21/7 2185

Normandy, Briefing room.

"Good to have you onboard, Thane. I hope you can make yourself comfortable." Mads stated after the briefing with Thane and Miranda.

"Thank you. I would prefer to stay somewhere warm and dry." Thane requested.

Edi suggested the life support room, due to its different climate. Thane nodded. "I'll speak with you later Thane." Mads said as a final note. Thane left after another nod.

Miranda walked over the Mads as he was putting a cigarette between his lips. "So... What are you going to do next?" She asked as she leaned against the table.

Mads pulled out his zippo lighter and gave fire to his cigarette. He huffed out some smoke and inhaled deeply. "I go back and get the Justicar. Hopefully without any trouble." Mads replied as he took another drag of his cigarette.

"Understood. Could you, perhaps, come down to my quarters in 15 minutes? There is something I would like to discuss." Miranda requested as she shifted a bit on her feet.

Mads looked at her confused. She had never asked to see him in private before. "Yeah, sure." Mads agreed.

"Thank you." Miranda remarked as she left. Mads watched her leave, curious about what she wanted to discuss. What could possibly be so important? Only one way to find out. Still, he had 15 minutes to kill. Finishing his cigarette, he put it out in the ashtray. Leaving a small stream of smoke coming from it.

Kelly stood by her usual place; she swung around as soon as she heard the hobnails on the metal floor. "Captain!" She greeted.

"Kelly, how are you?" Mads asked as he turned around to greet her as well. She smiled a big smile. "I'm doing A-okay. A package came through with your name on it. Apparently a friend of yours gave it." She replied and stated.

"Really? Where is it?" Mads asked.

"I placed it in your cabin." Kelly answered.

"Thanks Kelly. I'll go check it out." Mads thanked as he went into the elevator and went up to his cabin. Sure enough, there was a small package on the ground. Mads picked it up and brought it to his desk. He opened it and found a note inside the box, alongside something real special.

It was a huge combat knife, if he had to guess, the blade was about 10-12 inches long. The knife overall was about 15-17 inches long. A beast of a knife. Mads picked up the note and read it.

"Dear Captain Romanov.

A few days ago, I was going through the news, and I saw the death of a certain Donovan Hock. Now, I don't normally jump to conclusions, but I know he had beef with Kasumi (Yes, I know she is on your vessel) and therefore I figured you might have played a role in his death.

On the off chance I'm wrong; consider this an investment in your fight against the collectors. But, if I am right: consider it a gift for taking care of Donovan Hock. That man had been on my nerves for ages.

The knife is a larger version of the Ontario SP1 Marine Combat knife. I figured it would come in handy for stabbing some collectors. I know how much you like old weapons.

Best regards

Your friendly neighborhood arms smuggler

Sergei the Merchant."

Mads smiled as he read the words by Sergei. The man never failed to impress Mads. The knife felt good in his hand. Mads tried a few swings with it. It seemed pretty solid. Mads looked around the crate, and was glad to find a holster for the knife as well. He strapped the knife to his right Jackboot, which should complete the look.

God damn, I love you Sergei!

21/7 2185

Omega.

Conrad awoke from his sleep. He shifted a bit in the big king sized bed. Aria sure knew how to pick the good beds. She had already left, and he could hardly blame her. She had to run Omega, and she couldn't afford to let people know about their little affair. But, Omega had proven to be a good base of operations.

He had killed Vido, or at least, gotten him killed. He was now out of the picture, and he would now come for Elias Kelham. However, he had a few problems. Elias Kelham had gotten so much control on the citadel, it was almost unbelievable. Conrad would have to be careful.

As he planned his next move, he remembered an old contact, one he hadn't spoken to in a long time. Helena Blake, he still remembered when they first met. He was still a alliance soldier, this was before Torfan.

"Shoreleave, how fucking great!" Conrad muttered to himself as he stepped of the vessel. They had been given a week on the citadel to roam around. He was bored out of his mind, so he just walked. The Presidum was way too fancy for his blood. Him, a simple farmer (who lost all in the attack on Mindoir, he still had nightmares about that.) was more comfortable down in the wards.

He had a bottle of overpriced liquor in one hand and his gun in the other. He had to admit, he had perhaps been drinking more than he should. Still, he kept his grip on the gun tight.

"Never leave home without a firearm bu your side" That was the advice he had been given by that nice Alliance logistics officer with a Russian accent on Mindoir. Conrad took another sip of his bottle before he heard something.

