Hey fellas!
Just a quick update for those who might be interested:
I have just been in Germany for job interviews, so if things go well, I'll be spending the next year there, starting in august 2018. I have therefore concluded that I want to finish this story before that. I'll will therefore try to pump out more chapter going forward.
Kind Regards
-KanisRussell
25/6 2185
Omega.
Mads, Miranda and Jacob was on their way to the Quarantine zone, walking through the shit filled streets of Omega. Mads couldn't help but feel disgusting by the lack of hygiene on the small station. The fact that normal civilians could live and raise their children here was beyond him. People turned their eyes on them where ever they went, most of them didn't believe that it was in fact the famous commander Romanov that walked alongside them.
They finally arrived at the door that would lead them to the Quarantine zone. There was a guard posted at the door, most likely to make sure no one entered... or left. Mads had gathered an idea about the plague that haunted that part of the station; It seemed that humans and Vorcha were the only ones that were unaffected by the sickness that filled the air. Most people concluded that humans were behind it, most likely in an effort to exterminate whatever other species lived there.
It just seemed weird, why would humans do that? They would practically be comminting sucide, as already shown by the large number of humans killed, simply because they 'might' have been behind it.
The guard was arguing with an angry human female. She wanted entry into the quarantine, he of course denied any entry. They had a small verbal fight, she wanted to get her things, he wanted her to stay the hell away.
Mads was about to go through the door, when he was stopped by the guard. "Where the hell do you think you are going?" The guard asked as he held Mads back.
Mads was in no mood for any of this bullshit. "You either get your dirty hands off me, or I'll cut your fucking jacobs off and fed them to you!" Mads replied as he eyed the guard with a look that could only be described as menacing.
The scene remained tense and quiet. Finally the guard took his hand of Mads. "You are free to go ahead." Was his only comment. The woman was quick to protest, demanding entry of her own. The guard simply told her to shut it.
If Mads thought that the streets of Omega was dirty, he was in for a big surpise when he went through the door to the Quarantine zone. The air was filled with the smell of death. The whole neighbourhood felt dead and depressed. They had tried to combat the plague by burning any one who showed any form of symptoms.
The streets were always a lot more quiet than the rest of Omega, then again, half of the neighbourhood was dead. The other half seemed busy trying to kill each other.
The team had to fight their way to get to Dr. Mordin. It was by no means an easy task. Mads held back on using his 44. Magnum, considering he had very limited ammo for it, that would of course change in a few days time. He had the chance to stress test the new line of weapons that had been provided to him, he didn't find the same love for them as he had for his old weapons.
It was a long fight, one the showed just how far the gangs were willing to go to secure territory for themselves. A hatred of humans had been born in this neighbourhood, everywhere they went, there was signs saying that it was all the human's fault. The Blue Suns muttered curses and slurs against the team as they fought them.
Finally, they reached the small clinic set up by Dr. Mordin. It wasn't much, but it was a light in the middle of hell, at least for the people. Mads stormed into the room where Dr. Mordin was currently shouting orders to his staff. Dr. Mordin spoke fast, like he had taken speed and was on his 17th cup of coffee. He was the ultimate Salarian, in pretty much everyway.
"Dr. Mordin?" Mads asked.
"Yes? Who is there?" Mordin turned around and face the three. He began theorising what group they belonged to.
"No need to guess dr. Mordin. We are from Cerberus." Mads replied.
"You shouldn't be that liberal with telling people who we are." Miranada told Mads.
"And you need to shut it." Mads answered coldly. She did indeed shut it after that.
"Cerberus? What do they want with me?" Mordin asked. Once again he began to theorize.
"We need your help. We're currently in the midst of a god damn war! Collectors are abducting humans in our colonies and we need your help to understand how they do it!"
"Interesting! Collectors could also be behind this plague. But I'm not going anywhere until it is cured. Fortunately I got the cure, just need to distribute it. What is the best way to do that?" Mordin began once again to theorize about possible ways to achieve his goals.
He reached the conclusion that the vest way was the air way. "Give me the cure, and I'll take care of it." Mads said as he grabbed the cure from out of Dr. Mordin's hands.
