Chapter 11: Saving Archangel

The ride in the cargo shuttle to Archangel's base was a crowded one, with Jack and Jacob squished into the back seats. Jack still had to wonder how much chaos Archangel had to have caused to get all these people angry enough to volunteer to kill him. What brought Mordin Solus here was also a very good question, most doctors wouldn't enter a warzone for a vigilante. If The Illusive Man was right and Doctor Solus really was researching the Collectors, it could be possible that this Archangel also had valuable information on them. The freelancers surrounding them all started standing up, apparently they knew the ship was getting close to the target.

A Blue Suns mercenary stood in front of the door they were all going to be jumping out of, "Ok remember everyone, we just need all of you to charge across the bridge and keep Archangel busy. We suggest you leave actually killing him to the professionals."

The shuttle door opened and people started getting shot at the moment they saw Omega's city streets. Jack had been prepared for things to be messy based on the news coverage and what Aria told him but, this was a bloodbath. A mixture of Blue Suns, Blood Pack, and Talons bodies littered the boulevard stretching all the way across the bridge. From what Jack could tell, there hadn't really been any particular plan on either side to win the battle at this point, everyone was just throwing everything they had at each other and hoping that would be enough. If this went down to being just a numbers game, the three gangs were going to destroy them.

Curiously, the hail of gunfire seemed to spray mostly around them allowing Jack and Jacob to sprint out of the shuttle towards the bridge. Why wouldn't Archangel attack him like everyone else? Sure, the mercenary could've recognized him as the Commander Shepard but, that didn't change the fact that he was running out of a Blue Suns shuttle heading straight for the base. Maybe Miranda had gotten word to Archangel that they were coming? She hadn't known that herself having still been mysteriously absent so that explanation didn't make any sense either. This mercenary was just openly trusting Shepard wasn't coming there to harm him and was covering their approach.

As they ran, Jacob looked at him with a raised eyebrow, "What the hell is going on Jack?"

Jack wasn't sure feeling just as confused, "I don't know Jacob, just keep running. I'm sure whoever they are will explain everything when we're inside."

He felt a bullet fly by his earlobe from behind and looked back to see the remaining freelancers had caught on. Knowing Archangel could only take on so many mercs on his own, Jack spun around and started firing back at them. Since the freelancers were extremely ill equipped to handle a military engagement, Jack was shredding through them. The shots they sent towards him were bouncing off his palladium armor giving Jack an even bigger advantage. Jacob managed to get to the base's front door and started covering Jack for his own approach. As Jack turned around to start running, an explosion knocked him off his feet and he had to grab on to the street to keep himself from falling. Looking behind his shoulder, Jack saw the middle section of the bridge they had been running across was gone and was replaced with an explosion.

Jacob ran towards him and pulled him up from the ledge, "Looks like we aren't getting out the way we came, I'll call a shuttle in to pick everyone up."

Jack had to push Jacob to the side to avoid a shot from the other side of the bridge, "We have to get a lull in the fighting, otherwise we'll all be shot down."

A perfect sniper shot from the doorway took out their attacker and a female Turian yelled, "Get the hell in here before I have to come over there and drag your ass inside."

Jack couldn't help but have a smile knowing that voice well. When he found out that the Talons were in the middle of this mess he had wondered if Mandaria was still their leader, seeing her confirmed it. She looked like she had been through hell though with multiple badly covered bullet wounds and a small trail of blue blood going down the corner of her mouth. It definitely appeared as if she had been fighting without any sleep for far too long. Still, he was proud that she was handling herself so well, he must've done something right during the Blitz. His happiness faded when a bullet clipped her shoulder sending her back through the doorway. In retaliation, a sniper on the second floor of the base took out the latest attacker.

Mandaria groaned in pain taking a few blind shots, "What the hell are you doing here Jack?"

He tugged her through the rest of the doorway into cover despite even more gunfire coming at them, "I was in the neighborhood tonight and thought I'd stop by." He looked over at the new blood running down her shoulder, "How bad does it hurt?"

Mandaria gritted her teeth trying to keep her grip on the sniper rifle, "On a scale of one to ten? Fifty.. I'll be fine though Jack, just get upstairs, I'm sure Garrus could use the help."

Jack's heart skipped a beat, if Garrus was here that meant Kal was too. Archangel must've just been an alias that Garrus or Kal used so the gangs here couldn't use their identities against them. On the one hand, it was terrifying to think Kal was in the middle of all this but, it meant Jack could see him again a lot sooner than he originally planned. He was sure Kal was going to be angry Jack hadn't tried to tell him he was alive from the beginning but, they were going to have that conversation later. Now that they were going to see each other again, there was no way he was going to be able to prevent Kal and probably Garrus from coming with him to stop the Collectors.

