26/8 2185

Normandy.

Mads let out a sigh as he stood in the ruined comm room. The place where he had recruited so many people to this mission. Where he gotten his mission briefing so many times. But now, it was as empty and hallow as one might expect after a hard battle with an enemy force. The small ashtray was already filled to the brim with ash. Mads still turned on his zippo, and listened to the nice click sound it makes, and the sweet sound of flint creating fire. The Nicotine was a nice touch, as Mads still waited for them to get a signal. He needed to contact the alliance. He had to make some sort of deal.

While waiting, Mads realized it might be a while. So he decided to finally do what he should have done from the beginning: Visit Tali. She was down by Chakwas, and had her wrist looked at. He took one last drag of the cigarette, before putting it out in the ashtray. Smoke was still coming from the ashtray as Mads left the room.

The crew were anything but lazy. Even though they most of them had either been close to death, or fighting death itself, they were hard at work making repairs on the Normandy. Mads had a vague idea of what he could give in return for his crew's safety. Though he doubted his crew would go along with it willingly.

Mads greeted several people as he made his way to the med bay where Tali was. Mads prepared some half-assed excuse in his head as he mentally prepared himself for going in there. He was, after all, the reason Tali was stuck in there for now….. For several reasons as it would turn out. Mads opened the door, and found Tali lying in the bed, with Chakwas in the chair beside her. They were talking, but stopped as they turned their attention to Mads.

Mads first turned his attention to Chakwas. She had been through hell with the rest of the Normandy crew. No doubt she would have mental scars forever. What she had been through, no amount of drugs or therapy would erase. Which was damn sad, because Chakwas was an excellent doctor. Loyal as hell too, a trait that might seem rare these days.

"How are you doc?" Mads asked as he approached her. Hoping he might buy himself some more time to think before talking with Tali.

"I'm fine, and forever grateful for what you did….. We all are." Chakwas replied with a hint of a smile, but pain as well.

"I couldn't leave you guys there. The things you went through… It must have been horrible." Mads remarked in sympathy.

"Yes, it was horrible. But you saved us from what could have happened." Chakwas said.

"You're quite welcome… Do you mind giving me and Tali a minute?" Mads asked, shifting a bit on his feet.

"No, of course not. I'll be just outside if you need me." Chakwas replied as she got up and left the med bay. Mads sat down on the edge of the bed Tali was on. Her wrist had a cast on it. Mads smiled when he remembered that people had gotten the same treatment back in the day.

"Should I be the first to write on it?" Mads asked with a laugh as he pointed to the cast.

"Write on it?" Tali asked back confused.

"It's a thing people used to do. Write your regards, so that you know people are there for you." Mads explained.

"Really? Sure, go ahead." Tali replied as she held out her arm. Mads took a pen from the Chakwas' desk and began to write a small message. As he pressed the pun on the cast and forming the first letter, Mads spoke up.

"I'm truly sorry for forcing you to be down here." Mads said with care.

"I would have been down here anyway." Tali replied with a smile.

"How so?" Mads asked confused and with some concern.

"Our night together. I have a nasty cough and a high fever." Tali answered.

"Tali, I-" Mads started, but Tali raised her other hand to silence him.

"For the record: It was totally worth it." She smirked. Mads chuckled at the comment as he finished the last latter in the sentence.

"There we are." He said as he placed the pen back on the desk.

Tali took a quick look at it, and was a bit surprised. It said: "Sorry for doing to to you :( Get well soon!" She chuckled at the writing. She looked up at Mads, but saw a semi-serious face.

"How long are you going to be in here?" He asked with a hint of sadness in his voice.

"Not long. Chakwas said a couple of days. But I shouldn't do anything with this hand-" She raised her wrist to emphasize her point "- for close to three weeks." She replied.

"Get well soon, alright?" Mads said.

"I will." She promised. "But….. What happens now?" Tali asked back.