It was an argument between a woman and a few thugs. At first, Conrad simply observed the event with careful eyes. The argument grew in volume, and finally he intervened. When the thugs saw him coming, they quickly ran away. Conrad confronted the woman , and asked her what the hell was going on.

She explained her situation. In his drunken stage, he didn't catch half of it. But she asked him do take care of a rival crime boss. Seeing as he had nothing better to do, he agreed.

That's how he met her. He took care of her problem. When he was discharged, he wished to enter the game, and she already owed him one. She had been pushed off the Citadel when Elias tried on the crown for size. She had found sanctuary and a new job working for Aria. Perhaps he could cut a deal with her? Probably.

Conrad had gathered quite a few men for his cause. The other Merc gangs were almost out of the game, pretty much no match for him. Now, he had a way inside. But, he would have to play his cards right. Elias was no idiot, and should not be underestimated.

Normandy

Mads knocked on the metal door to Miranda's quarters. It took a moment, but it opened in the end. She was sitting at her desk. Now that he thought about it, he had never actually been down there. It was located where the old Captain Quarters on the original Normandy had been, but it was at least the same size. Mads didn't really like Miranda, and he had a feeling she didn't like him either. So, they kept it professional. Like it should be (according to alliance guidelines). Well, not like that mattered anymore. He was on a Cerberus vessel.

"Captain, so glad you could join me." Miranda greeted as she turned her attention away from the Terminal and unto Mads.

"Yeah, no problem." Mads said as he paced around the room a little.

"I know you and I don't have the best friendship onboard this vessel. But... I need your help." Miranda stated as she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She wasn't used to asking for help. Mads' curiosity arose at the string of words.

"I'm listening." Mads replied as he sat down in the chair in front of her desk.

"It's... It's personal. It's about my sister. Well... It's a long story." Miranda silently asked for permission to continue. Mads looked at his Swiss army watch and concluded that he could spare the time. "Go ahead." He said, granting her permission.

She explained in detail her situation. How she was a clone, created by a mad father who wanted nothing short of perfection. She had escaped him, and when he created another clone (identical to Miranda) she took it. Not wanted her sister to go through the same shit she went through. Now, the bill had come due, and her father wanted the sister back.

"I'll help you Miranda. We might not be the best pals on this vessel, but I respect family." Mads promised. Miranda sighed in relief. "We'll get it done as soon as we have the Justicar." Mads ordered. "Yes sir." Miranda replied.

21/7 2185

Illum

Mads walked unto the Colony known as Illum once again. Still as unforgiving as ever. The place they needed to be was a short walk away. So they just started navigating the huge areas. Meeting many people as they went along. They meet up with that immigration/tracking officer Liara spoke of.

"Good day. How many I help you?" The officer asked. She grew a bit tense when she saw the trio, all geared up like they were ready to roll into Fallujah. Not that anyone nowadays would understand that reference.

"We are looking for an Asari Justicar who came through recently." Mads replied.

"You are not going to take her down!" The officer almost yelled. Completely sure she knew what was going on.

"We aren't here to take her down, officer. Calm down for a moment. Breathe." Mads ordered. And surprisingly, she did. It took a few moments, but she calmed down.

"We are here, because we need her help. That's all. I have no interest in killing or arresting her. Unless of course... She forces my hand." Mads explained.

"... Okay. But you have to be careful around her. She is the law, and deserves respect from all. Her task is to protect and bring people to justice." She finally agreed. She gave them the location. They quickly got a ride there, and so the hunt for the Justicar was on.

The stepped off the taxi in another part of Illum. Right next to a police station. There was already quite a scene in the making. A Volus, two Turian bodyguards and an Asari police officer. Sounds like the start to a bad joke. But it was what was happening before them. A murder had taken place, and it seemed like the Volus was in balls deep with the Eclipse mercs. Of course... Nothing could be proven.

After speaking with the officer (Who had the same concerns as the tracking officer). Mads was granted access. Mostly because the police officer was sacred shitless of coming face-to-face with the Justicar. Pressing through the virtual police line, Mads entered the crime scene. The death of a Volus, the partner of that other one. Mads didn't have time to learn their names.

