Chapter 2 - They just go missing in action

"What little information I have been able to glean from around all of the redaction [note—I was quite literally expecting the ONI to start redacting page numbers] gives the impression that S-312 is more akin to a hyper-lethal vector than a soldier. A lone-wolf assassin that has broken organizations and made entire militia groups disappear. At first glance S-312 doesn't sound like the best fit for a team environment like NOBLE. However, we've been down a man for over a month—and frankly there are hidden benefits to a XXX like S-312. Call it the luck of the draw. S-293's 1156 has been filed since 22/04/2552, every active duty Spartan-II is on XXX for special training, and it seems that XXX wasn't able to keep his own private grim reaper out of the pool—only time will tell if this luck is of the good or bad variety."

-S-312 Service Record, Additional Comments

Arcturus Station - 2182 CE

Corporal Roman Boyd was being as lazy as he could possibly get away with. He was in the QEC center monitoring certain sections of quantum communications. He was mostly transmitting data from Earth to the Citadel or the Fifth Fleet parked outside his little outpost. He also monitored certain intelligence vessels in various parts of space. Their data was always encoded and he only had to send it along exactly as it came in. Right now he had three to observe but for the most part, their communication was dead.

This was supposed to be a fast track to intelligence but Boyd had been there for 9 months now and heard enough to know that, Top Secret clearance required for the position aside, none of his team was going anywhere quick. He learned secrets, exchanged sensitive information, and could recall off the top of his head every clandestine operation the Alliance Military had between here and the Serpent Nebula and he couldn't be more bored. What his job really was involved monitoring changes in particles, recording the data, reviewing it, then sending it off to it's next location. He was a glorified telegraph operator.

He sighed and sat back in his seat.

"You alright, Boyd?"

The young Corporal smiled and swiveled in his chair. Sergeant Mellisa Mendoza was the only part of his job he enjoyed. She had been here longer than he had and, although she was a pay grade above him, she shared the same billet. Only the Staff NCOs and Officers held any power here. She was as stuck as he was and, although bookish and sometimes awkward, he found her appealing by virtue of being the only attractive woman in his team. Blonde hair, silver eyes, and an easy smile. He liked blondes. And she was sweet. That, and her uniform couldn't hide those curves.

"Fine, Mendoza. Just trying to stave off a coma."

"Well, last I checked, the coffee is still free," she smiled.

"That is not coffee. That is a cement based sludge with caffeine added."

"You get what you pay for."

"I'd happily take a cut in pay for some proper beverage options. Recycled water and instant coffee can only go so far."

She laughed. "I can tell you one thing, Boyd; it's much worse than you think. Those protein bars they hand us between meal times? Those are recycled too."

Boyd stared at her open-mouthed as he slowly mulled over the implications. As it dawned on him, her face broke into a savage grin. "So when I tell you to 'eat shit...'"

Boyd made a very real and very loud gagging sound. "Oh my god..."

She laughed. "Relax, Boyd. I'm just fucking with you."

Boyd laughed with her but he felt a bit humiliated that he'd been so gullible. That, and his stomach was still turning. He quirked an eyebrow when he watched her smile fade. She was looking past him.

"Hey, Boyd? What's that?"

He turned back to his console. It was alerting him to particle movement. It wasn't uncommon for random movements. The particles were all connected to various machines and software to filter out superfluous movements but every now and again quantum noise snuck in. Quantum entanglement at it's finest. But this movement, though unable to be translated just now, appeared more focused in it's intent.

"Huh," he said. "Never seen this one move before."

"What's it connected to?"

"An Intel vessel. Deep cover."

"Ah, another encrypted mystery message."

But Boyd didn't answer. The data being compiled by the console based off of the particle movement, where a moment ago was gibberish, was suddenly translating into perfectly understandable English. An intelligence stealth vessel did not transmit anything readable. Everything was encrypted.

It read: "Anyone receiving this, respond."

When Boyd hesitated, the Sergeant noticed. "Boyd, what's going on?"

"I'm not sure... This is definitely weird. I think the Dresden wants me to respond but it's not encrypted. Maybe they're in trouble?"

Mendoza left her terminal and came to see for herself.

"Huh," she stated. "Maybe you should respond... Weird that a spook ship would send unencoded traffic. They're pretty strict with that. Want me to get the Lieutenant?"

Boyd was about to respond when the particle motion sensor began relaying more information.

The data read out in English again.

"Arcturus Station, this is SSV Dresden. Send your traffic."

"What the hell," Mendoza said.

More text followed.

"SSV Dresden, this is not Arcturus Station. Are you reading this message? Are you human?"

There was a long pause as the Dresden went dark. It suddenly dawned on Boyd that he was seeing two sides of a conversation. No more communication came through. Boyd sat up in his seat and hesitated for a moment, hand in front of the transmitter.

"Boyd... Think about this," the blonde argued. "We're probably in way over our heads here. Definitely above our pay grade."

Boyd licked his lips and began hitting buttons. His message would be broken down into binary, sent to a machine within the station which would manipulate the particle quantum entangled to it's twin on the Dresden into polarity shifts that translated into 1's and 0's. Except it wasn't just him and the Dresden anymore.

"Attention unknown party," he typed. "This is Arcturus Station. Identify."

"This shouldn't be possible," the Sergeant said. "You can't entangle three particles... Can you?"

"I don't know. I mean, it's possible in theory but not like this. They can't just pick a couple of particles and entangle with them. It's almost like they weren't even sure which, if any, particles they actually got into. They're acting like they're not any more sure than us who's talking to who."

He received a response in less than a minute.

"Arcturus Station, thank you for confirming successful communication. What is your governing body? Are you human?"

Boyd responded hesitantly. He wasn't sure anymore what the right call was. Protocol was unclear. There was no specific rule for this situation. General orders stipulated going dark when communication may be compromised but they also demanded that an unknown party be advised they were breaking human laws by communicating in the first place. He'd probably be reprimanded but this was too strange not to interact with. Besides, it wasn't threatening anyone. Whoever this was seemed as lost as he was.

"This station and this channel are property of the System's Alliance, a human government and military asset. Continuing to transmit on this channel may be taken as hostile action. Confirm receipt of message and identify yourself."

Mendoza was now leaned in over him watching the events unfold. She smelled amazing. He hoped he did too.

"Did you just tell them to shut up and answer questions at the same time?"

Boyd waved her off. A full minute passed. Neither him nor the Sergeant said a word. When the response came, they had no idea what to make of it.

"Arcturus Station, forgive the intrusion. Our intent is not hostility. We intend to be your allies. You may call us the USUAL SUSPECTS. Keep this channel open. We will be in touch."

Last transmission received. The Corporal attempted several more times to raise the mystery transmitter but no further communication ensued. After it became clear that no one would answer, Boyd licked his lips again and sat back. He swiveled, turning to Mendoza. She was so close to him now, his heart began to pound.

"Can we please get the Lieutenant now?" she said dryly.

"Fuck the Lieutenant. Get me an Admiral."

Crescent Nebula, Milky Way - 2185 CE

Commander Jane Shepard stared at the Galaxy map before her.

Yeoman Kelly Chambers caught the Captain's distant stare. The Yeoman herself was a jack of all trades but crew health and well-being was her favorite among her many specialties. Shepard was her personal project and not just because Kelly admired the Commander's high cheekbones, bright green eyes, flame red hair, and the jealousy-inducing build always hidden beneath ceramic armor. If even half the stories were to be believed, the stress the commander was under would be immense. And despite all her years of intense research and training, the Yeoman couldn't help but feel a little inadequate. She hadn't seen anything more dangerous than pub brawls. And she didn't have the first clue about how to assist someone who came back from the dead. Kelly's goal was to be helpful and keep Shepard focused and moving in the right direction even if the Commander had never shown her any indication of folding under pressure.

"The Galaxy is quite large, is it not, Commander?" She cursed herself for such a stupid choice of words.

"It's getting smaller, Kelly. Every day is one day closer to another Collector ambush, another Geth problem, and finally the Reapers."

Kelly didn't get the reaction she was hoping for. Shepard came in layers, or so the psychology expert had observed. Top layer was her authority. Shepard was an experienced soldier and N7 officer with more awards to her name than a Turian General. The first human Spectre the Council had ever chosen and she had accomplished her first mission with tracking down Saren and so much more. Her second layer was her trademark attitude. Shepard was funny, sarcastic, even playful when she wanted to be. If you earned the Commander's respect, or her ire, you'd be welcomed to this other side of her in varying flavors and depths. There was a third level to Jane, however. Kelly felt almost honored on the rare occasions she saw it. She didn't even know what to call it. It was what lay before her now. It was the culmination of loss, of failure, the weight of her choices and the insurmountable destiny in her future.

Kelly noted the hunched shoulders, the slightly hanging head, the thousand yard stare; the third layer. The Yeoman had tried many times to scratch that surface but had never gotten the veteran officer to speak about it. Losing every soldier she had on Akuze, her loss of Kaidan, or the reapers, perhaps? Or did it go back further? Maybe her history growing up as a military brat and never learning to form meaningful relationships. Maybe it was as simple as dying and then living to remember it.

"You're doing that face again, Kelly." The Yeoman snapped out of her thoughts, wide-eyed, and met the Commander's green gaze.