"I don't know. I'm waiting for us to get a signal so I can contact the alliance. I hope to make some sort of deal. But, I think we both know I have to face judgment for what I have been doing the last couple of months." Mads explained, letting out a sigh at the end.

"I think everything will work out." Tali stayed optimistic.

"I hope so. Anyway, I have to get back to the comm room. You better rest up." Mads said with a smile as he arose from the bed and left the room.

"I will." She remarked as he left.

"Admiral Hackett?" Mads asked. He was kind of surprised to see the admiral there.

"Yes, it's me. Anderson is also on the line." Hackett replied.

"Hey son, how is it going?" Mads was relieved to hear Anderson's voice again. He still carried that calm tone.

"It's great to be in contact with you guys again… It's done. The collectors are no more." Mads explained.

"Really?" Anderson asked with wide eyes. Deep down, he knew Mads was more than capable to handle the task when he first spoke about it. But he had done it so quick.

"And Cerberus?" Hackett jumped in asked.

"I cut contact with the Illusive man. He was less than pleased… But, there is a pressing matter I have speak with you about." Mads said.

"I know. You are worried about what happens next." It was like Anderson could read Mads' mind, and it made Mads chuckle a bit. The old man knew him so well.

"Yes. I was hoping to cut some sort of deal." Mads replied.

"Then pitch us." Hackett demanded, but in otherwise calm tone.

"I turn over the ship and myself into custody. My crew gets to walk away. What do you say?" Mads suggested.

"Hmmmmmm." Hackett and Anderson were both thinking. Mads could see Anderson's face, and he knew that he was on with the deal. But Hackett had something else in mind.

"We can do it, if you handle an issue first." Hackett replied.

"And that is?" Mads asked with a raised eyebrow.

"This is more of a… Personal favor. But I reckon it might be useful for you as well down the road." Hackett replied. Anderson looked at him with a confused look, that told Mads, that Anderson didn't know about this either.

"Do tell." Mads urged Hackett to go on.

"We have an operative in Batarian space. She is in deep cover. Her name is Dr. Kenson. I reached word recently that she is being held in a Batarian prison camp on Aratoht. Her latest report mentioned she found evidence of a reaper invasion." Hackett explained.

"Really? I thought the alliance denied the Reaper existed." Mads asked.

"Me and Anderson both believe you, and I have known Dr. Kenson a long time. If she says that the artifact is evidence of an invasion, I would say it is worth checking out." Hackett replied.

"I see. Anything else?" Mads asked further.

"You need to do this solo. This is a personal favor, not an alliance mission." Hackett answered. Mads looked at him confused for several reasons.

"And why am I doing this solo? Don't the alliance care about it?" Mads asked with a confused tone.

"You need to do this quietly. The Batarians will kill her the instant an armed squad turns up. Please, for my sake, do this quietly." Hackett almost pleaded.

"If this is what is needed to secure my deal. Then I will do it. You have my word." Mads promised.

"Thank you, Romanov. I think this evidence would help you in the long run. Good luck….. And god speed." Hackett said as a final note, and closed the call.

So he had to do it alone. He didn't like that idea, and he had been loud in his mission for a long time. Mads needed to think this through. No doubt he would need a silencer for his weapon. But he didn't have the time to contact Sergei regarding it. But…. There was that printer they had. Maybe he could make his own.

28/8 2185

Aratoht

The shuttle was prepped and loaded. They would drop off Mads, and they would be out of there before they were seen by the Batarian. It was a risky plan, and Mads knew it. He sighed as he finished suiting up. It had been a long while since he did anything stealthy, so this was differently a change. Tali, and the rest of the crew for that matter, had voiced their concerns about Mads going in alone. He had told them that this needed to be done.

Mads checked that all his guns were loaded and ready for use, when he saw Tali. She was walking towards him, and Mads looked at her confused.

"I thought you had to stay in bed for a while longer." Mads joked. He knew she would leave that bed soon, but not this soon.

"I still don't like this." She admitted.

