Sean's POV

"Hey Bastila, I wanted to ask you to do something." I said casually, as I cleaned up my room before Tali came here.

"And what would that be?" She asked, her hologram appearing on my desk.

"Can you... try to act like a V.I. whenever Tali is around?" I requested, taking my BFG and locking inside my secret compartment. "At least for now?"

"I understand your need to be discreet about my presence, considering the quarian history with the Geth." Bastila said with an understanding tone, nodding at me. "Should I relay this request to the rest of the team?"

"Yeah, and while you're at it tell HK to keep his mouth shut as well." I said, sitting back down in my chair. "Thanks again, Bastila."

"My pleasure." Bastila replied, nodding as her hologram dissipated.

I began taking off my armor, starting with the helmet, then the chestplate. I only realized in the well-lit ship that the helmet needed cleaning, as I saw grim built up around the edges. I instinctively began to clean it with cleaner and an old rag I always left around, when I suddenly heard my door slide open.

It was Tali, and I was shirtless.

"Wow Sean... were you waiting for me?" Tali said in a suggestive tone, immediately causing my cheeks to warm up.

"Well... it's not like I didn't know you were coming." I said, playing her off as she stepped inside. I could tell she was staring hard at my arm. "Besides, I was told quarians love tech, no matter the size or shape."

"You do seem to have a good piece of it on you." She replied, standing in front of me as she ran her finger along the joint between my shoulder and my arm. "Seems you've kept it in good condition over the last two years."

"Seems our humor has grown during that time as well." I said with a big smile, as I threw on a shirt. "So what was up with all that "data" you were collecting on Haestrom, anyways?"

"It was a pointless mission." Tail said with frustration, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "You noticed how the sun there was emitting much more radiation for a sun that size than it was supposed to?"

"Yeah, we took readings on our way down." I said, leaning backwards in my chair. "Standing out there for too long was the equivalent to standing inside the melted nuclear reactor core at Chernobyl."

"Chernobyl?" Tali questioned, looking up at me.

"Pripyat, Ukraine... 1986. One of the worst nuclear power plant disasters in human history." I explained, letting the small bit of nerd leak through me. "It was back when our most powerful form of energy came from radioactive materials, not element zero. Over 300,000 people were evacuated from their homes and never returned."

"That must have been horrible." Tali said, shaking her head. "All those people never getting to see their home again... it's like..."

"It's like what happened to you and your people." I finished for her, leaning forward. "Something created by us that ended up spiraling out of our control... eventually driving you away from the very place you live."

"But with your... Chernobyl... that was a physical phenomenon that drove your people away." Tali argued, holding the bottom of her helmet. "The Geth were sentient machines that drove us away, and that didn't drive you away from your whole planet."

"Yet both were influenced by our very own people." I countered, looking her in the eyes. "Humanity tried to better control the power of the atom, and it turned against us. Your people tried to control the Geth's sentience, and they turned against you."

"So what your saying is that radiation is comparable to A.I.?" Tali asked, crossing her arms.

"No, what I'm saying is that we both tried to control something we barely understood, and we failed." I said, shaking my head. "Actually... tell me... what does your father do in the fleet again? Outside of his position on the Admiralty Board?"

"Well... he and his team do research on the Geth." She answered, tilting her head. "I give him disabled parts that I find in Geth space and his team studies them."

I simply shook my head, as I leaned backwards in my chair again. Tali took notice of this.

"What's wrong?" She asked, putting her hand on my knee.

"Nevermind." I said, leaning my head back. "So... you were saying something about the sun's radiation compared to it's size?"

"Oh...yes... well according to the data we collected, Haestrom's sun is decaying at an extremely unnatural rate." Tali explained, bringing up a small hologram on her omni-tool of it. "I believe it may have something to do with dark energy."

Her thoughts were cut short as the ship shuttered, meaning we were back in normal space.

"Well... let's go say hi to Shepard." I said, standing up and rubbing her shoulder.

We made our way to the comm room, where Shepard was already waiting in the QEC. Thomas was handling the connection at one of the consoles nearby.

"You made sure the connection is isolated, right?" I asked, stepping into view. "Last thing I need is for TIM to be able to track our ship with it."

"I saw to that myself, don't worry." She reassured, crossing her arms. She was still wearing the outfit Kasumi provides for her, which I could tell was making Shepard feel uncomfortable. "Anyways... we now have the best thief in the galaxy on our ship."

