Hey guys! Long time no see huh? I'm sorry to those who might have been waiting on this, i wouldn't know tho, i have no reviews from any of y'all homies:( But anyway, i can't believe how many follows and favs this story has so far! While the numbers may seem miniscule to most, it means a hell of a lot to me. So thank you to everyone who followed or favorited my mediocre story. But seriously guys, please review! I want to get better as a writer, so constructive non-asshole/condescending reviews would be appreciated. If you have a beef with me, or my story, feel free to PM me! With all the technical shit out of the way, let's dive into the chapter!-TheDidactsHand

Lorent shouldered the LHL, scanning the wide room with fluid precision. 'Clear left, Clear right, Clear high' This mantra ran through his brain each time the group had entered a new area. To his relief the group had no problem keeping pace with him, and had displayed a professional demeanor throughout their trek to the tram station.

Even the xeno had surprised him to a degree, she had proven to handle herself well in a combat scenario. And followed orders to a Tee.

The group had made it to the tram entrance, where the Commander had miraculously been able to fool a platoon of Cerberus troopers into coming back to their side of the station. The commander had proved to be a competent leader, who could handle stress, and perform under pressure. Lorent admired that, most officers he dealt with were ONI spooks who never left the ship they were stationed on. The Commander had garnered some of his trust, and respect for now. Only time will tell if he will truly throw his unwavering loyalty at him.

They stopped at the entrance, the Commander began to brief them of his plan. "Listen up, we don't have a lot of time. So let's do it clean, and we can get to the Archives quicker." He paused, gauging the groups attention. They all gave firm nods, so he continued."Liara, i want you with me. We can use our biotics to bust up their front. Ashley, Vega. I want you two on top, wait till they funnell in, then unleash hell on 'em." Ashley and James nodded, turning around and running to either side of the tram entrance, training their weapons on the doors.

Shepard was about to rush off to get in cover, but he was startled by a forgotten voice. "Sir, what about me?" Shepard mentally chided himself. 'How the hell do i keep forgetting about the Spartan?' He turned to face the massive man, looking up as he formulated the best way to use him. "Spartan, i saw how you seem to be able to bring weapons to you at will. Through whatever means… Do you have any heavy weapons at your disposal?" He asked.

The man seemed to just stare at him, until he moved his arms. A small blue disk of corona energy appeared. He threw the weapon he held in his hand into the swirling disk. Then another larger one flew out. He caught it in one hand, the portal closed. The Spartan shouldered the weapon, like the others, it glowed with an azure color. And hummed like a piece of machinery, only this one hummed much louder than the others.

"I'm locked and loaded Commander. Where do you need me?" The man said. Shepard immediately figured out where to put him. "It looks like that armor of yours can take a hell of a beating… I want you right in front of the door. We'll use you as bait, and when we drop the pain on their heads, you open up a can of whoop ass with... whatever the hell that is."

Shepard had fully expected the Spartan to reject his order, but to his surprise he nodded. Jogging down to the front entrance and shouldering his weapon. 'The guy is fucking nuts' he said to himself. He positioned himself next to Liara, waiting on the Cerberus Troopers.

They came in force, with phalanx of Centaurians, and a plethora of Assault Troopers, they filed into the room slowly. Trying to encircle the Spartan, as they perceived him to be the only threat. Oh how wrong they were.

One of the leaders yelled at him."Drop the weapon now!" They said, cocking their own, as if to emphasize that 'We're armed, and we have lots of guns.' Lorent chuckled softly to himself, passively he began to charge the EV14, the rails that dispelled the plasma, began to fill with the deadly motes of ionized gas. He commed the Commander. "Get ready to fire on my signal." The commander quickly shot back."Roger. What's the signal?" Lorent didn't reply. He focused his mind, tripping his adrenal gland, a new ability he could actively tap into due to his new augmentations. The adrenaline spike, combined with copious amounts of artificial stimulant; slowed his view of the world down to a near standstill, surpassing even the realm of Spartan Time.

