Updated- 9/8/2013

'This is for thought and conversions the Light and emotion clones'

"This is speech by Ed or EDI"

'This is for speech from emotion clones and Light'

"This is for speech with the mask on (Not face mask that is worn underneath)"


Ch 3

Jake Shepard the Lion of Elysium, First Human Specter, and Hero of the Citadel was pissed.

First he fails to save half of Horizon, then his old teammate and lover Ashley William flats out dumps him, and that being gentle about it, and now he and his ground team have been waiting to go through customs for who know how long.

"Don't you miss the good old days?" Shepard's partner in crime, Garrus, said from besides him, "Where we could just walk past the all the lines." Shepard let a low chuckle, "And you could slap omni-gel on everything."

"Hey Shep," the newest member of Shepard's crew, the master thief Kasumi Goto, spoke up, "Didn't the Council reinstated your Spectre statues?" Shepard placed a finger on his chin, "Oh yea."

"You mean to tell me," Zaeed said his voice rising in anger, "That we've been standing in this gaddum line for an hour and a half for nothing." When the merc finished the rest of the ground team let out a groan. "Hey," Shepard called back facing his team, "It was an honest mistake," He quickly lead his team past customs.

"Does anybody know anything about this Shadow Fox?" Shepard asked.

"Cerberus has been trying to find and capture him ever since he showed up," Miranda, TIM's right hand, said, "The only thing that we know about him is that he is young and has no respect for authority, and that he has strange abilities. Besides that we know nothing." Shepard looks over to the genetic perfect woman, "Have you met him?"

"A few times," came the reply through grit teeth, "And it wasn't pleasant."

"That's an understatement," Jacob said, "From what I understand him and Miri have some bad blood between them."

That peak Shepard's curiosity, "Why? What happen?"

"I don't know all the details but it sound like he called her a few names, nothing to polite either, and that their meetings usually ended with a fight," Jacob replied, "I think that he has something against Cerberus…"

"Gee I wonder why," Jack sarcastic remarked.

"…Or it could because he spurred Miranda's 'advances'," Jacob said causing the non-Cerberus members to laugh. "Jacob," Miranda said her voice short and cold, "Shut up." This caused everybody to laugh even harder. "I like him already," Jack said, but then again she likes anybody that hates Cerberus.

"Before I left C-Sec," Garrus cut in a smile on his face, "I met him a couple of times. To put what he is simply he's a vigilante like me. In fact he is where I got the idea to move to Omega and start my own team."

"What is he like," Shepard said really liking what he is hearing so far. "Well Miranda is right about a couple of things," Garrus begins, "He's really young, how young though is anybody's guess. Nobody knows anything about him. And Shepard I've seen the people that he has brought in and I'm telling you right now don't underestimate him. In six months he has single handily brought down countless of gangs, slavery rings, and drug deals. He even took down a few Blue Suns, Eclipse, and Blood Pack operations. It definitely increase my work load on Omega I'll tell you that," Shepard looks at Garrus with an unbelievable look, "You're kidding right?"

Zaeed spoke up this time, "'Fraid not. A couple of months ago some crooked Volus ambassador hired a bunch of us mercenaries and bounty hunters to bring him down by any means necessary."

"How much?" Jack asked.

"25."

"Thousand?" Jack said with a raised eyebrow. Zaeed let out a bark of laughter, "No Million dead, double for alive so he could 'teach him manners'." Shepard let a low whistle, "He really must have pissed him off."

"So what happened?" Kasumi asked.

"Well the one that were left…" Zaeed was cut off by the thief, "He killed them?"

"No," Garrus spoke up, "He follows a strict no killing code."

"Will you let me finish the goddum story," Zaeed barked, "Any way after a few of the mercenaries and bounty hunters killed themselves off. Fox begins to take the rest of us down one-by-one. Until there was only myself and one other. A Krogan Battlemaster." The ground team listens closely as Zaeed continued, "The Krogan thought it would be a good idea to take a few people hostage to lure him out in the open. But one of them, a young bucket head, tired to stand up to him, dumb bastard. The Krogan just riddled him full of holes, not enough to kill him right away, but enough so he could die slowly from infection." Zaeed let a small shudder very unusual for the harden merc, "Fox walks out in the open and before the Krogan could fire, that kid was on him tearing in to him like a feral Alpha Varren. I swear I didn't think a Krogan could bend that way. Afterwards Fox removes his mask and said something that made the Krogan scream and babble like his head plate had been ripped off, and then Fox just grabs the Krogan's leg and dragged him all the way back to C-Sec. After that I backed out, anybody who can do that to a Krogan is not somebody I want to mess with no matter how much money is involved." When Zaeed finished his tale Grunt let out a deep chuckle, "Can't wait to meet him Shepard."