"And we have the best Quarian mechanic in the galaxy." I said with a smile, as Tali walked into view.

"It's good to see you again, Shepard." Tali greeted, nodding her head. "I've heard about your mission."

"I heard about what happened on Haestrom..." Shepard started, as Tali held up her hand.

"It's alright, Commander." Tali reassured, standing straighter. "Nobody would have gotten out of there alive if it weren't for Sean and his friends."

"I'm always happy to help." I said, crossing my arms with a smile.

"So Tali... would you rather stay on Sean's ship?" Shepard asked with careful tenderness. "I know you're people have been on... short terms with Cerberus as of late."

Tali then turned around, holding the bottom of her helmet up with her hand. She was debating with herself, obviously attracted to checking out a ship as advanced as the new Normandy. She eventually made up her mind, as she turned around to face Shepard once more.

"I think I'd prefer to stay here on the Endar Spire. Shepard." Tali decided, turning to face me for a few seconds. "There's more people that I trust here."

"That's perfectly fine, Tali." Shepard said, holding out her hand. "But when the time comes to bring about our assault on the Collectors, you will help us fight?"

"Of course I will, Shepard." Tali answered with confidence. "But... there is something I can pass along, if you want, Shepard."

"What would that be?" Shepard asked, interested.

"My people have been doing a lot of research into Cyclonic Barrier Technology, a new, more effective form of kinetic shielding." Tali said, taking her omni-tool and sending several schematics through the QEC. "If you have the money for it, I'd recommend installing it."

"Thanks you very much, Tali." Shepard thanked, sending something of her own through the communicator. "I've sent you a copy of the Normandy's schematics, and what engineering data I can. If you spot anything worth improving or that needs to be fixed, feel free to call me back."

"Sure thing, Shepard." Tali agreed, nodding.

"Sean, you keep her and your friends safe." Shepard addressed, looking hard at me.

"Likewise, Commander." I said, instinctively saluting.

Shepard smiled as the connection was cut, and her hologram faded away. Tali immediately turned to me, placing an OSD in my hand.

"I'd recommend getting the upgraded shielding too, considering how old this ship is." Tali said with a serious tone.

"How much do you think it would cost for a ship this size?" I asked, gripping the OSD in my palm.

"Um... around... 60,000." Tali said with a bit of a softness.

I exhaled at those numbers, thanking myself that we had plenty of money saved up for this occasion.

"Yeah, we've been saving up." I agreed, giving her a hug.

"Sean and Tali, sittin' in a tree, K.I.S.S.I.N-" Thomas said quietly under his breath, as I slugged him in the shoulder.

"Hey, sniper-boy, tell everyone we're going after Jack next." I told him, as me and Tali walked out of the comm suite.

"You and Thomas have quite the friendship, huh?" Tali said with humor, as we made out way to the elevator.

"I've known him since I was a small kid." I said with honesty. "You know... two kids... both socially awkward... become best friends. It happens."

"I can see that." She said, as we stepped into the elevator. "You two certainly act weird when I'm around."

"Thomas acts like an immature kid." I said with some humor in my voice, as I hit the button to go back to the crew deck. "He thinks it's "funny" that you and I are in a relationship."

"Why would he find that funny?" She asked, sounding confused.

"Because he's immature." I said again with a laugh, as the doors slid open, revealing John with HK-47 in tow. "Oh... hello John."

"Sup man." John said casually, nodding at Tali. "Hey, do you know where Allen went? He's not in his room."

"I don't know... did you try the Repair Bay?" I suggested, stepping out of the elevator with Tali.

"Nope, we'll go there next." John said, as he and HK stepped into the elevator.

"Statement: I wish to know when this unit will get to see some action." HK said, causing me to stiffen nervously. "It has been too long since I have killed a meatbag."

"Shut up." I said with anger, as the doors closed on both of them.

"Wait... did that mech just refer to itself in the first person?" Tali questioned, sounding slightly concerned.

"Yeah, he does that sometimes." I said, playing off his little slip of silence. "John programmed that custom mech with a dynamic personality that he adds to whenever he gets the chance."

Tali seemed to take well to my explanation, as we continued to go down the hallway. Halfway down, though, she asked me another question.

"What is a meatbag?" She asked, sounding puzzled.