"Come on, we are moving out." Mads told the two team members. Mordin told Mads to keep an eye out for one of his men that had gone missing.
They fought their way thorugh the disease ridden streets of omega, that had been reduced to a simple gang war. Vorcha and The blue suns were fighting over turf, the Vorcha had one slight advantage though, they couldn't get sick.
They had managed to find the missing crew member Mordin had been talking about, they saw him returned safe and sound, without anyone getting killed.
Neither of that matters however, as the team were focused on one thing only: curing this damned disease that haunted the population. The bodies fell as they slowly made their way to the control room for the air vents.
"NO! STOP!" A Vorcha cried out as he appered before them with his band of mischiefs.
"Out of my way, NOW!" Mads called out.
"NO! WE HAVE OBJECTIVE! WE KILL ALL! WE SMASH ALL! WE POSION ALL! COLLECTORS PAY US, WE CLEAN!"
"Fuck this." Mads muttered to himself as he drew his 44. and planted a bullet right between the Vorcha's eyes.
As the Vorcha fell, his friends began opening fire upon the team. Shots were exchanged between the two groups. The Vorcha certainly had numbers on their side, but it meant nothing, as both Mads, Jacob and Miranda were quite skilled in the art of combat.
They fell liked flies, one by one the all met their fate. Pumping the cure into the air vents would have been easy, had it not been for the constant combat they found themselves in.
With a final push on a button, it was settled. The whole area would now be disease free, in a few days time at least. With that finished, they headed back to where they started, Mordin's clinic.
Mads stormed in through the door into the the room where Mordin currently was. "We're done, pack your things."
"So it would seem. Nicely done, I'll see myself to your ship, the normandy was it?" Mordin asked. "Indeed" Mads answered.
"I suppose we should head back as well. We'll get Archangel tomorrow." Mads ordered. They both nodded.
26/6 2185
Dr. Mordin had settled in well. The lab had already been claimed by him and he was hard at work finding a way to bypass whatever means the collectors had of stripping a whole colony.
Mads had taken the time to remove all devices from his room that listened in on him. He had thrown them all into a small basket and placed it infront of his door.
Mads had spent most of the moring looking at himself in the mirror of his bathroom. The voices, they kept on haunting him. They had even begun to creep in on him during daytime when he was awake. Something was wrong, it had to be.
Mads washed his face in cold water to regain some sort of sanity. He snapped back into reality. He hadn't been sleeping well, not that he had slept well since his 'accident' so many years ago. In fact, he couldn't even remember what a dream without nightmares felt like. That episode with Tali had awakened something in him, though he didn't know what it really meant.
He got dressed in his armor and took a last look in the mirror. The more he thought about it, the more he was acting like Mad Max. He had been brutal and he had even worse thoughts since being resurrected by Cerberus.
What the fuck am I going to do? Was the only thought in Mads' head at the moment. Once again, the weight of the human race had been placed on his shoulders, his shoulders. A man that could barely keep himself together, was now supposed to keep the entire human race together.
Mads and the team walked out of the Normandy and unto the station known as Omega.
They were waiting in a queue to sign up for the slaughter that was going after Archangel. Happy idiots were lining up at the promise of 500 credits. Finally it became their turn, the recruiter, a Batarian of course, greeted them. "You three look like you could do some damage! How about a little job, easy money."
"We're going after Archangel, we heard this was the place to sign up." Mads replied.
"Indeed! Glad we can work together! If you'll just sign here, I can get you transported to the place of attack right away!" The recruiter presented them with a long contract, Mads simply skimmed it through. It gave a lot of limtiation, mostly about sourcing your own gear, how to collect your reward, and to follow orders.
Mads knew they would turn on them as soon as possible, so he signed. For now, he would play along. Just as they were about to leave, a kid entered, no more than 18 at the most. "Hey, is this where you sign up?" The kid asked with great enthusiasm.
"Just what do you think you are doing?" Mads asked. He sensed what the kid was doing. The kid was looking for glory and reward, but he would only find trouble, or death. Mads could have walked away, but the voices creeped up inside him again.
Another soul, will you damn this one as well?
Will he have no future?
Are you always this cold, Mads?
GET OUT OF MY HEAD!
"What is your problem?" The kid asked as he confronted Mads, thinking he was tough.
