"Shepard. Good work on Horizon. Hopefully, the Collectors will think twice before attacking another colony." Tim tapped his cigarette into the ashtray.
"It was good to finally go toe-to-toe with the enemy." Michael shrugged. He could use a few more things to fight.
"Now you've got a taste for it." Tim nodded. "I'll be sure to find a way to keep you sated. The Collectors will be more careful now, but I think we can find another way to lure them in."
Another way. He'd known, but it was nice to have confirmation. "Kaidan said the Alliance got a tip about me and Cerberus. Was that you?"
Tim took a drag from his cigarette. "I may have let slip that you were alive. And with Cerberus."
Michael felt calm and cold. "You risked the lives of my friend, my crew, and that entire colony? Just to lure the Collectors there?"
"A calculated risk." Tim shrugged. "I suspected the Collectors were looking for you, or people connected to you. Now I know for certain." He straightened. "I told you I wouldn't sit and wait while the Reapers and Collectors gather strength." He waved a hand. "Besides. They would've hit another colony eventually. And without a way to predict which one, they would've abducted everyone."
The first thing a sniper learned was patience. Take your time, line up the shot. You may only get one. "We chased them off once. Find a target, and I'll hit it."
"Our target is set, but we can't reach it yet. It's their homeworld." Tim leaned back again. "I'm devoting all resources to finding a way through the Omega 4 relay. We have to hit them where they live. Your team will need to be strong..." He shifted in his chair. "As will their resolve. There's no looking back. The same goes for you. Can I assume you've put your past relationships behind you?"
What had been the name of the first shrink he'd been dragged to? "None of your damn business."
"If it affects the mission, better you should leave it behind." Tim tapped ashes from the end of the cigarette. "Shepard. Once we find a way through the Omega 4 relay to the Collector homeworld..." He took another puff. "There's no guarantee you'll return. To have any hope of surviving, you - and your entire team - must be fully committed to this."
Rule ten. Soldiers die. He accepted that every time he put on the armor. "Let me worry about them. You just find us a way to the Collector homeworld." And then he walked back into the fire anyway.
"I just want to be up front about your odds. You'll need everyone at their best. I've forwarded three more dossiers. Keep building our team while I find a way through the relay. And be careful, Shepard. The Collectors will be watching you."
#
Michael turned to see Jacob watching the tail end of the conversation. "I guess we're really gonna do it. Hit the Omega 4 relay, take the fight to the Collectors in person." Jacob nodded. "Looking forward to the action. After seeing what those bastards did on Horizon, though..." Jacob folded his arms. "Makes you think."
"I need you sharp and focused if we're going to get his done, Taylor." Michael narrowed his eyes. No anchors holding them back.
"That's what I meant, Commander. I don't want any distractions when we hit the relay." Jacob let his arms fall to his sides as he stood up straighter. "Gonna go take care of a little unfinished business. I imagine everyone else is, too - getting some closure, you know?" Jacob nodded before leaving the room.
He frowned, and went to the elevator. He'd intended to go to his quarters, but found himself pushing the button that would take him to engineering.
#
"Hey."
Michael leaned on the railing of the stairs. "Tell me about you, Jack."
She lifted up the datapad in her hand. "I'm still finding out about me. Thanks for letting me look at these files."
"What's in them?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Your friends at Cerberus are into some nasty things." She showed a hint of teeth. "I'm going to find something I can use. I just know it."
"What if the answers aren't what you expect?" Answers rarely were these days.
"I'm not looking for answers." She looked up at him. "I'm looking for names, dates, places."
"And then?"
"I go hunting." Her lips curled back. "Anyone who's screwed with me pays. Their associates pay. Their friends pay. The galaxy's going to be a lot emptier when I'm done."
"I probably shouldn't let you go on a killing spree." He shrugged.
"I'm here for your mission." She set the datapad next to her. "After that, what I do is my business."
He sat on the steps. "What's your history with Cerberus?" He could use a good reason to keep hating them. Things were fuzzing around the edges these days.
"They raised me in a research facility. I escaped when I was a kid." She shrugged. "Been on the run ever since." She rose and began pacing the small space. "And they've been chasing me ever since. But soon I'm going to chase them."