"John thought it would be funny if HK called every organic it saw a "meatbag." I explained, as we finally reached my room again. "So, he took the liberty of programming it to call all organics that very term."

"I suppose that's kind of funny." She agreed, as I plopped myself down onto my bed. "Why does it sound so... happy about killing things?"

"I dunno, ask John." I said casually, taking off my boots. "He's the one that keeps HK running."

"If it's alright with you, I'm going to check the drive core for a while." She said, standing in the doorway. "I think it's overdue for a round on quarian maintenance."

"It's perfectly fine with me." I agreed, as she walked back down to the elevator, making my door close automatically.

I let myself fall on the bed, as all of my exhaustion suddenly took control of my limbs.

"Geez Sean... you needed that workout." I thought, staring at my ceiling, as I closed my eyes and fell asleep.

Allen's POV

Three Days Later

"Aw, for FUCK SAKE!" I shouted, tossing my wrench across the hanger. "Why is it so FUCKING HARD to install a cannon on the shuttle?"

"You screamed?" John said, walking into the hanger with HK-47 in tow.

"Fuck you." I yelled, walking back over and picking up my wrench. "Are you hear to help, or to piss me off?"

"Which would you prefer?" He said, sounding slightly more angry.

"Inquiry: Why would a meatbag want to be voluntarily traumatized?" HK asked in his usual, creepily happy tone. "Wouldn't that be preferred for a interrogative or persuasive situation?"

Both of us just stared at the droid in silence afterwards, as I walked back over and he took a look at the cannon.

"What do we need these things for, anyways?" He asked, looking down the barrel of the weapon. "Isn't having this ship enough already?"

"Well... would you rather have people shooting at you as you walk out that hatch, or would you prefer blasting them to bits with high-explosive rounds then walk out calmly?" I asked, as re-adjusted the control box.

"OK... I see your point." He answered, sounding stupid as he looked harder at the cannons. "Anyways... I think the problem is you've got these braces backwards. Here."

He quickly swiped the wrench out of the toolbox, undoing the braces and switching them around. He basically took over for the next five minutes, as I watched him assemble the cannon mounts.

"There you go." He said with satisfaction, as he stood up and brushed off his hands.

"Damn, you sure know the mechanical side of things better than I do." I complemented, crossing my arms.

"I think you should stick to making things go boom." He said, poking me in the chest with the wrench. "Anyways... want me to do the other side?"

"Oh... sure." I said, surprised that he was taking work off my hands. I turned to HK for entertainment.

"So... looking forward to coming on the mission to get Jack later, HK?"

"Answer: Certainly, master. It has been far too long since I have gotten to practice my assassination protocols." HK answered enthusiastically, taking his rifle out. "When will the mission begin?"

"Soon." I said with a smile.

Sean's POV

Four Hours Later

The Endar Spire accelerated towards Purgatory, the massive space prison. Only after we got closer to it did I realized how much bigger it was than in the game.

"This thing was used to transport cattle?" Thomas questioned, pressing his hand against the tempered glass. "This seems excessive for cattle."

"You would think." Sydney agreed, as she requested docking permission. "If that were really the case then that was a lot of beef and pork."

"Hell yeah." Allen said, leaning against the wall with a smile on his face.

A docking cradle connected with the ship, as me, Tali, Thomas and Allen gathered at the airlock.

"Remember, these guys are Blue Suns, so don't trust them." I warned, as the inner airlock pressurized itself.

"Why?" Tali asked, confused. "What did you do to them?"

"Well... we might have killed a few of them in the past." Thomas said with a smirk, as he adjusted his visor. "Hopefully they don't remember us. Shepard put me down as "Captain Sean", so hopefully that will be enough to throw them off."

We stepping inside the airlock, letting it cycle, as we walked down the cradle into the station. The entrance was the same as before, a long hallway leading to a security checkpoint.

"Follow my lead, guys." I said, as we calmly walked down the hallway to meet the guard at the other end.

"Welcome to the Purgatory, Captain Sean. You're package is being prepped and will be ready shortly." The fully-armored turian greeted. "As this is a high-security vessel, you and your team will need to relinquish your weapons before we proceed."

"That's not going to happen." I replied, as Warden Kuril walked through the checkpoint.

"Everyone stand down." Kuril said, walking over casually. "Captain, I am Warden Kuril, and this is my ship. Your weapons will be returned on the way out, you must realize this is just standard procedure."