"Apologies, Commander. I was miles away," she said breathlessly. Her cheeks flushed.

Shepard flashed her that winning smile. "It's alright, Kelly. We're all miles away from everything."

Her tone was light and whimsical. Kelly smiled with only a touch of sadness. She was back to the second layer.

A ping went off as EDI appeared on her holopad. Shepard turned to face her, always amused by the VI's appearance as an inverted exclamation mark. "Commander Shepard."

"Yes, EDI," the redhead responded with mock sweetness.

"Miranda has requested your presence in her office."

Jane rolled her eyes. "And did the regent queen of the Normandy tell you what this is regarding?"

"No, Commander. But she did request that you come alone."

Shepard turned and looked at Kelly. "And right now, I wish I was miles away from our favorite Cerberus operative. As you were, Kelly." Shepard gave a mock salute and proceeded to strut toward the elevator.

"Of course, Commander," Kelly responded.

Shepard waited patiently as the elevator went from 2nd to 3rd deck. As if there was any other way to ride the elevator BUT patiently. Shepard briefly mused that there was some connection between not wanting to see Miranda and how damn slow this elevator was. She was sure there was a joke in there somewhere but her thoughts were interrupted as the doors opened and Samara greeted her.

"Commander," the millennial knight greeted simply.

'And here we go,' the Commander thought. "Yes, Samara?"

The commander walked toward Miranda's office.

"I would like to speak with you when you have a moment."

Shepard had almost reached Mrianda's door. "I'll be with you in a bit. Right now I have to face down the biggest threat in this system."

Samara frowned. "The Collectors?" Jane stopped at the door, turned, and almost laughed at the Justicar's worried look.

"I'm sure Miranda has been called worse but close enough."

The ancient Asari's face went from concern to confusion. "Perhaps I am misunderstanding."

"You've met Miranda, right?"

The Justicar responded simply with "Yes. I have."

Jane smirked at her overly serious shipmate. "Well, I know you only just swore your sword to me like a week or two ago, but if you stick around for a while I'm sure you'll feel the same way." Jane turned to open the office door.

"Commander... It's about Morinth."

Jane froze. She turned slowly and met Samara's gaze. She had only just learned what an Ardat Yakshi was and had even less time to process that the Justicar onboard had birthed three of them. One, Morinth, was a serial killer. Dominating the minds, frying the nervous systems, and consuming the souls of her victims. Asari had access to psychic powers that were hand-in-hand with their natural biotic abilities. Shepard had been on the receiving end of a meld or two. One had even been erotic in nature. She still dreamed about that one. But to have something so intimate and intrusive forced upon someone, she couldn't begin to imagine. Samara's entire reason for giving up all she was to become a Justicar came from Morinth.

Shepard moved to speak but was stopped by the Asari.

"Not just now, Commander. When you're ready. I'm not entirely sure that I am yet. But it must be addressed. I believe I have a lead on her whereabouts. Find me when there is time."

Jane closed her mouth and nodded before watching Samara turn and head for what she assumed was the observation deck. The redhead did manage to note that the Asari even managed to turn the act of telling someone to shut up into a graceful exercise in hand movement. Shaking the thoughts clear, she hit the button and walked inside Miranda's office.

She was seated at her oversized desk, dressed in another skintight, latex looking bodysuit. She didn't bother looking up as the Commander approached.

"Miranda, we've got to stop meeting like this."

The Cerberus operative held a cool face and spoke but not to Jane. "EDI, please seal this room. Electronically as well. I want no record of this conversation."

"Of course, Miss Lawson." EDI spoke through a speaker in the ceiling. Jane raised an eyebrow.

"That's a handy new trick. Does she do anything else I should be aware of?"

Miranda finally looked up and leaned back in her seat.

"Commander, I sent you a full manual on EDI that you never bothered to read. But I'd much prefer to discuss something potentially sensitive, if you don't mind."

Jane made a face and looked down at the operative's cleavage. "Be honest with me, Miranda. Your genetics weren't the only thing you enhanced, right?"

"You're one to talk, Lazarus," she retorted.

"Fair point," Jane said with a pause. She was convinced now that Cerberus had gone the extra mile while reviving her. Clothes and armor hadn't quite fit the same since. Her waist had stayed the same but everything else had increased just so slightly. She was still very self-conscious about it but she wouldn't give Miranda the satisfaction.

"But I don't leave my catsuits unzipped to the sternum to show everyone either," Shepard finished.

Miranda pursed her lips but wasn't taking the bait any longer. Jane, however, couldn't help herself now that the banter had started. This was the only part of speaking with Miranda she enjoyed.

"And, speaking of catsuits, don't you have any other clothes? I see you in that every day of the week. Is it the same one or did you buy them in bulk?"

The biotic's face was slowly turning pink. "Commander, we have no time for what passes as your humor. Do not prod at me because Doctor Chakwas prods at you." She recomposed herself and continued. "Now, I have received a transmission from a contact that I believe is worth investigating."

Jane held up a hand. "I've had enough of Tim's leads. If he wants something done, he can contact me directly or, better idea, take his idea and shove it right back up his..."

"Shepard! Enough. This has nothing to do with the Illusive Man. Not until we know more. This is serious. I believe it's worth investigating and I believe you'll agree."

Jane wasn't so sure. "Whatever it is, I'm sure it can wait, Miranda. We have a lot of objectives and even more ground to cover and we..." Her words died in her throat as Miranda turned the screen. Jane stepped closer and had to consciously close her mouth.

"What is that," she asked. All humor now dissipated.

"I have no idea. And neither does my contact."

Miranda, as far as Jane could tell, was unshakable. Jane, of course had made it her mission to give the curvy conwoman a hard time. Miranda was strong; she was all purpose, focused, and ambitious to the point of annoyance. Shepard admired some of her qualities but Miranda was as hard as stone and difficult to like at times. But underneath that manipulative, sociopathic exterior, Jane had seen flashes of humanity. She had a heart in there somewhere and it showed only briefly. Never enough to let anyone close but enough sometimes to remind Jane that she wasn't all ice. But when the usually stony face of the operative in front of her broke into real concern, like now, Jane noticed. The Commander continued.

"If that's what it looks like... I don't even know what that looks like."

"I believe it is at least enough to warrant a look."

"I've never seen anything like it... Is it Reapers or Collectors, maybe?"

"It could be but it matches nothing. Not even close. Might be first contact, even."

Jane followed the contoured lines, the odd angles, with her eyes. It was a blurry image, obviously taken from a distance.

"Where is this," Jane asked.

"Nemean Abyss. Commander, we're just outside of Illium. This is practically right in front of us. It could be worth a detour."

Shepard nodded in agreement. "Agreed. Do we know anything else about it? Did your contact get a closer look? Attempt contact? Are there any scans?"

"No, they did not. They took this image, noted the approximate location, and sent it directly to me. It transmitted no distress calls, attempted no hails. You may notice the distance the image was taken from."

"It crossed my mind."

"Well, therein lies an issue."

"Why is there always an issue... And who talks like that? What's the problem therein?"

Ignoring her jab, Miranda continued. She changed the image.

"My contact couldn't get close. He didn't have the capability. I believe the Normandy SR-2 will be more than capable."

Jane shifted her eyes from the new image to Miranda several times.

"I'm sorry, I can't tell if you're joking, Miranda. Because that looks like a black hole."

"It is. The object is far enough outside of it that it's stable for the time being. We won't know if it's being pulled in until we arrive. It may have been the singularity that cloaked it until now."

"Okay, I'm not great with astrophysics. Just tell me if it's safe or not."

"It should be. This singularity seems to have appeared overnight. There were no indicators of any black holes in this area until 16 hours ago. My contact was on a quite unrelated operation when they spotted this."

Jane stared Miranda down. Miranda, to her credit, revealed nothing.

"Commander, I know you don't trust me but surely you'd trust that one of my top interests is staying alive."

"Alright... I can get behind that. We'll check it out. Have everyone meet us in the briefing room. One hour." Jane turned to stride out of the office. She took satisfaction on the way out knowing Miranda hated when the Commander gave her frivolous orders.

"EDI?"

"I'm here, Commander."

"Since you weren't here for the conversation, Miss Lawson will provide coordinates. Make sure Joker gets us there."

"Understood, Commander."

"We picking up another fucking stray?"

Jane stood at the head of the table. She couldn't blame the psychotic biotic. Almost everything until now had been recruiting or ensuring her team was at their best. That meant personal missions. And while many would call it a waste of time and resources, no one in the known systems could argue her team's results. Jane believed that sort of "waste" to be integral to the status of her team.

"Negative, Jack. Not this time. EDI?"

EDI's avatar didn't appear. Instead, an extrapolated 3D image of a vessel appeared in the center of the table and began to spin slowly. Smooth, contoured lines gave it an ethereal flare, but it was the overpowering purple hue that gave it the alien quality that the room locked in on.

"Shepard, is that..."

"It could be, Garrus. But we don't know anything for sure."