Then, it happened again. Mercs, trying to kill him as he pressed further into the alleys. He was tired, and not in the mood for this shit again. He just pulled out his magnum and planted a bullet in the heads of the Mercs that were in his way. He walked calmly down the alley as the Merc lied lifelessly on the ground, with a pool of blood forming around their heads. Garrus and Tali were right behind him, and while he couldn't see their reaction, he knew they were shocked at how calm he had been.

Mads opened the door to a new room, and found a fight already happening inside. As the two Asari battled, Mads decided to grant himself a cigarette while they fought out their differences. As he pulled out his lighter, Garrus came up beside him.

"Aren't you going to do anything?" Garrus asked.

"If the Jusicar wins, I'll speak with her. If she dies, then she wouldn't have been much use to us anyway." Mads replied as he gave fire to his cigarette. After the Merc had been thrown out the window, she still refused to give any information to the Jusicar. Then, in one motion, the Jusicar broke the poor girl's neck with her boot, or rather, her heel.

When the dust settled, and the smoke from his cigarette cleared, she looked over at the trio. Who was standing there, still armed to the teeth. The justicar looked rather calm and simply asked: "Are you friend... Or foe?"

Mads took one last drag from his cigarette before throwing it on the ground and putting it out with his boot. "If I wanted to kill you, I would have done it already. I admire your work, by the way." Mads replied.

She analyzed his response for a moment, trying to see if he was lying or not. "What do you want?" She asked after that moment of silence.

"If you are done with your killing, I could use your help." Mads answered.

"For what?" She asked coldly.

"We are taking on the collectors. They are stripping human colonies and kidnapping the population. I need to stop them." Mads explained.

"That seems like a worthy cause, but I can't help you. I got a very special mission to carry out, and the code required that I always see a mission through." She remarked. In that moment, that officer showed up. Probably because she heard all the gunshots and screaming.

Several minutes passed. The officer explained that she had to bring the Justicar into custody. Then, the Justicar (whose's name was Samara) went on about how she could only cooperate for one day, before she must return to her duties. They discussed what to do, and Mads grew tired.

"Look!" Mads spoke up, both Samara and the officer shut up and turned their attention to him. "If I do this for you, will you join me on my mission?" Mads asked a bit annoyed as he rubbed the top of his nose.

"If you get me the ship name, then I can join you. I will go with the police officer." Samara replied.

"Great." Mads remarked.

A little while later.

Mads was just so damn tired! Everything was adding up. It was always the same bullshit, go do something, and they'll help/join you. Never once was it the other way around. Still, he had a purpose, he had a mission. And he needed the best people out there, and Samara was one of them. It wasn't like the Eclipse was hard to fight, they were smarter than most of the gangs, but still as prideful and sure of themselves.

It seemed that quite a few mysteries were solved along the way. Like the real killer of that Volus. She had tried to play innocent, but Mads saw through those lying eyes. He shot her in the throat, watched as she choked on her own blood. He found information on that other Volus, he had been selling red sand.

As much as he hated this, he couldn't help but laugh when another Volus, who was as high as a kite, claimed he was a 'Biotic God' and could kill everyone. A quick slap to the back of the head, and he was sleeping.

The finally fight was nothing short of boring. It ended before it really began. A single shot from a 44. Magnum had ended the leader's life. That smug face had been cleaned away. Now, he got the ship's name: The AML Demeter. Which meant he could leave with Samara.

After a few words at the police station, Samara swore the Third Oath of Subsumation. Something about his morals becoming hers and so on. The officer, whose name was actually Detective Anaya, thanked him. Mads gave her the rest of the information he had gathered, making her job easier.

After a long and tiresome day, he quickly held the briefing for Samara in the comm room. After that, he set the plans for tomorrow. He would help Lawson then. Tonight, he had something a little different in mind.

Mads quickly asked both Garrus and Tali, if they wanted to come and find some place to eat on Illum. Perhaps get a drink after that. His way of thanking them for good service the last couple of days.

Both agreed, and so they agreed to head out in an hours' time. Mads quickly grabbed a shower and put on an officer's uniform. Complete with his duty belt. He never left home without the Magnum, he felt kinda naked without it. He was the only one to really change. Garrus and Tali had the same outfit as ever, not that he should be surprised.

They walked for close to an hour, before they found a place that served both Humans and Turians. Quarians weren't really welcome on Illum, but luckily, Tali could enjoy the tubes of paste that was served at the restaurant.

"Shall we eat here?" Mads asked.