For the first time since wakening the tank-breed Shepard agreed.

"What happen to the Krogan?" Jacob asked.

"He's still in the hospital last I checked," the grizzly merc said.

"How bad was the damage?" Miranda said her curiosity peeked, "A Krogan are quick healers he shouldn't have been in the hospital for more than a week."

"I didn't say it was that kind of hospital," Zaeed said, "The damn toad won't stop muttering 'make it stop,' over and over."

"Oh yea," Garrus said in mock cheerfulness, "Somebody who can beat the shit out of a Krogan Battlemaster and make him piss himself. I'm dying to meet him." Shepard shoots a smirk towards the ex-vigilante, "Come on Garrus you did say that he inspired you to become Archangel. Who knows he might even give you an autograph."


Fox P.O.V

I watch with a smile as Shepard and his team made their way to Captain Bailey. 'By the looks of things Shepard has just gotten done with Horizon,' Light chimed in. I was about to try and contact Shili, but I remember that she went back to the Fleet about two months ago. 'Yea, it defiantly matches what the news is reporting as of late,' I said letting out a sigh, 'and it looks like Shepard is either a soldier or an infiltrator by the look of his load out.' I began examining Shepard's back.

"Ed," I called to my suit's AI, "Scan the targets weapons."

"Can you say please?" Ed asked to which I retorted, "Can you not be short?"

"WHO IN THE HELL YOU CALL SHORT!" Ed exclaimed. I chuckled, "Sorry couldn't resist. Can you please scan Shepard's weapons? And see if you can pull up any reports concerning Horizon."

Ed huffed "Yea. Scanning….Scanning complete." He droned as my mask optics zoomed in on Shepard's back while bringing up every gun and highlighting any upgrades that the guns have. "Target is armed with 1 M-5 Phalanx heavy pistol with upgraded magazine and extended barrel, 1 M-96 Mattock assault rifle with 4x scope, and 1 M-92 Mantis with penetration mod and extend barrel. As for the news about Horizon the latest reports are saying that it suffered from an attack by an unknown force which was repelled by Cerberus forces."

"Thanks Ed."

'So he likes accuracy, power, and penetration,' I mused, going through the load out in my head. 'That what she said,' you can guess which emotion said that.

-Smack-

'Are you serious right now,' my gentleman side said. Soon my all of my emotions began bickering like little children, and does Light help. Nooo she just sits back and watches with amusement. I smack the side of my head silencing my emotions, 'Guys not now.' I let out a sigh before I turned back to Shepard and listen closely at what they had to say.

"Shadow Fox you say?" Bailey said to which Shepard nodded and answered, "Yes I'm on a dangerous mission and I need him for my team."

"Well if you can find him I'm sure he'll join you," the C-Sec captain said looking up from his terminal. "Do you have any information that could be helpful?" Shepard asked causing to Bailey to smirk.

"Our 'investigation' Bailey air quoted, "has not turned up any leads." He said causing some of the officers, and me, to chuckle. Shepard raised an eyebrow as Bailey pointed at the board behind him that read: Shadow Fox Suspects.

As the board stated it was a group of pictures of possible ideas as to what I look like underneath my mask. The photos included Abraham Lincoln, Big Foot, and other mythical creatures from Turian, Salarian, and Asari cultures. My personal favorite was the Loch Ness monster.

Shepard and his crew let a few chuckles except for Miranda, but then again she wouldn't know a good joke if bit her on her nice fine ass.

….

'Lust stop influencing me,' I ordered.

'Hey I'm just stating a fact,'the emotion-clone stated, 'Although Shili had a nice ass too. I wonder if all Quarians have...'

'Stop right there,' I barked making the emotion disappear into my mind. 'He raises a good question,'Light said.

'Don't encourage him,' I sigh.

'You need to find a girlfriend,'Light said as she pushed the emotion-clones away, 'Shili was a good one if you've stop seeing her as a sister.'I rolled my eyes, 'We've been over this Light in this line of work attachments could be dangerous.'

'Whatever, if you keep this your going to end up like the 40-year old virgin,' Light said making me sigh again before I returned to the conversation in front of me. "So, I'm guessing that investigation is not on top of your to do list," Shepard said with crossed arms. Bailey slammed a hand down on his desk, "Why should I bust my ass to take someone down just because he pissed of some crooked ambassador," he said, "Its thanks to Fox that people can walk down the streets around here without worrying about being mugged or snatched away from their homes." Bailey then began sorting through some data pads that were resting on his desk. He picked one up and hanged it on the wall next to his desk.

