Everyone has their bad days, yours just seems to last much longer, all is forgiven," she said waving me off as she pushed the bones back under the skin and placed my hand in a scanner to make sure it set right.
"So, the commander recruited you for a dangerous mission? Sounds familiar," I joked.
"It appears so. Although it seems you've lost more crew members to Shephard then you'd like," she joked as she nodded towards the glass where Nihlus was talking with the commander.
"Mom, she takes all my good toys," I complained as she slapped me on the arm and pushed me towards the exit. I walked out and made my way to where the pair were standing. "If you were looking for a new job, you could have just told me," I pouted at the turian.
"Oh, how the mighty have fallen. What would Wrex say if he saw you looking at the turian like a lost puppy," the commander said in a sad voice.
"Alas, our biotic of battle is no longer the warrior he once was," Nihlus sighed deeply, patting me on the head.
"Ha, ha, very funny you two," I replied pushing Nihlus away from me. "Just how many of you are on here?"
"Just me at the moment, although Blaire was clawing at the airlock, last time I saw her," Nihlus said amused.
"How I managed to inspire such loyalty out of her, I'll never know," I sighed, "So what's the plan, Shephard? Blow up the bad guys and be home for lunch?"
"Actually, that's what we were discussing before you got here. I've just been informed of where the next colony should be hit, but I haven't finished gathering my team yet," she said, looking older with the change of conversation.
"What, want me to go play hero?" I questioned, flexing my hand.
"No, quite the opposite actually," she confessed passing me a data pad, "I'm recruiting a biotic that goes by the name of Jack. Ever heard the name?"
"Not really, what did he do to get in Purgatory of all places?" I questioned.
"SHE killed a lot of people. Her psyche reports her as mentally unstable at best and a psychotic murderer at worst. So powerful biotic? Check. Batshit crazy? Check. Sound familiar?" she joked.
"Ok, so I go pick her up then meet up with you later. What's the catch?" I mused.
"The catch is convincing her to work on a Cerberus op. I don't have all the files, but apparently her biotics are a result of some sort of Cerberus experimentation. She'll be… difficult to handle at the least. Also, you'll have to take Miranda along with you, as a Cerberus operative she can oversee the exchange."
"There's the catch. Firstly, what do I do if she won't come willingly? Plus, will Miranda even listen to my orders? I'll launch her out the airlock if she harasses me on my own ship," I joked.
"Do whatever you feel is necessary to gain her trust, I need people that I can trust that isn't Cerberus," she told me.
"Fine, but you owe me," I said motioning for Nihlus to get the ship ready. "Let's go get 'Operative Lawson.'"
We made our way across the corridor, only to enter a room much nicer than anything on the old Normandy. "Miranda, you're being temporarily reassigned to our resident krogan wrestler's command."
"Shephard, the Illusive Man wouldn't approve of this. I'm supposed to be sending hi- "she began but was interrupted.
"I don't give a damn what your Illusive Man does and does not approve of. We're going to go get Jack and get back here so you can send all of the complaints you want to him," I shot out.
"The Illusive Man actually suggested this anyway. Apparently, his crew is capable enough," she shot me a strange look.
"Problem solved, we leave in 5," I said walking towards the airlock and entering my ship.
"Heard we have a new mission. Cerberus involved. Strange," Filben shot out as I entered the ship.
"Hey buddy, send the word out before our new guest that rumors should probably be cut to a minimum," I said walking past him and putting my code in for the Captain's quarters, only for it to be denied.
"Who is it?" came Mira's singsong voice.
"You changed my password?" I complained banging against the door.
"I'll have you know that 1234 is a horrible password," she said as the door slid open.
"And the new password would be?" I prompted as I began to strip my armor off.
"Mira, of course." She said with a wink.
"Of course, it is," I replied with a grin pulling off my chest piece. "Enjoying the view?"
"It's better than trying to spy on Nihlus, that's for sure," she said laying the discarded armor on the table as I pulled on some jeans.
"Please tell me you're joking," I said with a shiver.
"Of course, I am," she laughed, passing me a shirt as I felt the engines come to life and we detached from the Normandy.
"I'm guessing our guests are here. Formal boarding, or armed standoff," I said grabbing my jacket and walking through the door.
"Formal, we have some class, after all," Mira replied cheekily.
"I'll take that bet," I said as we walked upon what looks like a heated conversation between Nihlus and… Grunt?"
"Uh, what are you doing here big guy? Thought we were just picking up the princess," I said motioning towards Miranda who was rubbing her temples while glaring at me.
"I came to challenge you to a rite of battle," he said banging his chest and giving a roar, causing Nihlus to draw his shotgun.
"Stand down," I said sighing, "Filben, how long until we reach Purgatory?"
"Hmm, solar winds favorable. Light traffic around relay. 15 minutes," he shot off.
"Come then, I accept your challenge and reserve my right as the challenged to set the rules," I said walking towards the elevator where the crowd follow me, Miranda included surprisingly.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Nihlus asked as I hit the button to go to the cargo bay.
"We have a sparring ring for a reason, Nihlus. Doesn't your military do something like this when their nervous?" I asked.
"Of a sort, but it's not against fully grown krogan," he replied.
"Good, that means it's interesting. My terms are such," I began as the elevator opened and I tossed my jacket to Mira, "No weapons and it goes until first blood."
"That is hardly a challenge," Grunt roared back.
"Those are my terms, take it or leave it," I replied stepping into the arena.
"I accept," He said dropping his small arsenal of weapons outside the arena and stepping in. He made his way towards me, charging furiously as I ducked out of the way, giving a biotically powered kick to the back of his knee, causing it to buckle. I then gave a swift punch to the back of his neck and began backing up as he coughed up a small amount of blood.
"Well fought, Grunt, but you lack experience," I chuckled as my jacket was thrown to me and I slipped it on.
"Unfair, again," he grunted, standing.
"No can do, big guy, would hate to tear up my ship teaching you some lessons," I smiled as Miranda looked at me with shock, "What's wrong with you? Cats got your tongue," I said bopping her on the nose as I walked back towards the elevator.
"I- there is no such thing," she said flustered as she glared at me, but joined me none of the less.
"Sure, whatever you say, princess," I joked as we approached the prison. "Hail them on comms, Filben."
"Purgatory, this is the CSV Trepidation, asking permission to dock." He said over the open channel.
"Trepidation, this is an unscheduled arrival, please state your reasoning," came the reply.
"We're here to pickup Subject Zero for the Illusive Man, confirmation number 3-2-5-5-4-6-2," Miranda cut in.
"Affirmative. Proceed to external docking bay 3."
"Here we go," I said, checking my thermal clips.
This is Cloaked Protagonist, back again. It's been a while and after some consideration, I'm finishing my stories, along with rewriting Identity. This will be my first and foremost important story, as it is the closest one to being complete as it is. Without further ado, I am no longer on hiatus.