"You think about this a lot, don't you?" He stood.
"I go to sleep with this." She examined her pistol. "I wake up with it. Everyone I kill, I pretend it's the ones that did this to me."
"You don't have to live in this pit, you know." He looked around the small compartment. It was cozier than some of the places he'd lived.
"It's dark, quiet and hard to find." She set the pistol down. "That spells safety to me." She turned and leapt over the railing to land on the table and crouched, looking at him. "You know, this ship is a powerhouse. You could go pirate, live like a king." Her smile was predatory. "I could help."
He raised an eyebrow. "You'd be my first mate?"
"I'd lead the boarding party." She jumped down, then turned back toward him. "And handle the executions."
Michael leaned on the railing as he watched her. "What is it about killing that fascinates you so much?"
She shrugged. "I figure every time someone dies and it's not me, my chances of survival go up." She waved a hand. "Simple."
Simple it was. He nodded. "I should go."
"Yep."
#
The dossiers were waiting in his mail. The name on one caught his eye, and he immediately opened it before hitting the button on his communicator. "Joker, set a course for Haestrom."
A moment later Joker's voice came back. "That's in geth territory, Commander."
"I know. We're going in to pick up Tali."
"Copy that."
#
"If the drones are only worth half a point, then the juggernauts should be worth three points."
"See, that gives you a decidedly unfair advantage."
"How do you figure?"
"They always seem to go after you."
"Wait, how is that an advantage?"
"You're surrounded by the things and I'm stuck on the other side of the field with just the regular geth."
"That doesn't stop you from swooping in and getting the kill shot after I've done all the work bringing its shields down."
"Sounds like somebody should have invested in phasic ammunition."
"Oh for fuck's sake..." Zaeed started banging his head against the bulkhead.
Michael glanced at him, then turned to raise an eyebrow at Jack. "What's his problem?"
"So if I get them airborne and one of you shoots before they crash into something, that's still my point, right?" She folded her arms.
"Oh, yeah." Garrus clicked his mandibles.
"Absolutely." Michael nodded.
"Heh heh heh." Grunt punched his fist into his palm.
EDI's voice came over the communicator. "Shepard, our data indicates that Tali is somewhere in these ruins. There is considerable geth activity, and an environmental hazard."
"Alright, people, let's get to work." Michael nodded as the shuttle landed.
#
"I'm having serious issues with my shields." Garrus muttered.
"Have you considered staying out of the sun?" Michael fired a shot, and a geth coming up the stairs exploded.
"You have noticed the geth shooting at me, right?"
"Shoot them back."
"Oh, genius." Garrus sighed. "Why didn't I think of that?"
Michael was about to take another shot when Jack stood up and hurled the wreckage of half a shuttle over the ledge. It went bouncing down and took about the remaining geth. He tilted his head, then glanced over his shoulder. "Garrus."
"Yes?"
"Step it up. She's making us look bad here." He touched his communicator. "Zaaed, Grunt, how's it looking on your side?"
"Cleared of geth here."
"Alright. Heading in. Meet you at the platform."
#
"Emergency log entry. The geth are here. I've stayed to buy the others time. Anyone who gets this, find Tali'Zorah. She and that data are all that matters. Keelah se'lai."
He bent down to examine the corpse, and the radio crackled to life. "OP-1, this is squad leader Kal'Reegar, come in, over."
Michael picked up the radio. "This is Commander Shepard of the Normandy. Can we provide assistance?"
There was very little hesitation from the other voice. "Patch your radio into Channel 617 Theta. We were on a stealth mission. High risk. We found what we were after, but the geth found us. They've got us pinned down. Can't get to our ship, can't transmit data through the solar radiation."
"What's the status of your team? How many of you are left?" And was one of them Tali?
"We were a small squad. Dozen marines, plus the science team. We're down to half-strength now. Made the synthetic bastards pay for it though."
"What's your current position?" He checked his ammo load.
"We're bunkered down at base camp across the valley. I left Tali'Zorah at a secure shelter, then doubled back to hold the chokepoint." He looked out and saw fire in that direction. "Getting Tali out safely is our top priority. If you can extract her, we'll keep them off you."