"You think this is a game, huh? You think you are on top of the world. You think having that pistol turns you immortal? Well, it's the opposite, you will become a target out there. Archangel will kill you, clean, one shot through the head. Your mother won't even be able to have you in an open coffin." Mads grabbed the kid's pistol and broke it.
"What the hell?" The kid asked, in a very confused and raged manner.
"I just saved your life, go do something useful." Mads replied coldly as he handed him back the broken pistol.
All the kid could do was stand and look confused at Mads as he left the place.
On their way to the transport, they went past a dark alley way. As they passed it, a voice called out. "Captain Romanov?" Mads stopped dead in his tracks and pulled out his 44. and pointed it to the dark shadow standing the alley way.
"Reveal yourself!" Mads called out.
"No need to be hostile, captain." The figure said as he was engulfed by the light from the street lamps. It revealed a very familiar face, William Robert Sheridan. The former Alliance golden boy, turned Cerberus operative, allegedly. His blonde hair almost shining in the light and his light blue eyes coldly kept him in sight.
"Mr. Sheridan?" Mads asked. All William did was nod his head.
"I thought you were still in Cerberus." Mads asked as he holstered his gun.
"I was, but I soon discovered that I was tricked. You have no doubt heard about my sob story, for a time, Cerberus was my only hope, and so I became a mindless follower of them. Until I meet one of the pals that went with me to Akuze, he... enlightened me. Cerberus used me as a damn guinea pig for their 'science'."
"Interesting." Mads commented.
"For a long time, I looked on from the sidelines when I was in Cerberus. You became the new symbol of humanity. Imagine my shock when I hear rumours that you are alive and well, and with Cerberus none the less."
"I'm not with Cerberus." Mads coldy replied.
"Really? Is that not a Cerberus vessel you are parked in? Is that bloke and Miranda not with Cerberus. By the way, nice to see you again, Miranda."
"Don't get cocky, you betrayed Cerberus, you are lucky I won't kill you right here, right now." Miranda replied
"They have sponsered my mission, nothing more, nothing less." Mads broke in.
"Oh... So because it only says Cerberus on the paycheck, it is alright?" William asked.
"Shut up! They are the only ones that give a damn right now. It will be a cold day in hell before I ever support them, but I need the help to stop these attacks."
"Noble... But I have started a new organization called 'Outer Heaven'. We are very... what should I say? Anti-Cerberus? Take my advice, Captain Romanov. Don't go to bed with Cerberus, you will only regret it later on."
"Perhaps, we'll see."
"And I'll be seeing you around, captain. You too, Miranda." William said as he disappered into the dark alley way once again.
Mads looked over at Miranda with a questionable look. "What?" She asked.
"You know him?" Mads asked back.
"We worked together for a while in Cerberus. We even investigated Saren together. He went rogue just before you faced Saren yourself. I figured he would be dead by now." Miranda replied.
"Really? Interesting... Anyway, let's go find this Archangel." Mads ordered.
The ride had been short. They were driven to the slaughter. This part of the station was in a bad shape, not that the other parts of the station were in good shape. It had become a warzone, where an endless amount of idots tried their luck in taking down Archangel. The reason Cerberus had chosen Archangel as a possible team mate came to light, he was skilled, no doubt about it.
During their way to the front line, Mads made sure that the groups trying to bring Archangel down were as ill prepared as possible. This included re-programming of their Mechs and a knife through the skull of the man repairing the gunship.
Then, the moment finally came. To go over the top. They climbed over the barricade and unto the bridge. The fell under instant gunfire. Mads took cover behind some rubble as the shots rained down. On the bridge was several dozen dead freelancers that had been recruited for a sum of 500 credits.
Using the opportunity created by the arrival of fresh meat, Mads was able to make his way towards the building that Archangel was holded up in. As Mads entered the building, he quickly noticed he wasn't the only one to make it across the brigde. A quick shot to the back of the head cleared out the remaining survivors.
The only hope now was that Archangel hadn't rigged the door to blow or something like that. He had no way of knowing that these people were there to help him. The door opened to reveal a Turian sniping however was dumb enough to attack from the brigde.