The Turian sat back and held his tongue. Jane remembered him when she first knew him fresh out of C-Sec and ready to take off with her. His goal back then had been to make a difference in ways he never could as an officer. She always admired him for his idealism, but she respected him for his follow-through. Even after she had died two years ago, Garrus hadn't missed a beat. He was still affecting change but his experience had aged him, matured him. He had become Archangel; a feared, revered, and mysterious threat to organized crime Galaxy-wide. He was arguably the Commander's closest friend. She loved him for that.

"Image not detailed. No size to reference. Silhouette doesn't suggest geth or reapers. Possibly collectors. Outline of what could be weapons. High likelihood this is warship."

Mordin, the machine gun tongued scientist on board. His rapid staccato once again suggesting the man had no internal dialogue and instead voiced everything he thought. He was brilliant, even for his species, and had proven capable out in the field. He lacked a lot of social skills but he didn't lack bravery. His time in STG had made him infamous long before he joined the Commander. But now, he was a legend.

"It certainly looks like one. Hell, I've been all over the systems and never seen anything like that. But I know a broadside when I see one. Sure as goddamn been on the receiving end of enough of them."

The old man had certainly been around. Mercenary or not, Jane wouldn't complain about the skills Zaeed brought to the table. It was a toss up whether he had more scars or stories but he had plenty of both and didn't flinch when you needed him. Shepard always kept a close eye on him simply because he was suggested by Cerberus, talked too much, and always seemed to be the only survivor of his limitless stories. Garrus joked that his teams died just so they wouldn't have to hear anymore tales.

"No stories about abandoned purple warships?" Garrus prodded.

"The day is still young. I might get a story out of this yet, Turian," Zaeed scoffed.

"Samara, you're old as hell. You ever seen some shit like this?"

Jack, the wayward child. A prodigy biotic and the definition of unstable meets deadly. She had been nothing but hostile, foul-mouthed, and generally insufferable since they'd rescued her from that prison. Shepard liked her immediately. Though young, her prowess was incredible with biotics. The lailbird never admitted how much Shepard meant to her, but she knew. Her loyalty had been unwavering since her escape even if there was an attitude tax.

All eyes turned toward Samara now. To her credit, her face was as impassive as stone. "I have been many places over many years. I have seen many things but I have never come across anything resembling what lies before us now."

The Asari Justicar had been an issue at first. Shepard had barely known her and then promptly stepped in to help her escape jail, kill a criminal, then assist in tracking down the Asari's daughter to put an end to her too. Granted, her daughter was a murdering psychopath. Samara would not be stopped in her quest to mete out justice upon her own daughter. Jane never quite understood why the Asari had felt a sense of duty to swear herself to the Commander. But as a Justicar, she followed a code. Even though Jane disagreed with some aspects of it, she respected the commitment it brought and Samara was unquestionably effective. Her status as a Justicar was handy in dealing with people on occasion as well; particularly, other Asaris.

"Do we have any other info? Mordin says those protrusions could be guns and I'm inclined to agree. Depending on our approach, any details may be helpful."

Jacob. The armory agent. At first glance there didn't seem to be a whole lot to Jacob. Former Alliance military had earned some of Jane's trust but his decision to join Cerberus, while negative, wasn't malicious in nature. He had a lot of experience as a soldier, was always thinking tactically, and did everything he could to make sure everyone was safe. That, and he could make any weapon sing a symphony. He was quiet but confident. Jane liked both qualities.

"Sorry, Jacob," the Commander shrugged. "You know as much as me. Oh, uh... It's also not far away from a black hole."

"I'm sorry, what was that?" Garrus interjected.

"With mass effect fields and enough distance, gravity well not dangerous. Normandy capable of mitigating risks. Depending on said distance," Mordin said. Jane suddenly felt much more confident in this mission with his level of reassurance. "Unaware of singularity in this region of space. Oddity. Perhaps connected to mystery ship."

"It's far enough from the gravity well that we should be in and out with minimal danger," Jane added.

"Well if there's any danger aboard, I certainly wouldn't mind having Jacob as close as possible. Of course, I wouldn't mind poking around a few cabins either. Some invisible recon."

The hooded, master thief. Kasumi was surprisingly outgoing for her job description. She could be in and out without anyone noticing, hide in plain sight (or turn invisible), and had a crush on Jacob that everyone but Jacob knew about. That, or the big man simply found it easier to ignore her. Kasumi puzzled Shepard but perhaps she shouldn't think on it too hard. The diminutive klepto did what she wanted, followed her whims, and generally seemed to just want to have fun... And have Jacob. Apart from that, she didn't shy from danger and happily assisted Jane whenever she asked.

"Which brings me to my next point, team. We don't know what to expect, or even how far this will go. Could be we make contact and turns out they just need a tow. Could be some debris that looks like a ship. Could be nothing at all. But since we don't know, we take no chances. Prepare to board. Garrus, Miranda, Kasumi, and Zaeed, you're with me on this one. I want full suits with helmets. We don't know if there's any atmo on that thing or any other potential hazards."

"What the fuck? Zaeed gets to go and I don't," Jack lashed out.

Zaeed smiled, his scars making him look just a bit creepy. "Age before beauty, Jack." He winked.

"Come again?" Garrus said.

"Gross," the biotic responded.

"Goddammit, you both knew what I meant," the Merc snapped.

"This isn't a discussion," Jane said raising her voice and ending the inevitable argument. She let the silence linger for a moment, challenging anyone to change the subject again. When no one spoke, she continued.

"Jacob, make sure our weapons and armor are top notch."

Jacob nodded.

"We don't know what to expect. This is uncharted territory we're flying into. It could be as simple as a lost experimental craft from known Citadel space. It might be Reapers, Geth, or Collectors. This may possibly be first contact, maybe even hostile. We'll attempt to hail first. If this is first contact, this meeting may have been for nothing. If it's anything else, we'll either be boarding, engaging, or running like hell."

Mordin spoke up. "Likely this could be trap. Need more data."

"We don't have it, Mordin. That's what we're hoping to get."

"If possible, bring back samples. Weapons, tech, specimens, or readouts will suffice."

Jane nodded.

"My team, we take the front. Clear the landing zone first then work our way to the bridge. Kasumi, you're my best shot at finding a black box, Captain's log, or relevant information but pick up anything that looks useful, valuable, or anything that looks like it would make Mordin breathe heavy. Garrus and Zaeed, you're damage control if needed. Miranda, you're my biotic today. Your find, your lead."

"I believe the expression is 'hope for best, prepare for the worst," the Turian added.

"Speak for yourself, mate. I'm bringing out Jessie with bells on. Let's hope we get to dance."

Jane shook her head. She had never understood her own ability to galvanize polar opposites into an effective team and every time she held a meeting, she always found herself wondering how any of them ever got anything done in the first place but her thoughts were interrupted by their pilot.

"Commander, we're five minutes out. You gotta see this thing. It looks like a big, purple stingray had a baby with a big, purple guitar."

"Thanks, Joker. Weird description. We're on our way. Dismissed, team."

Her crew hurried out the door, practically pushing past each other to get a look at it. Only the Justicar exit with any grace. Garrus stood by the door and waited for Jane.

"Let's go make some new friends, huh Garrus?"

"If by 'new friends' you mean picking up another potentially dangerous new teammate, I'm there, Shepard."

"For the last time, I'm not picking anyone up. Come on, Gary," she said brushing by him.

"I hate that name," he said quietly before following.

Jane and Garrus walked up to the cockpit.

"I trust that everyone is ready for an excursion," the Turian said. The group crowding the cockpit slowly turned around.

"That means weapons, maybe some armor... Also means clear the cockpit," he added.

Jane took the opportunity to enforce her faith in Garrus.

"You heard him. Jacob, get everyone loaded up and in the shuttle bay and stand by. Everyone else, scatter."

"Hurry up and wait, Commander?"

"Damn right. You remember how to do that, don't you?" She quipped.

Jacob smiled. "You never really forget. Alright, crew, you heard the Commander. Ground team, armory. Now. Everyone else, dismissed."

They shuffled off one by one as Jane and Garrus worked their way through the crowd. Joker was busy at work, or more accurately, arguing with the VI.

"I do not have any money, Mr. Moreau."

"EDI, you're missing the point. A bet has nothing to do with money."

"Then why is currency mentioned?"

"Because it's part of the humiliation of defeat! When you lose, not only do you suffer the humiliation of being wrong BUT I also make money."

"Mr. Moreau, I am unable to feel humiliated or compensate you."

"I would hope there's no gambling on my ship, Joker."

Joker was, as usual, undeterred. "It's not gambling if I already know this is a trap."

Jane leaned forward and caught sight of her latest unknown with her own eyes.

"Look at that," Garrus commented.

"Look? I'm not taking my eyes off that thing for a second. All sensors are up. If this thing moves, we're ninja dust. I'm not losing the Normandy again."

"We won't let that happen, Joker. I'd say your description was... surprisingly accurate. What have we got?"

"Take a look for yourself. Not bad looking but I'm not a fan of their color scheme. Purple just seems a little ostentatious."

Jane and Garrus exchanged a look. When no one responded, Joker turned.

"What? I've read a book. Try not to faint."

Jane gazed warily at the strange craft. It was about the size of an Alliance Cruiser, or any cruiser for that matter. But it resembled nothing she'd ever seen before. It was rounded, bulbous. It had smooth lines and looked almost innocuous if it weren't for the clear outline of it's guns. They looked damaged in some areas. Shepard wasn't familiar with them either only furthering her belief that this might truly be alien. It was dimly lit by flickering green lights.