He quickly shouldered the glorified Plasma Cannon, his movements leaving three series of after images, he depressed and held to button used to fire the weapon, the vibrant blue lance shot out and near light speed. He targeted the leader first. He was instantly turned into a statue of glass, and this continued, he shifted his aim steadily. The beam melting most of the contacts it hit. Causing many of the Centaurians to become melted into their shields.

This lasted only three seconds. Many of them were too stunned to react.

Shepard didn't even see what had happened, one moment the Spartan is standing there surrounded, the next he is standing with his weapon, the barrell smoking. And in front of him were melted puddles of Cerberus. He nearly retched at the display, but kept his cool. He calmly commed the rest of the squad. "Open fire." As soon as he uttered those words, Ashley and Vega both popped over their cover. They both fired their respective rifles. The hyper velocity slugs cracked around the un organized troopers below. Piercing their armor easily.

Shepard and Liara had opted to only throw small singularities at the small groups left. Easily crushing and dismembering the troopers.

Lorent, on his part, engaged the remaining Centaurians. A trio attempted to bum rush him, hoping to overpower the Spartan. They learned that wasn't a great plan when Lorent activated the hard light blade on his right forearm. Swinging it so fast a gust of wind followed as the blade of highly excited photons cut through their shields and helmets. They fell to the floor in a bloody heap.

He turned to find five more, slowly retreating back into the tramway.

Lorent sprinted at them, causing them to stumble slightly, their phalanx broken, not that it mattered. He barreled through them like a massive bowling ball. Them being the pins. Except they didn't get back up. Whipping his head around, he found the Commander walking up and letting his gun hand low. "All clear Spartan. Good work." Shepard smiled at him.

He nodded at the Commander. Regrouping. He threw the EV14 back into slipspace, and retrieved the LHL.

Shepard waited until everyone was present. When Ashley and Vega came down the steps, he spoke up. "Good work everyone. The easy part is over. Now that two squads are missing, we can be sure that Cerberus has shored up their defense quite a bit. So once we get access to the main hub; we are guns blazing the whole way. We don't have time to waste. Any objections?" He asked looking from person to person.

Ashley pursed her lips. While Vega shrugged. Liara just smiled. Lorent did the same thing he did when he wasn't in combat. Stand.

Shepard nodded. "Let's get going. Spartan, you first." Lorent shrugged. Turning himself around and into the tram car. Ducking down a bit as he squeezed himself through the door. The car shakes a bit as he finally situated himself towards the rear. Soon after the rest of the group piles in, Shepard being last. He pushed the button at the end of the tram, causing it to lurch forward as it slid above the canyon below.

The tram bumped a few times as they made it across, though thankfully it didn't plummet into oblivion on account of Lorent's weight. The tram grinded to a halt. The door opened with a slight hiss. Commander Shepard stepped onto the metal deck with a dull 'clank'. Soon followed by Liara, Ashley, and James. They all fanned out, setting up a loose perimeter.

It was quiet. Really quiet. No sign of Cerberus anyway. Shepard spoke through the radio."Alright team. It seems like they are in hiding. Keep your eyes up. And stay frosty." He said. He stood up, his back slightly hunched and his weapon ready. He began walking forward.

'Bang'

He stopped, looking around for the source of the sound. As well as the rest of the team.

'Bang'

This time it was even louder. "Anyone got eyes on?" He asked.

"Negative." Ashley said. He weapon sweeping the ceiling.

"I don't see nothing Shepard." James said crouching down.

'BANG'

A piece of metal flew over the heads of the team, it came from behind them. They all did a one eighty. Their weapons pointing up. Then immediately back down. They saw the Spartan walking out of the new exit he had made in the tram.

He walked a few paces, and looked down at the team impassively."I needed a way out." He said plainly.

Shepard tried his hardest not to laugh, James too. Ashley just frowned and did an about face, storming away from the team. Liara just stared wide eyed at yet another amazing feat of strength.