"Easy there. I think it's safe to assume you are Archangel?" Mads asked as he apporched the Turian who was now facing them.
The Turian slowly removed his helmet, the face that was revealed almost sent Mads into a state of shock. "I think we know eachother long enough to use our real names." Garrus said with a smirk.
"Garrus! Is that you? Jesus christ on the cross!"
"I'm the one who should be shouting holy. Last I checked, people don't usually come back from the dead."
"Most people don't have 4 billion credits and access to top medical staff."
"I see, you certainly are cut above the rest."
"It's good to see you Garrus." Mads finished as he gave Garrus a hug, one that Garrus returned.
"But Archangel? Since when did you become religious?" Mads continued.
"It's wasn't really my idea, some people simply liked the charity I was doing here."
"Charity? Is that what you call it?"
"Indeed"
"Huh... That's interesting. Anyway, I was kind of hoping I could persuade you to follow me to hell once more, but I see you are busy here."
"This? Please. I was just missing something to do. I'll join you."
"Then that settles it, now we only need to get the fuck out of here."
Garrus picked uå his high powered sniper and took a look out over the bridge. He was quick to spot that the enemy had regroupped and was preparing to launch yet another attack.
"Seems like we will have company soon enough." Garrus remarked.
"Then we better get to work." Mads replied as he picked up his assault rifle and took cover.
"It's good to have to back, Romanov." Garrus said as he took aim once again.
Mads let out a small chuckle. Once again, they were fighting. Wave after wave of meatheads came unto the bridge, not a single one passed it though. They brigde was filled with corpses, Mads wondered for a brief moment if someone would ever come and clean it up.
At some point, the giant mech that Mads had tempered with come unto the bridge. Garrus was nervous at first, seeing something of that size going after them, but after seeing Mads smile, he figured everything must be alright.
Then, as everything was going so lovely, the blood pack tried getting in through the basement. Garrus stressed that they needed to be taken care off, if they were to stand any chance.
Mads ordered Jacob to stay with Garrus and took Miranda with him down to face them. As the battle progessed, things became more and more tense. Mads and Miranda was able to shut off the doors to seal off any and all blood pack members. Garrus and Jacob were doing alright, but they were becoming cornered.
As Mads and Miranda came up back into the building, they noticed a group of blood pack Krogans and their leader was storming up the stairs. Mads had to think quick, there was no way Garrus and Jacob could handle them if they broke into the room where they were.
Mads threw a greande into their way, cutting them off. They now turned their attention on Mads and Miranda, giving breathing room to Garrus and Jacob. Mads and Miranda slowly picked them off, leaving only their leader back.
Their leader, Mads believed his name to be Ganar or something like that, decided to go after Garrus to take some kind of revenge.
Mads ran after him and managed to catch up to him. Mads jumped on the Krogan's back just as he was about to reach the door. Ganar tried to wiggle him off, but Mads had gotten a firm grip on his back. Mads jammed his knife into the face of the Krogan repeatly until the Ganar could no more. Ganar fell of the railing and landed on the concrete underneath. Mads had of course jumped off before things got too far.
Mads was relieved to find both Garrus and jacob in a good state, they had cleaned out most of the idiots trying their luck crossing the bridge.
"Good to see you haven't lost it yet." Garrus commented.
"I still got it, but your skills seems to have greatly improved, I mean, the three major mercenary groups all want your blood. You truly are gifted, Garrus."
"It sure as hell wasn't easy-" Garrus was about to continue, when the gun ship came to take them out.
Garrus mumbled something about how he thought he already had taken it out. Mads was quick to tell him that they had already damaged it, or at least hindered it in being repaired.
The blue sons had gone full commando, repelling down the sides of the building and in through the windows, at least they were easy to take out. The only real headache was the gunship, while it was only on half health, it was still super strong and hard to take on. It had massive fire power.
At last, the bird was downed, not Garrus, the gunship. However, it would seem like the gun ship let out a final 'fuck you' as it fired a rocket right before it's own demise. The rocket exploded right where Garrus were standing.
Mads felt himself grow nervous. He quickly closed the distance between him and Garrus. Garrus was in a bad shape when Mads finally reached him, some shrapnel had gotten to him. His face, not that it was pretty before, was now in an even worse state.