"Warship or not, there's damage. You can see it from here. That hull looks like it took some hard knocks," Jane observed.

"Hmmmmm... Makes one wonder where their enemy might be. Or who they even are."

Garrus was shrewd and tactical, even for the militaristic race of Turians. Jane did wonder if there was another threat out there somewhere. Joker interrupted her thoughts.

"We're cloaked right now so my options are passive. The thing's not giving off any signals. No signs of life. Guns aren't powered up. Hell, nothing is powered up. I'm not even detecting eezo, which is weird, but it might be shielded. That or their core was damaged. I also don't show a kinetic barrier so it either doesn't have one or it's down. Weird thing is that black hole. We got a field up so it's not tugging at us too bad and the Kodiak should be fine out there but that ship isn't. It's being pulled in. Apart from that, EDI found an energy spike. We thought it might be something but it's random in timing and level but firing some kind of thrusters away from the singularity. Figure it might be a technical issue but maybe someone on there doesn't want to get crushed into infinite gravity."

"Thanks, Joker," Jane responded. Garrus looked as if deep in thought. "Penny for your thoughts?"

"The armament suggests a warship. There's clear damage along the hull. This thing has been in a fight. Someone or something targeted those guns but didn't get them all and that's worrying enough for our approach. But what's really bothering me is it almost looks like it tried to get away from the gravity well. Look at it's trajectory, the thrusting, how it's angled. Like it came through the thing... I don't like it..." He trailed off but Jane was following his thoughts. Attempts at communication may get a response that would be less than friendly.

"Joker, try a hail. All available frequencies, data burst, everything we have. Kinetic Barriers at full, weapons hot."

Joker swung around in his seat. "You sure, Commander? We do that and they'll know we're here. I love parties as much as the next disabled pilot but this might be too much fun, even for me."

"Do it. EDI, give me the PA."

"Of course, Commander."

"Attention crew of the Normandy. This is Shepard. We're gonna try a hail. All essential crew, battle stations. Everyone else, buckle in or grab something. Might be taking evasive action. Shepard out."

"That was inspired, Commander. I'd give you a standing ovation but uh..."

"Very funny, Joker," Garrus said dryly.

"I try to keep things light when there's a black hole trying to make everything heavy. Start praying. I just got the Normandy out of the shop."

"Do it, Joker."

The helmsman hesitated for a moment before working on his console. "EDI, send it."

"Package sent, Mr. Moreau."

It was deathly silent. Even the Normandy itself seemed to hold its breath. A slow minute passed. Then another. A third minute passed with no response.

"EDI," Shepard said.

"No change detected. No indication that they have received or returned a transmission. Their weapons remain uncharged with no sign of a barrier. Their power has pulsed again but it is not inconsistent with previously detected spikes."

"Alright, we're going in. Garrus, with me. EDI, Joker, keep to battlestations but do not engage unless you're fired on. Try not to shoot until we're clear but evade if necessary."

"Oh, I can pretty much guarantee that last part. EDI, if you're gonna take my bet, now is the time."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Moreau. I am unable to participate in your bet."

"Fine. But when it turns out I was right, I still get to say I told you so."

"You would say that either way, Mr. Moreau."

Shepard and Garrus turned to head for the armory. They walked in silence, lost in their thoughts. When they arrived, they kept to themselves while they geared up.

"Something worth considering, Shepard. We do have a Krogan in a tank down below."

Garrus put his signature M-97 Viper on his back. It contracted and minimized as he looked at the selection of handguns.

"Are you seriously suggesting I wake up a test tube Krogan?"

Shepard grabbed her recently acquired Geth Shotgun and placed it on the small of her back and heard it click into place.

"Well that last one wasn't so bad. Besides, you turned him from a mercenary into a Battle Master, last I heard."

Shepard saw Garrus reaching for her pistol but plucked the Phalanx before he could and slapped it against her leg.

"Don't touch Mom's stuff."

Garrus grimaced, settling on a Carnifex instead and attaching it to his leg.

"I hate it when you call yourself that. It's... Creepy. And my point about the Krogan is valid."

For good measure, Shepard strapped her trusty N7 Hurricane to her back. It wasn't quite a 'Jessie,' but it had been with her since the beginning. It was her lucky charm.

"Well, your point also included time spent with me. We can't exactly trust a recently awoken Krogan."

Garrus prefered the Hornet as he checked it.

"We don't have to trust it, Shepard. I was suggesting we just send him through the ship first."

"Overruled, Archangel," she said as they finished their prep. She smiled. "Besides, if we send a Krogan in, how is Mommy supposed to have any fun?"

Garrus rolled his eyes. "Let's get on with it then. After you, Mom."

"Oh, ew. Gross. Don't ever call me that."

"You can't be serious."

"It sounds weird when you say it."

They entered the elevator and punched the shuttle bay.

"Just like old times, Garrus."

"Let's hope not."

The elevator opened and there was her team; loaded, armored, and ready for action.

"Alright team. Load up," she said without any ceremony.

Jane paused for a moment. She always did before jumping into the breach. It wasn't fear or hesitation, it was just her ritual. She looked at her team like it was the last time she'd ever see them. It was a habit picked up after Akuze. Less than six months after the thresher maw destroyed everything she held dear and she couldn't remember some of their faces. In a year she had started forgetting names. She now memorized every detail of every person standing before her in this shuttle bay. Kasumi's lips, Garuss' scars, Jack's tattoos, Miranda's form-fitting suit, and Zaeed petting his rifle, she just took them all in as they were.

"Commander," Garrus prodded. She snapped out of her reverie.

"Right... Mount up."

Garrus, Kasumi, Zaeed, Miranda and Shepard loaded into the shuttle. Garrus took the helm.

'Now or never,' the Commander thought.

"Take us out. Nice and easy."

Every minute brought them closer to the hulking purple derelict.

"Reminds me of the Verrikan. Feels like the same kind of suicide mission as well. There were six of us..."

Jane cut him off. "No wait, let me guess. Everyone died except you and you still accomplished the mission."

"Don't be like that, Shepard. For some of us, we have more stories behind than ahead. At some point, they may be all we have."

Shapard looked at the scarred up Merc and saw just a hint of sadness there. She felt a little bad about her snappy response but she hadn't figured out any other way to silence him. Zaeed had always seemed pretty unbreakable but Shepard should know more than most that no one is.

"But yeah, pretty much. Still a great story. I'll tell ya later."

Garrus chuckled. EDI crackled to life in the commander's ear. "Commander, the energy fluctuations from the unknown vessel are becoming more frequent. I detect no radiation or harmful byproducts. However, without being familiar with its technology, the ship may be dangerous if the fluctuations continue to escalate."

"Roger that, EDI. Garrus, try another hail. All available known languages."

Garrus clicked a button. "Attention unknown vessel, this is the Normandy SR-2. We are requesting permission to board. Please respond."

They approached the opening on the underside of the ship and pulled short by 100 meters. Miranda was being uncharacteristically quiet, Zaeed was speaking quietly to his firearm, Garrus and Shepard held their collective breath. There was no response.

"I still don't like this, Shepard."

"I'll take that under advisement. Is that a barrier? I thought it was just open."

Covering what first appeared as an open hangar was a shimmering, sickly green cover. It rippled and reflected the ambient light.

Garrus turned, Jane nodded. "Move up. EDI, do we have any scans on this?"

"No, Commander. Whatever that energy is does not produce a signature I can detect but I suggest using caution."

Jane spoke up. "Noted. Garrus, touch it."

Every crew member slowly turned to look at her.

"Are we so certain that's a good idea, Commander," Miranda queried.

"Seems as good an idea as any. I don't see a problem," Zaeed said.

Miranda cast a sidelong glance at Zaeed who was busy picking his teeth before looking at Jane once again. "That's exactly what I mean," she said.

"You lost me," Shepard responded.

"I believe her point was that if Zaeed thinks it's a good idea, it's probably not a good idea."

"Thanks, Garrus."

"Anytime."

Zaeed finally looked up. "Wait, what's going on?"

Miranda sighed dramatically. Garrus suppress a laugh.

"What's going on is Garrus is going to SLOWLY approach that barrier and bump it. See if it reacts with our barrier."

Silence ensued.

"Look, we don't have any weapons on this thing so unless someone wants to open the door and throw a rock, this is what we got."

"On it. Everyone, hold on to something. Normandy, this is Kodiak. We're approaching the derelict."

The shuttle approached the barrier, slowly and controlled. Garrus inched it until the kinetic barrier brushed the rippling surface. No change, no interaction.

"Huh," Garrus commented. "And now?"

"Push it a little further."

The shuttle lurched until the front thrusters were just poking through. When nothing happened, Garrus pushed all the way in. The small ship lurched with the gravity suddenly cast upon it but Garrus threw the thruster down and held it steady.

"Must be some kind of vacuum shield. There's gravity here. Interesting technology," Miranda said.

Garrus set the craft down, setting it to stand by. The lights were dim and flickering in their landing zone. Garrus groaned.

"Well, at least it's not dark and scary in here," he said.