Jack smiled at her, "You always knew where to find the most trouble didn't you? Don't worry, we're going to get everybody out of here." He looked over at Jacob, "Stay with her and call that shuttle anyways, we need to get out of here now. I'll get the others."

Jacob did as he was told and Jack started running around the makeshift living quarters to the stairs leading to the second floor. He noted a trail of Batarian blood leading up and around the stairwell before disappearing behind a locked door. If Mordin was actually here tending to the wounded, he would probably be doing it behind that door. Until the shuttle was actually here, Jack saw no point in disturbing his work. He went through the other door on his right instead and saw Garrus sitting on the edge of the front window sill. While he didn't appear to be as beat up as Mandaria, the Turian looked exhausted with his arms shaking, struggling to hold his Black Widow sniper rifle.

Garrus tapped into his comm, "They're retreating across the blockade on the other side of the bridge. I'd guess we're going to have a few minutes to breath and reload... How many did you get?"

Mandaria's pained voice groaned on the other end of the comm, "23 this hour... You've got company by the way."

Jack grinned at his old friend, "Garrus? What the hell are you doing here?"

The Turian didn't seem surprised to see him even though the galaxy thought he was dead, "Just killing mercs, it's nice of you to join me. There's plenty to go around." He spoke louder so Mandaria could hear, "Even after I got 35 of them this hour."

While Jacob was helping her get to the couch, Mandaria yelled, "You cheater! Your counting the auto turret kills, from the turrets I gave you!"

Jack walked over towards him and gave him a close hug, "It's good to see you again. You look tired, what do you say we get you out of here for good?"

Garrus sighed at the mention he looked tired and patted Jack on the back, "What can I say, killing mercs is hard work. Even with Kal's explosive talents for the bridge you ran across. I'm sure he'll be up from the basement in a few minutes... Then we can go."

Jack gave a weary look across the bridge worried mercenary snipers would attack at anytime, "I would've come sooner but, Archangel doesn't exactly scream Garrus Vakarian you know."

He chuckled while rubbing the back of his neck, obviously embarrassed, "It's just a name the locals gave me... for all my good deeds. I don't mind it, but please... it's just 'Garrus' to you. What are you doing here if your not looking for Kal or me?"

Jack turned to look back at him with a concerned glance, "I'm looking for Doctor Mordin Solus. From what I hear, he's researching the Collectors. Aria told me I could find him here."

Garrus was about to say something when an engine sound zoomed across the ceiling, shaking the room slightly. Jack's first thought was that the shuttle Jacob called in arrived way faster than he expected. However, when the ship flew over the building, Jack saw it was another troop transport from one of the gangs. Given the yellow and black paint job, as well as a symbol of a moon overlaping with a star, he could only assume these were the Eclipse. The ship continued on it's path across the bridge making Jack wonder if they had gotten lost somehow. A moment later though, Jack saw ropes falling from the roof over the windows, they were coming in from above them.

Just before they could start rappelling down towards them, Jack pushed Garrus to the ground, "Get down!"

The Eclipse mercenaries didn't hesitate and just started spraying bullets into the room hoping to kill anything that moved. Looking beyond the open stairway, Jack could see multiple Krogan were jumping through the skylight in the center of the base to land on the first floor. He needed to help Jacob and the injured Mandaria but, right now they were surrounded on three sides. Garrus got up from the tackle and immediately kicked his bed upright so they had some temporary cover, while Jack started shooting at the mercs trying to enter from the windows. The Salarians flipping into the room were fragile but quick, finding cover for themselves rapidly. Jack wished he could use biotics to knock the furniture they were hiding behind on top of them, unfortunately, he was just going to have to get lucky shots in before they did.

As the firefight continued, Jack was starting to worry about the sheer number of Eclipse soldiers flipping inside from the windows. It was probably enough men to challenge a small Alliance colony, let alone four people and two were already exhausted from fighting. Indeed, Jack wanted to just pin Garrus down to the cover they were hiding behind to prevent him from making the reckless shots he was making. While Garrus was admittedly still hitting his targets, he was sluggish getting back to cover so it was only a matter of time before he was hit. The door behind them suddenly opened and Jack saw a grenade flying over his head towards the Eclipse mercs. He braced for an explosion but instead, Jack saw a majority of them turned to ice, leaving the mercs extremely vulnerable.

Jack turned his head behind him to see a Salarian wearing a lab coat shaking his head, "Terrible to see so much death. Never want to be responsible. Had to do that though. Hope you find your paradise elsewhere." The Salarian looked at Jack, "It would be best if we split our attention between floors. We'd have a better chance of survival."