"I'm not giving you my weapons. Period." I answered, giving Kuril a long, angry stare as he did the same.

"Let them proceed." He finally gave in, nodding in the direction of the door. "Our facility is more than secure enough to handle four armed guest. We're bringing Jack out of cryo, as soon as the funds clear you'll be on your way."

"Sure we will, asshole." I let drift into my thoughts, as me and the others walked past the guards and followed Kuril inside the prison.

Warden Kuril then took us on his little "intimidation tour", showing us the prison's defenses and bragging about it's strengths.

"It must cost a pretty penny to maintain a facility like this." Allen commented, as we watched the prisoners below.

"Each prisoner brings in a fee from their own planet." Kuril explained, stopping and turning around. "Their funds keep the station operational."

"And if they don't pay?" Thomas asked, leaning on the railing as he looked down.

"We explain that we can't maintain the prisoner without their help, so we'll be forced to return them." Kuril answered, looking at him. "At an unspecified place and time."

"That sounds like an extortion racket." Tali commented, shaking her head.

"You don't have to agree with my methods, but don't question my motives." Kuril said, pointing at her. "These are sick people, and I'm keeping them locked up."

"Have any prisoners ever tried to escape?" I inquired as we walked, as he gave me another stare.

"We're in space." He replied, putting his eyes back forward. "They have nowhere to go, and they know it. But still, we exercise extreme caution."

We walked into a forked area, where Kuril stopped and turned to face us.

"I'm going to confirm the funds from Cerberus cleared." He said, as he started down one of the other hallways. "Out-processing is straight down that hallway, just past the interrogation rooms and the super-max wing."

He stopped to give me one more long stare, before walking off.

"I'll catch up with you later... Sean." He said, as the door closed behind him.

We calmly walked down the hallway, until we encountered the room with the man being beaten. It was even worse than the game. Here, the man was literally rolling around in his own blood and sweat as the turian guard inside beat him senseless.

"It doesn't matter what he did." Tali said, looking at it too. "Nobody deserves to have that done to them."

In response to this cruelty, I decided to try and stop it.

"Hey, is this really necessary?" I said with anger, attracting the watching guard's attention.

"This is nothing compared to what his victims went through." The guard justified, shaking his head.

"Do you really need to force yourself to watch this though?" I argued, as I waved my hand at the scene inside.

"I do have to admit I do get tired of this." The guard admitted, tapping the side of his helmet. "OK, you can stop the interrogation. For now."

The other guard inside the cell stopped, as the prisoner curled up reflexively into a ball.

We continued down the hallway, ignoring the pleading prisoner, as we passed the super-max wing and entered out-processing. My nerves stiffened as the technician told us to go through the door on the other side of the room.

I opened the door to find a waiting cell, as Kuril's voice flashed over the intercom systems.

"God damn it..." Allen said, shaking his head.

"My apologies, Sean. You're more valuable as a prisoner than a customer, considering the bounty Cerberus still has on your crew." Kuril's bastard voice explained over the intercom. "Drop your weapons and proceed into this open cell. You will not be harmed."

"We've already escaped from a maximum security Cerberus prison, Kuril." I mocked, taking out my Pulse Rifle. "You really think your rinky-dink cattle ship can hold us in?"

"Activate defenses!" Kuril shouted over the intercom, as several Blue Suns and FENRIS Mechs flooded into the room. We quickly managed to pick them off, since there was plenty of cover where we were.

"Sydney, the deal has gone south." I said into the communicator. "Lock down the ship until we get back."

"Understood." Sydney replied, as the line went dead.

We quickly stormed down the hallway, taking out three more mercenaries, as we barged into the super-max wing. The lowly technician working the console tried to pull an gun on us before Tali cut him down with her M-22 Eviscerator.

"Sean, if you hack that control, every door on the cellblock will open." Tali warned, as looked over the console.

"I'm doing it, be ready." I said, as I activated Jack's thawing sequence.

We all looked down at the chamber floor as the chamber re-pressurized itself, and the tube slid up, revealing Jack.

"That's Jack?" Tali questioned, watching her closely. "Not exactly what I was expecting."

"Looks can fool." I said, as she started showing signs of movement.

YMIR Mechs began to activate and converge on her cell, as she woke up and broke out of her binds. She quickly charged up her biotics, as she ran forward and DESTROYED everything in her way.