Once Shepard had calmed down, he spoke. "Alright team. Let's head to the Archive room." The assorted team left, making their way to the Archive room. Strangely not encountering any resistance along the way. Physically or automated.

"Eyes up team. That's the door." Shepard said as they rounded the corner of the hall. The team stacked up, while Shepard flicked on his Omni Tool. Trying and failing to hack through the door.

Meanwhile Lorent flicked on his pulse array with a series of blinks, his vision turned into an almost black field of darkness, looking through the wall. His armor sent out passive pings throughout a forty meter radius. No contacts flickered onto his HUD.

Shutting the mode down, his visor returned to its normal display. He looked to the Commander. Who was still fidgeting with his Omni Tool. "I think this is not your strong suite Shepard." Liara said.

Shepard scoffed, giving a confident smile as he tapped his orange interface some more. "I think you will find." He vigorously tapped some more."That i am just as good at hacking, as i am shooting things. Observe." He let a triumphant smile adorn his face, pressing a final button. The Omni Tool pulsed a vibrant green. Then with a loud beep, turned a blood red.

James chuckled. "Nice one Shepard."

Shepard frowned and typed some more only to produce the same results. He beat his fist on the terminal. "Dammit!" He cursed.

Lorent smirked just a tad under his helmet. Before pushing off. He stepped back, looking for weak point in the door. He talked while he performed his task. "Commander. The very definition of insanity, is performing the same action over and over; and expecting a different result." He paused, rearing back his fist."I believe that brute force is sometimes appropriate, observe." He launched his fist at the door. Ripping the hydraulic mechanisms and the clamps for the door out of the wall. Leaving behind smoking wires, and dust from chunks of the wall being violently ripped out.

Lorent shook his hand the smallest bit. That had kind of stung.

James delved into full on laughter. "I like his style. You could learn a thing or two from him Shepard." James said, filing into the room.

Shepard just deflated, sluggishly shouldering his gun before moving into the archive room.

Ashley went to the right, slowly walking with her gun down and next to her thigh.

Liara accompanied Shepard to the center data console, she began to mine for data pertaining to the Crucible.

Lorent watched over everyone like a hawk. He looked to the ceilings, seeing if any troopers had the bright idea of rappelling into a pressurised room. After staring up for about two seconds, he put those worries to rest.

He began to tone down. His weapon lowering the slightest bit. But he began to hear as sound. It was coming from the center of the room. He swung his torso around. The LHL bared at whatever threat was revealing itself. To his confusion, it was a hologram. His augmented mind was already assemenating the information that he could visually see. The man appeared to be well dressed. He had grey hair, or what he thought to be greying hair. A cigarette casually grasped between his fingers. His stance showed no fear. In fact, it looked like it was almost lazy.

"Shepard." The man said. To Liara's credit, she responded rather fast. Her weapon trained on where Human's head would be. "Illusive man." She said with disgust and surprise.

'Illusive Man?' Lorent asked to himself.

"What are you doing here?" Shepard asked with a cold tone.

Illusive man just gazed up at the archives. "What i've always wanted. The Protheans. What a fascinating race. The Alliance has had thirty years with this knowledge. And tell me, what have they done with it?" he said bitterly.

"A helluva lot more good than you have. Just look at what you've done to your own men!" Shepard exclaimed.

The Illusive Man waved him off. "I improved them. Made them what Humanity should be. Like your new friend." He turned to Lorent, who gripped his LHL. "Tell me. How did you become that way? No Human is that strong. And despite my best efforts, doesn't possess technology such as yours."

Lorent replied in an even tone. "Classified."

The Illusive Man must have found it humorous, as he began to chuckle a bit. Confusing the group. "I figured. Your very stance screams soldier." he paused. His smile vanishing, being replaced with a thin blank look. "However. I will warn you. Stay out of my way. Or you will be crushed." He paused. Turning back to Shepard. "That goes for you too Shepard. Consider this your final warning." He finished. He took a drag from his cigarette, exhaling. "Farewell Shepard." he said. The hologram disappearing.