"Alright, team. Heads up, move out and clear the landing zone. I want constant communication. Call out everything you see."

They all voiced their affirmation as the door slid open. Shepard stepped out first, flashlight poking into the dim surroundings with her shotgun. Garrus was next doing the same thing with his SMG taking Shepard's left. Zaeed third on Shepard's right, Kasumi sauntered out as if there wasn't a care in the world, and finally Miranda.

"Garrus?"

"Looks clear on my end."

"Zaeed?"

"Got something worth taking a closer look at but no hostiles."

"Miranda?"

"It looks like there was a firefight on my side. Scorch marks, warped sections of the interior. No contacts."

"Kasumi?"

"Nothing of note but... This doesn't feel right. Feels like we're being watched."

The Turian sighed. "Of course you had to say it."

Shepard looked around. The hangar was large, with tall ceilings visible even in the low light. Shepard cast a glance in all directions. She saw what Zaeed was talking about. There was a craft of some kind that looked oddly angled. After confirming no movement, she hit her communicator.

"Alright, everyone on me. Normandy, this is Shepard. We've landed. No welcome party, looks like it's low power. Everything is pretty dim in here. No contact. Copy?"

Joker responded "Solid copy, Commander. Bring me back a T-shirt."

Shepard motioned for Zaeed to move toward whatever they had seen. As they approached, it slowly began to take shape.

"That doesn't look like it quite fits in with the rest of the decor. Weren't we supposed to be the first ones here," Zaeed asked.

Garrus cast his light on it, outlining the shape and peering at a dark grey or perhaps green craft. It looked like a brick with engines, as far as Shepard could tell. They approached from the rear, or so she assumed.

"I believe so. Those look like thrusters, and this is definitely a heavily armored hull. See inside there? Definitely a landing craft but never seen anything like it. Looks like it crashed in here. See the scoring along that back engine?"

"Commander," Miranda added. "There's breathable atmosphere in here."

"Bullshit. This room is wide open to space," Zaeed hissed.

"Could be the barrier we passed through... Which I mentioned already if you could be bothered to follow a conversation," the operative retorted.

"Love, I'd follow you anywhere in that catsuit," he said with a smile. Miranda sighed and tried to ignore the comment.

"Lock it up, team. Let's move. Bridge should be this way… I think. Zaeed, you have point. Kasumi, do your scouting thing around here. Grab anything you can find. Let us know if anything moves."

"Sure thing. But stay alert... I don't think we're alone here."

"Just do it."

The thief nodded and promptly disappeared, though whether she cloaked or simply made ample use of the low light and shadows wasn't Immediately clear. They moved back from the downed craft and moved forward into the vessel with Zaeed up front. They moved slowly, covering all sides as they progressed. The room they were in was huge. There were several alien crafts inside. Small fighters had been Garrus' guess. They were scattered and disorganized.

"Guns and fighters. Supports the warship theory. Would this be perhaps a small carrier, then" Miranda piped up.

"Doubtful. There's space in here for crafts, sure. But not enough to classify as a carrier. I'd probably place this as a cruiser," Garrus said.

"Whatever it is," Zaeed added. "Pretty obvious from the damage that this thing saw some action. Even on the inside. See the damage along the floor and walls? I'd be willing to bet it was boarded by that crashed ship back there."

As he finished his thought he pulled up short and shined his flashlight into the walls. They all saw the damage there.

Kasumi spoke up on the comm, "Commander, I've got dead. Small, oddly shaped. Looks like standard weapons damage but they've got guns I've never seen. Looks maybe energy based. I've never seen this kind of lifeform before though. They've got some kind of breathing apparatus on their backs. Ugly little things."

"Thanks, Kasumi. Keep scouting. You see anything worth picking up, grab it. But be careful."

"Oh, I'm way ahead of you there."

They moved up the ramp. There was a door directly ahead and a raised section leading to either side before the door that was overlooking the hangar. When Zaeed got to the top, he flashed his light down at his feet and froze. His weapon came up as he cleared to the right and left of his immediate area. Even in the dim light, Shepard saw his posture take a defensive turn.

"I got bodies." He swung his light right then left. "Both sides."

They picked up the pace a little to join him. Garrus pulled up first. His light shone over the disfigured monster that lay unmoving in a pool of dark purple blood.

"What the hell..." Miranda chimed in.

Zaeed whistled. "That's not any species I've ever seen. Garrus, how big you figure this thing is?"

"Standing up? I'd say at least eight feet but probably more. Look at the jaw. Looks like four, independently articulated mandibles."

"I'm more concerned with what happened to it," Shepard said.

"First contact," Garrus mumbled under his breath.

As Shepard looked it over, she could see it's blue armor was clearly advanced and the thing itself looked tough as nails. Forward facing eyes, large, strong looking, and unguligrade leg joints ending in what appeared to be hoofs. This was a predator, if evolution had taught her anything. Whatever had gotten to it had shredded through that armor and into gray flesh. It wasn't the kind of impact ballistic type damage you'd see from mass accelerator weapons though. There was impact and what appeared to be a splash outward of burns.

"I'm more concerned with what this means for us," Miranda said. She cast her light to the other bodies. "Looks like more than one species. I see some... Pieces that look like they were a part of something different." Looking down at the big one, she pointed out an oddity not far from it's hand. "Is that a weapon?"

Zaeed gave a swift kick to the aliens midsection to check its reaction with his rifle pointing directly at it's head in case it moved. Everyone tensed and held their breath but no movement came from the beast. He bent down slowly with his weapon still aimed and gingerly picked up the device. He glanced over it briefly, turning it in his hand, before shrugging and passing it back to Shepard. It was a weapon alright but not like anything Shepard had ever seen. She passed it to Miranda.

"That's definitely worth investigating," Miranda said as she looked it over before slapping it on her back. "It's magnetic, at least."

"I'm sure Kasumi has a dozen by now," Zaeed mused.

"Along with anything else shiny," Garrus added.

"Speak of the devil," a disembodied voice said. Zaeed yelped.

"Goddammit, little girl. Didn't anyone ever tell you not to sneak up on a deadly mercenary?"

"I'm fairly certain I still haven't," Kasumi said earning a glare for the Merc and stifled laughs from the others. The moment was short lived as Shepard approached the door. Something close to a musical note sounded and it slid open halfway before stopping. Shepard sighed then began to work her way through the opening. She raised her weapon, light peering into the darkness of the dimly lit hallway.

"Clear," she said.

One by one, her remaining team squeezed through the door and took position to cover the hallway.

"Alright," Garrus said. "Who's going first?"

Zaeed's machismo got the better of him as he stepped forward and slowly crept down the hall. He kept to the right side and allowed Shepard a field of fire covering the left side of the hallway.

"I see more bodies, Zaeed."

"I see 'em too, Commander."

Shepard and the mercenary crept to the downed aliens and took a closer look. There were two of them. Blood stained the hallway and floor around them. Kasumi sidled up and poked her head between them for a moment.

"I really hope the race that did this isn't hanging around still," Shepard said.

"They look like rabid dogs," Kasumi observed.

Garrus had now worked his way up. Zaeed stepped over their bodies and pointed Jessie down the hallway to cover their front.

"They look like raptors or pterodactyls," Kasumi added.

They had elongated mouths coated by rows of sharp teeth. The creatures were maybe over six feet stretched out, scaly-skinned, and with spiky protrusions coming from their spine.

"Looks like puncture wounds in this one," Garrus said. "See the two holes in it's chest? Doesn't look like weapons fire. It's too clean. And cauterized?"

"Agreed," Shepard added. "But the burns maybe mean an energy based weapon."

Kasumi was busy on the creature to the right. "Same weapon. Took the head clean off of this one."

"Whatever killed these things was strong," Miranda added from behind.

Shepard and Garrus shared a look and turned. Miranda was looking up. They followed her gaze and saw two punctures in the ceiling with two tell-tale blackened scorch rings, the same distance apart and shape matching the holes in the creature below.

"Jesus," Shepard said. "It pinned this thing to the cieling?"

She looked down to the decapitated alien next to the other one. The dent in the wall roughly matching the size of the creature suggested it was pinned there before being relieved of its head. She jumped a little when the radio crackled on in her ear.

"Any updates Commander? Ghosts, maybe? Or alien eggs? Never get close to alien eggs."

"We have dead aboard, Joker. I'm sure Mordin would love a chance to examine some of them. We'll try to bring some samples back. I want to know how this thing runs, too. We haven't gone aft to check the engineering section. No sign of life just yet. There was a fight here and there may still be hostiles. I'll be in touch. Shepard out."

"Solid copy, Commander. But you should know that ship is on the edge of the gravity well and slowly falling in. you've got maybe 40 minutes before proximity becomes an issue. Just... Be careful."

"Zaeed, let's push forward. I want to see the bridge."

They moved forward. Next thing up the hall was a trio of the larger aliens. They were equally brutalized and mangled. More scorch marks seared through their flesh, armor, and the walls surrounding them.

"Close quarters," Garrus said. "Missing head on the middle one. The other two cut clean in half. Probably the same weapon."

"Goddamn... Whatever did this must be strong as a Krogan. These things got manhandled."

Shepard peered at the trio of bodies. This had to be the work of a team. Some kind of special forces, given the size of the landing craft they had seen in the hangar. They had executed every alien from here to the bridge with a brutal efficiency.

