A/N: I got to go to the Bioware camp at Comic-Con but that's not what delayed the post. What delayed the post was a overload at work. But now that things are slowing down a bit and I've gotten enough for a new chapter. I'm just going to let you guys read on from here.

Within the Tervho's medical bay, Palva had removed Lissarkh's bandages after complaining about the wrappings being too tight. Palva noticed Rang and Pyth getting closer with a strange silver orb. Without needing to turn to him, Palva simply asked Rang as he pasted her, "Me'copaani, Rang? Bal n'vaabi sirbu naas," Palva only spoke in Mando'a around Rang and only when she wanted him to listen. 'What do you want, Rang? And don't say nothing.'

Rang started to play innocent with Palva as he started to toss the sphere between his hands. "Well then we just need Lissarkh's help with something."

This elder female turian has seen some interesting things with these four but she had also seen some of the things Rang does for 'fun'. "If someone else can help you with another one of your pranks then ask them. Otherwise…"

"Now calm down Palva. This isn't one of my pranks, I swear. Mandalorian honor." For Rang to say that convince her to hear him out.

But Rang was superseded by Pyth. "You see Miss Turian, we require a very strong willed individual with telepathic abilities. And before you bring it up, yes I am a telepath but it is only for communication purposes really. Jedi are more capable and can pear into minds." Pyth then grabbed the sphere from Rang, "Well, this isn't actually an individual."

Palva was willing to ignore the estranged professor's name for her as she started to take a closer look at the sphere. "Isn't that the Prothean artifact you guys took from Cerberus?"

Rang nodded with his usual silly grin, "Yep. And we're hoping the General's recovered enough to help uncover its secrets."

Palva turned around to look at the lizard lying on the bed. As interesting as it might be, Palva was always a medic first. "I'm sorry, she's still resting now. When she's not regrown her arm then it might be time to ask her."

Before Rang and Silis could turn around, a voice came from one of the beds. "I'll take a look at it." Lissarkh was now sitting up looking at the three of them.

Palva could only disagree with her patient, "Now listen, I don't know how medics were where you're from but I will not let any of my patients endanger their health no matter the reason."

Lissarkh's head started to move from side to side as she stared into Palva's eyes. Her stare seemed to be going through her and the metal floor. "I know my mental and physical abilities and limits. I am fine. The growing process will proceed without me."

Palva still disagreed, "I still don't think…"

"You have a painful past." Lissarkh interrupted.

"What?"

"You once were a part of a medic team that operated within a scouting fleet." Lissarkh was using the powers of the Force to 'read' her memories. "You were rather happy with that life; you aided your people and you had a few 'escapades' with some of the crew in your youth."

Palva tried to resist but it was too strong for her, "Stop…please stop this…"

Lissarkh heeded the turian's request as she bowed her head to Palva, "I apologies for what I did, but I wanted to show you that I am more than capable of completing the task the clone commando wants of me. I understand the risks I am partaking, but this is my decision. You may feel that you are 'responsible' for me but do not." Lissarkh gave Palva a menacing glare waited for her to leave.

As Palva left, Rang shuttered just from see Lissarkh's stare Palva down. "Did you have to do that to her s…ma'am? I mean, it seemed rather harsh."

Lissarkh did not respond to the commando, having felt the pain that echo within the aged turian. With that distraction done, Lissarkh reached out with her right arm as Silis cupped her hand to let the sphere fly off and head towards the Jedi. With the sphere now in hand, Lissarkh started to focus on the sphere. Neither she, nor any know Jedi before her have ever tried to 'read' a machine, but soon Lissarkh learned it was no ordinary machine. As she started to reach out to the orb, the orb did the same. The orb started glow brightly as Lissarkh's eyes glowed in a bright blue hue. For several seconds this continued before the orb dimmed down and fell into her lap as she closed her eyes, shaking her head.

Pyth was interested and asked the Jedi, "Well, what was it like?"

The Trandoshan started rubbing her temple as she tried to sort things out, "It's difficult to describe. It was like a flood of information forced its way into my mind. I was not prepared for so much knowledge at first but soon…I was taking it in."