"GARRUS!" Mads yelled as he held him in his arms. Garrus was almost choking on his own blood.
"Stay with me Garrus! I haven't spend 2 years dead only to see you die!" Mads said as he tried to stop the bleeding. Mads was applying Medi-gel as fast as he could, but he feared it might already be too late.
"MIRANDA! YOU CALL THE NORMANDY AND TELL THEM TO DO A PICK UP, AND YOU DO IT RIGHT FUCKING NOW!" Mads ordered.
Miranda was quick to do as ordered. Mads managed to somewhat stabilize his best friend. He even let out a silent prayer to god. When the shuttle from the Normandy finally arrived, Mads carried Garrus to it. Doctor Chakwas was already there, and took over.
27/6 2185
Mads hadn't gotten any sleep. He had been planted outside the medbay since they arrived back with Garrus. Doctor Chakwas had been hard at work, trying her best to save him. Mads was on his 7th cup of coffee when the doctor finally came out to him.
She pulled the surgical mask from her face. She looked tired, even more than him, but that was to be expected.
"How is he?" Mads asked with concern as he arose from his seat.
"He is stable, but he will need time to rest. I'm sure he will pull through it." Chakwas said as she placed a hand on Mads' shoulder.
"He better, otherwise I'll go back to heaven just to kick his sorry ass back to this galaxy." Mads remarked.
"I'm sure you will." Chakwas replied with a warm smile.
"I'm afraid I'll have to leave, I got a meeting I have to attend to. Please notify me if he wakes up."
"Will do, Captain. Be safe."
Mads once again walked through the streets of Omega, searching for a warehouse. Sergei had given him the adress. It was in a dark alley way that the door was. The whole ordeal was shady, but what choice did he have? This was the only way to source the bullets he needed.
Mads went up to the door and knocked three times. A voice called out.
"пароль?"
"Услышишь гром и вспомнишь обо мне" Mads replied.
"Welcome Mr. Romanov." The guard opened the door for him.
In the middle of the room was a table. On one side, Sergei was seated, next to him: his very loyal right hand man, Mr. Popov. Popov wasn't his real name, but rather a nickname. It loosely meant priest. Why he was called that, Mads didn't know.
However, on the other side of Sergei, there was a young Turian. It wasn't anyone Mads had seen before. The Turian seemed bored.
Mads walked to the table and took a seat. Things remained, well... Awkward. Then Sergei spoke up, with his joyful voice.
"Mads! I'm so glad you could make it!"
"It's nice to see you too, Sergei. Did you manage to close that other deal?"
"The other deal? Ohhh... that one. Yes, I did indeed. In fact I did so only 15 minutes ago. Meet Mr. Dexilus. He is the son of a VERY wealthy mercenary. I sold his father some very valuable guns, but for me to close the deal, I had to teach his son a thing or two about gun selling."
"Can we just get this on?" Dexilus asked annoyed.
"Shut it. You must remember that for any good deal to take root, one must first have a friendly chat." Sergei replied. Dexilus let out a sigh.
"Never mind him. I got your ammo, but before I hand it over, riddle me this: Are you starting a war?" Sergei asked jokingly.
"Not starting one, but rather fighting one. Humanity is at war." Mads replied.
"Really? Is this about those missing human colonies?" Sergei asked.
"Yes, we have reason to believe collectors are behind it." Mads answered.
"Collectors? I knew it wasn't pirates! But I thought that collectors were but a myth."
"So did I, but they are very real indeed."
"Hmmm... Best of luck with that! Anyway, I can have your ammo loaded unto your ship, if you wish."
"That would be great. I have transferred 200.000 credits to your account."
"Great! Then we have a deal! Now, look closely, boy. One seals a deal by shaking hands!" Sergei said as offered a handshake. Mads accepted it.
"Foolish old man." Dexilus remarked.
"It was great seeing you again, Mads. I hope we can do busniess in the future as well!"
"Me too, Sergei."
Mads was just about to leave, when Sergei spoke up for a final time.'
"Oh, and Mads?"
"Yeah?"
"Do be careful out there. I have heard nasty things about these 'collectors'"
"I will. See you around, Sergei."