"Let's keep moving. Kasumi, grab anything."

No one said anything as they moved forward and up. It was trial and error until they approached the bridge but they found scattered bodies of the same alien types they had already seen. It was dark and creepy wandering the dim, purple hallways. It took maybe 20 minutes but they finally found a large set of doors at the top of a large ramp.

"That has to be it, Shepard."

Jane had to agree with Miranda, which didn't happen often. They'd gotten fairly comfortable so far on this mission. The Commander oculd almost feel her team relaxing a hair too much. Jane didn't like it. There was something strange about the whole thing. Even beyond an alien derelict full of dead in front of a black hole.

"And it all leads here," Shepard said out loud as she looked at the door. "Kasumi, I need you to hold the hallway and watch our rear."

"I'm on it. It might take me a minute to reach you. I've been busy stacking useful things in the Kodiak. No bodies, though. Sorry."

"Understood. Everyone else, stack up on me. Buttonhook. Garrus you take the hook, I've got the cross. Everyone watch the fatal frontal."

They nodded and stacked up on the left side of the hall. Shepard, then Garrus, Zaeed, and Miranda.

"I saw some shiny things down here but I'm close enough to watch your backs. Don't have any fun without me!"

Shepard's eyes were on the door. Garrus tapped Shepard's shoulder, giving the signal for ready. She took a deep breath, held, then exhaled.

"Flashbang out," She said quietly into her microphone and moved forward, activating the door. It opened and she threw the flashbang in and waited. The electronic whine followed by a quick bang and a brilliant white light flashed, momentarily illuminating the bridge and hallway. Shepard charged forward and swung her weapon up, then right, crossing the doorway and covering the right corner. Garrus was immediately on her heels as he looked forward first then quickly swung left to cover the other corner of the room. Zaeed and Miranda crossed the threshold of the door aiming for the far corners.

The entire movement halted immediately as they flashed their lights around.

"Goddamn..." Zaeed whispered.

"What... happened here..." Miranda breathed.

Even Garrus, usually cool and collected chimed in. "Fuck me..."

Shepard was at a loss for words but her blood ran cold.

They shined their lights toward every inch of what used to be a bridge but were met only with body parts, twisted metal, armor fragments, scorch marks, and craters. The walls were coated in holes and burn marks, warped in places, destroyed in others. Bodies lay scattered and in separate pieces with several different shades of blood staining the deck. The level of destruction in this room was nothing short of a massacre. There was evidence of high explosives used.

"Looks like a hit squad of some kind," Zaeed offered. "Special ops, maybe. Whatever came aboard, they meant business."

"Scan around, team. See if you can find me a live one."

Despite the level of brutality in this room, her team got to work. Zaeed, however, made a beeline toward what looked like the only active tech in the room. "Shepard. Live panel here. No idea what the hell any of this means or does... Hello, pretty," he said.

Shepard turned to look. There, in the center of the panel was a bright orange card. It glistened and pulsed. Orange, metallic filaments seemed to extend from it into the panel. Jane wondered how it had accomplished this since the display appeared to be entirely holographic.

"None alive, Commander," Miranda said.

"Same here," Garrus agreed.

"Alright. Start grabbing anything you can. We'll load up and head back. Miranda, see if you can figure out that panel. Find me data or whatever you can."

"Of course, Shepard."

Jane sighed as she looked around. She showed no signs but she was spooked. The carnage in this room was incredible.

"And stay alert. Still no evidence we're alone here."

Kasumi had spent too much time alone now. At first, it was exciting. She had strayed a bit further behind than she was sure Shepard would have liked but how often does a new ship with new trinkets just fall into one's lap? Not often enough to pass up poking around. She'd grabbed some weapons, a chunk of armor here, a scrap of something there. She'd even found something like an armory and started moving stuff. Warships often meant family heirlooms, pictures of family, jewelry, data worth snagging, and any other number of unique or profitable items. However, the more she explored, the clearer it became that whatever species, or multiples therein, used this ship did not hold any such ideas of keepsakes. It was just more armor, more guns, and the alien tech made it impossible to pull any sensitive information out. Whoever had lived on this ship seemed focused on only one thing and it wasn't sentiment; it was war.

She was now pacing, practicing with the patience and expertise only the master thief was capable of in perfecting the art of moving silently. She sighed growing bored of even that. She wondered what Jacob was doing. Did he ever think about her? She felt giddy at the idea of him thinking about her at all. He had only ever ignored her but that only further incited her interests. Well that settled it then, as far as she could see. There was only one course of action. When they returned to the Normandy, she'd have to steal something of his. What she stole didn't matter so much. Preferably something attached to his hips, maybe a back pocket. She smiled deviously at the idea of getting caught with her hand in his pants.

She was mid thought when she felt rather than heard a movement. She was on the landing above a ramp. The landing wound its way to another ramp that led to the bridge. It was the ramp below her that drew her senses. Where there should have been a silence that echoed in on itself, there was now a muffled silence. Had it been anyone else, she was sure it would have been missed but she knew the differences in silence. As time passed, she was now only half sure that she'd heard anything at all when she heard the whisper. But it wasn't voices. It was the whisper of a surreptitious movement. She made her way to the edge of the purple walls on the other side of the ramp and listened further.

She froze upon hearing a dull thunk on the metallic floor. Instinct took over as she cloaked and made her way into an indentation along the wall and crouched. Another dull sound of shifting feet met her ears and she slowed her breath and calmed her heart. She felt the comfort of the darkness around her but her eyes were sharp as knives trying to pierce the darkness. Every hair stood on end as she detected a new scent in the air. She drew her weapon and held it ready. The noise she heard could only be a living thing. She saw something like a shimmer in the darkness. A refraction of light that almost imperceptibly altered the vision. She heard a quiet exhale and quickly gauged where it came from. It was directly in front of her and, judging roughly where the floor was to where she had heard it, this thing had to be at least eight and a half feet tall.

She waited but there was nothing. No breathing, no movement, no shimmer. Everything was perfectly still. The silence haunted the thief. She was the best there was in the known worlds and whatever was in here with her gave no further indication of its location. She waited with infinite patience and knew better than to move. She needed to tell Shepard but she dared not speak and give away her presence.

After several more minutes, a tell-tale creak of metal under the stress of weight told her the creature was halfway up the ramp to Shepard's location. She'd have to risk blowing her cover now. She couldn't take the risk. She hit her communicator and whispered. Anything louder might draw unwanted attention and she didn't know if there was more than one.

"See that, Shepard? Goddamn plasma. Just like the Geth! That's what caused the burns on this armor. I'm telling ya!"

Garrus was ignoring the conversation. Well, he supposed it wouldn't be considered a conversation if only Zaeed was talking. But then that was usually how conversons with Zaeed went. He was examining the weapons that didn't look like they were part of the arsenal they had seen so far. Where the others had all been some shade of purple, green, and blue, these others were steely and gray. They lacked any decoration but they looked effective in their design; purpose built, if extremely primitive. He guessed they must belong to whatever team had boarded and killed everything else.

Miranda had busied herself with the terminal. She had made mention of the card or disk that had been jammed into it. She was busy trying to shake it loose but hadn't had any luck so far. Garrus wondered if maybe that card was part of the boarding party as well.

Garrus looked up as he heard static in his ear. He could hear syllables, but the words themselves were quiet. He couldn't make them out. Especially with the mercenary talking.

"Zaeed," he said, trying to get him to quiet down for a second.

"That's why this whole bridge looks like shit too. I ever tell you about the time I got hit with a Geth shotgun? Wasn't any Geth that shot it either. Where she got the goddamn thing, I have no idea."

"Wait, she?" Jane responded, suddenly interested.

"Shepard, I think Kasumi's calling you."

Garrus went unheard.

"Oh, ho! Shepard, I've known quite a few women. Some of them might even give you a run for your money. But THIS one..."

Garrus caught the word "incoming" through his earpiece.

"SHEPARD! EARPIECE!" The Turian yelled.

Jane shook herself. Finally a story she might be interested in and this happens. She listened intently into her helmet.

"Shepard, please respond!" It was Kasumi and she was whispering but clearly agitated. Shepard knew something was wrong. She could hear the desperation in her whisper.

"Kasumi, Shepard here."

"Uh... Commander," it was Miranda.

The door to the bridge hummed and slid open but in the dim light, no one saw anything.

"Kasumi, are you messing with us? Is that you in the door?"

The door hummed shut once again.

"Alright, little thief," Zaeed said. "Trying to pull one over on ol' Zaeed, huh?" He was looking furtively around trying to spot what he assumed was their teammate.

Everyone seemed to relax a bit at Shepard's suggestion. Kasumi playing games was nothing new. But their relief was short lived. They all heard Kasumi's transmission in their earpieces.

"It's cloaked. And it's big. It's heading right for you."

Everyone raised their weapons, alert.

"Miranda, Zaeed, cover the rear," Shepard barked quietly. Miranda and Zaeed swiveled while she and Garrus had weapons pointed toward the door. Everyone was looking everywhere.

"Check your fire, make sure your target isn't a friendly."