Rang though he knew of a parallel to what just happened. "So it's like flash training but a whole lot faster, am I right?"

Lissarkh was still trying to find her focus, "Somewhat…" The Jedi was having a hard time trying to describe it, "These aren't memories from an individual, more like a vision…a vision of the past." Lissarkh was suddenly stricken by a sever migraine. Before Rang could do anything the pain slowly started to go away. Lissarkh stopped the clone, "No. I'll be fine. I just need more rest and time to let these images find their place. I will detail as much as I can with you later Professor Silis."

Rang wasn't sure if doing this was a good idea any more but the look on Pyth's face was otherwise as she continued to write down notes about the recent events.

Down in engineering, Rasen constantly monitored the astromech droid and all of her movements while still keeping everyone else in line. Truthfully, R4-C3 has proven to be a worthy addition to the crew, even finding ways to bolster the defensive capabilities of the ship's kinetic barrier. Rasen still didn't like it. She needed a distraction and she found Forta working on a side project. "Forta. You seem busy with something. Do you need my help?"

The segregated batarian had grown a rather fawned attachment to Sigma Squad, Tare'Nara, Kixritvira and Rasen. He still kept his distance from others but after a year and a half he was starting to like this group as a whole. "Yeah, I wanted to make a unique omni-tool for the mobile trashcan looking thing so it can help properly."

"Oh."

Forta wasn't sure what the matter was but after being with them for so long, he could tell just by her tone. "What's wrong? Did I say something?"

Rasen quickly tried to change topics, "No, no, it's not you it's…how's everything been. I mean, I know how the ship is but you do some 'interesting' experiments in your room."

Forta was starting to see what was going on. "Is this about the new guys and the machine they have?"

Rasen felt ashamed of how she's been acting recently, especially around the Sigmas. "I'm sorry…it's just, how can they be so willing to trust an A.I.? I mean the pilot seems to have absolute faith in it."

Forta thought about the situation and everything that's happened since the others arrived. "Well, I've seen you keep a close eye on it whenever you can, and a majority of the time it just stays in the hangar next to the wreck. Have you seen it do anything that looked dangerous?"

Rasen looked back at everything she had seen and even when the little droid didn't know she was there, it only helped out. The droid never even faltered in carrying out orders given to it by others, either Dagger and Swoop or any other Mandalorian. "Well, no but how do we know if…"

Forta then spoke his mind, "I think I understand why you and your people hate A.I. but from how Rang and the others keep saying, it sounds more like your people panicked and attacked them to try and hid what they thought was a mistake. I may be over thinking this but, you should at least give this one a chance. It's rather clever mechanic."

Rasen looked down at the girders, "Do you really think it's that simple?"

Forta shrugged. "We work on complicated things all of the time. Sometime we need to look at things at a simple level. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. All I know is they trust it and I haven't see anything that proves otherwise."

"I don't know Forta, I just don't know…"

Forta started to lean on the same railing Rasen was on. "Then think of it this way. It's not a geth. It hasn't done anything against you, Tare, your people or your ancestors. So in a way, it's the same as when you first met Sigma Squad."

Rasen really didn't want to view C3 as another one of the crew, let alone an individual person. "I'll try but I doubt that'll work."

Forta just turned to her and said, "In the end, that's all one can do."

With the long transit coming to an end, the Normandy SR-2 had arrived to Illium in search of two more potential crew members, the 'Justicar' and the 'Assassin'. As Shepard took Mordin and Miranda to explore Illium, Kasumi decided to make a visit to the folk down in engineering. As the door opened up, Kasumi had a smile underneath her hoody as she waved directly to the clone commando, "Long time no see Prudii. So how have you been since that job?" Prudii tilted his head slightly and moved it from side to side. Kasumi could tell he was fine. "So you grumpy goose, why weren't any of the other Mandalorians with you on Haestrom?"

Prudii continued to stand there like a statue when he finally told her, "It was because of a job."

The thief knew better after working with them, even if it was only once. "Don't tell me that. You four with the same armor never go anywhere without one of you, unless…" Prudii looked away towards the drive core. "Oh…I see, I won't spoil a thing if it's like that."