Shepard Scoffed. "Duly noted. Liara." He said.

Liara nodded, walking back over to the terminal, trying to gain access to the data. Only to find it being erased and dumped somewhere offsite. "Shepard!"

"what ?" Shepard turned, walking to her."

"The data. It's not here. It's being erased."

He hit the table with his fist. "Damnit. How is he doing it?" He asked

"It's a local connection. A terminal nearby."

Ashley walked around the corner, hearing a scuffle. She raised her weapon at the person accessing the terminal. "Hands up! Back away from the terminal now!" She commanded.

The woman looked back, then in a flurry of motions reverse roundhouse kicked Ashley in her sternum, and dropped an elbow onto the back of her head. The blows were much stronger than she had anticipated.

The woman drove her Omni Tool into the terminal. Shutting down the archives entirely. She began to run full tilt around the catwalk. Shepard taking a few shots but missing an account to her speed. "She's faster than she looks!" Ashley yelled over the radio.

"You think! Someone get after her!" Shepard yelled. Running to the door.

"I'm on it!" James yelled. He collapsed his gun, breaking down as he attempted to tackle her, only for the woman to spin out of his grasp. He hit the deck with a low grunt. "I missed!" He cursed. Scrambling up to give chase.

Lorent ran to Ashley, she was still on a knee breathing heavily from the onslaught she had just received. "Are you alright ma'am?" He asked. Attempting to help pull her up. His large hands eclipsing her bicep with minimal effort.

She jerked around, standing up on her own. She rounded on Lorent. "I don't need your help freak!" She yelled. Lorent retracted his hand slowly. "Noted." He brushed past her. "I'm in pursuit with you Commander." He said. Running full tilt through the hallways, not sparing Ashley another glance as he smashed through walls with his titanic bulk.

"Roger Spartan. Hurry it up! She has transport inbound!" Shepard said dodging another orange blast from the fleeing woman. He fired some pot shots, cursing as she effortlessly dodged them with a grace not befitting of a mere Human. Something was up. And right now that something was kicking his ass in P.T. He ran up a fallen ventilation shaft. Then pursued her up a ladder. Finally arriving onto an open stretch of rooftop.

There he heard the unmistakable hum of a Kodiak. Cursing, he pushed his muscles to the max, slowly gaining on the woman. He drew his pistol, shooting her in the back once. Causing her to stumble. Allowing him to close the gap a bit more. Though it wasn't enough. The Cerberus Kodiak floated up and into view, hovering just feet away from the edge, it's troop compartment open.

"Damnit! She's escaping!" He yelled in between breaths as he watched her jump into compartment. It closed, and the Kodiak began to dust off. "Normandy? Spartan? Can anyone hear me?" He asked in a panic. He dropped to his knees, Ashley, James, and Liara not that far behind. Running up and stopping next to him in heavy pants of labored breath.

"Where's the Spartan?" Asked James in a huff watching as the Kodiak began to leave.

"Right here." Lorent said. Crashing through another wall in the building below the flight path of the Kodiak.

"Right whe- Oh" James could only watched as the Spartan came rocketing through the roof of the building next to them. Like a Phoenix the, he continued traveling. Debris still erupting outwards and onto the ground below. His massive outstretched bulk hit the canopy of the Kodiak. His mass causing the Kodiak to rock and shift off course.

Lorent hung on, looking into the cockpit he saw the face of the pilot as he tried to frantically get the drop ship on course. Lorent had other plans. Punching through the reinforced glass like it was wet tissue paper, he grabbed the pilot. Easily ripping him out of his seat, and throwing him down to the red dirt below. The dropship began to list. Heading back towards the roof it had just left.

"Oh shit." Was all Shepard could say. He used his biotics to push himself backwards and out of the way. Liara doing the same. Ashley and James tried to do the same. Running frantically as the dropships engines whined as it came closer.