"Well….. Neither do I. But I cut a deal, this should buy us-…. Or at least you and the others, freedom." Mads replied.

"Be-…. Be careful, alright? Promise me you will be careful." Tali demanded.

"I will. I will come back." Mads promised as he pulled her into a hug. He didn't put too much pressure on her, considering her wrist.

"We will be waiting for you." Tali said. "I have to get back before Chakwas notices I am gone." Tali added.

Mads laughed and bit her farewell. This was also the first time in a long time he had gone in solo. It would be different, but perhaps a breath of fresh air too. No having to command anyone, just do everything by himself. Fun or hard? That remains to be seen.

Mads stepped on the shuttle. No one else was there, but the pilot. Mads gave the all clear to take off. Mads checked his watch as the shuttle took off from the hanger and flew towards the planet. He hoped to do this as quickly and as painlessly as possible. If that was even possible.

Mads jumped off the shuttle and down upon the concrete. This place was a shithole. The stench that invaded his nose was almost unbearable. Mads knew he shouldn't have expected a prison camp to be nice, especially since it was a Batarian prison camp. Only the lord knows what they are doing to the doctor at that moment. Mads took out his glock, and began to screw on his silencer. He had been right, the printer worked just fine to produce it.

Mads cut the power to the first door, and began his decent into the dungeon. No doubt it would be filled with nasty surprises. Varren was the first creature Mads found. They were roaming around, feeding off the remains of the dead prisoners that had been thrown down there, like trash. If Mads could, he tried to stab the creatures in the skull, and save his ammunition for the Batarians.

The place was a maze. It was hard to navigate it. The lights were out, and the floor looked ready to crumble down to whatever hell was underneath it. Mads kept himself silent, moving from cover to cover. Mads was glad that the walls were paper-thin sometimes, it meant he could eardrop on the bastards on the other side.

It was raining outside. The ground was turning to mud, Mads checked his safety was off, and made sure his breath was even as he fired off a round into the skull of a Batarian guard. Mads quickly took out the guard standing beside him. Mads dragged them out of sight. He made a mental note to clean this mud out of his boots when he came back, because it was sticking to it like hell.

Mads heard the rumors the Batarians were throwing around. Apparently Dr. Kenson had made plans to destroy the relay, and ruin the colony below, which had close to 300.000 Batarians on it. Mads thought about it. He wasn't sure if it was true, but he would know the truth soon enough.

Dropping down a level, he made his way to the holding cell... Or torture room. Depending on how you look at it. Mads stabbed the Batarian looking on behind the two way mirror. It would seem Dr. Kenson was holding on strong. Though her situation couldn't be less ideal than it was. Good thing he was here, otherwise, she would have been fucked.

As Mads entered the room, he took the Batarian torturer in a choke hold and stopped him from carrying out any more of his torture upon the poor doctor. The Batarian struggled in Mads' grip, but in the end, Mads just snapped the bastard's neck and let the body hit the floor. Dr. Kenson seemed mighty confused by this.

"Dr. Kenson, I presume?" Mads asked as he went behind the machine to release her.

"Yes, but who the hell are you?" She asked back. No much of a filter for a doctor, but in the current situation, she is excused.

"Captain Romanov. I'm here to get you out." Mads replied as he began to unlock all the locks holding her in place.

"So Hackett did get my message. Thank God." She remarked.

"Can you walk?" Mads asked as he unlocked the final one.

"Get me out of here, and I'll fucking fly." She answered with a cocky, but determined voice.

"Got ya." Mads said as he helped her out of the torture machine.

"We need to find a security terminal. I can hack into their system." She ordered.

"I'm sure we will find one." Mads took a weapon off the dead Batarian and give it to her. "I hope you are ready for a firefight." Mads said.

"Hell yeah. These bastards will pay." She replied.

Mads took the lead, having switched to his AK after stealth didn't matter anymore. The Batarians had been alerted to the fact they were here. They were quickly coming after them. Luckily, these Batarian were not equipped to deal with a heavily armed man like Mads. So fighting wasn't too tough, and Dr. Kenson stayed behind Mads. He needed to keep her alive, or shit would really hit the fan.