Tali was starting to get curious about what the two of them were talking about. But Kenneth beat her to it, "What in blazes are you two talking about? Are you two speaking in code or are you both loony?"

Kasumi could only smile as she said, "Oh we're just talking about a game." She turned back to Prudii and simply told him as she left them, "Good luck."

Tali looked to Prudii who seemed slightly distracted by something. "Prudii?"

He quickly threw himself back into reality as he turned to her, "Yeah?"

"…Never mind…"

It felt like an hour since Shepard left the ship before something interesting happened. He planned on finding a particular assassin, Thane Krios. That required them to wait for nightfall, when shift workers were leaving. Shepard had returned to the ship to change squad mates, he requested the aid of Garrus and Tali, which prompted the lone Mandalorian to join as well. They met with the asari, Seryna, in a parking lot when she noticed the extra body.

"You do realize the shuttle can't hold all of us?"

Prudii simply told her, "I'll follow close behind." He activated the nearby terminal and another X3M pulled over and opened up.

Seryna still wasn't sure about this idea. "Then what happens to your ride when we get there?"

"Leave it. Tow it. Blow it up. I don't care. Just a rental."

Seryna entered hers as Shepard and Garrus joined her. Tali then made a suggestion, "I could go with Prudii. To…even things out."

Shepard didn't seem to mind. "Keep in radio contact."

"We will."

Prudii stayed close to Seryna's skycar as he listened in on Shepard's conversation with Seryna through Tali's comm. As the conversation between the two continued Prudii heard Dantius and Nassana. "Nassana Dantius? We're not saving her, right?"

Tali turned to ask the clone, "Why? I know she's heartless but still, did she do something in particular?"

Prudii told his passenger, "She used us. Trade negotiations a few months ago. At least, that's what we were told. When we arrived, the others were under the impression Nassana was giving them something. We talked, things didn't go anywhere. They tried to kill us, we killed them all. Araniik didn't even return to her to get the payment."

The two skycars pulled up to the bottom of the second tower still under construction. Prudii and Tali got out of theirs as Garrus and Shepard stepped out of Seryna's. Before the asari left, she gave him a warning before telling the Commander, "Good luck, Shepard."

As Seryna left, a scene unfolded in front of the group. On the other side of glass, a salarian worker was cowering behind an unfinished beam as a second one was running away from something. Soon the one cowering started to run but was soon shot through the chest by a LOKI mech. The second salarian looked back to the down salarian but soon realized he would be done for if he didn't move as well. The LOKI mech that shot the first salarian then shot the second one in the shoulder region. As the mechs passed the glass, their sensors detected Shepard and the others. The LOKI mechs turned, with the one LOKI reloading its M-4 Shuriken, and the FERIS mechs charged toward the glass.

Prudii pulled his pistol out and fired at the glass. With a single shot the glass shattered. Now the mechs were left out in the open. Prudii fired three shots at the first LOKI mech, taking out both arms and head, as Garrus used the Mantis sniper rifle to remove the second LOKI's head. Shepard and Tali opened fire on two FERIS mechs before they could endanger anyone. With those immediate threats terminated, Prudii moved on ahead with pistol in hand as he scanned the area and checked the salarian's pulse. "He's gone." Prudii looked around for the second one. Instead he found a blood trail leading away from the area.

Shepard and his group were close behind him as they found the second salarian. He had leaned himself against the wall as he bled profusely. "Help…"

Prudii was examining him. He found the shot, it was lodged into his shoulder but it passed through an artery. "He's alive. Barely."

"I can't feel my legs…" he was now clutching at his heart now, "my chest is killing me."

Shepard asked the injured worker, "Who did this to you? And why?"

The salarian was still in shock from the recent events, "We're just night workers! Nassana…sent them after us… She sent the mechs to round us up, but we didn't hear… They just started shooting…"

"They just attacked you?"

The salarian looked into Shepard's eyes as he recalled the moments, "Yes…we were too slow. It was horrible. Everyone…screaming… The mercs said there was no time. Nassana wanted us out of the way…immediately. Then…" the salarian started to cough up blood as he tried to continue, "the dogs…"

Tali couldn't stand seeing the salarian suffer like that. "He needs medical attention, Shepard."