Lorent still hung on, he waited until he got closer to the roof. He watched as Ashley and James fled. They were mostly in the clear, until Ashley fell. Clutching her ribs in very apparent pain. Cursing, Lorent not entirely sure why he was doing something this reckless, jumped off the falling drop ship. Landing right in front of Ashley. He immediately braced himself. Holding out his arms in a catching motion.

The drop ship impacted the roof roughly, immediately catching catching fire as it tumbled fast towards Lorent.

"Spartan! Get out of there now!" Shepard yelled, running to assist him.

He was too late, the drop ship flipped up and onto Lorent and Ashley. A thick black cloud obscured his vision. "NO! Dammit no!" He fell to his knees. Watching as fire and smoke billowed out of where the drop ship undoubtedly rested.

Or it seemed that way.

Liara placed her hand on Shepard's shoulder. "I'm… Sorry Shepard."

James shook his head with sorrow.

Shepard brought himself onto his feet. Slighing. "Radio the Normandy. We need to leave." he turned around, looking away from the wreak.

Liara dropped her head, turning as well. Until the groan of metal was heard. Turning around, she saw the dropship begin to shift. Then the smoke cleared up… "By the goddess... " she whispered. staring in awe.

Shepard heard Liara, he turned himself. His eyes widening to epic proportions.

For the drop ship was now airborne again, except it was being held above a certain someone's head.

Ashley clutched her eyes. Expecting to be flattened by either the Spartan. Or the Kodiak. When she heard Liara, she knew she wasn't dead. But how? Well, she opened her eyes. She nearly fainted, standing above her like a hero straight out of a comic, was the Spartan. Holding the Kodiak over his head like it was just a pillow. He threw it to the side with caution. The craft shaking the roof. He looked down at her. He looked on with that same impassiveness. "Are you alright ma'am?" He asked yet again. He offered her his hand.

Ashley looked at his hand with uncertainty. Not sure if she could trust him. But her rational non crushed brain told her otherwise. She accepted the large appendage. With a surprising amount of grace he helped her up. She looked up at him. Smiling and nodding her thanks. He returned it with a small one of his own.

Lorent looked over to the Commander, his eyes were still wide. "Mission accomplished commander." He said as if he hadn't done an act of a god.

Commander Shepard shook his head very slowly. "You don't say…"

'Bang'

The collective team looked at the downed dropship, watching as the door opened. Out of the fires within, stepped out a robotic entity. With an Orange visor of some kind. She looked on with cold disregard. She stepped out, her body charred and beaten from the crash. "Orders?" She asked.

"Finish them." a voice said. She nodded. Springing into action. She targeted the Spartan first. Since he was the biggest threat. Unfortunately for her, it was her last target. She drew in, attempting to perform an overhead axe kick. She didn't get far as Lorent moved with an inhumane speed. He grabbed her foot, and using her momentum. Slung her into the ground with a 'crack'.

Shepard stepped up, his composure finally retained. He looked around to his team. "Good work. Now we have the data. One more step closer to finally ending this war." He said. The Normandy descended down, lowering the ramp.

"Spartan. Bring that thing with us. Who knows what data it could have." Lorent nodded. Picking it up by the waist, and slinging it over his shoulder. Following Shepard into the Normandy…

Significantly shorter than i wanted it to be. But i suppose it's better than nothing. I have taken a big break from this because i wasn't sure what direction i wanted to take this in. I kind of just started writing with no semblance of a plot. But i have been brainstorming, and writing more. I think i have an idea of what i want to do. So please stay tuned for more updates. I apologize this one took as long as it did. Also, please note Lorent's height is now 10'2". I apologize for the first one. It was a bit ambitious of me. Lastly, i hope the Kodiak scene as a whole wasn't too OTP. I want Lorent to be seen as an actual hero, so having these little Avenger type moments, would be a cool element to have. Although if you guys don't like it, i won't have anymore of those.

P.S The first chapter is still being rewritten.