It didn't take long before they found a security terminal they could use, and it was much needed at this point. Kenson quickly got to work, and ordered Mads to guard her. Now, the Batarians were really throwing numbers at them. Luckily, the gate could be closed, but that didn't stop them from coming from below.

"Hurry up Kenson!" Mads ordered as he kept firing his rifle. As long as they were not too close, the situation was manageable. She was hard at work bringing an elevator down, and Mads could see the Batarians were hard at work wielding the door open from the other side.

It came just in time, only this wasn't the end of it. They had open the hanger door, and escape with the shuttle. The doors weren't easy to open either, and it didn't help Batarians were there to try and stop them. Mads switched to his AA-12 to try and keep them at bay. It did the trick nicely, and made sure they had breathing room.

With the hanger doors open, they could take the shuttle. Mads and Kenson quickly escaped, just before another squad of Batarians turned up. They were burned by the force of the shuttle as Mads and Kenson escaped.

It was quiet in the shuttle as they got away. Kenson had been able to lock their security mesaures in place, and buying them time to get out of range.

"That was fucking close... Mind letting me in on your secret then?" Mads asked as he sat down.

"Me and my team found strong evidence of the reapers here. I know they are coming this way. They are using the alpha relay as their main entrance to the invasion. Taking it out, could buy us month, if not years." She explained.

"Damn, so the charges were true. And are you sure about this? How strong is the evidence? Killing of the entire systems does seem a little... extreme." Mads remarked.

"It may be extreme, but it must be done. The reapers are too powerful for our current military situation. This could be what we need. The artifact we found is more than enough evidence, it explained everything. I'll go into more detail once we hit Arcturus station." She said.

They kept going back and forth about this evidence. It seemed an awful a lot like what Mads had experience two years prior. Mads needed to see this evidence. If killing off the system was needed... Then so be it. Sacrifices has to be made, and it might as well be the weak that gets it.

It didn't take long before they reached the base. They countdown there was shocking to say the least. Two days, they needed to move quickly. Mads and Kenson rushed through the building. IT was actually quite a sizable project they were running.

The reaper artifact was huge, and Mads became instantly worried. It was out in the open, there was no telling what it was doing to the population on the proejct base. Kenson urged Mads to get the proof he need.

And proof he got. The vision was short, but it was clear. The reapers would use the relay to get into this system. Only Mads should have seen the tell-tale signs on Kenson. She was in too deep. Her mind had been fried and given to the reapers.

"I can't let you shut this down, Captain. I can't let you delay arrival!" She proclaimed as she held a gun to Mads' head.

"Fuck you." Mads snarled as he took her wrist and broke it. The gun fell out of her hand. Kenson had been so kind as to call for back up, and soon the room was flooding with personal.

There were simply too many people, and Mads had been using a lot of his ammunition against the Batarians. It didn't help that Harbringer was speaking to him as well. In the end, it was too much. Mads knew he should have brought his squad with him. He would give Hackett a earfull when he was done here... That is, if he came back.

It must have been a while before Mads got back to the land of the living. But he was in the med bay, and from his numbness, it was clear they tried to sedate him. But his touch up from Cerberus kept that was getting full effect.

The medical officer rushed out of the room when she saw he was awake. She called for security, who tried to pull their guns on Mads. In one quick motion, Mads was able to knock both their weapons out of their hand.

Although, he was locked in now. He had to get out. Time was limited. Luckily, these idiots didn't count on the fact that the mechs could still be used. Needless to say, that medical officer suffered the fate she deserved. Now, according to the data log, Mads had even less time than before.

Kenson was barking orders. Mads realized he had to get moving. Luckily, all his gear was stored nearby, and he got suited up in record time. He was off, rushing to where he needed to be. The security team was trying to stop him, but it was fruitless.