"We need to get down there!" Tali urged, as we quickly rand down the ramp.

"Sounds like some really big shit is hitting an even bigger fan." Allen commented as we descended. "We need to get in there."

We opened the door, revealing a fiery mess of mangled mechs and wreckage.

"Jesus Christ, it looks like a train wreck." Thomas said, as we starting running down the gutted hallway. Kuril was shouting reports and orders over the intercom at a frantic rate.

We entered one of the main cellblocks, as the lights went red and sounds of resistance could be heard already.

"It's like a storm blew through here." Tali observed, as one of the moving cranes collapsed loudly into the deck. "I don't know if it's a good idea to get this woman, Sean."

"For now, we have no choice." I quickly replied as we ran through the cellblock, cutting down the dazed and confused Blue Suns that had just finished putting down the prisoners. We passed a mutilated merc, who had been swarmed by several of the prisoners after reaching the other side.

"He was their keeper. They spent months, maybe years, under his control, and we've seen how prisoners are treated." Tali elaborated, looking at the body. "They're not just wild animals. He probably did horrible things to them."

"Maybe he did, maybe he didn't." Allen said, looking past the body. "Doesn't really matter now that he's dead."

We went through several other dilapidated cellblocks, until we finally ended up in the cellblock next to the docking bay. Where Kuril was waiting.

A shot rang out, the familiar sound of a heavy rifle, as two prisoners hit the ground dead. We quickly took cover as three more shots hit around us.

"Your valuable, Sean. I could have sold your crew and lived like a king." He said quickly, firing another shot. "But your too much trouble. At least I can re-capture Jack."

I was about to mock him, when I saw an odd, familiar form quietly climbing down the wall behind him. I decided to keep him going.

"Not happening. You're a glorified slave trader and I don't have time for it." I said, keeping his attention on me.

"I do the hard things civil governments don't have the gu-" He started to say, as HK quickly jumped him, stabbing him in the neck with an omni-blade. Warden Kuril quickly choked on his own blood, as I ran over and gave him one more glare before he died.

"Sweet dreams." I said with a glare, as his form fell still and HK stood up. "Good job, HK."

"Statement: This unit is happy that it could help, master." HK said, deactivating his omni-blade and taking out his rifle. "It was good to sink my blades into a meatbag."

We quickly stormed back into the docking area, where a Blue Sun that Jack hadn't noticed was taking aim at her. I quickly shot him, gaining Jack's attention.

"Who the hell are you?" She asked, pacing along the deck.

"I just saved your ass." I replied, looking at the guard.

"He was already dead, he just didn't know it." Jack answered, sounding like a badass. "Now... what the hell do you want?"

"My name is Sean, and I'm here on behalf of Commander Shepard to get you off this station." I explained, staying composed. "She's working with Cerberus to take down the Collectors."

"What!" Jack questioned, taking offense to the mention of Cerberus. "There's no way I'm coming with you if your affiliated with Cerberus."

"I'm offering to be your friend. You don't want to be my enemy." I threatened, as she started pacing faster. "Besides, we've been having out own troubles with Cerberus as it is."

"Sean's enemies have a tendency to die." Tali added, holstering her shotgun.

"You show up, claiming to be working with Cerberus, to take me away on your ship?" She questioned, looking out the window at my ship. "Do you think I'm stupid?"

"I've saved your life, I have a way off this burning wreck, I'm offering to take you with us, and your arguing." I said in an annoyed tone, crossing my arms.

"Suggestion: We could incapacitate the meatbag for transport, master." HK quipped up, head jerking to look at me.

"I'd like to see you try." Jack challenged, glaring at me.

"I don't want it to come to that." I said, shaking my head.

"Look, you want me to come with you, make it worth my while." Jack said, walking towards us.

"What did you have in mind?" I asked, folding my arms.

"I bet your employer has access to lots of Cerberus databases." Jack said, looking hard at me. "I want a look at those files, to see what Cerberus had got on me. You want me on your team, let me see those databases."

"I'll get Shepard to give you clearance." I agreed, nodding.

"You better be straight up with me." She said, leaning forward and pointing at me in a threatening manner. "So why the hell are we standing here?"

"Let's move." I said, as we got back onto the ship and escaped Purgatory.

A/N: Yay, last chapter before the new year! Thanks for all the support, everybody!