"Seems like a nice place." Garrus remarked as he saw it.

They walked in, and a waiter quickly came to greet them. "Hello there! Table for 2?" She asked. She had a smile on her face, until she saw Tali. "We don't serve Quarians here." She added.

Tali looked down at the ground in defeat. "It's okay. I'll just head back." Tali said as she began to leave. She was stopped by Mads who grabbed her arm. "You aren't going anywhere." Mads stated. Tali looked at him with a very surprised look. Mads turned his attention to the waiter.

"You better serve her. Otherwise, it will be very bad PR for you. Not following the request of a Spectre." Mads threated.

"You aren't a Spectre." The waiter dismissed.

Mads simply opened up his omni-tool and showed her his ID. Her expression changed in a heartbeat. "R-right... S-s-sorry for the misunderstanding. Erh... There is a table for three over here." She stuttered. Quickly guiding them to the table. Tali was shocked, not at the racism she experienced, but at Romanov standing up for her. Even going so far as to show ID to get her to pass.

They only had basic items for each species. Burgers and fries were pretty much the only thing humans could enjoy there. But that was okay. They spoke and laughed like normal friends during their dinner. At some point, Mads decided to go to the bathroom.

Garrus haven't really spoken to Tali since she returned, at least, not in private. They worked on two different levels of the ship. When they were on mission, they didn't really have the time either. So Garrus went forward, trying to be as casual as he could be.

"So... How is it going, Tali?" He asked. Tali turned her attention from her drink to him.

"It's going pretty good. How about you?" Tali asked back.

"Oh, well, I can't complain. Romanov keeps me fed with a steady diet of work and bullets." Garrus remarked. Tali laughed at that.

"So... erh..." Garrus didn't think it would be this awkward. "You like being back with Romanov." He asked.

"Yeah, sure. He keeps the adventures coming. He has done so much for me already; I can't really get myself to not join him." Tali admitted.

"Yeah. So erh... Do you-" Before Garrus could carry on with his question; Mads came back and sat down.

"Welcome back." Garrus remarked.

"Why thank you." Mads replied as he got comfortable.

They spent close to half-an-hour before they decided to play the local bar a visit. Mads paid for their meals, saying it was only fair. Tali and Garrus followed him to the bar. It was quite lively, considering it was a Tuesday, but maybe the Asari liked to drink every day of the week.

"Order what you would like." Mads told Garrus and Tali. Garrus was quick to order (perhaps) the most expensive drink there. Tali settled for a small glass of Turian wine. Pretty much the only thing she could enjoy.

Hours passed, and a few more drinks were ordered. They were having a pretty good time. Tali and Garrus waited for Mads to come with another set of drinks. Tali could faintly see the bar and she watched Romanov order the drinks and paying for them. Garrus was speaking to her, but she wasn't really paying close attention to what he was saying.

Tali eyes were on Mads the whole time, studying him as he payed the bartender. She saw an Asari approach him. Tali moved closer, not even paying any form of attention to Garrus. When she was in hearing range, she stopped.

"Hey there handsome." The Asari greeted with a smile as she came up to Mads.

"What's up?" Mads replied with a smile to the Asari.

A feeling washed over Tali. One she had felt before... What was it called? Envy? Jealousy? At any rate, in that very moment, her self-doubt wasn't there to tell her to back off. Garrus watched the scene unfold, and he realized something: They really did love each other, in some way at least.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?" Tali asked harshly as she grabbed the arm of the Asari and pulled her away.

"What do you want, suit rat?" The asari replied with just as hard an tone. Instead of backing off, Tali grew angrier.

"My people are not suit rats! You blue devils are racists! I won't tolerate it anymore!" Tali ranted. Mads intervened, and the more sane side of Tali silently thanked him for that.

"ALRIGHT! Hold up! Girls, calm the fuck down! Tali, I think we should leave." Mads suggested. In was in that moment that Tali realized how she had acted "Yes Captain." She replied in a low voice.

"And you! Don't you dare go around and call Quarians suitrats! You Asari think you are real special, don't ya? You think that because you live a little longer, and have some fancy biotics in your blood, you can fuck over other species? Fucking pricks." Mads ranted in a high voice that pretty much caught the attention of the entire crowd in the bar. The Asari backed down after that.

Mads gestured for them to go back to the Normandy. They had caused enough trouble for one day. At least they got the drinks to-go.