I gave the pad a quick scan, 'Hmmm...it seems like the Blue Suns are housing some red sand at warehouse 17-B-24 Zakera Ward.'

'Why haven't C-Sec moved in on this if they know this much?' Light asked. 'Because the warehouse belongs to our good friend Aena' I answered with a smile, 'The CEO of Lifeworks.'

'You would think that a medical company would know better than to mess with stuff like Red Sand,' Light said as I pulled out a black kunai knife that had a body of a fox for a hilt, 'But then again Aena isn't what you would call a good doctor. How many of her operations have we taken down?'

'I stop counting after 50.'

"So what's that for?" Shepard asked pointing at the hanging data pad. "Well sometimes we receive proof or Intel about some illegal operation or something," Bailey said typing away on his computer. "And because of red tape you can't do anything," Garrus cut in.

"That or someone paid off the right people," Bailey said looking up from his computer to look at the general area that I'm at, but I know that he was unable to see me. "So how do you know if he accepts or even knows about it," Shepard said leaning forward to read the data pad. I throw the knife embedding it in-between Shepard and the pad.

"That's how," I whispered as I disappeared deeper into the shadows. "Before I take down another of Aena's ops," I pulled out my marker, "I'm going to a little bit of fun."


After I finished having my 'fun' I went back to my place and picked up my belongings which included a few clothes and a few projects that I have been working on. When I was done I said my good-byes to the Chinese couple that allowed me to use their restaurant as a base after I saved them from an Eclipse racketeering operation. With everything done I made my way to the warehouse.


As sly as a fox I placed my bags on the support beams that crisscross the warehouse's ceiling. I looked down watching the Blue Sun merc move around making perpetration for my 'arrival'. Suddenly I picked up a familiar voice, "Aena," a Turian said talking to an armored Asari, "Are you sure that Fox will come?" Ah well if it isn't Commander Vol leader of all of the Blue Suns operations here on the Citadel.

"I'm sure," the Asari, Aena, said with an evil smirk, "Blue Suns and Red Sand in one of my warehouses," she let loose one of those cliché evil genius laughter, "There's no way he can resists." Commander Vol however wasn't so convinced, "What if he calls C-Sec? What then? There's enough evidence here to put us in the slammer." Aena brushed off his concerns with a wave of her hand, "I paid off a few high ranking members. They won't be a problem."

"Ed scan the area, locate, identify, and tag all hostiles," I spoke to the AI.

"Give me a sec," Ed said, "There are two snipers below you armed with 1 M-92 Mantis and 1 M-98 Widow," a fucking widow where the fuck did they one of those, "Two sentries outside armed with M-15 Vindicator and a M-8 Avenger. On the ground level there are eight tangos that are armed with M-8 Avengers,a M-76 Revenant, Graal Spike Throwers, and a M-77 Paladin. All weapons are equipped with Disruptor ammo and piercing mods. Total of enemies: 12. And that includes the two leaders"

When Ed was done giving me the report I could not help but let out a quiet sigh, 'Man,' Light chimed in, 'Widow, Revenant, and Spike Throwers. These guys really want to kill us.'

'Well considering that we've cost them all of credits and resources I'm not that surprised,' I chimed back. 'I don't know about you, but them sending 10 people to take us down. I'm pretty insulted.' I chuckled motioning to Aena and Vol, 'Also that the leaders are right here for the taking.'

'You're right,' Light said getting excited of the upcoming battle, 'So are you ready my partner of my soul.'

'Let's wait and see if Shepard shows up,' I said causing Light to awwwed. I ignored her, "Ed calculate the odds of success."

"79%," I frowned and Light let out a bark of laughter, "Add Shepard's team."

"99.5%," I smiled liking those odds better, "Add quarterstaff use."

"100%"

"Perfect."

"If you're so damn worried," Aena said coldly, "Then leave." Vol was about to say something when the communication hub beeped, "What," he snapped.

"Sir," a human voice answered, "We have a group of heavily armed people heading this way."

"C-Sec?" Vol said shooting a glare Aena who just waved it off, "No sir, there not wearing C-Sec colors, they could be a merc group." One of the Turians down below nudged one of the humans, "Told you Shadow Fox was a group. There's no way one person can take down entire gangs."

"Its Commander Shepard," the sentry said in fear causing Aena to snap towards the intercom. "What," she snapped, "That's impossible Shepard is dead."