"I can't breathe…please…"

Prudii activated his omni-tool and started to apply a medi-gel onto the salarian's injury. Prudii also pulled out a strange looking patch from his pack with four glowing light blue orbs attached by string. The commando then placed the patch over the injury and the medi-gel. "There. Should help with the pain. You'll be alive for the real medics."

The salarian could feel the two different medical items working. "Thank you. That helps…a lot."

Prudii moved under one of his arms as he helped the salarian up, "Here."

"I think I'm…better…" The salarian turned to Shepard as he told him, "Find the other workers. Help them."

Before Prudii helped him find a good hiding place, Shepard asked the worker a few questions. "I need to get up to the penthouse. Any suggestions?"

The salarian pointed off into the building, "Take the service elevator to the upper floors. The bridge between the towers isn't finished, but if you're careful… Watch out for the mercs. They're everywhere."

Prudii wanted a threat estimate, "How many mercs?"

The salarian wasn't sure on exacts, "A lot. Dozens of them were wandering around here all day. You'll find more the further up you go."

Shepard wanted a sense as to why Nassana did this, "Why would Nassana kill her own workers?"

The salarian was all too familiar with the answer. "To her, we're expendable. But…I didn't realize she was that ruthless. My friends…co-workers…slaughtered. They were jumping off ledges to escape the dogs…"

Garrus had moved to unlock the door. Shepard then told the salarian, "I'll do what I can for the others."

"Thank you." Prudii then helped the salarian move to a quiet place to rest.

Prudii told them as he walked off, "Go on ahead. I'll catch up." Prudii placed him down in a small outcrop where he found more medical supplies. "This should help too." Prudii was about to follow Shepard when he found another path.

Garrus was scanning the area. "Not too bad. A pair of LOKI mechs, two Eclipse. But that's just from this viewpoint."

Just before Shepard and the others were about to engage the Eclipses, the sounds of pipes and beams falling started to come from the other side of the area. LOKI mechs and FERRIS mechs moved to investigate. An Eclipse Vanguard along with two Eclipse troops were already trying to find the cause of the falling equipment when the mechs arrived. The Vanguard turned to the machines as he told them, "False alarm. Probably a rat or something scurryin' up there. Get back to your posts."

The mechs turned around, returning to their patrols. The Vanguard stopped, thinking he saw something up in the rafting. He tried to get a better look into the dark corners of the scaffolding. Before he could activate his omni-tool's flashlight an almost invisible wire had wrapped itself around his neck when something violently pulled him up. The shotgun fell to the ground with a loud clank against the floor, startling the two Eclipse mercs.

"The assassin! Don't let him escape!" The two mercs tried to find where the killer was. As the duo moved into to find him, they were immediately pounced upon by a black armored humanoid as blades were pulled out of the wrist gauntlets and jabbed into their backs.

The simple mechs detected the unidentified individual as the LOKI's stated, "Hostiles detected." And moved in. The black figure's only distinguishing feature that pulled him out of the shadows was his blue T shaped visor that stared directly at the machines. Before the LOKI or FERRIS mechs could attack the black figure, it disappeared from their sensors. "Target lost."

A/N: Don't worry, the Mandalorians will find something to occupy themselves until Prudii calls. Now personally, I alway did every dossier avaliable before doing the loyalty missions or any 'side mission' for the upgrades. This is going to be a twist of fun in this construction site. I got so caught up writing out the fight I didn't realized I'd oversteped my preferred word count(sorry you just have to wait until the next chapter to read it). That wire Prudii used against the Vanguard was a garrote: A garrote is a length of cord, fabric, or any other pliable material with high tensile strength. In Prudii's line of work a tool like this would be invaluable, that and it doesn't have that distinct humming a vibroblade does(yes I forgot to mention the humming in the chapters they are used, I'll back track and add them in soon).

Mando'a Translation: Hey one sentence is better then nothing.

Me'copaani, Rang? Bal n'vaabi sirbu naas.(Meh ko-PAH-nee, rahng? bahl nay-VAH-bee SEER-boo nahs)- What do you want, Rang? And don't say nothing.