A roar from one of the Krogan's below them made Jack vault down the stairs without an argument. Mordin didn't seem like the type to just run away and so Jack could take his time to save the others. Jacob was busy shooting at the knees of several Krogan but, appeared to be holding his own for the most part, Mandaria wasn't so lucky. The Krogan she was dealing with had one hand holding her up by the throat while his other hand was trying to bury itself inside her latest wound to the shoulder. Jack was running to get behind them so he could be in shotgun range but, Mandaria was staring right at him and shaking her head rapidly. She didn't want him to go for the kill but, why? It was obvious she couldn't kill him on her own and she was in danger.

She spat in the Krogan's face, "Where's my sister you son of a bitch?! Tell me!"

The Krogan laughed at her with an amused expression, ignoring the question "You don't get to make demands anymore Mandaria. When you tried to kill Aria you lost her protection, now I get to do whatever I want with you."

Mandaria smirked looking back at Jack who was ready to fire, "I guess your right Garm. It's a good thing I have a friend right behind you ready to blow your knnecaps off if you don't answer my questions. Who took my sister? Where did they take her?"

Jack could tell this Garm was about to throw her over his head towards him when another shot rang out. The bullet pierced Garm's chest sending blood gushing all over Mandaria before they both collapsed to the ground. Jack spun around, ready for a fight but couldn't believe what he saw: Saren Arterius was standing there looking furious. Normally, Jack would've started shooting the instant he saw him but, Saren looked different. Not only was the Reaper machinery gone but also, his gray carapace was a shade lighter making him appear slightly more youthful. Those cold blue eyes were the same as when he first met him though, this had to be Saren no matter how impossible that seemed.

Saren glared at him but, the gaze didn't seem to have the recognition for Jack that it once had, "Come on Commander, it's time to live up to your legacy as the butcherer of Torfan. Help me kill the scum."

Before Jack could even think of a good answer, a Krogan lunged his own shotgun's blade at Saren. The Turian side stepped oozing with confidence, as if he was dodging a child, before using his pistol three times. Once hit the Krogan's neck, the second hit his chest and the third hit his opposite knee in quick succession. In the same fluid motion, Saren grabbed the Krogan's shotgun and used it to kill another Krogan that Jacob had been fighting. The Turian kept fighting and helping Jacob with the remaining Krogan. It was strange to watch Saren fight with this much grace, not relying on the biotic tricks he used to.

Jack killed a Salarian who was trying to sneak up on Mandaria while she was looking over Garm's body, "We have to go Mand. I promise I will do everything in my power to help you find your sister when we're safe. You hear me?"

She shook her head frantically tearing apart the armor, "No! No. He had to have gotten orders where to take her! Just... just give me another few seconds please! Come on spirits help me out here!"

A familiar voice from where Saren came from made him close his eyes, "You bosh'tet!" Jack turned around just in time for Kal to yank him into a kiss through his mouthpiece, those warm marshmallow like Quarian lips made his heart relax, "I watched the Normandy explode around you and I couldn't save you... I watched you... you..."

Jack pulled him into a very close hug not minding the glass visor squishing his nose, "I know. I'm so, so sorry, I'm here now though. You ok?"

Kal sounded as though he was crying, "I will be eventually once we're out of here. I've lost a lot of friends today."

A deep Human voice spoke behind him, "And Mr. Badass broke his ankle so I don't know how he's standing but, other than that love bird over here is just fine."

Jack recognized the sarcastic tone from long ago on the Everest when a single sniper shot pulled their attention to the middle of the room. Garrus was pointing his gun down at Saren having almost hit him in the foot. Not knowing anything about this Saren besides the fact that he didn't seem to have the Reaper's influence, Jack didn't know how to step in here. Saren was helping them but he didn't know why and so maybe it was best to let this play out. He just held onto Kal's side waiting for their shuttle to arrive.

Saren looked up at Garrus with a sad smile, "Was it really that bad then...? You automatically wanting to shoot me on sight? Spirits you've grown so much from what I remember."

Garrus' voice cracked as he looked to Jack, "What the hell is going on Shepard? This is a trick isn't it? A VI."

The other Human stepped infront of Saren, "It isn't a trick, trigger happy, Cerberus rebuilt him in case Shepard really was dead. Put the gun down and-"

Saren's eyes widened in fear shouting, "Garrus, LOOK OUT!"

An explosion from outside knocked everyone off of their feet and sent the room into darkness. Jack had instinctively shielded Kal with his armored body as parts of the building came down around them. That shuttle better get here soon, otherwise they would be easy pickings for the rest of the Blue Suns.