These guards were tainted by reaper control. They thought they could stop him, but they fell like flies. Mads couldn't look back, he needed to be quick.

"Come on! Let's play!" Mads yelled as he set the flamethrower trooper on fire. They others did not back away. This was turning ugly. Everyone here was being controlled. It was a sad fate.

After a while, he finally reached project control. He stepped up to the console, and turned it on.

"Welcome to project control." The VI said.

"I want to activate the project." Mads ordered.

"Are you sure? Activating the project will result in an estimated 305000 casualties. Do you wish to continue?" It asked. It was a moral question. Why the fuck did it remind him?

"... Yes, sacrifice the weak." Mads finally said as he pushed the button. But it wasn't the end. Dr. Kenson still had one last card to play. Destroy the rock they were on.

So it came down to this. Mads wondered how he should explain it all to Hackett, but he could worry about that later. There were more pressing matters. Mads quickly took care of the guards in the project room, and he quickly took the elevator down.

"Dr. Kenson! Stop right there!" Mads ordered as he saw her.

"Romanov! Don't you dare stop him! Look at what you have done! The reaper's blessing will come either way, but we will all die!" She proclaimed.

"I will kill you Kenson if you don't knock that shit out!" Mads yelled at her.

"I can't." She stated as she walked off. Mads was pissed off in that moment. He took his 44. Magnum and just went down the hallway, killing everyone with a headshot as he walked. Kenson was throwing her last troops at Mads, in the hopes it would stop him. She should have known that when fury overtakes you, nothing can stop you.

Mads managed to get the first cooling rod in, and stabilize the core a bit more. However, the fight was far from over. The other cooling rod was still a far away, and Mads had to tear his way through. The amount of people killed would be overwhelming. But this was needed, it had to be done. Morals be damned.

With the second cooling rod in place, Mads took the elevator down to see Kenson. Now, it was time.

"Hold it right there, you fucking scum!" Mads yelled as he pointed his magnum at her.

"Fuck you! You ruined everything!" She cried. "I will never see their glorious arrival now!" She was angry, and Mads could see the grenade she had in her hand.

"Don't you fucking dare!" Mads yelled, but her intent was clear. Mads took the shot. Clean, through the forehead. Her body collapsed to the floor, but as luck would have it, it went off regardless. Mads was knocked out from the blast.

Mads had no clue how much time had passed, but these were the final moments it would seem. There was no going back. The course was set. It didn't help Mads couldn't reach the Normandy. He had to get on a shuttle and get his ass out of there, before it was too late.

Mads ran through the base, the clock was really ticking, and he had some ways to go before he could reach safety. The landing pad was full of mechs and guards. It must have been the remaining force. Mads ran out of ammo for his AK as the fight was coming to a close, good thing he brought a lot of different guns with him.

With the last person dead, Mads could move on to the communication tower. Only Mads got a rather unpleasant surprise. Harbinger, in his true form, as a hologram. Not cowering behind a collector general.

"Romanov. You remain an annoyance. But you are irrelevant. Everything you do, will be in vain. You fight against the tide, and you will lose." Harbinger remarked, in his usual menacing voice.

"Ah, I see the great Harbinger graces me with his appearance. Are you still in charge? I thought the reapers would have overthrown you by now, for your poor leadership." Mads chuckled. "It doesn't matter. You will go down. We will not lay down our arms, we will not surrender. This is a fight to the death." Mads replied.

"No matter what you say, Romanov. You will die. This is the will of the reapers, and it will be as such." With that, the call ended. Luckily for Mads, Normandy was right there to pick him up. Mads sprinted to the Normandy as fast as his legs would carry him. He jumped on, and quickly ordered the Normandy to get out of there.

Mads rushed to the cockpit and demanded that Joker get them out of there. And in was just in time too. In the end, the plan worked as it should. Mads watched the thing happen from his place at the CIC.

"... I am become death... The destroyer of worlds. " Mads remarked coldly as he took a deep breath.