Garrus had one hand on his visor, cycling through his optic options and scanning the room. If one were looking into the room from the door, Garrus was on the far left facing the door. Zaeed was next, facing away from the door and toward the front of the bridge. Then Miranda, also covering where Zaeed was pointed. Shepard was on the far right, covering everything in front of the door.

Deathly silence filled the room. No one dared say anything for fear of missing a sound, missing a movement, not catching a crucial cue of an enemy. Shepard saw the shimmer at the same time Garrus did but Garrus called it out first.

"ZAEED! MOVE!" Had barely escaped his mouth before all hell broke loose. Shepard saw it in slow motion but her body was too slow. The noise dialed down to a dull din in her ears. A jet of blue light appeared from thin air with a crackling hiss and was thrust at Zaeed's back. To his credit, Zaeed didn't make the mistake of turning. Instead he lunged to the side to dodge and allow others to fire on the threat he couldn't see but the strike connected. This thing was lightening fast. Shepard, Garrus, and Miranda saw the weapon punch through the mercenary's back, bypassing the kinetic barrier and shearing through his armor, reappearing out through his stomach. It wasn't a direct hit but one of the prongs of the unknown energy weapon had cut into him to the left of his spine just above the kidney but below the ribs. As Zaeed lunged right, the blade continued forward and Zaeed was sent spinning through the air. From the shimmering cloak, a true monster emerged. Blood red armor coated it's well over 8 foot frame. And it roared a blood-curdling scream. In it's right hand was the blade, appearing as if made from pure energy. In it's left was one of the weapon types they had picked up before. They could see it now but it's speed was incredible. It turned on Miranda just as Garrus and Jane opened fire. It stepped to it's left, putting Miranda in Jane's line of fire. Miranda had a split second to put up a biotic barrier before it's massive hoof raised and rocketed her off of her feet, shattering the barrier, crunching into her armor, and sending her into Shepard. They both hit the far wall.

Shepard felt her armor crack with the impact. Garrus was yelling Turian curse words as his SMG went through a full heatsink but whatever this monsters was, they had shielding of their own. Shepard raised herself painfully to her feet and opened fire on the creatures back. It whipped it's left arm around and fired blindly at her. It was a plasma based weapon and she felt the heat lick at her through her kinetic Barriers as she dove out of the way, still laying down accurate fire on the behemoth, but was struck in the leg twice. Once in the thigh, and once in the shin. Her ablative ceramic plates absorbed much of the heat, but it still seared through and cooked her flesh where it hit. She rolled and brought her weapon back up, ignoring the white hot pain, unloading round after round of mass accelerated metal at beyond mach speeds into the shielding. She saw Miranda was still a crumpled heap, head lolling from side to side.

The monster was focused on Garrus, baring it's massive blade. Garrus could not match the speed of the creature but his experience worked in his favor. Reading the swing of the blade, Garrus ducked and rolled under it. His maneuver cleared the line of fire for Shepard who took full advantage. It then dropped the rifle from it's left hand and the Turian just couldn't react in time. It grabbed him by the throat and released another roar before smashing him against the wall. Garrus' SMG fell from nerveless fingers. His body left a dent there and the alien drew back to smash him again. Jane had shredded its shields down to nothing but it's armor was proving effective against her fire. Garrus whipped out his omniblade and swung, connecting with the monster's neck. He buried it to the hilt and broke it off, the monster staggering a moment.

Garrus palmed his pistol and started unloading point blank, pressing the barrel into a gap in the creatures armor into its torso. It cried out in pain and rage, releasing it's hold. As the creature dropped him, he dodged out of the way just as Shepard drew her trump card. With a biotic whirlwind, she threw herself in full charge at the creature. She connected and the thing staggered back, letting out another yell of pain but incredibly stayed on its feet, even as it reeled and slid back. Shepard brought her shotgun to it's face but it grabbed it by the barrel and yanked. A round went off next to its head and Shepard let go of the weapon just in time as the energy blade tore it in half. Garrus used an anti-material sniper blast point blank earning another pained howl from the towering monster who staggered. It was bleeding now as it turned on the cornered Turian. He raised his rifle as if it were a shield and another kick bent the weapon before connecting on Garrus' upper chest and the Turian went airborne. His head hit the wall first and he slumped. Clearly dazed, he attempted to raise his pistol again but the creature slapped it out of the Turian's hand as it laughed. The thing was having fun, apparently.

Three of her team down. It was up to Shepard now who had already opened fire with the Hurricane SMG; her lucky charm. This leviathan rounded on her and growled. She saw it's muscles bulge and it lunged. She tried to leap away but her damaged leg gave out under her and she started to fall. It lunged at her with its sword, ready to pierce her. She caught the blade with biotics as she was falling, putting every ounce of power she had at the blade as it still crawled forward, slow inch after slow inch. She poured every ounce of power she had to give into pushing back as the creature pushed the blade forward. The strength of this thing was immense but it struggled against the mass effect field. But still drew closer and closer to her throat. Shepard felt the heat of it begin to build. She had just raised her pistol when the monster's head snapped forward violently and jerked back again. It seemed in shock for a brief moment. Forgetting about the Commander, it whirled. There, sticking out of the left side of its head was a long, black knife. Dazed, Shepard rolled and looked behind the hostile. She almost couldn't believe what she saw.

Torn up, bloody, and encased in heavily scarred gray armor stood another alien. It was maybe 7 feet tall, give or take. That armor looked like it weighed a ton and she could see the deep scoring and damage across it. The armored giant stood straight as an arrow and stared the alien down. The alien monster roared and lunged with incredible speed, it's whole body a blur as it swung fast and hard at the head of the other alien. Shepard was sure her rescue would be short-lived. She had seen the monster's power flatten her team but her eyes went wide as the armored alien caught the wrist of the hand with the energy blade mid-swing. It then stepped in and brought a palm directly into the roaring mandibles of the monster. She heard a sickening crunch and the alien staggered back. Still holding it's wrist, the steel clad warrior twisted and side stepped bringing the arm behind the creature into a lock. It kicked one of the legs out from the behemoth and the monster dropped as the smaller alien wrenched the larger one's arm up violently. Another wet snap echoed through the bridge and the monster howled. The smaller creature stomped it's metal leg down on the leg of the alien ensuring it wouldn't rise. It disarmed the energy blade, brought it over it's head, then thrust down at the base of the aliens neck and sank it all the way through it's torso. The howl died into a whimper then a gurgle. The armored intruder snaked it's right arm around the front of the monster's head, grabbed the knife stuck in it's left side and yanked, twisting the head of the beast with a series of pops. The gurgle died and the victor stomped its boot on the alien's back, crushing to the ground, and wrenched the knife out. It wiped the blade on it's armor and returned it to the sheath on it's shoulder before turning to Shepard. She raised her weapon, hand steady, and aimed it at this newcomer's face.

"That might not be the only one. And I'm your best chance to make it out of here," it said in a deep, gravelly voice.

It moved forward and stuck it's hand out. Shepard took it, letting it pull her to her feet. She winced when she put weight on her right leg and shifted weight to her left.

"Can you walk?"

Jane shook her head as if she'd just imagined the voice, surprised she could understand him. As she stood face to chest with it, she realized how much bigger this thing was than her.

"What," she said dumbly. Granted, she wasn't so familiar with the tech of omnitools that she knew whether the translation function was universal or if it just picked up known languages.

"Can you walk," it repeated.

"I think so."

"Good. Tend your wounded."

It's face turned ever so slightly, as if hearing a sound no one else could. In a flash of motion it bent, picked up a weapon and aimed it directly at an empty wall. Jane hadn't even seen the full movement but for a blur. The weapon glowed menacingly green as some sort of charge built up. Jane was confused at first until the alien spoke.

"I've had a long day," it said.

From nothing, Kasumi suddenly appeared directly in front of his weapon, hands up, eyes revealed wide in surprise in the green glow.

"Easy, big guy. I'm with her."

"She's with me," Shepard confirmed

He lowered his weapon and nodded at the thief. Kasumi rushed over to Jane and mouthed 'what the fuck' silently as their new "friend" made it's way over to Zaeed

"Your friend is alive," it said simply before holding a canister over his inert body and spraying some kind of foam over the mercs wound. "Plasma cauterizes. Doesn't look like it hit anything vital. He'll be fine if you get him medical attention."

"Kasumi, go check Miranda. I've got Garrus."

"Normandy, this is Kasumi" she said as she touched her communicator. "I'm here with Shepard. We have wounded. Zaeed's in bad shape."

"Copy, Kasumi. We'll have the med bay prepped. What happened!?"

"First contact, Joker. First contact. Never seen aliens like this before. Everyone is alive but we'll be heading to you ASAP."

"Jesus," Joker responded. "Well hurry up either way. That ship is heading back into that black hole. You guys have maybe 15 minutes."

"We'll be outta here in no time. Kasumi out."

Shepard had roused Garrus from his slumped position. He seemed alright, if dazed. Jane helped him to his feet. When he steadied, he leaned against the wall and waved the Commander off. She made her way to the mercenary instead.

"Zaeed?" Shepard said trying to get a response.

"Zaeed," the newcomer repeated as if trying out the name. The behemoth walked to the flickering console and started pressing buttons. Jane shook her head and grunted as she stirred.

"How far did I make it," it asked.