"You've got confirmation that the geth haven't reached Tali yet?" Michael began gesturing for his team to move.
"Affirmative. Left my best men with her. When you get here, you can talk to her on the comm. Every marine on this rock is sworn to protect Tali'Zorah. Long as one of us is still drawing air, she'll be safe."
Damn straight. "Hold position. We'll hit their back ranks."
They'd gone about two steps when the voice came over the radio again. "Wait. Watch your ass. We've got a dropship coming in." The geth vessel fired, taking out the marines guarding the door. And to add insult to injury, one of the stone columns collapsed to block the door. Not good. "Crap." The voice on the other end of the radio apparently agreed. "Doorway's blocked. Grab the demo charges in the buildings nearby. Use them to clear a path."
"Alright, people." Michael waved them in. "Let's go blow shit up."
"Of course." Garrus nodded. "How else is Tali going to know it's us?"
#
Zaeed wasn't a bad shot, though Michael would have preferred it if the man put just a tiny bit more effort into guarding his teammate's back. Not that Grunt really needed it. They'd shifted their positions a little. The two geth that survived Jack's initial biotic blast were smashed to bits by the krogan that charged in on her heels. Garrus and Michael took up higher positions and sniped anything that tried to regroup, while Miranda and Jacob picked up stragglers. Kasumi used Zaeed's tendency to make a target of himself to great advantage. It was somewhat annoying how often he lost track of her position on the field. As useful as Mordin was in the field, Michael had left him on the ship to do research.
He still wasn't entirely sure what to make of Miranda and Jacob. Jacob came across as a nice guy, but he wasn't the kind Michael would pick for a squad. Miranda was a steel bitch, but at least she'd chosen a side. The wrong side, but a side.
And a pitched battlefield was really not the best place to psychoanalyze anyone. Michael put a round into an oncoming juggernaut, then activated his cloak to switch positions. "You know..." Kasumi's voice came over his comm. "It would be really embarrassing if we ever ran into each other while doing this."
"Only if we tell anyone."
#
Tali's voice came out of one of the computers. It was good to hear the sound. "We need a core sample to get a timeline on the rate of radiation increase, but our equipment keeps dying on us. Shepard once used a mining laser to clear some rubble back on Therum. Maybe I can do something similar with demolition charges."
"You know..." Michael shot another geth. "We really were a bad influence on her."
"Found the charge." Kasumi held it up.
"Alright, let's set it and find the other..." Michael glanced at the doorway. "And there's more geth."
"EDI, who is in the lead right now?" Garrus clicked his mandibles.
"Shepard and Jack are tied for first place, with ninety seven points each." EDI's voice replied.
Garrus adjusted his visor. "Alright, time for round two."
"Heh." Grunt hefted his shotgun.
"You actually have her keeping score?" Jacob glanced back at Michael.
"That's the problem with you Cerberus types." Michael shrugged, then flung a grenade before ducking behind cover. "You just don't know how to have fun."
#
"It's next too impossible to get accurate solar measurements. The radiation keeps burning out our equipment." Tali's recording spoke to them. "This sun shouldn't be like this. It was stable a few hundred years ago. Stars don't die that quickly."
"Sounds like Tali found herself some real trouble." Garrus looked down at the recording.
"You know, there's this little part of me that's kind of..."
"Proud?" Garrus turned to look at Michael.
"Yeah." Michael nodded.
#
"Quarian architecture." Garrus looked around. "There's two words you don't expect to hear together."
Jack nudged a body with her toe. "Why would the quarians risk death by coming here?"
Michael found another recording. "Our ancestors walked these halls with uncovered heads. The sun must have been normal back then. So much space. Walls of stone..." She took a deep breath. "It's amazing. I wish my friends could see it. I wish Shepard were here."
He stared at the recording for a moment, then heard her voice again. "Tali'Zorah to base camp. Come in, base camp." His head came up, and he saw the communicator. "Hello? Is anyone there?"
"Tali, it's Shepard."
"Shepard?" The static-filled hologram visibly jumped. "I'm not complaining, but you show up at the strangest times. What are you doing in the middle of geth space?"