"Well he looks pretty alive to me," the Turian sentry retorted. "Stop him," Vol ordered.

"No wait," Aena cried out, but it was too late. The doors flew open and the two sentries flew in and crashed against the wall. Every weapon was armed and pointed at Shepard's team. Who in turn had their weapon out and pointed at the Blue Suns.

"Stand down," Aena called out causing guns to lower just a tad. 'Time to move,' I thought as I jump down, "There seems to be a mistake," Aena said as I landed quietly behind one of the snipers that had the Widow. I put him in a sleeper hold, and held him until he passed out. "What is a dead Spectre doing here?" Aena said beginning the interrogation. "I'm here looking for Shadow Fox," Shepard answered. I released the first sniper and turn towards the other just as he notice his squad member go down. I threw a small lightning bolt at him before he could raise his gun. Paralyzed he fell to the ground; I grabbed him and lowered him quietly.

"Well get in line," Vol growled. Aena looked at Shepard curiously, "Why are you looking for him?" I leaped down and rolled on impact to make my landing as stealthy as possible. I hid behind one of the crates and pulled out my omni-tool and began hacking the warehouse's controls and computer. I let out a small smirk when I succeeded in gaining control of the warehouse and data mined the terminal.

"Why indeed," Vol said as his men raised their weapons again. I press a button on my tool and spoke, "I would like to know that myself," I said. My distorted voice coming from the speaker system bounced off the warehouse's walls. I watch with glee as the members of the Blue Suns began searching frantically for the source of my voice, slowly forming a circle their backs to each other.

"Where are you," one them shouted, which I ignored.

"Officer Vakarian," I called out causing Garrus to tense up a bit, "It's been a while since we last met. I thought you left for Omega, and if you don't mind me asking. What happen to you face?" Garrus shrugged relaxing, "Tried to catch a missile with my face."

I couldn't help but chuckle, "Well since you're here and not in the morgue I guess you were successful." I then turned my attention to Miranda or as I like to call her... "So Catwoman," I heard Jacob chuckle. He pointed at a trembling Miranda when everybody looked at him for answers. "How is you left ass cheek feeling. Taking a tranquilizer to the ass can't be fun." I said which cause Jack, despite the tense situation, to let out a chuckle.

"So Shepard I ask again why are you here? Is this an elaborate plan cooked up by Cerberus to, and I air quote, 'recruit' me. If that is so then you can tell TIM to go fuck himself." I watch as Shepard stepped forward, I tossed a glance over to where Vol and Aena were at. They were desperately trying to locate me. With a snort I moved to the top of some crates that had been stacked up. Making sure to stay in the shadows I listen to Shepard while he explains about how Collectors were abducting human colonies. Stuff that I already knew of course.

"I'm gathering a team of the best, and your name came up," Shepard said ending his speech. I heard Aena grunt if frustration, "You expect me to believe you when you go and disappear for two years claiming to be dead. Then out of nowhere show up and on a Cerberus vessel no less. Tell me why I should work for a bunch of Xeno-haters terrorist?" This was a test of Shepard's character, I need to know what kind of person Shepard is. 'Yea I'm not working for a Renegade,' Light spoke up.

'You? You mean me. I'm going to be doing most of the work.' I scoffed.

'I mean us.'

"I don't like working for Cerberus if I had the choice I wouldn't be," Shepard said clenching his Mattock, "But they are the only ones doing anything about the attacks. Cerberus maybe paying the bills, but it's my ship, my crew, and my mission." Hello there. Man the way he said it the conviction and the determination. He said it like he was making a challenge to anybody to say otherwise.

'I can see why people would follow him,' I thought. 'Yea,' Light said, 'He's a natural leader.'

"You certainly have a way with words Shepard," I said standing straight, "I…"

"ENOUGH," Aena shouted, apparently she gave up trying to find me, "Come out of your hiding place." With a press of the button the lights went out, and by using my mask's night vision I was able to jump and land in the middle of the group of mercs. I smirked as the lights came back on, "Whose hiding?" I said causing everybody to flinch in surprise.

One of the mercs, a Turian, was the first to recover. He spun around and brought up his rifle, I quickly grabbed it and forced it upward, using it momentum to slam the gun into his face, dazing him. As the Turian stumbled back I quickly turn around and smacked a spike thrower, that was in the hands of a Batarian, to the side as it went off embedding spikes into a human's leg.