"From where?" Shepard countered as she knelt over Zaeed. His wound was covered with whatever the armored alien had sprayed on him. Interesting tech. Doubtful it was as effective as omnigel. She felt her teammates pulse. It was thready but persistent. He was bleeding only slightly. The wound had been in his upper left abdomen and when the merc had started spinning, it had torn it's way through, separating a small part of his top half from his bottom half in a wide gash.

"Reach. Slip drive failed. Where am I?"

Jane ignored his question, getting annoyed at how calm this thing was. "Hey! You. What the hell was that thing?"

"Covenant," it said simply.

"What the hell is that!?"

She had painfully made her way over to his side and was staring him down, or up, depending on your point of view. It turned to her. Even in the low light, she could see her own helmet reflected back at her in his cracked visor.

"You don't know?" it asked.

She blinked and even Kasumi stopped momentarily as she began to rouse Miranda. The Cerberus officer stirred and raised herself to a sitting position and leaned against the wall. She shook her head lightly and clutched her ribs with her eyes closed.

"What the hell..." She opened her eyes and they fell on the armored giant. "What the hell?"

"Miranda looks okay, Shepard," Kasumi said and turned to move for Garrus. Jane nodded and turned her attention back to the giant.

"Let's pretend I've never seen these things before. What are they," Shepard asked gesturing at the fresh corpse of the monster on the floor. But the giant just stared, looking from her, to Miranda, to Kasumi. Blank helmets met his gaze.

"Where are you from? An outer colony?"

Miranda was now listening intently.

"And just who are you then," the busty Cerberus agent queried. "An enemy of theirs, no doubt. Did you say slip drive?"

Jane pressed on. "Tell me about them."

"You've really never..." The giant seemed genuinely surprised. "First contact on harvest," he tried. "Green Hills. Second Base..."

Jane shook her head. The giant seemed to grow agitated. "Battle of Alpha Corvi II?"

Miranda had worked herself to a standing position but still held her ribs, her breathing shallow.

"We're from a very outer colony," she tried. "We lost communication a while ago but lacked the resources to re-establish any connection. When no one came, we just continued on. What did we miss exactly?"

Jane, seeing what she was up to, shot her a look and Miranda shrugged. But the giant seemed to calm a little at her explanation. Jane let the lie go for now. The giant's head lowered a fraction of an inch.

"Everything," it said simply.

Jane had no idea what the big creature was talking about but now wasn't the time. Whatever was going on, she'd need more details but later. Even Miranda looked concerned.

"I think we can all ask questions later," Shepard said. "Right now, we grab what we can and get out of here," she ordered. She met it's gaze again. "I suppose I should thank you. What's your name?"

Answering tersely, "Six."

Jane raised an eyebrow, thinking it must be an error in translation or perhaps it's name just sounded like a number. "Okay, Six. Thank you. I'm Commander Shepard of the Normandy SR-2. That's Miranda over there, and Kasumi in the corner."

Garrus finally shifted and groaned. "Shepard," he said through a grunt. The armored newcomer's head snapped over to Garrus as the Turian spoke. It whipped back to Shepard.

"Welcome back, sleepyhead. How ya feeling?"

"Feels just like those old times I've missed so much. Sure would have been nice to have a Krogan, don't you think?" he grumbled.

"Stow it for the debriefing."

The steel clad alien had turned toward Garrus as if really seeing him for the first time. She noticed his rigid stance and could see the muscles tense even under that shredded armor. It had a weapon in it's hand but didn't raise it, though she watched the fingers tighten around it. Instead it looked down at her.

"You can understand that thing?" it asked.

"That 'thing' is Garrus. He's a Turian. You can't understand him? So, you can understand me just fine but not him. Huh." She let the thought linger but dismissed it for now. "Well, I suppose it would be polite to ask if you needed a ride. Where's the rest of your team?"

It was a fraction of a second, easily missed. Jane watched the creature hesitate. It's shoulders slumped forward and it's head hung lower. It was only a moment but Jane caught it. She knew what answer was coming.

"I'm on my own."

Garrus and Kasumi exchanged a look and Miranda was paying rapt attention. But Jane was struck. Whatever this thing was, it had been in the blender for sure. It had lost people. Some body language really was universal, it seemed.

"They left you here?" Kasumi asked. She sounded disbelieving.

"No. It's just me."

Shepard and Miranda both raised an eyebrow at the implications of this thing being alone on this ship with these kinds of aliens. Not a chance one alien, no matter how tough, could have been responsible for the wreckage they had seen.

"Where are you from, exactly? And how did you get here?"

"Reach," he answered.

Shepard was about to inquire further but was interrupted by Joker on her comms.

"Commander, Joker here. Tell me you guys are on your way. That ship isn't going to last much longer."

"Roger that. We're underway in five," she responded. "Alright, everyone grab their stuff and get back to the Kodiak. On the double."

Garrus was looking over his now defunct sniper rifle which he decided not to leave behind. Miranda shuffled for the door, wincing in pain. Kasumi leaned against the wall and Garrus stayed close as well, waiting on their Commander. She made her way over to Zaeed and stooped to pick him up.

"How about you, Six?"

The laconic warrior was staring out of the viewport into space, still standing at the panel. He pulled the golden chip that Miranda had been probing earlier. She watched it's orange filaments retreat from the panel and recess back into the chip. More interesting tech, she thought. He turned around to face her but stumbled a bit on one of his legs.

"We have a med bay on the Normandy. We should get you looked at, at least," she offered.

He considered her offer but paused.

"Or you can stay here, and get sucked into a black hole," she added.

"Can you take me to the nearest UNSC outpost?"

"I'll take you anywhere you want as long as you can point out where the hell that is."

He slipped the orange card into a pouch and nodded. He stopped and quickly slapped every weapon he could find onto his armor before walking toward the door. Shepard had Zaeed over her shoulders in a fireman's carry.

"We should go," Six said.

Six exited through the double doors with his weapon aimed high, Kasumi and Garrus followed. Shepard looked around one last time at the state of the bridge and it's former crew. Explosion damage, plasma scoring, what looked like projectile holes... She wondered if Six had really done all of this and what else he was hiding.

'Oh,' she thought. 'I'll find out.'

They jogged back to the Kodiak at a good pace. Six, to his credit, was clearly familiar with tactics. He swept and cleared every corner and turn with the reflexive efficiency of a veteran soldier. They hit the hanger inside of the five minute window and approached the Kodiak.

"Garrus, fire it up," Jane said. The Turian walked into the shuttle and sat, flipping switches and spooling up the engines and eezo core. Jane stood outside of the craft as she ushered Kasumi in.

"Come on, Six," she said, raising her voice over the sound of the engines. But he stood still. She followed his stare until her eyes landed on the crashed craft they had found when they arrived.

"Yours, I take it? Is your eezo core intact?"

He stared blankly at her.

"Okay, let's try simple. Can you fly that thing?"

He nodded.

"Okay, then follow us," she yelled before disappearing into the shuttle. The door slid shut behind her. Garrus pushed off and slowly backed out of the derelict ships hangar.

"Can't say I'll miss that place," Kasumi said.

"Same here," Garrus agreed. "We picked up another stray after all, eh Shepard?"

Jane threw him a dirty look.

"Yes, we did. But you were one of my strays once. Don't forget that. Besides, this is first contact with a new species. And I don't know much but based on how he handled that thing on the bridge, maybe we can use him. At least until we figure out what the hell this UNSC race is. We'll probably end up only giving him a ride anyway. Wouldn't be such a bad idea to show some hospitality if the rest of his kind are like him. Get on their good side."

Kasumi turned in the copilot's seat. "First contact? I doubt it. But... We don't know the full story here either, Shepard. We find one survivor on a derelict warship. A survivor who is probably dangerous with unknown intentions. I know you have a soft spot for fighters but we don't know anything about this guy. At least everyone else had dossiers before you picked them up. We only have his side of the story here."

"And how do you know about the dossiers exactly?"

The thief turned back around and went silent.

Shepard frowned. Kasumi had a point. They'd only have half of the story. Maybe Garrus had a point about the upside of having a Krogan on board. The alien with the sword... She had taken down Krogans, a thresher maw, assembled the deadliest team in the known universe, and even come back from death. And in less than 30 seconds, an alien with crimson armor had torn her team apart. Granted, it had been mostly surprise and close quarters were involved. She was confident if they met anymore, they'd handle the fight just fine. But in the same amount of time her team went down, Six had eliminated the alien. And in brutal fashion. Still, he hadn't shown any hostility toward her. Maybe a little xenophobia with Garrus but he hadn't exhibited any aggression to him either.

"At ease, Kasumi. We've got the most competent crew in the universe. We'll keep an eye on Six while we give him a ride. He did kinda save my life, you know. Our lives."

They watched as Six's strange craft took off unsteadily. One of it's rear thrusters billowed black smoke, clearly damaged. The other three pushed hard and it was airborne, if only just. It scraped the floor as it slowly left the hangar, finally righting itself as it entered the vacuum of space.

"Take us home," Jane said. "Normandy, this is Shepard. We're enroute and... bringing a guest."

"Great," Joker said. "Another stray. Thanks, Commander. Jack was the last person I wanted to lose a bet to."