"I've got a mission, remember? It's dangerous, but you don't seem averse to high-risk missions these days." He shrugged.
"I'll discuss the mission as soon as the gunfire dies down. Kal'Reegar and what's left of the marines got me into the observatory. From where you are, it's through the door and across the field." She gestured. "I got the data I needed, and I'm safe for now, but I've got a lot of geth outside."
"Would it help if I brought in the Normandy?"
"Doubtful. These buildings are centuries old. If you bring down heavy fire, this whole place could collapse on us."
"It looks like somebody sealed the door against the geth, and the console is damaged. Can you get it open on your end?"
"Let me see..." She looked down at something off screen, then nodded. "Yes, I can do it. Here. Should be unlocked now." She looked back up at him. "Be careful, Shepard. And please, do what you can to keep Reegar alive."
#
Michael stepped around the corner, grabbed Jack by the strap around her chest, and hauled both of them backwards just as the colossus incinerated the area they'd been standing a moment ago. "Son of a..." Jack cursed.
"Get down."
"Definitely like old times." Garrus shook his head.
"This is why I follow you, Shepard." Grunt's voice was ecstatic. "Big things."
"Over here." Another voice called to them. "Get to cover."
A few seconds of conversation revealed Kal'Reegar was perfectly willing to die for Tali'Zorah. The only problem with that idea was Tali had asked him to keep Kal'Reegar alive. "Alright, better plan. You guys keep it busy."
"Shepard?" Miranda raised an eyebrow.
"Kasumi..." Michael took a couple of grenades from Garrus. "Let's go play pin the bomb on the Colossus." He tossed one of the grenades to his left, and she came back into view as she caught it.
"Right." She nodded. "Going dark."
#
They fought their way across another field of debris and geth. At least there was plenty of cover. Michael sniped another drone, then watched as it exploded to take out two others. "Get me some cover."
Jack nodded and flung up a barrier. Michael rolled, drawing fire from the juggernaut. As soon as it turned to track him, Garrus and Zaeed popped out of cover to open fire. It exploded, and the shrapnel bounced off the barrier. "That counts as Shepard's and mine." Jack announced.
"What?" Garrus blinked.
"How do you figure?" Zaeed shook his head.
"Tactics killed it." Michael rose.
"Ammo killed it." Garrus hefted his rifle.
"Um, guys?" Kasumi's voice came over the communicator. "Guys?"
Michael tossed a grenade over his shoulder. The incoming geth exploded. "Seriously, Garrus, that's like trying to give the kill point to the crate Jack crushed the drone with."
"Nevermind," Kasumi said.
#
He ran his omniblade through one of the geth and shot another before reactivating his cloak to vanish again. Someone shoved a crate over onto one of the drones, indicating Kasumi was nearby. Michael kept moving. He took a few deep breaths as he let the cloaking mechanism cool off, then he reactivated it.
The colossus sensed he was there as he placed the bomb, but then twisted as Kasumi placed hers on the other side. They both rolled clear as it exploded.
#
"Just a second. I locked the door to keep more geth from getting inside." Tali's voice came over the radio. "There, that should do it. Just let me finish this download..."
Michael opened the door just as Garrus and Jack caught up to them. He could see the rest of his team coming. "Tali..."
"Thank you, Shepard. If not for you, I would never have made it out of this room." She turned to face him. "This whole mission has been a disaster. I wish I'd joined you back on Freedom's Progress, but I couldn't let anyone take my place on something this risky."
"Glad I was in the neighborhood." He looked her over, but she didn't appear wounded. "Once you deliver that data, I could use you on the Normandy."
"I promised to see this mission through." Tali nodded. "I did. I can leave with you and send the data to the Fleet. And if the admirals have a problem with that, they can go to hell. I just watched the rest of my team die."
"Maybe not the whole rest of your team, ma'am." Kal'Reegar was leaning heavily on Jacob, but he was up and moving.
"Reegar! You made it." Tali actually bounced.
"Your old captain's as good as you said. Damn colossus never stood a chance."
If Tali was that happy to see someone... "If need by, the Normandy can get you out of here, Reegar."