'1,' Light counted as the human went down screaming. I slammed an open palm that was shrouded with lightning into the same Batarian chest sending him into the wall knocking him out cold, '2.' Another human brought up his Paladin pistol, I spun myself into his personal space my back to him, I bashed the back of my head to his nose as I grabbed his armed hand and aimed it at the Turian that had recovered from my initial attack. Shooting two rounds, one in each leg, making him collapse in agony,'3.' I threw an elbow back hitting the human in the cheek bone, I then tossed him over my shoulder popping out the pistol's thermal clip when the human landed with a –thud- Light whined as I stored the pistol in my jacket, 'Ouch that's 4.'

I turned around towards the last two mercs, a Batarian and a Turian, who had discarded their guns and pulled out knives. Which look like evil short swords more than knives. I pulled out my quarterstaff and pressed one of the buttons causing the staff to extend half-way. When the mercs saw my staff they began laughing, "You can't cut shit with that," the Turian said before I sprung forward and cut the daggers with my staff that was glowing and crackling with blue lightning. "I can cut plenty," I growled bringing my now cooled off staff up and smacked the Turian in the head making him fly past the Batarian, '5,' Light said helping me keep count. The finally foe, the Batarian, stumbled form the flying Turian which I capitalized on. I ran towards him and grabbed his faced and slammed him into the ground.

'6 ,plus the two sentries, and the two snipers brings the total of 10,' Light said smugly. I turn towards Aena and Vol, who had guns pointed at me, long enough for me to hear Aena scream, "You've foiled my plans for the last time Fox-" she was cut off by two gun shots. I watched in sorrow as both Aena and Vol go down with bullet holes in between their eyes.

"Did you have to kill them?" I turned around to see Miranda's pistol smoking. "I just saved you life," she replied putting her gun away, "You should be grateful." I slapped the button that controls my mask making it slide away, "My life didn't need saving bitch," I said with venom laced in my voice as I flicked two of my fox kunai that I had grabbed during Aena's speech. The ninja knives flew and embedded themselves into the floor in front of her feet. "You better be glad that I data mined Aena's computer for evidence before she died."

Miranda sneered, "Why you little shit," she growled stepping forward, her biotics flaring up. I took a step up as well making lightning dance across my hands causing the crew to mummer. "Calm down both of you," Shepard said stepping between us.

"As you wish Commander," Miranda said sending one last glare at me which I returned in kind. Shepard turns to me, "I apologize for my crew member's action," he said with sincerity that quelled my anger.

For now.

"Understandable," I said typing away on my omni-tool, "You'll need people with quick reaction time for your mission. Although if they don't have the intelligence to use those reflexes at the right time then they become a liability." I glared at Miranda at the end of my statement, while I sent the data from Aena's terminal to Captain Bailey so he could shutdown her company. I also activated one of my devices in my packs causing them to vibrate towards the edge.

"So are you in?" Shepard asked as I deactivate my omni-tool. "Sure," I smirked turning my head to the side, "As soon as you tell Goto-san to de-clock and step away." The thief materialized in the area that I was staring at.

"How did you know? It's been awhile since somebody was able to spot me," Kasumi asked to which I answered, "You can fool the eyes," I held out my arms, "But you can't fool the ears." My bags fell from the ceiling and into my out stretched hand. I heard Miranda mutter, "Show off."

"Ah your just jealouse bitch," I said with a smirk, "that you can't pull this off." I watch with glee as Miranda began grinding her teeth together.

"That and I had you guys tag since you entered the system," I said slipping on my bags, "So I knew that you had already recruited Goto-san, and I'm familiar somewhat with her ways." Miranda stepped forward and pointed a finger at me, "That's Bullshit."

Just then Zaeed began clapping his hand along with Garrus. Grunt was chuckling while Jack just busted out laughing, "You're alright light bulb." Jacob was doing a mix of clapping and laughing, while Shepard was hiding his face behind his hands. By the tremors I'm guessing that he was laughing as well. That or he was mad, but I'm pretty sure it was amusement.

"What are you lot going on about," Miranda demanded as she spun around to face the crew. "Nice one Fox-kun," Kasumi said in Japanese between giggles. "Why thank you, it was one of my best works so far," I said while clapping. On Miranda's back was a note stating: Clap if you like my ass. At the bottom was my signature fox holding up two paws which formed a peace sign. Miranda spun around, "What did you do?" she seethed.

"I don't know what you're talking about Catwoman," I said innocently strolling past her and stopped in front of Commander Shepard. I held out my hand, "I'm in. We'll discuss my conditions on the Normandy," I said. With a smirk Shepard grasped my hand and gave me a firm shake, "Welcome aboard Shadow Fox."


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