"The geth didn't damage our ship. Long as we get out of here before reinforcements show up, we'll be fine."
Tali took a step closer to Michael. "Actually, I won't be going with you. I'm joining Commander Shepard."
Reegar didn't argue. He just nodded. "I'll pass the data to the Admiralty Board and let them know what happened." He turned his face to Michael. "She's all yours now, Shepard. Keep her safe."
#
Garrus was practically hovering over Tali as they made their way back to the shuttle. Michael gave him a suspicious look over his shoulder, then just shook his head. And to think, he'd really been hoping he'd never have to shoot Garrus.
#
"Cerberus saw footage of you in action, Tali'Zorah." Jacob nodded as Tali entered the briefing room. "We're looking forward to having you on the team. Your engineering expertise will really benefit the mission."
Tali paced behind Michael. Well, it was more like a stalk. Actually, for a moment, she looked just a bit like Ashley. "I don't know who you are, but Cerberus threatened the security of the Migrant Fleet. Don't make nice."
"That's why you're here, Tali. I need people who aren't Cerberus - people I can trust." Michael nodded to her.
"I wasn't part of what happened to the Migrant Fleet, but I understand your distrust. I hope we'll get past that as we work together." Jacob leaned on the table.
She ignored him completely as she turned back to Michael. "I assumed that you were undercover, Shepard. Maybe even planning to blow Cerberus up." He really hadn't ruled out that possibility. "If that's the case, I'll loan you a grenade. Otherwise, I'm here for you. Not for them."
"If it helps, check out the Normandy while you're here. We've gotten a few upgrades." He waved a hand.
"I'll get Tali-Zorah the necessary security clearance to access our systems." Jacob nodded.
"Please do." Tali's voice rather frighteningly sweet. "I can't be part of your team if I don't know how the ship works." She started to walk past, then looked up at Michael. "Remember, Shepard, these people thought enslaving Thorian creepers and rachni was a good idea. I'll be in engineering."
She was to the door when Jacob spoke up. "Don't forget to introduce yourself to EDI, the ship's new artificial intelligence."
Tali turned around slowly, and her eyes glowed behind the mask as she focused them on Jacob. She stared for just a moment before turning and continuing onward.
Michael glanced over at Jacob. "You're still a little upset about me threatening to shoot you in the head, aren't you?"
#
"I saw him."
Brekin slowly nodded. "And?"
Kaidan sighed. "I don't know. I just..." He leaned back in the chair. He could still see Michael's face. And the expression on it when... "He's got all these scars now. Cybernetics in his eyes. I'm not even sure if it's all the way him or..."
"Scary thought." Brekin rubbed the back of his neck. "If..." His fist slammed into the desk console, then leaned back. "Did you actually get to talk to him?"
"I..." Kaidan looked away. "Yeah. He invited me to join him."
"And?" Brekin raised an eyebrow.
"I said no. I said..." Kaidan hung his head. "He'd turned his back on the Alliance and..." He rubbed his eyes. "He said he hadn't been awake long. Only a few days before he encountered Tali. He tried to say other things but I really wasn't in the mood to listen and..."
"Emotions running high." Brekin nodded. "Yeah, I doubt I'd have done any better."
He swallowed past the lump in his throat, and fumbled for another subject. "Hackett mentioned you tried to reenlist." Kaidan raised an eyebrow.
"Cerberus is fucking with my friends. Don't really like sitting on my ass while that's going on." Brekin sighed.
"You're not sitting on your ass." Kaidan managed something approximating a smile. "You're guarding my mom."
Brekin smiled back. "Fuck you too." He shook his head before hitting the comm switch.
The screen went blank, and Kaidan looked at his own reflection in it. There had been scars on Garrus as well. The last two years hadn't been kind to anyone. He'd wanted to reach up, to touch the scars on Michael's face, but then he'd mentioned Cerberus and... Kaidan leaned back in the chair. Garrus was with Michael. Somehow, Michael had found Garrus. And convinced Garrus to join him. Kaidan heard the sound of glass shattering, and realized he'd used his biotics to fling a vase against the wall. Water was dripping onto the floor. He shook his head, and went to clean up the mess.